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The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript
An Indispensable Guide for All Writers in All Genres
The bad even really good manuscripts have weak spots that are enough to garner rejections from agents and publishers. The good most of these problems are easy to fix — once the writer sees and understands them. After several years of evaluating manuscripts, literary agent Elizabeth Kracht noticed that many submissions had similar problems, so she began to make a list of the pitfalls. The Author’s Checklist offers her short, easy-to-implement bites of advice, illustrated by inspiring — and cautionary — real-world examples. Most aspiring authors yearn for a friend in book publishing. The Author’s Checklist is just that.
The bad even really good manuscripts have weak spots that are enough to garner rejections from agents and publishers. The good most of these problems are easy to fix — once the writer sees and understands them. After several years of evaluating manuscripts, literary agent Elizabeth Kracht noticed that many submissions had similar problems, so she began to make a list of the pitfalls. The Author’s Checklist offers her short, easy-to-implement bites of advice, illustrated by inspiring — and cautionary — real-world examples. Most aspiring authors yearn for a friend in book publishing. The Author’s Checklist is just that.
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2020
23 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
June 13, 2020
The Author’s Checklist is a nonfiction book that I honestly have no clue of which how to review. Y’all know that I rarely read non-fiction. Was this useful, as a guide for new beginners? Yes. I learned that I’ve been slacking in terms of editing my books and perhaps that is why no one is accepting my work, because of poor editing even if the story has good quality, if it’s that badly edited (or not edited at all) then it’s not going to get published no matter how hard I try.
I learned also that there’s a lot more work to be had in terms of publishing novels. I thought it was hard before-I hadn’t realized that there was even more tasks to be accomplished through editors, translators (if it got that far or popular as a book), copy editing, contracts, and a lot more paperwork than I realized. It’s a bit intimidating, actually, but I’ve started making plans in terms of how to get through the next stages of getting published.
This book was a strange read for me, yet I did like it. It was easy enough to follow along, even if it was slightly intimidating and uncertain at times in my finishing it. I’m overall giving this book a solid three out of five stars. And a warning to new authors that aren’t published everywhere-there’s always more work in writing involved than you think.
I learned also that there’s a lot more work to be had in terms of publishing novels. I thought it was hard before-I hadn’t realized that there was even more tasks to be accomplished through editors, translators (if it got that far or popular as a book), copy editing, contracts, and a lot more paperwork than I realized. It’s a bit intimidating, actually, but I’ve started making plans in terms of how to get through the next stages of getting published.
This book was a strange read for me, yet I did like it. It was easy enough to follow along, even if it was slightly intimidating and uncertain at times in my finishing it. I’m overall giving this book a solid three out of five stars. And a warning to new authors that aren’t published everywhere-there’s always more work in writing involved than you think.
March 1, 2020
I found this to be a frustrating read. I do understand that manuscript analysis is an extremely difficult topic to generalize about and to give a definitive direction on something without having an actual manuscript to critique. But I think that the scope is too wide--separating it into fiction and non-fiction would have perhaps made it more useful for writers of each persuasion. At the same time, there's also not enough detail or examples to fully explain how and why things like pacing, tension, and voice may not be working in a manuscript; there also weren't a ton of examples of letters, synopses, proposals, etc., that could really give a good guideline for an aspiring writer. Lastly, organizing the book alphabetically is limiting in that it doesn't show what should be prioritized or when in the writing/publishing/querying process.
February 4, 2020
You are not alone. As a writer, you may create your masterpiece in isolation but in order to produce a piece of work acceptable for the publishing industry, it sometimes takes a team…or maybe just one book. The Author’s Checklist: An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript by Elizabeth Kracht is like having your own personal agent to guide you through this arduous process. In the age of technology and online submissions, slush piles challenge agents on a daily basis, allowing them less time for pondering or offering advice. This book is exactly what you need to not only understand what an agent is looking for in a query and manuscript, but what you also need to do to promote yourself as a writer. She covers both fiction and non-fiction with all the nuts and bolts that help make a manuscript stand out. This bible of information is valuable to anyone who wants to improve their work and take it to the next level. Pick up a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
April 13, 2020
READ THIS BOOK before you ever send a single query to an agent, or pitch a publisher at a conference. Kracht's knowledge of the publishing industry and passion for her clients is clear-- she wants to help aspiring authors avoid the common mistakes that get books rejected. The book is organized alphabetically by topic (Author Platform, Tension, Voice, Word Count, etc) rather than chronologically, which makes the initial read-through jump around a bit -- but will likely serve the aspiring author best as they refer to THE AUTHOR'S CHECKLIST throughout the writing, submission, and publishing process. Kracht's perspective on the thin line between what gets an author accepted or rejected comes from her years of experience as a literary agent. THE AUTHOR'S CHECKLIST is a reference that belongs on every writer's bookshelf.
March 13, 2020
This book is full of a lot of wonderful advice and information, but unfortunately the structural choice to arrange in in alphabetical order instead of groups of related topics made it maddening to parse. If you read it cover to cover, it feels scattershot and unfocused, moving from thoughts on punctuation to query letter writing. It doesn't feel like a reference book (in which the alphabetical strucure would make sense because it's meant to be consulted on a specific topic as needed. It's such a poor structural choice that it made me question the value and veracity of the advice therein.
October 27, 2020
3.5 Stars --- Over the years, I have picked up several books here and there meant to guide writers in perfecting their craft and/or getting published. When I came upon this title on NetGalley, I realized just how much time had passed since I’d read The Elements of Style (by William Strunk Jr.), so it seemed I was overdue for a new lesson.
The Author’s Checklist is organized almost in a random way, it seems. The “chapters” are specific topics, such as “Plot” or “Audience,” which works well enough; however, there is no path, at least nothing that struck me as obvious. It would seem better to have outlined these chapters in a more guided way, leading a writer from beginning (outlining, ideas) to end (sending out queries and how to find an agent/publisher). But, to be fair, the subtitle here is An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript, not An Agent’s Guide to Writing Your Book and Getting It Signed. With that mind, the chapters do cover a variety of helpful topics, making tried and true points worth bearing in mind. For example, Kracht makes reminders (in multiple ways) to look for balance, whether it be in how often to use flashbacks, dream sequences, or even grammatical marks (including my favorite, the em dash).
There’s a long list of sections to explore here, but the issue really comes in the actual exploration. I’d say the majority of the topics tackled here are only lightly touched, often without example. Many of these chapters are only a page long, which leaves a lot to be desired. Throughout reading The Author’s Checklist, I felt a little cheated that examples weren’t being readily provided along the way. It seemed to me that this book would have been made invaluable had it backed itself up throughout, rather than just in a couple spots. It became a bit frustrating, to be honest.
Complaints aside, this guide still offers a lot of good points (however brief). In fact, I am using several chapters from it in editing some new manuscripts at this time, so doesn’t that mark it as a success? There’s help to be found here.
**
Highlights: Covers many topics that will be useful in developing your manuscript
Shadows: For a guide that says “show, don’t tell” more than once, it does more telling than showing (i.e. it lacks examples)
For fans of: How-To guides, writing nonfiction and/or fiction
Takeaway: The Author’s Guide comes in a little underweight - leaving things to be desired along the way - but also breaches a variety of helpful topics for writers to keep in mind in developing their latest work.
Would I read this author again? Yes
Review by Aiden Merchant
→ www.aidenmerchant.com
Contact: contact@aidenmerchant.com
Social Media: Instagram (AidenMerchant.Official) and Twitter (AidenMerchant89)
The Author’s Checklist is organized almost in a random way, it seems. The “chapters” are specific topics, such as “Plot” or “Audience,” which works well enough; however, there is no path, at least nothing that struck me as obvious. It would seem better to have outlined these chapters in a more guided way, leading a writer from beginning (outlining, ideas) to end (sending out queries and how to find an agent/publisher). But, to be fair, the subtitle here is An Agent’s Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript, not An Agent’s Guide to Writing Your Book and Getting It Signed. With that mind, the chapters do cover a variety of helpful topics, making tried and true points worth bearing in mind. For example, Kracht makes reminders (in multiple ways) to look for balance, whether it be in how often to use flashbacks, dream sequences, or even grammatical marks (including my favorite, the em dash).
There’s a long list of sections to explore here, but the issue really comes in the actual exploration. I’d say the majority of the topics tackled here are only lightly touched, often without example. Many of these chapters are only a page long, which leaves a lot to be desired. Throughout reading The Author’s Checklist, I felt a little cheated that examples weren’t being readily provided along the way. It seemed to me that this book would have been made invaluable had it backed itself up throughout, rather than just in a couple spots. It became a bit frustrating, to be honest.
Complaints aside, this guide still offers a lot of good points (however brief). In fact, I am using several chapters from it in editing some new manuscripts at this time, so doesn’t that mark it as a success? There’s help to be found here.
**
Highlights: Covers many topics that will be useful in developing your manuscript
Shadows: For a guide that says “show, don’t tell” more than once, it does more telling than showing (i.e. it lacks examples)
For fans of: How-To guides, writing nonfiction and/or fiction
Takeaway: The Author’s Guide comes in a little underweight - leaving things to be desired along the way - but also breaches a variety of helpful topics for writers to keep in mind in developing their latest work.
Would I read this author again? Yes
Review by Aiden Merchant
→ www.aidenmerchant.com
Contact: contact@aidenmerchant.com
Social Media: Instagram (AidenMerchant.Official) and Twitter (AidenMerchant89)
March 28, 2020
Originally posted on You Have Your Hands Full
As an aspiring author, I am well aware that there are plenty of guidebooks available on the writing process, not to mention articles and websites devoted to this subject matter. What I appreciate about this book is that it has condensed this information into a series of convenient chunks.
I should point out that this book has slightly more guidance for fiction manuscripts, but there is useful information for nonfiction authors as well. The material is organized alphabetically and covers everything from “dreams” to “punctuation” to “query letter” and even dealing with “rejection”
Each entry is relatively short; Kracht summarizes the point quickly, uses concrete examples, and then concludes with a checklist for authors to use when evaluating whether their manuscript is ready for the next step.
The two appendices at the end contain examples of query letters for fiction and nonfiction and a synopsis for a fiction book.
I would recommend The Author’s Checklist is a very useful guide. I enjoyed reading it and I know that as I get a little further in the process of preparing my manuscript for querying, I will go through the book to make sure everything is in order. I received a digital copy of this book, and perhaps a paper copy would have been easier to thumb through, but I do want to point out that I can use the “Go To” feature on my Kindle to access each of the different entries without having to flip through the alphabetical list.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As an aspiring author, I am well aware that there are plenty of guidebooks available on the writing process, not to mention articles and websites devoted to this subject matter. What I appreciate about this book is that it has condensed this information into a series of convenient chunks.
I should point out that this book has slightly more guidance for fiction manuscripts, but there is useful information for nonfiction authors as well. The material is organized alphabetically and covers everything from “dreams” to “punctuation” to “query letter” and even dealing with “rejection”
Each entry is relatively short; Kracht summarizes the point quickly, uses concrete examples, and then concludes with a checklist for authors to use when evaluating whether their manuscript is ready for the next step.
The two appendices at the end contain examples of query letters for fiction and nonfiction and a synopsis for a fiction book.
I would recommend The Author’s Checklist is a very useful guide. I enjoyed reading it and I know that as I get a little further in the process of preparing my manuscript for querying, I will go through the book to make sure everything is in order. I received a digital copy of this book, and perhaps a paper copy would have been easier to thumb through, but I do want to point out that I can use the “Go To” feature on my Kindle to access each of the different entries without having to flip through the alphabetical list.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2020
If you are writing a book or have any desire to write one, this book provides a comprehensive guide for every single detail you need to take into consideration from the drafting process through to publication. Kracht gives you tips on research that needs to be done, world-building, how to get the proper narrative arc in each chapter, how to physically structure your book, and the actual publishing process including dealing with rejections. Her book is broken down using an alphabetical list of topics, so if you need help with a specific area, you can jump right to that section and find what you need. This should be on the bookshelf of every potential author out there. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
February 26, 2020
This book is helpful for any writer. It doesn't matter what type of writing you do, TRUST ME this book is for you!!!
The author Elizabeth Kracht breaks down through each chapter from A through Z in, The Author's Checklist, what to do in the writing process when it comes to editing your manuscript. She dives right into the core issues that manuscripts face when submitting to literary agents. Every writer has a unique tone and different writing styles that can be improved as the manuscript progresses. (Just make sure you don't forget to check off the boxes at the end of the chapters!)
Three examples that I can give you that I've read from her book is one - Formatting. She explains why Times New Roman and double-spaced is easier to read than other fonts. The second example that Elizabeth goes over is - Rejection which happens in the publishing industry. There are many good writers out there who are a few drafts away from receiving offers of representation. Rejection is no easy path for anyone. Elizabeth mentions in the book to not take it personally. Third and last example that is in the book for writers is whether or not self-publishing is for you. Elizabeth explains the pros and cons of self-publishing, which I found to be insightful. There are many other chapters that include word building, query and synopsis example, along with character development.
The Author's Checklist is one of those books that can fit in your purse! Laugh out Loud. It fit in mine perfectly and I love how there is a pencil on the cover. Any who! This book is worth it to improve your craft and to take to heart the guidance that Elizabeth pours onto the page!
The author Elizabeth Kracht breaks down through each chapter from A through Z in, The Author's Checklist, what to do in the writing process when it comes to editing your manuscript. She dives right into the core issues that manuscripts face when submitting to literary agents. Every writer has a unique tone and different writing styles that can be improved as the manuscript progresses. (Just make sure you don't forget to check off the boxes at the end of the chapters!)
Three examples that I can give you that I've read from her book is one - Formatting. She explains why Times New Roman and double-spaced is easier to read than other fonts. The second example that Elizabeth goes over is - Rejection which happens in the publishing industry. There are many good writers out there who are a few drafts away from receiving offers of representation. Rejection is no easy path for anyone. Elizabeth mentions in the book to not take it personally. Third and last example that is in the book for writers is whether or not self-publishing is for you. Elizabeth explains the pros and cons of self-publishing, which I found to be insightful. There are many other chapters that include word building, query and synopsis example, along with character development.
The Author's Checklist is one of those books that can fit in your purse! Laugh out Loud. It fit in mine perfectly and I love how there is a pencil on the cover. Any who! This book is worth it to improve your craft and to take to heart the guidance that Elizabeth pours onto the page!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2020
This was an easy read and understandable. This will be a great reference to keep on hand. I found it useful for understanding plot structure and placement as well as questions about publishing I was too scared to ask out loud.
* I was provided a copy by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
* I was provided a copy by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2020
The little yellow book for every writer's desk! I read lots and lots of craft books for fiction, and found The Author's Checklist filled with nuggets to get me through my next book. Alphabetically labeled and so easy to use as a reference guide. Ms. Kracht's book has a place of honor beside the Emotion Thesaurus next to my laptop and journal. A highly recommended quick read at a glance for every author attempting to publish their work.
December 1, 2024
When it comes to craft books, this was pretty matter of fact! I suppose it makes sense, given the subtitle, which indicated how the formatting of this book would be laid out.
Also, this was written by an agent and not an author. A particularly versatile agent at that; Elizabeth Kracht has represented various genres in both fiction and nonfiction. As such, this A-Z checklist, even for such a small book, covers more topics than a specific writer might need. But it’s certainly a useful guide for when you want to check up on something, be it related to the writing, editing, marketing or publishing process.
I gravitated towards a lot of writing craft stuff, appropriate for NaNoWriMo, I guess, and also for where I am in my fantasy project. For example, with the chapter arc of fiction and nonfiction, arguably, it’s like a little microcosm of the entire book. It has to have it’s own establishment, rising action, climax, and well, the ending of most chapters might be different from the ending of the actual book since those other endings are meant to make the reader want to turn the page. I think, in general, I have an innate sense of this type of structure in chapters—the entire book arc is a bit of a mess, but a chapter is like a short story, and more contained. Booyah.
I have a little more trouble with chapter breaks and about what constitutes a proper passage of time to constitute for one. I’m not sure that Kracht addresses my problem directly, but she may come close within “Timekeeping” when she writes “Abrupt transitions within a chapter can indicate an underdeveloped world and characters…If you jump forward in time, these jumps must make sense for both the character and the story.”
I also incorporate a lot of dreams, mostly prophetic and sometimes personal, into my manuscript. Kracht reminds me that they must be grounded in the story, give readers knowledge about the character (since I’m an epic fantasy writer, I’d argue that giving some knowledge of worldbuilding and why it’s thematically important also plays a role,) but that they should also be short. :P
Pacing is also something I have to account for on both the micro and macro level. One of the members of my beta reading group is pretty big into fantasy quest stories where characters take a look around bit. :P But generally speaking, Kracht is a bit of a minimalist here, too. She says, “Though travel and quest narratives have a long history and prominent place in literature, descriptions of characters traveling are almost never [last two words in italics] interesting.” The one exception she gives is not in quest fantasy but in the thriller genre: “American Static [by Tom Pitts] is set in the car and the pace never relents; my heart skips a beat just thinking about this book.”
Prose is also a big thing to look out for, even in genre fiction; Kracht highlighted criticism I’ve heard before regarding “filter words” aka writing that a character feels or sees something rather than just cutting to the chase. She offered some examples about how to cut to the action words instead. And, of course, adverbs are the enemies of us all. :P
The prose of this book, understandably, could be a little bit dry. It’s not necessarily a page-turner on its own. But I appreciate it as a resource, and it did also make me think of ways to fix my own plodding problems. Perhaps after NaNoWriMo, when I’m trying to pad my word count, hee.
Also, this was written by an agent and not an author. A particularly versatile agent at that; Elizabeth Kracht has represented various genres in both fiction and nonfiction. As such, this A-Z checklist, even for such a small book, covers more topics than a specific writer might need. But it’s certainly a useful guide for when you want to check up on something, be it related to the writing, editing, marketing or publishing process.
I gravitated towards a lot of writing craft stuff, appropriate for NaNoWriMo, I guess, and also for where I am in my fantasy project. For example, with the chapter arc of fiction and nonfiction, arguably, it’s like a little microcosm of the entire book. It has to have it’s own establishment, rising action, climax, and well, the ending of most chapters might be different from the ending of the actual book since those other endings are meant to make the reader want to turn the page. I think, in general, I have an innate sense of this type of structure in chapters—the entire book arc is a bit of a mess, but a chapter is like a short story, and more contained. Booyah.
I have a little more trouble with chapter breaks and about what constitutes a proper passage of time to constitute for one. I’m not sure that Kracht addresses my problem directly, but she may come close within “Timekeeping” when she writes “Abrupt transitions within a chapter can indicate an underdeveloped world and characters…If you jump forward in time, these jumps must make sense for both the character and the story.”
I also incorporate a lot of dreams, mostly prophetic and sometimes personal, into my manuscript. Kracht reminds me that they must be grounded in the story, give readers knowledge about the character (since I’m an epic fantasy writer, I’d argue that giving some knowledge of worldbuilding and why it’s thematically important also plays a role,) but that they should also be short. :P
Pacing is also something I have to account for on both the micro and macro level. One of the members of my beta reading group is pretty big into fantasy quest stories where characters take a look around bit. :P But generally speaking, Kracht is a bit of a minimalist here, too. She says, “Though travel and quest narratives have a long history and prominent place in literature, descriptions of characters traveling are almost never [last two words in italics] interesting.” The one exception she gives is not in quest fantasy but in the thriller genre: “American Static [by Tom Pitts] is set in the car and the pace never relents; my heart skips a beat just thinking about this book.”
Prose is also a big thing to look out for, even in genre fiction; Kracht highlighted criticism I’ve heard before regarding “filter words” aka writing that a character feels or sees something rather than just cutting to the chase. She offered some examples about how to cut to the action words instead. And, of course, adverbs are the enemies of us all. :P
The prose of this book, understandably, could be a little bit dry. It’s not necessarily a page-turner on its own. But I appreciate it as a resource, and it did also make me think of ways to fix my own plodding problems. Perhaps after NaNoWriMo, when I’m trying to pad my word count, hee.
March 30, 2020
It wasn't really what I thought it would be. I was expecting editing advise from an industry professional but really it was just a glossary of writing terminology. This would be great for newbies who have never written (and likely never even read a book, considering this book tries to explain what a synopsis is), but for someone already in the editing process, this is pretty obsolete.
The examples of particular writing principles are all of obscure books. It would have made more sense to use examples from mega popular books, that even if you haven't read it, you've heard of it. That way the examples would have been more relevant and relatable.
Though there is a lot of helpful information in here, I do feel there is some potentially harmful advice for newbie writers who won't know any better. Like 'try to only use five adverbs per manuscript'. What does that even mean? Does this apply to manuscripts of 50k words or 100k words? What about dialogue? Real people don't speak in prose, real people use adverbs. Seriously, we do. So does that mean we must sacrifice organic dialogue for the sake of claiming some pretentious goal of having no adverbs at all?
I agree with her that an over use of adverbs is a sign of weak prose, but to use only five adverbs per manuscript is near impossible. I wonder if she's ever written a full length manuscript between 80k -100k (the recommended length for a debut), and if so, I'd love to see her do it without adverbs.
I did a kindle search for words ending in 'ly'. Theres 506. That's not including common adverbs.
Yes, I know it's a non-fiction advice book and the author isn't trying to write perfect prose, and I appreciate that.
But fiction or nonfiction, practice what you preach.
If you've ever used software like Hemingway Editor, then you know exactly how many adverbs you can get away with using, and where to cut them.
The thing is, this book is supposed to be for writers in the editing phase, but it isn't applicable to its intended audience. If you've written a whole book and don't know what world-building is, or pacing, or even character development, then you might want to take another look at your manuscript, and maybe read this book for an explanation.
My point is, most writers already know all this stuff. This is the very basic principles of writing craft. Writers should know all of this before they start writing, and certainly before they start querying.
There's really nothing here that can't be found in a quick (and free) Google search.
This books might be invaluable to someone who's never written before and who's done no previous research, and I hope those people can find value within this book. But for me, unfortunately, I found little.
Thank you Netgalley for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The examples of particular writing principles are all of obscure books. It would have made more sense to use examples from mega popular books, that even if you haven't read it, you've heard of it. That way the examples would have been more relevant and relatable.
Though there is a lot of helpful information in here, I do feel there is some potentially harmful advice for newbie writers who won't know any better. Like 'try to only use five adverbs per manuscript'. What does that even mean? Does this apply to manuscripts of 50k words or 100k words? What about dialogue? Real people don't speak in prose, real people use adverbs. Seriously, we do. So does that mean we must sacrifice organic dialogue for the sake of claiming some pretentious goal of having no adverbs at all?
I agree with her that an over use of adverbs is a sign of weak prose, but to use only five adverbs per manuscript is near impossible. I wonder if she's ever written a full length manuscript between 80k -100k (the recommended length for a debut), and if so, I'd love to see her do it without adverbs.
I did a kindle search for words ending in 'ly'. Theres 506. That's not including common adverbs.
Yes, I know it's a non-fiction advice book and the author isn't trying to write perfect prose, and I appreciate that.
But fiction or nonfiction, practice what you preach.
If you've ever used software like Hemingway Editor, then you know exactly how many adverbs you can get away with using, and where to cut them.
The thing is, this book is supposed to be for writers in the editing phase, but it isn't applicable to its intended audience. If you've written a whole book and don't know what world-building is, or pacing, or even character development, then you might want to take another look at your manuscript, and maybe read this book for an explanation.
My point is, most writers already know all this stuff. This is the very basic principles of writing craft. Writers should know all of this before they start writing, and certainly before they start querying.
There's really nothing here that can't be found in a quick (and free) Google search.
This books might be invaluable to someone who's never written before and who's done no previous research, and I hope those people can find value within this book. But for me, unfortunately, I found little.
Thank you Netgalley for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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February 19, 2020Endorsements:
“An invaluable resource for any writer shopping their novel. This is a must-have!”
— Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-Wars and Rage
“A must-have book for every writer’s tool kit.”
— Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series
“Outstanding! A smart, practical, and immensely readable book . . . a valuable resource for published and prepublished writers.”
— Sheldon Siegel, New York Times bestselling author of the Mike Daley / Rosie Fernandez legal thrillers
“Elizabeth Kracht has carefully crafted a guide that should be on every published or aspiring author’s desk.”
— Jill Marie Landis, bestselling author of the Tiki Goddess Mysteries
“All serious writers should read this book before submitting their work . . . It will show you how to strategically elevate your odds.”
— Jeff Herman, literary agent and author of Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over!
“A to Z indeed! The Author’s Checklist touches on virtually every aspect of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing in a readable, practical, and incredibly useful format and reader-friendly style.”
— Judy Reeves, author of A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life
“Not just another book about writing, The Author’s Checklist reveals what every writer needs to know about the publishing world if they wish to one day see their work in print. As both writer and veteran publishing professional, author Kracht spells out the essential differences between the worlds of writing and publishing and what brings them together successfully.”
— Hal Zina Bennett, author of Write from the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity
“An invaluable resource for any writer shopping their novel. This is a must-have!”
— Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-Wars and Rage
“A must-have book for every writer’s tool kit.”
— Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series
“Outstanding! A smart, practical, and immensely readable book . . . a valuable resource for published and prepublished writers.”
— Sheldon Siegel, New York Times bestselling author of the Mike Daley / Rosie Fernandez legal thrillers
“Elizabeth Kracht has carefully crafted a guide that should be on every published or aspiring author’s desk.”
— Jill Marie Landis, bestselling author of the Tiki Goddess Mysteries
“All serious writers should read this book before submitting their work . . . It will show you how to strategically elevate your odds.”
— Jeff Herman, literary agent and author of Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents 2009: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over!
“A to Z indeed! The Author’s Checklist touches on virtually every aspect of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing in a readable, practical, and incredibly useful format and reader-friendly style.”
— Judy Reeves, author of A Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life
“Not just another book about writing, The Author’s Checklist reveals what every writer needs to know about the publishing world if they wish to one day see their work in print. As both writer and veteran publishing professional, author Kracht spells out the essential differences between the worlds of writing and publishing and what brings them together successfully.”
— Hal Zina Bennett, author of Write from the Heart: Unleashing the Power of Your Creativity
May 24, 2020
Thanks to the author Elizabeth K. Kracht, publisher New World Library, and Netgalley for the review copy. My ability to view this book has been timely as I've been editing my own manuscript. The hope is to get some good ideas and use them in my own writing journey.
As a first view seeing the topics arranged alphabetically made me think this would be more reference than, say, narrative. It was a bit unexpected (though the title does include the word checklist), but I pressed on. Each of the topics included a simple checklist at the end of each. Further to the reference-style, this is great for an author looking to print off the page and check it against his/her work.
Since this was my first time reading the book, I viewed the pages in sequence. This process was somewhat disjointed given the topics are A to Z, but I soon settled in and tried to be open to the unfolding book (not leaning on the contents to give me prior warning). I couldn't help looking closer at the author's construction of her book while reading her text about these ideas. The alphabetical structure seemed from the outset to be a limiting factor, but it actually worked when reading straight through. It's hard to hold any sort of narrative in this kind of construction, but the topics had some basic flow. I guess it is possible to have something that can be presented page-by-page and also a reference guide.
And, there's limited detail in many of the subjects. Often the author mentions how little time agents have to read manuscripts and I had to wonder if she had little time to expand on some of her ideas. Some really deserved more attention and examples such as "Themes" and "Word Count." The author is representing herself as being a gatekeeper (of sorts) but could offer more commentary on the gate itself.
The conclusion threw me off. When reading up to that point, all the headings made sense, so seeing the heading of "Conclusion," I expected to read about book conclusions. Not so, and this was the book's conclusion. Once I re-oriented and re-read the paragraph, I could continue.
In total, the book great, albeit brief, look into traditional publishing. I left this book wanting more. I don't think I would keep this book as a checklist or personal reference, so that style may not have best suited its layout. There were some very helpful jumping off points into other books.
As a first view seeing the topics arranged alphabetically made me think this would be more reference than, say, narrative. It was a bit unexpected (though the title does include the word checklist), but I pressed on. Each of the topics included a simple checklist at the end of each. Further to the reference-style, this is great for an author looking to print off the page and check it against his/her work.
Since this was my first time reading the book, I viewed the pages in sequence. This process was somewhat disjointed given the topics are A to Z, but I soon settled in and tried to be open to the unfolding book (not leaning on the contents to give me prior warning). I couldn't help looking closer at the author's construction of her book while reading her text about these ideas. The alphabetical structure seemed from the outset to be a limiting factor, but it actually worked when reading straight through. It's hard to hold any sort of narrative in this kind of construction, but the topics had some basic flow. I guess it is possible to have something that can be presented page-by-page and also a reference guide.
And, there's limited detail in many of the subjects. Often the author mentions how little time agents have to read manuscripts and I had to wonder if she had little time to expand on some of her ideas. Some really deserved more attention and examples such as "Themes" and "Word Count." The author is representing herself as being a gatekeeper (of sorts) but could offer more commentary on the gate itself.
The conclusion threw me off. When reading up to that point, all the headings made sense, so seeing the heading of "Conclusion," I expected to read about book conclusions. Not so, and this was the book's conclusion. Once I re-oriented and re-read the paragraph, I could continue.
In total, the book great, albeit brief, look into traditional publishing. I left this book wanting more. I don't think I would keep this book as a checklist or personal reference, so that style may not have best suited its layout. There were some very helpful jumping off points into other books.
October 26, 2020
Written by a professional authors’ agent, this is an extremely useful guidebook for anyone considering pursuing trad publishing. If you’ve been querying agents and publishers and got nowhere - or worse, got only offers from vanity pubs - and are beginning to despair, you could do a lot worse than sit down with this book and work through Kracht’s recommendations.
I have to admit I’m not entirely sold on the alphabetical arrangement of the book. I think it’s been chosen because Kracht takes a holistic approach - the whole thing has to be right, so it doesn’t really matter what order you do things - but I think it could be arranged in a more linear and logical way. In particular, I think the advice pertaining to fiction and non-fiction needed to be separated out and grouped together better, because the alphabetical arrangement muddled it all up.
There is some superb advice here that’s not all about the actual writing - things like the necessity of therapy while writing difficult memoirs - and many more excellent nuggets of wisdom under the various topics. Kracht is a professional of many years experience who knows what makes a great read and, more importantly here, what will make publishers sit up and reach for their checkbooks. While there is no One True Formula for success, what there are is a bunch of largely unwritten rules you have to follow, or you’ve got no hope of landing an agent or a trad pub deal. Kracht has put in the effort to set out those rules here for you. Follow them and you’ll massively boost your chances.
Of course, if you don't want to follow the rules, you might well decide to pursue self-publishing, and you could do very well at it. In general, though, the principles of ‘write a story people want to read and make sure it’s well-edited’ are always going to stand you in good stead.
I would strongly recommend this to any author with their heart set on pursuing traditional publishing, who hasn’t managed to land an agent or a deal yet. Take the time to work through every section and you should find some steps you can take to improve your work or your pitch, and just maybe land that dream agent or deal.
Four stars, mainly because I don’t think the alphabetical arrangement was the best way to communicate the information, but it’s an extremely useful reference book.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
I have to admit I’m not entirely sold on the alphabetical arrangement of the book. I think it’s been chosen because Kracht takes a holistic approach - the whole thing has to be right, so it doesn’t really matter what order you do things - but I think it could be arranged in a more linear and logical way. In particular, I think the advice pertaining to fiction and non-fiction needed to be separated out and grouped together better, because the alphabetical arrangement muddled it all up.
There is some superb advice here that’s not all about the actual writing - things like the necessity of therapy while writing difficult memoirs - and many more excellent nuggets of wisdom under the various topics. Kracht is a professional of many years experience who knows what makes a great read and, more importantly here, what will make publishers sit up and reach for their checkbooks. While there is no One True Formula for success, what there are is a bunch of largely unwritten rules you have to follow, or you’ve got no hope of landing an agent or a trad pub deal. Kracht has put in the effort to set out those rules here for you. Follow them and you’ll massively boost your chances.
Of course, if you don't want to follow the rules, you might well decide to pursue self-publishing, and you could do very well at it. In general, though, the principles of ‘write a story people want to read and make sure it’s well-edited’ are always going to stand you in good stead.
I would strongly recommend this to any author with their heart set on pursuing traditional publishing, who hasn’t managed to land an agent or a deal yet. Take the time to work through every section and you should find some steps you can take to improve your work or your pitch, and just maybe land that dream agent or deal.
Four stars, mainly because I don’t think the alphabetical arrangement was the best way to communicate the information, but it’s an extremely useful reference book.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
April 22, 2021
Read this book, but not the way I did it. Do not read it as an audiobook while driving. Why not? I spent much of the time telling myself, “I gotta remember that. How do I make a note of that for later?” At the end, I realized I needed to purchase the book in ebook or, better, in print form. My advice—don’t read the book while driving unless you have the ability to stop and make notes.
Each section of the book contains an easy-to-read description of the topic, followed by a checklist. The checklist serves to reinforce the ideas just described, but more importantly, as a reminder for later. When needed, you can simply pick up the book and peruse the applicable checklist to remind yourself of what you should do. Moreover, the sections are in alphabetical order, making it easy for later referral.
As the author states early on, she intends this book to be useful both for the beginning writer, and for the experienced author. For a beginner, the book will likely seem overwhelming. “How am I going to be able to do all that stuff?” I’d recommend you just start working on what you can, then re-read from time to time and do more.
Even an experienced author will find many gold nuggets in this book, pieces of advice that will shore up the weak areas of your writing process.
The book is wide-ranging without being complete. By that I mean the author touches briefly on all aspects of writing, but does not delve into details in many of the areas. Her main focus is on how you can make your writing—both fiction and nonfiction—more appealing to editors and agents. For other areas of writing, she views them from the 30,000-foot level and states where you can obtain help online. This approach resulted in a book of manageable size, a useful handbook.
Although the audiobook is well narrated, I’d only recommend this version if you have the ability to stop and make notes. Far more useful would be the ebook or print version so you can refer back to a needed section at any time. Trust me, you will. You’ll read the book once, but grab it for refresher ideas again and again. I highly recommend it.
Each section of the book contains an easy-to-read description of the topic, followed by a checklist. The checklist serves to reinforce the ideas just described, but more importantly, as a reminder for later. When needed, you can simply pick up the book and peruse the applicable checklist to remind yourself of what you should do. Moreover, the sections are in alphabetical order, making it easy for later referral.
As the author states early on, she intends this book to be useful both for the beginning writer, and for the experienced author. For a beginner, the book will likely seem overwhelming. “How am I going to be able to do all that stuff?” I’d recommend you just start working on what you can, then re-read from time to time and do more.
Even an experienced author will find many gold nuggets in this book, pieces of advice that will shore up the weak areas of your writing process.
The book is wide-ranging without being complete. By that I mean the author touches briefly on all aspects of writing, but does not delve into details in many of the areas. Her main focus is on how you can make your writing—both fiction and nonfiction—more appealing to editors and agents. For other areas of writing, she views them from the 30,000-foot level and states where you can obtain help online. This approach resulted in a book of manageable size, a useful handbook.
Although the audiobook is well narrated, I’d only recommend this version if you have the ability to stop and make notes. Far more useful would be the ebook or print version so you can refer back to a needed section at any time. Trust me, you will. You’ll read the book once, but grab it for refresher ideas again and again. I highly recommend it.
July 15, 2020
Author
Elizabeth K. Kracht, is the writer of The Author’s Checklist. She is currently a literary agent with Kimberly Cameron & Associates and she is also a freelance editor. You can see more about her here.
SYNOPSIS
The Author’s Checklist is Elizabeth’s Kracht’s debut publication. It is a monograph on the subject of improving your success when approaching an agent with your precious draft. The purpose is to help you increase the likely hood of you work being accepted by avoiding the most common pitfalls.
The Author’s Checklist is meant to be utilized as a reference for aspiring writers wishing to become published authors through the traditional publishing route.
The book’s format is purposefully set out in an alphabetic manner in order to allow users to skip thorough to the most important sections for the end-user. I found it to be eminently practical as a reference and am confident that new or unpublished author would find it an intensive course on what not to do. The sections have the addition of a checklist with practical suggestions to enhance your writing. The Conclusion and associated Appendix A and B contain: Query Letter and Synopsis Examples.
The fact that Kracht has a long history of experience both as a literary agent and a freelance editor instills confidence in her valuable opinions. It is a handy and helpful guide for all those looking for professional advice on the many aspects of getting published.
CONCLUSION
The Author’s Checklist is clear, concise and would be a valuable addition to any prospective author’s library.
Concise, clear, sensibly delivered, The Author’s Checklist has practical guidance for novice author’s taking their first steps into the world of traditional publishing.
I would have liked to have had greater elaboration in some sections, but the limited length may have influenced the verbosity of the finished work.
Elizabeth K. Kracht, is the writer of The Author’s Checklist. She is currently a literary agent with Kimberly Cameron & Associates and she is also a freelance editor. You can see more about her here.
SYNOPSIS
The Author’s Checklist is Elizabeth’s Kracht’s debut publication. It is a monograph on the subject of improving your success when approaching an agent with your precious draft. The purpose is to help you increase the likely hood of you work being accepted by avoiding the most common pitfalls.
The Author’s Checklist is meant to be utilized as a reference for aspiring writers wishing to become published authors through the traditional publishing route.
The book’s format is purposefully set out in an alphabetic manner in order to allow users to skip thorough to the most important sections for the end-user. I found it to be eminently practical as a reference and am confident that new or unpublished author would find it an intensive course on what not to do. The sections have the addition of a checklist with practical suggestions to enhance your writing. The Conclusion and associated Appendix A and B contain: Query Letter and Synopsis Examples.
The fact that Kracht has a long history of experience both as a literary agent and a freelance editor instills confidence in her valuable opinions. It is a handy and helpful guide for all those looking for professional advice on the many aspects of getting published.
CONCLUSION
The Author’s Checklist is clear, concise and would be a valuable addition to any prospective author’s library.
Concise, clear, sensibly delivered, The Author’s Checklist has practical guidance for novice author’s taking their first steps into the world of traditional publishing.
I would have liked to have had greater elaboration in some sections, but the limited length may have influenced the verbosity of the finished work.
July 5, 2020
Good Information, Not Wild About the Set-Up
As an author and freelance editor who often advises other writers, I am always drawn to books about writing when I see them at a favorite book review site. I was particularly intrigued by this book because it is written by an agent. I work with self-published authors and am self-published myself, so I was interested to see a take on writing by someone who is a part of the more traditional way of publishing. Seeing all the fussiness and demands of traditional publishing depicted in this book makes me happy that I'm self-published! Many of the basic writing tips and the typical author follies that she sees align with my understanding and experience. I have to say, though, that I just didn't like the A-to-Z setup of the book. It felt odd jumping around between unconnected topics. I think the reader would have been better served if this were set up so that the various topics were divided by broad categories, like writing your book or preparing your book for an agent or publisher. So while I enjoyed the information in the book, it was a hard one to just sit down and read because I don't like jumping from one unrelated topic to another constantly—and having to flip back to the table of contents every few minutes is annoying. If you don't mind that or if you like a glimpse into traditional publishing or are looking for another book on writing tips, you may very well find this book helpful.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
As an author and freelance editor who often advises other writers, I am always drawn to books about writing when I see them at a favorite book review site. I was particularly intrigued by this book because it is written by an agent. I work with self-published authors and am self-published myself, so I was interested to see a take on writing by someone who is a part of the more traditional way of publishing. Seeing all the fussiness and demands of traditional publishing depicted in this book makes me happy that I'm self-published! Many of the basic writing tips and the typical author follies that she sees align with my understanding and experience. I have to say, though, that I just didn't like the A-to-Z setup of the book. It felt odd jumping around between unconnected topics. I think the reader would have been better served if this were set up so that the various topics were divided by broad categories, like writing your book or preparing your book for an agent or publisher. So while I enjoyed the information in the book, it was a hard one to just sit down and read because I don't like jumping from one unrelated topic to another constantly—and having to flip back to the table of contents every few minutes is annoying. If you don't mind that or if you like a glimpse into traditional publishing or are looking for another book on writing tips, you may very well find this book helpful.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
July 15, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a writer myself, I am well aware of the difficulty of writing and then preparing a novel for submission to literary agents. Just when you think you have a grasp on what needs to be done, you come across some new tip or bit of advice that reminds you of what a daunting task this is.
The Author’s Checklist, written by literary agent Elizabeth Kracht, attempts to make the author’s job easy by providing a listing of and explanations for many of the common issues that writers need to consider when preparing their work for submission.
While there were sections of the book that were specific to non-fiction books and memoirs, I found several areas that should prove helpful in getting my next novel in shape for literary agent consideration. Those areas specifically included: Chapter arcs, Chapter length, Characterization, Pacing, Rejection, Symbolism, and Voice.
I gave The Author’s Checklist five stars on Goodreads. While a few of the topics tapped into some of my insecurities about my own writing and ability to earn an offer of literary representation, I found many more positives than negatives while reading this book. I’m certain I’ll be referring back to it many times as I continue my writing career.
As a writer myself, I am well aware of the difficulty of writing and then preparing a novel for submission to literary agents. Just when you think you have a grasp on what needs to be done, you come across some new tip or bit of advice that reminds you of what a daunting task this is.
The Author’s Checklist, written by literary agent Elizabeth Kracht, attempts to make the author’s job easy by providing a listing of and explanations for many of the common issues that writers need to consider when preparing their work for submission.
While there were sections of the book that were specific to non-fiction books and memoirs, I found several areas that should prove helpful in getting my next novel in shape for literary agent consideration. Those areas specifically included: Chapter arcs, Chapter length, Characterization, Pacing, Rejection, Symbolism, and Voice.
I gave The Author’s Checklist five stars on Goodreads. While a few of the topics tapped into some of my insecurities about my own writing and ability to earn an offer of literary representation, I found many more positives than negatives while reading this book. I’m certain I’ll be referring back to it many times as I continue my writing career.
February 28, 2020
This excellent, highly readable book offers sound, solid advice from pro on how to write and publish a novel. Presented topically and in alphabetical order, this book would be a terrific resource for authors writing their first (and maybe second) book. The author covers a wide range of both practical and artistic subjects, including current grammatical usage, story arcs, world building, publicity, query letters, and filter words. Checklists are included at the end of each chapter. These lists would be helpful to all authors, even those who have published several books.
Even as a published author, I found this book interesting and useful. Though the book is aimed at novice writers, I benefitted from reminders about using filter words and story arcs. The author also helpfully covers how to incorporate text messages as part of a novel and addresses other new tech tools writers come across and use. Some advice is given for non-fiction books and memoirs, but the focus is on fiction.
Some of the material is repetitive, due to the alphabetical arrangement of the book. Overall, this was a concise and solid book of what you need to know and practice to get a book published.
Even as a published author, I found this book interesting and useful. Though the book is aimed at novice writers, I benefitted from reminders about using filter words and story arcs. The author also helpfully covers how to incorporate text messages as part of a novel and addresses other new tech tools writers come across and use. Some advice is given for non-fiction books and memoirs, but the focus is on fiction.
Some of the material is repetitive, due to the alphabetical arrangement of the book. Overall, this was a concise and solid book of what you need to know and practice to get a book published.
March 15, 2020
The Author's Checklist
An Agent's Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript
by Elizabeth K. Kracht
New World Library
Nonfiction (Adult) , Reference
Pub Date 14 Feb 2020
I am reviewing a copy of The Author’s Checklist through New World Library and Netgalley:
In The Author’s Checklist we are reminded that even good manuscripts are going to have weak spots, and that there’s a large gap between what authors think are ready for publications and what agents and other in the publishing profession believe are ready.
Elizabeth Kracht does tell us that there is good news though, most of the problems seen with these manuscripts can be fixed easily once the readers sees and understands the problems. The weak spots can be made stronger, leading to a better Manuscript.
Elizabeth Kracht points out that many manuscripts have the same issues so she begins to make a short list of pitfalls, in short easy to read chapters.
The Author’s Checklist covers everything from Acknowledgements, to World Building. The book is written in laymen’s terms, allowing for anyone to understand the book.
I give The Author’s Checklist five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
An Agent's Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript
by Elizabeth K. Kracht
New World Library
Nonfiction (Adult) , Reference
Pub Date 14 Feb 2020
I am reviewing a copy of The Author’s Checklist through New World Library and Netgalley:
In The Author’s Checklist we are reminded that even good manuscripts are going to have weak spots, and that there’s a large gap between what authors think are ready for publications and what agents and other in the publishing profession believe are ready.
Elizabeth Kracht does tell us that there is good news though, most of the problems seen with these manuscripts can be fixed easily once the readers sees and understands the problems. The weak spots can be made stronger, leading to a better Manuscript.
Elizabeth Kracht points out that many manuscripts have the same issues so she begins to make a short list of pitfalls, in short easy to read chapters.
The Author’s Checklist covers everything from Acknowledgements, to World Building. The book is written in laymen’s terms, allowing for anyone to understand the book.
I give The Author’s Checklist five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
March 10, 2020
5 stars
This book delivers exactly what the title promises: a checklist of what to have in a manuscript.
It is short but precise, which makes it easy to read and reread.
It offers great advice to strengthen, fictional and non-fictional, manuscript before submitting to an editor. I think it should be read before and while writing a novel.
The chapters are well organized, in alphabetical order, which I find extremely useful in a guide such as this book.
It's one of the rare times that I sit still through a nonfictional book without being bored. It goes thoroughly into a lot of details such as the design of the breaks within the chapters, to the way the author can structure her/his plot.
I've read a lot of books in my life, and I've caught some of the errors the author was talking about, and I don't want to look snob but, they do take away from the quality of the book.
I'm definitely buying the printed version.
Thank you netgalley, the publishers and the author for my ARC to read and give an honest review.
This book delivers exactly what the title promises: a checklist of what to have in a manuscript.
It is short but precise, which makes it easy to read and reread.
It offers great advice to strengthen, fictional and non-fictional, manuscript before submitting to an editor. I think it should be read before and while writing a novel.
The chapters are well organized, in alphabetical order, which I find extremely useful in a guide such as this book.
It's one of the rare times that I sit still through a nonfictional book without being bored. It goes thoroughly into a lot of details such as the design of the breaks within the chapters, to the way the author can structure her/his plot.
I've read a lot of books in my life, and I've caught some of the errors the author was talking about, and I don't want to look snob but, they do take away from the quality of the book.
I'm definitely buying the printed version.
Thank you netgalley, the publishers and the author for my ARC to read and give an honest review.
April 28, 2020
The Author’s Checklist is a comprehensive guide that is essential for every serious writer. The book is full of valuable information about editing, publishing and marketing a novel. Focusing on the myriad reasons why manuscripts are rejected by agents and publishers, the checklist is a guide to avoiding those pitfalls by viewing a manuscript through the eyes of an agent. The book will save aspiring writers countless internet searches about word-counts, queries and synopses.
But the greater value of the book – and the enjoyable part for writers – is Ms. Kracht’s teaching points on the art of writing itself. Not only does she cover the big picture – the pace and flow of a manuscript, she also shares devices for creating tension and developing characters and likable protagonists. Throughout the book, Ms. Kracht practices her advice of “showing, not telling” by including concrete examples. Many times, her advice had me running to my manuscript with a new idea. If you are willing to accept advice, the book will improve your project.
But the greater value of the book – and the enjoyable part for writers – is Ms. Kracht’s teaching points on the art of writing itself. Not only does she cover the big picture – the pace and flow of a manuscript, she also shares devices for creating tension and developing characters and likable protagonists. Throughout the book, Ms. Kracht practices her advice of “showing, not telling” by including concrete examples. Many times, her advice had me running to my manuscript with a new idea. If you are willing to accept advice, the book will improve your project.
April 8, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Kracht at a writer's conference in LA last month and sought her advice working on my query letter. Besides being incredibly helpful, I found her extremely patient and kind and willing to go above and beyond to help myself and other attendees at the conference. Her book, The Author's Checklist, feels just the same.
I enjoyed the short chapters packed with insight and advice for writers, coupled with the action steps and easy to find information. I sought out many chapters for specific advice on my manuscript in progress before reading the book cover to cover, and now my book is full of pages with folded corners to revisit as I continue my writing and editing adventure.
I found The Author's Checklist one of the most helpful and practical tools I've found on my journey to becoming a published author, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to do the same!
I enjoyed the short chapters packed with insight and advice for writers, coupled with the action steps and easy to find information. I sought out many chapters for specific advice on my manuscript in progress before reading the book cover to cover, and now my book is full of pages with folded corners to revisit as I continue my writing and editing adventure.
I found The Author's Checklist one of the most helpful and practical tools I've found on my journey to becoming a published author, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to do the same!
May 28, 2020
This is a helpful, accessible guide for authors who are developing, polishing, and submitting their manuscripts. The author includes industry guidance from her experience as an agent/editor and examples of a query letter and synopsis. Her voice is personable and engaging. I want to know more about her most powerful dream, her animal rescue work in Puerto Rico, and her apparent love for helicopter rides.
The book's title may be misleading. The book is organized alphabetically by topic, with short checklists after each topic, but it isn't an overall checklist for developing or improving your manuscript. Because the author addresses both fiction and non-fiction in each topic section, it is sometimes confusing whether her advice applies to fiction, non-fiction, or both.
Still, this is a useful reference book, and even seasoned writers are likely to come away with a new insight or idea.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book's title may be misleading. The book is organized alphabetically by topic, with short checklists after each topic, but it isn't an overall checklist for developing or improving your manuscript. Because the author addresses both fiction and non-fiction in each topic section, it is sometimes confusing whether her advice applies to fiction, non-fiction, or both.
Still, this is a useful reference book, and even seasoned writers are likely to come away with a new insight or idea.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2020
This is a book for aspiring authors trying to get a handle on the way agents view things. Topics are brief and organized alphabetically. Because of the brevity, no topic is really dealt with in a complete way, but Kracht gives you a sense of things and points you in the right direction. I didn't always agree with her--I'm not so hostile towards adverbs. But I came away with some useful ideas. I'd always felt nervous and even resistant towards the idea of comparable titles--titles of books an author cites in a query letter for marketing purposes. Kracht has a different sense of these than I've encountered with other agents; I wonder whether some would disagree with her. But I found her approach to comps refreshing. Not only was I able to come up with comps based on her directives; I also found that doing so clarified for me what I was trying to do with my current project. A very useful book for people working on a first book with the goal of approaching an agent or editor.
March 20, 2020
The Author's Checklist: An Agent's Guide to Developing and Editing Your Manuscript by Elizabeth K. Kracht is a must-have resource for authors, editors, and anyone interested in the literary and publishing field. Elizabeth Kracht provides invaluable resources for writers who are submitting their work to an agent or publisher. Still, the information provided can apply to any author because it focuses on what makes for a good book.
The book is formatted into an A-to-Z list and provides links and resources to explore sections further. It is a practical and easy-to-use guide with excellent examples and information to help authors looking to get traditionally published.
It is a valuable tool and resource for any author who wants to improve their craft. A great resource to have on hand and refer back to during the writing and editing process.
#TheAuthorsChecklist #NetGalley
The book is formatted into an A-to-Z list and provides links and resources to explore sections further. It is a practical and easy-to-use guide with excellent examples and information to help authors looking to get traditionally published.
It is a valuable tool and resource for any author who wants to improve their craft. A great resource to have on hand and refer back to during the writing and editing process.
#TheAuthorsChecklist #NetGalley
July 5, 2020
This is such a helpful book, I hardly know where to begin.
Sometimes when I read, I take notes, and I can honestly say that I took a butt-ton of notes as I moved through this book! There is so much knowledge here, and I was frequently struck by how useful this book would be even for the average fan-fic writer. This is an accessible, easy to read book that doesn't talk down to the reader and that gives off an aura of wanting to be helpful. And it succeeds very well. You don't have to read it from front to back, you can skip around to whatever section you need help with whether that's characterization or chapter-length or whatever.
Everyone who want to do something with their writing (beyond leaving it in a drawer) should have this book, read it carefully and make notes. Then refer to it often. It's a valuable resource that should not be ignored.
Sometimes when I read, I take notes, and I can honestly say that I took a butt-ton of notes as I moved through this book! There is so much knowledge here, and I was frequently struck by how useful this book would be even for the average fan-fic writer. This is an accessible, easy to read book that doesn't talk down to the reader and that gives off an aura of wanting to be helpful. And it succeeds very well. You don't have to read it from front to back, you can skip around to whatever section you need help with whether that's characterization or chapter-length or whatever.
Everyone who want to do something with their writing (beyond leaving it in a drawer) should have this book, read it carefully and make notes. Then refer to it often. It's a valuable resource that should not be ignored.
July 16, 2020
The Author's Checklist is an excellent "how to" guide for authors serious about the craft of writing. If you are a writer in search of a literary agent or small publisher, you need this book to know how to best prepare your manuscript for queries and submissions.
Well written, easy to follow, and nicely organized, this book is a must for your author tool-box. There is not a writer I know who would not benefit from Ms. Kracht's guide to polishing a manuscript to make it appealing to acquiring editors and agents alike.
No matter if you write fiction of any genre, or non-fiction, if you intend to publish your books traditionally (or even for those who prefer self-pubbing) you will want to keep this guide handy. My copy is on my desk next to my laptop so I can easily access it.
Thank you, Ms. Kracht for providing us authors with this valuable resource.
Well written, easy to follow, and nicely organized, this book is a must for your author tool-box. There is not a writer I know who would not benefit from Ms. Kracht's guide to polishing a manuscript to make it appealing to acquiring editors and agents alike.
No matter if you write fiction of any genre, or non-fiction, if you intend to publish your books traditionally (or even for those who prefer self-pubbing) you will want to keep this guide handy. My copy is on my desk next to my laptop so I can easily access it.
Thank you, Ms. Kracht for providing us authors with this valuable resource.
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