Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I don't think the publisher should have to "apologize", but I do think openly referring to someone who does wind up offended as "small minded" is putting the publishing house in line for a larger group of people getting their feathers unnecessarily ruffled.

Nathan, I don't know how often this happened in the past, but a few years ago I spoke with someone who worked for one of the big chain bookstores and he told me that the bookstore where he worked often returned entire boxes of books by debut authors to the publishers without ever having even placed...

I know what you mean. Depending on my mood, when I got to my email box for some reason there are times when I'm like "Please don't let there be a rejection waiting for me when I get there." I think it's pretty much par for the course at this stage. Then when we get to the point of having a...

I don't really know of the particular "rules" for using suddenly. I only know my own personal thoughts and preferences. I think in a first person narrative you can get away with it if it's used infrequently. ie. "My fiance was in the midst of his rant about my ex-boyfriend, when he ca...

If you're more comfortable with it as YA, then roll with it. Although, I do have to mention not all romance has to be peel-the-paper-off-the-walls steamy. Look at Pride & Prejudice , Twilight and The Notebook (to hell with what you say, Nicholas Sparks, I DO consider it a romance) -- all three a...

> Gonzo JORDAN KNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT FAIR. He was my first love. The closest I've ever been to him was in concert last year ( http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86024&id=572612749&l=2c74af2542 :) Yes, I know I should be embarrassed but I'm not). I've met him before without it ... but la...

The whole story was highly amusing ... until Mr. Sessions made his comments . I agree with him, that it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that it was a proof reading error. The bottom line, however, is it will be upsetting to some people. As a higher up in the publishing house they need to addre...

Guess I should erase all those tweets I made talking smack about the Library of Congress huh? ;o)

The best thing for a book's publicity is to be banned.

Once you tell people they can't read something, you make it nearly impossible for them not to want to read it!

dios4vida has some excellent ideas, but I caution you also have to be careful not to use all of them, all the time. Most readers like strong female characters, but they also like them to still feel feminine and real. Strong female characters don't often play games with other people (unless they are ...

When I started a hard core edit of my first ever fully written manuscript, I realized it was so stinking long (150,000 words) because I felt the need to take full paragraphs to explain things that could easily be understood in a single sentence. It wasn't until I sat back and read it -- really read ...

It can be tricky, because as adults we have a tendency to want to try to shelter the younger generation, but in general they like reading about characters who go through the same challenges they face in their lives. I think the main difference between the two is you have to be a little more aware of...

I try to write a book that I would love to read. Which can be tricky, because if I'm not commited to the author or the idea of the story I can lose interest fast. I don't think I have the ability to write a story that isn't somewhat mass market, because my overall tastes aren't specialized enough th...

I'm not sure if this is the norm or the exception to the rule, but I rarely have a shortage of story ideas. Some are small, barely more than a climax and an ending. Others, a whole involved plot starts playing out in my head like a movie. Doesn't sound like a problem, right? Yeah, except these story...

Jaime, you're too cute! (I finally understand who you meant about Scott now. I hadn't heard of Chase before...and hadn't had a chance to google him) I've met a few. Most of which have been athletes. But the one I got most excited about was Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block. When I was thirtee...