This panel of editors, agents, and publishers spoke to writers at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference in British Columbia. I’ve not only pulled out 17 reasons book manuscripts are rejected, but also some nuggets of gold from about the book publishing business.
First, a great quip from an agent about getting published:
“You don’t have to have an [...]

To make your manuscript, sample chapters, or articles come alive, you need to find effective (and non-gimmicky) ways to rise to the top of the editors’ and publishers’ slush piles. One way to rise above is to make your writing “edgy and quirky.”
I’m driven to write about edgy and quirky because I have a solid chance at [...]

Here are a few hints on pitching fresh, unexpected, interesting story ideas to magazines. 
“The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.” - John Steinbeck. 
To believe in your writing, you have to [...]

My Reader’s Digest editor is amazing - I’ve learned more from her than all my other editors combined. She makes me edit all the piddly details in my articles, which is making me a better writer. This Reader’s Digest editor works on Saturdays, is constantly trying to catch up on her work, and still gives [...]