iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 17h

I can't remember where I saw it, but someone recently said some readers want books to be mirrors and others understand them as windows, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head ever since.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 23h

If you've sent out 12 to 15 query letters and haven't received a single request after a few months, there's probably something wrong with the query or the project, and it's time for a rethink of your approach.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 30/09/2026

You Tell Me: how do you deal with writer burnout?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 29/09/2026

Too many authors approach the agent search asking: will this agent like me? I instead encourage authors to think about whether you like the agent. You're searching for a long term business partner. Prioritize agents you have a good feeling about, and plan to cast a wide net.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 28/09/2026

Most rejection letters are pretty worthless on their own. Effusive personalized rejections and form rejections are just different flavors of "not for me." But there are a few cases where they're helpful. I updated and expanded my post on how to interpret rejection letters:

nathanbransford.com

How to interpret rejection letters

Rejection letters do serve a purpose. You can make yourself a better and more successful writer if you learn how to interpret rejection letters.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 28/09/2026

Most literary agents filter thousands of submissions a year and take on a handful of new clients. But for the writers who make it through, the agent is the author's advocate, and a good one can propel your career.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 27/09/2026

You Tell Me: how do you know when your novel is finished?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 26/09/2026

Don't ever ask somebody whether you should keep writing. These are *your* dreams. Even the best-intentioned person can blow you off course by projecting their own hopes and insecurities onto your situation. You're the only one who can answer. (Though personally, I'd err on the side of keep going.)

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 25/09/2026

Court docs show OpenAI and Microsoft employees knew their book piracy was illegal and could harm authors, is the enigmatic manuscript thief back, where are all the young writers, and more of the best writing and books links from the past week!

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Court docs show OpenAI and Microsoft knew book copying was illegal (This week in books)

This week! Books! Unsealed Files Show Open AI/Microsoft Knew Copying Was Illegal and Could Hurt Authors – Jim Milliot, Publishers Weekly – Unsealed court documents show OpenAI and Microsoft employees ...

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 25/09/2026

Opportunity can't knock if it can't find your door. Every author needs a website. The must-haves: your name, a biography, and a way to contact you.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 24/09/2026

Writing jacket copy? You have about seven lines to work with. Don't rely on someone clicking that tiny "Read more" link. Jacket copy is a different beast than a query letter. Avoid spoilers, and you can be a bit more of a hype machine.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 23/09/2026

You Tell Me: how do you deal with the "Am I Crazies" when you're deep into a work in progress?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 22/09/2026

For self-publishing, you don't need to pay to make a book available for sale, even for paperbacks. But unless you're doing a lot of the work yourself, plan to spend a few thousand dollars to self-publish well.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 21/09/2026

To self-publish or to traditionally publish? There are no universal answers, only what's right for you and your book. Chart your course based on your goals, strengths, and patience.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 20/09/2026

What are your favorite books on writing?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 19/09/2026

Publishing is not a zero sum game. There are not a finite number of books published. If publishers decide they really want a book, they can always make room for more. Your book is going to do its own thing and there is plenty of room for it in the universe.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 18/09/2026

Royalties first go toward paying down your advance. If you receive a $25,000 advance, you have to earn $25,000 in royalties and/or subrights proceeds before the publisher pays you additional money. That's what "earning out" means.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 17/09/2026

Self-publishing a series? There aren't any rules. Write a twenty book arc if you want to. Traditional publishing is trickier. An agent has to believe it would work as a series, then a publisher has to agree. And every installment tends to sell fewer copies than the last.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 16/09/2026

You Tell Me: what's the worst writing advice you've ever received?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 15/09/2026

Publishing myth: editors don't edit. False. Editors typically suggest substantive developmental edits, line edits, and more. Typos are the copyeditors' department. (But ultimately the author's responsibility!)

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 14/09/2026

How long does it take to sell a novel? About that long. A book might sell in a week or it might sell in a year. Keep in touch with your agent, be patient, take up knitting, and go easy on the bourbon. Settle in for the long haul.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 13/09/2026

What's the last book you couldn't put down?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 12/09/2026

When you're querying, rejections stack up fast, and every one stings a little. But it means you're in the game, and that's exciting. Keep going!

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 11/09/2026

Nonfiction is no longer the predictable bread and butter of the publishing industry, Anthropic settlement chaos, how worried should we be about AI companies destroying books, and more of the best writing and books links from the past week!

nathanbransford.com

Is the nonfiction book market collapsing? (This week in books)

This week! Books! The Nonfiction Book Market is Collapsing / Radical Ideas for Fixing the Nonfiction Book Market – Sean deLone, Dear Head of Mine – For a very long time, nonfiction was the stable, pre...

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 11/09/2026

The goal of a query letter for a novel is to inspire the agent to want to read more, and it's helpful to be very specific about your story to vividly demonstrate what makes it unique.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 10/09/2026

Rejections usually tell you little about your book. Agents pass on good books every day because of fit and timing. Unless you receive feedback that resonates with you or two agents tell you the same thing, just treat a rejection as a "not for me" and keep moving.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 09/09/2026

You Tell Me: what's your current book's working title?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 08/09/2026

Much like a cover letter for a job, personalizing a query can tip off an agent that you put in the work to target them specifically.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 07/09/2026

A strong platform is helpful for a novel, but it's still not mandatory for most literary agents. You don't need an MFA or a stack of publishing credits to be taken seriously, just a strong query that nails the plot description.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 06/09/2026

Who's an author whose career you'd love to have?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 05/09/2026

Keep your cool and be professional throughout the querying process. Patience in the submission process goes a long way, and don't sweat the tiny stuff. A typo won't sink you, and an agent who rejects you over something trivial wasn't the right agent anyway.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 04/09/2026

After you send a query, here's what happens on the agent's end: first they print out all the queries, then they spread them around the room until they're a few inches deep. Next they lie down, wave their arms and legs, and make query angels. (Not really)

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 03/09/2026

No publishing credits? For fiction, just say confidently in your query: “This is my debut novel.” Include your genre and word count, and keep the focus on the book.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 02/09/2026

You Tell Me: what comp titles are you using for your book?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 01/09/2026

Don't get fancy with query letter formatting. Block paragraphs, default font, 250-350 words. Time spent decorating a query is inversely proportional to how professional it looks.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 31/08/2026

There isn't really a good or bad time to send queries, apart from the weeks around Thanksgiving and the New Year. It's much better to take time polishing your manuscript and query than to rush.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 29/08/2026

I've spent this week posting about scams and red flags, so it bears repeating: nearly everyone who works in publishing is there for the love of books. Protect yourself, and remember that most of the people you'll encounter are rooting for you.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 28/08/2026

There are no emergencies in book publishing. Yes, you want to be published yesterday. Don't lose your head. Vet everyone you're considering working with like the potential business partner they really are.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 27/08/2026

A common scam right now: fake book clubs that send a long, glowing, A.I.-generated rave about your book and just need a little money to facilitate the discussion. Real book clubs don't charge authors to talk about their books.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 26/08/2026

You Tell Me: what's the biggest publishing red flag or scam you've ever run into?

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 25/08/2026

Scammers are currently impersonating me from a fake email address with an extra “r” in Bransford, then referring writers to a fake version of a real literary agent. Double-check email addresses, and when in doubt, contact the real person through their website.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 24/08/2026

Updated and expanded my post on all things prologue, including how to write a good one and whether you should include them when an agent asks you for a partial manuscript.

nathanbransford.com

All about prologues

All about novel prologues. What's a prologue? It's usually a scene that provides an introduction, often for atmospheric or tone-setting effect.

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Nathan Bransford @nathanbransford.com · 24/08/2026

It should not cost you anything to have your work read by an agent. Reputable agents work on commission, and reading fees are prohibited by the AALA. If someone charges you just to consider your work, walk away.

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