Tag Archives: publishing

Magazines of British Columbia

Want to write for a magazine? This page is devoted to the magazines of British Columbia (BC). I’ve compiled as many legitimate ‘zines as I could, organized alphabetically within genres, to give you a one-stop shop for your outreach. If I’m missing any, please don’t hesitate to let me know!

How to submit to Harlequin

So you want to be a romance writer, eh? I got you. Did you know you can submit to Harlequin, Canada, for free? Yep. Unsolicited, free submissions. There are obviously some strict rules around submissions, but Harlequin is quite friendly to new talent. I’ll take you through their submission process, and also give you some tips on writing a story for Harlequin.

Writers festivals in British Columbia

In a bit of a topical diversion from my usual posts, today I’m going to talk about all the writers festivals here in British Columbia (BC). One of the best ways to hone your craft is to be inspired by other writers and get constructive feedback on your own writing. Even if you’re already involved in a writing group at, say, your local library, you should consider some professional development with writers, editors, and various publishing industry professionals. Not only are these events good for your craft, they’re also good for your networking and marketing ideas.

What is a manuscript assessment?

You’ve written a book you’re nervously in love with. Now what? Contrary to every neophyte urge in your authorial body, you are not to immediately send your work out to every publishing house you know. Sorry! Instead, you’re in for an age of reviewing. Yaaaaay . . .
So, what is a manuscript assessment and how is it different from a beta read? Let’s get into it.

What to do with (unpublished) family manuscripts

Every now and again I get inquiries from family members dealing with a loved one’s possessions who have found a manuscript. Typically they want to know what to do with this compilation of work—and if it’s any good. Sometimes the family is really enthusiastic about the project. Sometimes they haven’t even read it yet. And that’s fair.

Should I write a fan fiction?

You sure should write fan fiction and likely already have—at least partly, in your head. When you think of how a character should have acted or what you wish had have happened instead, you’re essentially starting your own fanfic. This is a brand new world of ‘what ifs’ you get to explore. How far you want to explore that world is up to you.

The top North American trade publishers

What is the first place that comes to mind if you think of published books? Chances are, it’s one of the big multinational publishers: Penguin Random House (now including Simon & Schuster), Hachette, HarperCollins, and Macmillan. While there are literally hundreds of places to get published, these four take the cake in terms of annual revenue, number of titles, and notoriety.

Why do I see so many mistakes in published works?

Ah, yes. Your favourite newspaper has a typo in its headline or you’ve found desert when dessert was meant. It happens! And, obviously, it happens to established authors and at established publishing houses. But… how?

What is a title information sheet and when would I need one?

In publishing, when your book gets presented to the editorial team as a real candidate for selling, your story will be reduced to a single page of to-the-point information known as the title information sheet. This piece of paper is the marketing pitch for your book, and contains important printing details the publisher will need to know for pricing reasons (among other things). So what goes into a title information sheet?