catebaum

About Cate Baum

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So far Cate Baum has created 391 blog entries.

4 Tips To Focus on Writing in 2021

Writing at home

It’s going to be a challenge this year, but writing offers an escape from the world like no other.

Here we are folks, the middle of a pandemic, political unrest, climate crises, police violence, and insurrection. But if you are a writer, this is an excellent time for you to get that book done.

Lockdown Blues

So you can’t leave the house? What are you waiting for? You’ve been saying if only you had time to do that book. Now you do. Business News Daily reported that a study found that people who work from home gain 1.4 days a […]

2021-01-13T07:12:33+02:00January 13th, 2021|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Infinity Publishing’s Authors FastPencil Issues – What to Do

There have been many authors complaining about not getting royalties since FastPencil took over Infinity Publishing. Here’s what we know, and what you can consider about the buyout if you are affected.

We reviewed the now-defunct company here back in 2011.

infinity publishing royaltiesYou Retained All Your Rights

On their website, Infinity’s FAQs stated:

“At Infinity Publishing, you own your copyright and all the rights to your book. If your book has movie potential, wouldn’t you want the right to make that deal? Many book publishing companies keep certain rights and can exercise these rights without your input or approval. Infinity Publishing

[…]
2020-11-05T05:11:55+02:00November 5th, 2020|Categories: Features, Resources|Tags: |

How To Lose Word Count From Your Book – 10 Ways

Losing Word CountHow do you lose words from your book without destroying the story? Why is word count so important?

The length of your manuscript is a major factor in your journey to publication. Word count affects printing costs (and therefore profit) and reader feedback, story construction (even in a non-fiction book’s case) and sales. Publishers may ask for a shorter manuscript, so you might have to buckle down to this reality.

Accepted lengths of a book

Adult Fiction: 70,000 – 100,000 words (including Fantasy, yes!)
YA Fiction – 60,000 – 85,000 words

Non-Fiction: 50,000 – 75,000 words (less if with images)[…]

2020-10-23T05:56:52+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: |

Tough Luck Idiot: Memories of a Flipass Soul by Nik Graveson

Tough Luck Idiot by Nik Graveson

Nik Graveson’s rock ‘n roll ride as a musician and poet leads him into the underbelly of a life lived in the wreckage and back again in Tough Luck Idiot: Memories of a Flipass Soul. From the writer’s teenage years as he joins a band in ‘Noweheresville’ and experiments with drugs under the bleachers, to the obligatory musician’s pilgrimage to 90s Los Angeles, memories are laid bare in a brutally honest Molotov cocktail of a memoir. The story is hurled straight at the reader with a wry humor that makes it hard to resist Graveson’s gritty coming of age […]

2020-10-16T02:54:16+02:00October 15th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

How To Get An Agent For My Book – Part Four: Finding Agents

The hardest part of your search for an agent begins: how to find the agents to write to. Seems easy, right? Just look up ‘literary agents’ on Google, make a list, and send your submission out to all of them? If you do that, you’re wasting your time and also your chances all in one go. Here’s everything you need to know about finding agents to submit to.

Setting Up Your Submissions Process

Research each agent you find. Start here at this agent database at P&W. Read their manuscript wishlists (#MSWL), and look at their social media. […]

2020-09-11T02:51:42+02:00September 11th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: |

How To Get An Agent For My Book – Part Three: The Book Sample

Here is a detailed guide to preparing your book sample for a literary agent.

Your book sample is obviously the most important element of your agent submission to be read after the letter and synopsis.

For fiction submissions, which is what I am talking about in this series, you need to read each agent’s requirement on the submissions page of their website.

(Non-fiction is completely different, and you should refer to Jane Friedman’s series on Non-Fiction and Memoir for this)

The vast majority of agents will want a sample attached to the email, and this is usually either thirty or […]

2020-09-14T07:56:07+02:00September 6th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: |

How To Get An Agent For My Book – Part Two: The Synopsis

Thousands of writers submit their books to literary agents every year, but only very few are chosen. Why is this, and how can you give yourself the best chance?

Part Two: The Synopsis

A synopsis is the second part of your submission to an agent in that if you nail your submission letter (discussed in Part One) they will next read the synopsis of the story of your book.

For this series, I am discussing fiction books, as there is a completely different type of synopsis for a non-fiction book, specified in detail on each agency website.

However, a fiction […]

2020-09-14T06:58:48+02:00August 25th, 2020|Categories: Features|Tags: |
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