Although good news rarely comes from the slush pile, we can find many lessons about the craft of writing buried within it. One of our goals here at Castle Gate Press is to encourage new authors, so even though we can’t send personalized feedback to everyone who submits to us, I would like to share […]
After the Writers’ Conference
Many of you have been to a writers’ conference this summer. It was a fabulous experience where you met new friends, learned new writing and marketing tips, and (hopefully) received requests for your Work in Progress (WIP). Now you’re back and home and real life has set in. The excitement is treasured memory, you’ve had time […]
Things I want in a middle-grade Christian fantasy, by agent Sally Apokedak
I get a lot, a lot, a lot of Christian middle grade fantasy in my inbox. And I would love to sell some of that. Here’s how you can move to the top of the slush pile: Pay attention to the mechanics If you have trouble with verb tenses or points of view or misplaced […]
Five ways to prepare for a writers’ conference
How do you best prepare to show your wares at a writers’ conference? Perhaps you are hoping to get the attention of an agent and/or editor for your latest project. Or maybe you want to network. Perhaps you’re there to learn more about the writing craft. Or all three of those. If you’re hoping for […]
Best Query Letter Advice
We love your advice. Thank you for sharing! If you missed out on sharing a link to a synopsis sample or article and/or your best advice for new authors, please feel free to share in a comment here. We’ll add it to our Author Resource lists. Make sure to include both your name and a […]
Proposals Part 7 – Comparable Books
Publishers will want to know that there are other books on the market that are similar to yours that have sold well. This underlines the fact that there is an audience they can sell your book to. Spend some time doing research to come up with four or five novels similar to yours in some […]
Proposals Part 4 – Author Biography
The purpose of the author bio is to showcase your writing experience and show that you’re serious about your writing career. The biographical section of the proposal should include your: Publishing History – Mention the title of any books you’ve published, the year it was published, the name of the publisher, and any awards the […]