A brief list of answers to the questions people most commonly ask us:
FOR FICTION WRITERS:
Should I use an outline?
Some writers create elaborate outlines while others allow the characters they’ve created to “tell” them where they should go. Some of the beauty of writing is certainly in the exploring, but you wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint. A one or two page outline could certainly be enough for a 300-page book.
What point of view should I use?
It really depends on the story you want to tell. First person (“I”) creates an immediate intimacy, but you’re limited to your narrator’s eyes and ears. Third-person (“he” or “she”) gives you a little more room to move but can sometimes feel distant—especially when using the omniscient or “all-knowing” type of third-person. Second person (“You” — think Bright Lights, Big City) can be effective for the right piece, but is far less commonly used than the other two.
How many characters should I have?
Enough. Obviously there are no hard and fast numbers, but quality is better than quantity. You want to make sure that all of them are unique and compelling in some way. Inexperienced writers tend to either forget about secondary characters altogether or overpopulate their books with many under-developed people who readers don’t get to know well enough to care about (or in some cases, even remember).
Does my book have to be finished before I try to sell it?
Yes — unless you’re a celebrity or have, say, recently published a high profile short story in The New Yorker.
FOR NON-FICTION WRITERS:
Does my book have to be finished before I try to sell it?
The short answer is no. But unless you have a significant platform (a website with high traffic, a radio/TV show, a famous relative willing to lend his name in the interest of nepotism), it will be difficult if not impossible to sell your book without a solid proposal.
What should my proposal look like?
Be prepared to write an overview of the book, a table of contents complete with chapter outlines, sample chapters and an explanation of who you believe will be your target audience. Plus you’ll want to make it clear why you are uniquely qualified to be the author (have you worked for years in the field you’re writing about? Is your book subject a lifelong passion?). You also need to include a list of competing titles and why your book is different from those.
How long should it be?
Your proposal probably shouldn’t be less than 30-40 pages (1.5 spaced). We have many samples of proposals that have sold to major publishers that we share with clients when helping them craft their own proposals.
GENERAL:
How long should my book be?
The average book is about 80,000 words but obviously no one told that to Leo Tolstoy or Jonathan Franzen. You’ll look inexperienced – not like a daring writer challenging the established system — if you submit a book that’s grossly under 300 pages (double-spaced, Times 12-point font preferred).
How long should each chapter be?
There’s no set length for a chapter. In general, it’s a good idea to end in a place that serves as a logical break. You do want to make sure you leave readers eager to see what happens next. You can also break up text that’s part of the chapter’s concept but doesn’t follow immediately after.
How often should I write?
If you have the luxury, an hour a day is good. It’s best to get in a habit of writing at the same time every day. Make sure to walk away at the end of the hour so you’ll be excited to return to it tomorrow. Other writers have daily page goals—three pages per day is a good goal—but try not to get overly concerned with the numbers.
What’s a good way to get over writer’s block?
Remember that writer’s block is a luxury. A postman doesn’t get to wake up in the morning, announce he’s feeling blocked and take the day off from delivering mail. If you’re serious about completing your book, then just write your book and leave the writers block to the procrastinators and blowhards. Remember, though, that the longer you step away from your material the harder it’s going to be to return to it so try to establish a routine and stick with it. The best way to get over writers block, in other words, is to write.
Do I need an agent?
You don’t need an agent to sell a book, but most major publishing houses don’t even accept un-agented work, and having an agent will be extremely helpful when it comes to negotiating your contract. Also, be forewarned that smaller publishers may hope to take advantage of un-agented, inexperienced writers by offering them less than the book is worth. Besides, don’t you want someone else to be your bad guy?
