Casco Bay Literary Services - Free Special Reports

Why Hire an Editor?

"I work with tiny publishing houses, rejecting dozens of manuscripts every week on the basis of sheer unreadability. Large or small, few publishers will purchase rights to a manuscript that could require hundreds of hours of work. To push a proposal toward the top of the stack, hire an editor. No matter how fascinating the concepts, dubious prose will kill a project."

—A. R., letter to the editor, Inc. Magazine, April 2002, 20

FREE SPECIAL REPORTS

The following free reports and articles deal with various aspects of writing a nonfiction book and getting it published.

Getting Started
Do you have an idea for a nonfiction book but aren't sure how to deal with agents and publishers, or how to maximize your chances of getting your book accepted? This report will help you get started.

An Overview of the Publishing Process
Curious about what happens to your book manuscript after you turn it in to the publisher? This article provides a step-by-step overview of the publishing process.

Getting a Nonfiction Book Published: Four Tips on How to Impress Agents and Publishers
Are you trying to get your nonfiction book accepted for publication? When an agent or publisher casts an experienced eye on your manuscript, chances are that they'll be scrutinizing certain things. These four tips, gleaned from twenty-five years in the book business, will increase the odds that you'll make a good impression.

Symmetry: A Key Aspect of Good Writing
Many authors would be surprised (and sometimes horrified) at the quick judgments publishing professionals often make about the quality of their manuscript. This article explores one important, though little-discussed, criterion these publishing professionals are using. Symmetry can make the difference between acceptance or rejection of your manuscript.

Working with Your Editor: Three Tips on Getting the Most out of the Editorial Process
If authors could be a fly on the wall of publishing companies, they might be surprised at what they overhear. A common refrain is that authors often seem to engage in self-sabotage in precisely that phase of a book project that has perhaps the greatest potential to make or break the project: the publishing phase. Three simple steps will help you avoid this self-sabotage and get the most out of the editorial process.