There are a few obvious choices (and we’ll talk about those), but when it comes to writing, there’s really not a whole lot of material required—you need a pen and paper. Maybe a computer, if typing is your jam. Maybe a keyboard, if you want to be fancy about it.

Gifts for aspiring writers

If you want to show your love to an aspiring writer with a stellar gift that signals your support—that can be tricky. Especially because so much of writing is deeply personal, and so much of the specifics can vary when it comes to genre.

So, what do you get for the aspiring writer in your life? Or if you are the writer in someone’s life, what do you ask for?

Here are a few ideas to get the gift-giving wheels turning.

Writing software

While it’s possible to make do with a notebook or free software like Google Docs, there are many other software options available for writers looking to optimize the experience of writing itself.

These writing softwares help keep work organized by providing places to categorize information.

Writing software will also make it easy for to format, whether it’s a novel, a book proposal, or some other type of complex document.

Here are a few software options that aspiring writers will love:

• Scrivener (Here’s our review of Scrivener)
• LivingWriter
• Microsoft Word
• For fantasy writers, check out WordAnvil, software designed to help with worldbuilding

Here are a few more suggestions for writing software options for aspiring writers

Journals—seriously

It might seem too obvious to get a writer a journal, but writers can never have enough notebooks.

Here are a few options to consider:

• Spiral-bound single-subject college-ruled notebooks | You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get a writer a good notebook. A few simple college-ruled notebooks like this will definitely be useful, and you can find them almost anywhere. These are great to add to a writer bundle along with a scented candle or tea sampler!
• Leuchtturm1917 Ruled Notebook | For a more luxurious writing experience, you can’t go wrong with a hardcover notebook like this. The ruled option is great, but if your aspiring writer has big handwriting or generally prefers to have more creative freedom with their work, the dotted version of this notebook might be better for them
• Rediform Chemistry Lab Notebook | These simple college-ruled notebooks have numbered pages, which is perfect for an organized writer. They’re conveniently sized and perfect for jotting down whatever comes to mind—these are perfect to carry around all day
• Leonard Notebook from Bull & Stash | If you’re looking for something more high-end that your writer can use forever, opt for a notebook with a quality cover and refillable pages. The refills mean that writers can order fresh paper (which is much less expensive than replacing the entire journal) and keep using the original cover

You may also like: 5 Types of Journalling Writing to Keep You Creative

Books about writing

Aspiring writers are often hungry for writing guidance, and they’re often (obviously) huge fans of reading. So what could be better than a book about how to write?

Here are some great options for early writers.

• Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us: A (Sort Of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Work is Being Rejected by Jessica Page Morrell | Morrell is a writing coach, developmental editor, and writing instructor, and this book is a gold mine of valuable information. I’d been writing for years before I came across this book, and I learned a lot. Morrell addresses common writerly pitfalls and explains how to correct them in a way that’s accessible and often very funny
• On Writing by Stephen King | This is often pointed to as the book about writing, and if you’ve read no other book about the craft, you’ve probably read this one. It was assigned in my creative writing seminar course in college. Stephen King shares advice from a long, complicated career, and even if you’re not a writer, it’s a fascinating read
• Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody | Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need by Blake Snyder has long been established as a classic of the “how to write” genre, and now Random House has an edition of it meant specifically for novelists. If your aspiring writer is a screenwriter, go for Snyder’s edition, and if they’re a novelist, check out Brody’s
• Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lammott | This book is praised as a thoroughly honest guide to not only writing itself, but the lifestyle which accompanies writing. If you want a guide that’s truthful about the process and also offers insight from someone who’s been doing this for a long time, look no further.

You may also like: Stephen King’s 23 Best Writing Tips

Hot drink supplies

Writers are famously fussy, as much as they might try to deny it, and you’d be hard-pressed to find many writers who don’t have rituals surrounding their work. And central to many writers’ process is a cozy beverage—this might be a cocktail, a cup of something warm, or a can of their favorite soda.

If you want to help out the writer in your life and you want to get them something writing adjacent, here are some suggestions:

• DIY Hot Cocoa Mix | You can get your writer a big tin of delicious hot cocoa mix from the store and it will be warmly, gratefully received. But if you want to go the extra mile, try making a hot cocoa mix from scratch! I recommend including this in that bundle idea I mentioned earlier—put this in a basket with a scented candle and a nice notebook and you’ve got a writer kit!
• Tea Sampler and Infuser | Does your aspiring writer love tea? Many of them do. If you don’t know what kind of tea they love, you can’t go wrong with a sampler (and, of course, a cute infuser to keep them company while they’re working on their next masterpiece)
• Awesome Coffee Club | You’d be hard-pressed to find a writer who doesn’t have a mild-to-severe caffeine problem, or at least a deep love of coffee. The Awesome Coffee Club, founded by the Green brothers, offers delicious coffee that’s ethically sourced. Here’s the quote from their site: “Sourcing partners work directly with small farmers’ collectives to ensure that your coffee is not only good for the growers but also farmed with a focus on regenerative agriculture.” If your aspiring writer is a nerdfighter or person who generally cares about ethical consumption of delicious coffee, send a bag of coffee to them for Christmas

Writing utensils

Like notebooks, this might seem like a no-brainer, but again, writers do require endless writing supplies. If you’re lucky enough to know what your writer’s favorite kind of pen or pencil is for everyday use, order them a big box so they never run dry. If you’re not sure, don’t worry, there are options.

• Sharpie S-Gel Retractable Gel Pen | For an affordable, everyday pen, you can’t go wrong with the S-Gel. I use these all the time and don’t personally notice a lot of bleeding like I do with other gel pens. The writing is incredibly smooth, the pen is comfortable to hold—you can’t go wrong
• Parker Jotter Stainless Steel CT Pen | At $20, this is your perfect mid-range pen. You can get ballpoint and gel versions of it, and the all-metal classic design makes it look just as luxurious as it feels to write with
• rOtring 600 Ballpoint Pen or Mechanical Pencil | Another great budget option is this ballpoint pen, lauded for its durability, smooth design, and, of course, smooth writing. If your writer prefers pencils to pens, try the rOtring mechanical pencil for an upgraded writing experience. Reviewers say that the color wears off, revealing the brass underneath, and this lends it sort of a worn-in, personal detail

If the writer in your life is experiencing calluses on their hands from overusing a writing utensil, here’s what to do about it.

Local book store gift card

Most writers are readers and if you know enough about their taste in books to pick up a specific book from your local bookstore, that’s great! If not, there’s no need to fret—you can still give them the gift of a wonderful new book.

Check out your local bookstore and get them a gift card. You can also get them an Amazon gift card if your city doesn’t have a local bookstore, but local bookstores have that personal, special touch that writers love. Not only are you giving them the chance to buy whatever book they want, but you’re giving them the chance to wander through a bookstore for an afternoon.

This is a great gift on its own, or make it a bundle with some cocoa mix, a journal, and new pens.

Online writing courses

Books about writing and online content about writing are great places for writers to get information about guidance on their craft, but the fact is, many writers are desperate for personalized feedback. Even if you’re one of the lucky few writers who has a loved one willing to read your work, the chances of that loved one having professional-grade feedback are slim to none.

Writing courses offer writers the chance to actually get professional feedback on their work. They can be a total game-changer, and the advice they get in these courses can help them for the rest of their lives.

No big deal!

Here’s a few online courses for beginning writers. Check out the Coursera descriptions linked below for more information about pricing, time to complete, and information about for whom the classes are intended.

• Coursera Writing Specialization by Wesleyan University
• Fiction Writing Level 1 by the Gotham Writers Workshop
• Creative Writing 101 by Writer’s Digest University

Want more suggestions? Check out these 59 gift ideas for writers

What is a Footnote? 

A footnote is an in-text citation found in the footer of the page.

You’ll know it’s a footnote when you see a superscript number (a small, raised number) next to a word or chart, which links to a short citation at the bottom of the page.  The footnote will contain additional context or information.

What is an Endnote?

An endnote is an in-text citation found at the end of the chapter or document. 

Similar to a footnote, an endnote gives the reader more information about a topic. However, their location at the end of a chapter allows for them to contain more content than a footnote as there is more space than at the bottom of the page. 

Endnotes vs Footnotes: Which to Use When

Endnotes and footnotes are citations, and they both provide additional information to readers without interrupting the flow of words.

In general, citations are required when writing an academic paper or research study. They’re also expected for essays, certain non-fiction books, and journal articles.

Which citation you go with often depends on the style you’re writing to so take a moment to check the style requirements and become familiar with their prefered citation method.

If you aren’t using many citations and they’re short, then footnotes are fine. If you have longer citations and require additional space, then endnotes may serve you better.

In general, the use of footnotes in most academic writing is now considered a bit outdated and has been replaced by endnotes, which are much easier to place in your paper, even with the advent of word processing programs. However, some disciplines, such as law and history, still predominantly utilize footnotes.

USC Libraries Research Guides

The format you use depends on what you’re writing (books, articles, essays, etc. have different requirements) and what style you’re using. However, citations contain similar elements: 

• A superscript number within the body of text, which corresponding number contains additional information
• A page number or reference, which tells you the source of the information within the text 

Here’s an example of a citation: 

^1. Carolyn Kay, Art and the German Bourgeoisie: Alfred Lichtwark and Modern Painting in Hamburg, 1886-1914 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002), 100.

Novels that Use Citations

Many non-fiction works use citation, but did you know some fiction work use them too? In these cases, authors utilize footnotes or endnotes to introduce readers to a new world with additional commentary. Citations can also add understanding to a character or a subject, making the story even more interesting. 

Here’s a few examples of novels that utilize citations: 

The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker (2020)

This short novel uses footnotes to tell the unspoken thoughts of a man on his lunch break. The author adds footnotes to give us an insight into the narrator’s mind, drawing out his frustrations, thoughts, and expressions. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (2013)

The satirical novel that made us fall in love and laugh at the same time also used excessive footnotes, which acted as witty interjections. Being a novel centered on the money-powered families of East Asia, the footnotes offer a mix of gossip and affirmations for the reader to refer to throughout. 

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004)

In this novel, footnotes are used to determine which characters get to take up the majority of the body text, and which ones simply reside at the bottom of the page. This is one way authors can use footnotes to place importance (or lack of) on certain characters or objects.

Summary: Endnotes vs Footnotes

Endnotes and footnotes serve to add information and context for readers to help deepen their understanding on a topic. While footnotes are shorter and sit within the page footer, endnotes are typically longer and are found at the end of a chapter or section.  When it comes to endnotes vs footnotes, which do you prefer?

The current Writers Strike, which is interrupting American film, television, and digital media, is focused on streaming media residuals and artificial intelligence.

As scribes barricade themselves with placards demanding fair compensation and creative autonomy, the echoes of the past resound, stirring up unresolved tensions between the Writers Guild of America labor union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

This article looks back at the infamous writers strike 2007 and explores how it’s relevant to the writing community and media consumers today.

The 2007 Writers Guild of America Strike

On November 5 2007, screenwriters from the Writers Guild of America (WGA), a collective union of American writers, took to the streets of Los Angeles to protest against television corporations, including: 

• CBS
• MGM
• Lionsgate
• The Weinstein Company
• The Walt Disney Company
• NBC Universal
• Starz
• Sony Pictures 
• Paramount Pictures
• Warner Bros 
• News Corporation

But why? 

For decades before the strike, WGA had been protesting against a recurring issue with the distribution of money in the business. 

In 1985, writers went on strike over the home video market, where distribution companies argued that the delivery and manufacturing of these home videos were expensive, meaning writers were left short changed for their work. 

The pattern continued as new forms of media were released, which led to the 100-day Hollywood Writers Strike 2007. 

The strike sought to increase the funding for writers, which was proven to be significantly lower than the profits of these large studios. Screenwriters felt as if their work was seen as inferior in the grand scheme of production, though the effects on TV shows and movies during this protest was yet to prove otherwise! 

What Happened During the Two Month Strike? 

Writers across America conducted a powerful walkout, which proved to shake the entertainment industry more than anyone expected. With over 60 television shows shutting down and millions of dollars lost for the networks, the local economy certainly took a hit. 

During the strike, consumers and television lovers everywhere had to go without their favorite shows, while networks aired back-to-back reruns. 

Writers continued protesting for a larger share of the profits being made from distribution networks. Some notable faces amongst the protest crowds included, Ben Stiller, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, plus many actors from the cast of Grey’s Anatomy and CSI. 

“The [writers’] deal is ridiculously unfair and anything that anybody can do to call attention to that is good at this stage. It’s miraculously unfair what’s going on, so it’s a no-brainer, you just come out and support it.”

Matthew Perry in 2007

As the strike persisted, popular late night shows like Saturday Night Live were paused for months. As a result, unscripted reality shows emerged because producers weren’t able to get their hands on scripts by professional writers. 

It’s evident how significant of a role writers played in the overall production, engagement, and distribution of the shows and films that were driving the Los Angeles entertainment economy. Without them, the industry lost millions, hugely-sponsored award ceremonies went downhill, blockbusters were delayed, and new shows didn’t make it past their first season. 

How was the Writers Strike 2007 Resolved?

While it felt like the entertainment industry was a fire that couldn’t be put out at this point, on February 12 2008, the members of the WGA eventually voted by a margin of more than 90% go back to work. 

What did they achieve?

The WGA earned a larger piece of the digital revenues from the productions they scripted. 

What were the Long-Term Effects of the Writers Strike 2007? 

Although this proves how needed and how successful the strike turned out in terms of giving writers their residual payment terms, they had to return to industries that were inevitably changed. 

Reality TV Shows Gained Momentum

By the time writers had made their way back to work, reality shows like Deal or No Deal were having their moment and topping the ratings each week.

This meant that scripted TV shows were drying out because of the lack of new episodes throughout the duration of the strike. 

Death of the Newbie Writers

While you may think that the lack of scriptwriters would create opportunities to younger, less-experienced writers looking to get their foot in the door, it was actually the opposite that took place. 

Writers who had moved up the ranks in the entertainment sector were being brought back down a level to fill the shoes of the writers on strike. Although they had to take a pay cut, producers were more keen to keep “seasoned” writers in the business, meaning the pathway for newbies was cut off. 

There were a few writers who jumped at the chance to squeeze their way in through the gaps, including the likes of Nick Bernadone who worked alongside Tina Fey and on numerous hit Netflix shows.

The Birth of Streaming Services

Do you know what else happened in 2007? The Netflix uproar. 

One of the effects of the strike was it being somewhat of a base for the massive growth we were about to see in streaming services, such as Hulu and Netflix. 

It became clear to the industry that a power shift was about to take place when the WGA refused to sign a contract that didn’t include “new media residuals.” This meant that writers wanted to be paid from the shows they scripted that ended up on platforms like Netflix, even though they weren’t originally made for Netflix. 

How I Met Your Mother is a great example of this. The scriptwriters of this popular show were compensated for the work they did even once it started streaming on Netflix, which skyrocketed its views. 

While it may have initially seemed like reality TV was about to blow every other show out of the water, the growth of streaming services turned this all around, giving writers their moment back.

Are We Still Seeing These Issues in the Industry?

Although the 100 day strike has passed us by over 15 years ago, are these issues still a dark cloud over Hollywood? 

At the end of 2022, reports of a writers strike occurring began to loom across the Internet as members of the WGA spoke about their dissatisfaction with current contracts. 

While we move away from the original forms of distribution from 2007, like DVD residuals, writers are now reflecting on their “next to nothing” pay rates for shows on streaming services. 

The rules are a little different for streaming platforms than traditional cable. Viewers are turning to mini-series with hour-long episodes, which require less writers from the beginning and leaving little room for new writers to make their mark. 

So, the question is, are we back in the same boat as we were in 2007? 

In terms of reality TV shows and blockbuster films, not so much. In regards to the influx of viral series on Netflix that seem to be marginalizing (or completely cutting out) dozens of writers, most likely. 

Overall, there needs to be a significant change in pre-episode compensation for writers to shorten the gap between working and earning and to allow them to pay their bills and make a sustainable living from what they love most—being a writer! 

That said, if you’re a new writer looking for advice, this can make a project as big as a novel feel daunting. How do you even start to tackle a project that might be a few hundred thousand words long before it’s over?

If you’re a painter, you need to learn about different methods and techniques and try each to see which resonates with you—you learn how people have been doing it, because that gives you a foundation of information to work with. With that foundation, you’ll eventually gain the experience necessary to use what works for you and leave the rest.

It’s the same with writing. While you’ll eventually reach a point where you’ve got a book writing process which works for you, you may need to try a few different methods before striking gold. In this article, I’ve got five methods for you to add to your toolkit—feel free to mess with them as you need to so they’re effective for your project’s needs.

For each process, I’m going to talk about how it works, who it might be helpful for, and what sorts of tweaks you could make to give you an idea of how to customize these processes. But before we get into that, I want to talk about brainstorming and outlining.

Brainstorming and Outlining

Before you start actually writing your book, you’re going to want some idea of what the book is about. You’ll probably need to know: 

– who the characters are

– where the characters are

– what the characters want (at least in the beginning)

& what the book is About (what big themes or ideas you intend to explore).

Some writers have this more or less all in their head before they sit down to write, but I recommend jotting it down. Here are a few ways you might brainstorm before you start getting into the meat of your novel:

1. Mind Map

Write a word in the center of a piece of paper related to your novel—it might be a character’s name, the setting, an idea, a theme, whatever. Draw two lines away from that word and write the first related thing that comes to mind, and do this until the page is full of characters, plot points, settings, phrases, and so on which correspond to your novel.

2. Stream of Consciousness

Set a timer for two, five, or ten minutes (whatever works for you) and write down literally whatever comes to mind. If you’re writing ‘I don’t know what to write and I think this brainstorming idea is terrible,’ that’s cool. Keep going until you’ve got enough to work with.

How do you know you’ve got enough to work with?

There’s not a hard rule, but basically, you’ve got enough to work with when you feel that the brainstorming process is done. You feel ready to start writing. You may need to revisit the brainstorming process while you’re writing to work out plot holes or sticky spots, and that’s fine! This is just to help you get started with a solid foundation.

And once you’ve got that foundation, you’re ready to write your book, and that’s where these five processes come in.

The Snowflake Method

Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake Method is built on the idea that “good fiction doesn’t just happen, it’s designed.”  The Snowflake Method forces you to start small and expand outwards until you’ve got a fully fledged novel. This process is outlined in detail on Ingermanson’s website, but we’ll go over a brief summary here.

Steps 1-7: Synopses and Character Description

You start with an elevator pitch for your novel. If you’re not sure how to write one, look up one-sentence novel descriptions to get a feel for how they should look—they’re basically a summary intended to sell the listener on the story.

Steps 8-9: Outlining

Here, Ingermanson instructs to use a spreadsheet to outline your novel. You’ll use one line for each scene. Then, you take this information and write out a narrative description—basically, you’re converting the spreadsheet to a word document and writing out how the book plays out. He says this step is optional.

If you’re using software like Scrivener, there might be a feature built-in for you to list your scenes. Otherwise, Google Sheets is free.

Step 10: Drafting

Draft the novel! You might need to take breaks to edit the design documents you’ve been creating as things change, and that’s okay. Ingermanson explains that these design documents will have to be edited if you’re doing well—as your ideas develop and change, you’ll have to reflect those changes in the pitch, character synopses, and plot summary.

The Snowflake Method is great because it offers structure for the process without enforcing structure on your book itself. You can use this process with whichever plot structure you like, and at the end of it, you’ve got the documentation you’ll need to sell this book to publishers or market this book on your own as an indie author.

If you’re going to tweak this method, tweak the time frames—Ingermanson lists how long each step should take (which is hugely helpful for keeping creative momentum going), but if you need to take more or less time on a given step or if you need to take breaks between steps, no one’s stopping you.

Discovery Draft

A discovery draft is what a lot of writers might refer to as ‘pantsing.’ For this, you might or might not have much idea of what you’re going to write about—if you have anything written down, it’s probably just a premise or starting point: a character in an interesting setting, a specific fight, whatever.

The idea of a discovery draft is that you sit down and draft the novel as quickly as possible, figuring out details about characters, plot, and all that as you go. Some discovery drafters will edit as they go—I recommend that you don’t, but do make notes or keep a separate document going with the changes that come to mind as you work.

This allows for a lot of creative momentum, because you’re discovering the story as you go—it’s exciting. The downside is that because you might not know where you’re going, you may get stuck. If this happens, I recommend slapping down a note that says “GOT STUCK HERE” and jumping to the next scene. If you don’t know what the next scene is going to be, that’s also okay. You can pause and brainstorm to figure out what happens next, or just decide what would be the worst possible (and realistic) thing to happen to these characters at this time and go with that.

You’ll end up with a first draft that’s also an outline and also a character sheet. Once you’ve finished this draft, go through and identify character arcs and plot arcs and determine how to hone them. Almost none of your discovery draft is likely to end up in the finished product, but that’s true of any first draft.

Bullet Point Outline

A bullet point outline is a great option if you’re looking for something super flexible, and it’s the foundation for many other methods you’ll see. Basically, this is the spreadsheet step in the Snowflake Method.

On a piece of paper, in a word document, or on a spreadsheet—doesn’t matter—you’ll dedicate a line to each plot point.

If you want a super detailed outline, you might write each beat as its own line. If you do this, I recommend organizing your outline so that each chapter has its own heading, just to keep everything streamlined and easy to refer to. You can use highlighters or different-colored fonts to color-code based on character, subplot, or whatever you desire.

If you don’t want to get that detailed, you can write down the major plot points in your novel and forget the rest.

As long as you have enough information to feel comfortable drafting, you’re good to go. A detailed outline can help save time in the drafting process, but a loose outline might make you feel a little more free to change things up as you draft—if you get lost along the way, skip along to the next beat, and figure out how to close that gap when you revise.

Start at the End

Have you heard of Sagging Middle Syndrome? It describes the phenomenon wherein you breeze through the setup of your novel, then stall out in the middle—around the middle of act two, it becomes impossible to reach the climax. Characters hang out doing unrelated shenanigans until the climax comes to rescue them (and the reader).

This is a pretty natural thing to happen, especially in a first draft. If it’s a particularly tough struggle for you, try starting your novel at the end. Where do your characters end up? Who wins, and what happens as a result of that? Knowing how the story ends makes it easier to figure out how to get there.

Another variant on this method is starting with the climax. If you’re the type of author to get an idea for a really cool climax before you think of anything else, just write that climax down. Yes, it’ll probably change dramatically as you rework it—this is inevitable.

After you’ve written the end or the climax or whichever scene you’ve decided to start with, ask yourself the following questions:

– who are these characters?

– how did they get here?

– who ultimately wins in this confrontation?

You can keep working backward, or you can pause and switch to a bullet outline—whatever works for you.

Storyboard Method

If you’re a visual learner, this might be your ticket.

Storyboards are commonly used for visual mediums like comic books, T.V., or movies, but you can use them for novels, too. Use index cards to draw out the scenes you want to have happen in your novel and tape them to a piece of posterboard, the floor, the refrigerator, or your bedroom wall. Instead of drawing the scenes, you could also write them out using short sentences or descriptions.

Again, if you want to use color-coding or some other unique marker to pick out characters and subplots, go for it! If not, cool. This method is great because it allows you to literally see missing spots in your plot, and it allows you to literally pick up and move scenes and see what they’d look like in other parts of the story.

Some writing software like Scrivener has features which allow you to do this, so if you’re looking for a way to do this that saves some space, you might find that useful.

When you’ve got everything lined up the way you want it, take that information and put it into a word document. This will serve as a bare-bones first draft, which you can get straight into revising!

Without literary agents, traditionally published authors would have an extremely difficult time getting published. If you are passionate about books, writing, interacting with others, and pitching projects you are passionate about, becoming a literary agent could be the perfect step for you.

There is a process you can follow to help you reach your goals, salary expectations, and of course, a training pathway. In this article, we discuss all three:

• Process
• Salary Expectations
• Training Pathway 

Ready to dive in and get familiar with how to pursue your dream? Let’s go! 

Process

When choosing to become a literary agent, it’s important to follow three core steps. You could dive in and work to figure it out as you go, but to succeed long term, it’s crucial to set yourself up for success. 

#1 – Familiarize yourself with the process.

There are quite a few steps between the conception of a book idea and its final publication. As an agent, it’s your job to understand these steps, be able to articulate them to your client, and help them through the process. Below is a brief but not all-inclusive overview: 

• Writer writes the book and proposal 
• Agent shops the manuscript to acquisition editors 
• The acquisition editor (if they like the book) research the writer’s platform and comparative titles
• Acquisitions editor sets up a meeting with the publication board (pub board) and presents their findings
• Often, an acquisition editor may contact the agent at this time and bring them up to speed on their progress 
• Pub board votes on the project (either unanimous or majority vote)
• If the vote goes through, the agent is notified and calls their client 

Next, network with others in the industry. 

#2 – Network.

The more industry professionals you know, the higher your chances of engaging with the right writers, acquisitions editors, and publishers. If you want to become an agent but lack contacts, networking is a great way to start.

Attend writing conferences, join live webinars, create a Twitter account and join the #WritingCommunity, or reach out to writing groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of becoming an agent and securing the right book deals with the right publishing houses.

#3 – Intern with a professional agent.

Even if you are post high school or college, an internship can be a great way to get your foot in the door and learn the process. Just as when you start a new job, you are trained, when learning how to become an agent, it’s helpful to have an agent train you.

Working with a senior agent allows you to see the behind-the-scenes of the process, take notes on how agents and writers work together, and see details of the job you may otherwise miss. An internship, paid or unpaid, is an invaluable way to get hands-on experience in your desired job role.

Salary Expectations

Most agents require about a 15% commission rate on the published works of their clients. This commission is all-inclusive, meaning it encompasses anything from film rights to audiobook rights. 

Note that the commission rate will likely be higher for you if the work includes a language translation or foreign rights sales.

This commission fee is one reason why it is crucial to take on a client list you believe in and are passionate about helping. It is also crucial to vet writers before taking them on. Ask yourself the following questions before taking on a writer:

• Are they hard workers? 
• Is writing more of a side hobby or is it a career goal they’re willing to work for?
• Are they actively learning how to write better, networking, and building their platform?

An agent and writer contractual relationship may last for at least two years, so make sure you work with writers you truly do want to work with.

Training Pathway 

The pathway to becoming an agent varies person to person, but there are a few key steps you can start taking today to journey closer to your goal. Many of these steps are simply self-educating on the multifaceted industry that is publishing: 

#1 – Learn what good writing is.

If you want to make that 15% commission selling your client’s work, it’s important they are a great writer. Learn the difference between bad writing, good writing, and what makes writing truly great. 

Learn to pick up the difference between passive and active writing. Identify first and third person stories and why each one used a different tense. 

#2 – Learn about proposals.

Your client’s book proposal can make or break the possibility of a great book deal. Learn what goes into developing a strong marketing plan, why endorsers matter, and the various checklists a writer needs to follow when including competitive titles. 

#3 – Learn about acquisitions.

As an agent, it will be your job to submit your client’s book proposal to an acquisitions editor. Knowing what they enjoy, what they are looking for, and the genres a particular house accepts is vital to you and your client’s success.

Additionally, knowing when to pitch is an important element of successful pitching. Does December seem like a great month to pitch?* Make sure you know these answers. 

*(December is typically not the best time to pitch because most publishers wind down their acquisitions between Thanksgiving and New Years.) 

#4 – Get familiar with pitching (don’t apologize).

There is a difference between pitching an idea, apologizing for adding to an editor’s inbox, and ending with “I completely understand if you do not want this title.” 

Instead, learn how to pitch boldly, know the worth of your client’s idea, and pitch it well. Understand how to tread the line between being professional and personal, and learn the art of saying as much as possible with as few words as necessary.

Take Your First Step Today

If this article seemed a little overwhelming, don’t let it stop you from pursuing your dream. Yes, there was a lot of content, but you don’t need to pursue it all at once! In fact, it’s likely better to take it one step at a time.

Rather than try to master each of the above steps, focus on one to educate yourself on today. Buy a book on how to write a great proposal or browse the web for free articles on the topic. Learn what goes into a proposal, and maybe try writing one yourself. 

This will allow you to empathize with future clients while giving you concrete experience. The better you know how to complete the steps on your own, the more you can encourage your clients in the right direction.

Becoming an agent is an exciting endeavor. You get to bridge the gap between their dream and its reality. This is not something to take lightly, but neither is it something to let overwhelm you. Enjoy the process of learning how to become an agent, signing on your first client, and don’t forget to celebrate when you both earn that first book contract!  

Read here to find how people search for literary agents.

However, being an author today is quite similar to being an entrepreneur. Gone are the days when writers sat down at their desk, handwrote their manuscript, and mailed it in to the publisher, only to repeat the process.

Today, author’s largely rely on platform to make sales, but marketing is not the only way to bring in revenue from your books. Affiliate marketing could be a helpful method to look into, and could be conducive to your making a lucrative career from your author website.

In this article, we cover the following: 

• What Is Affiliate Marketing?
• How Much You Can Earn?
• What Are Some Examples?
• Things To Be Aware Of.
• Different Affiliate Schemes Eg Amazon, Clickbanks Etc

Ready to monetize your website, engage with other brands, and give your readers new opportunities? So how to use affiliate marketing on Your writing website? Let’s first lay the foundation of what exactly this form of marketing is. 

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a way for writers to earn a commission based on their promotion of a product or service with a different company. Since companies want marketing, and writers want revenue, affiliate marketing is the common ground between the two.

This form of marketing is results-based. Usually it relies on one of three points of contact between the author and their audience for the author to earn a commission:

• A sale (a course, a book, etc.)
• A lead (such as readers opting in to a lead magnet)
• Clicks (signing up for a webinar, free class, etc.)

An additional bonus to adding this stream of income to your website is that there are traditionally little to zero start-up costs. For instance, you’re in business if a company:

• Reaches out to you
• Asks you to be a “brand ambassador”
• Invites you to use a unique coupon code 
• Tells you to promote the code to your followers
• Ensures you will earn a commission for any sales with the code

This is another form of affiliate marketing common to social media and specifically, influencers. But how much can you actually earn using your platform to market other brands? Is it worth it to saturate your own, curated platform for a commission of sales you may or may not make?

How Much You Can Earn?

According to one site, statista estimates the affiliate marketing industry will be worth $8.2 billion by 2022, up from $5.4 billion in 2017. However, the way you execute affiliate marketing largely determines if you can create and grow it as a successful income stream. We will dive into this in a little bit.

That said, what you earn is entirely based on commission. You can’t rely on a steady income, and how you market products, who makes up your audience, and even the trends in the economy can influence the amount of commissions you receive. 

If you have a large platform, market effectively, and your audience has disposable income to use on the products or services, you can expect to do well. The percentage of commission you make will vary company to company, so make sure it is an acceptable percentage before you agree.

However, Payscale researched over 7,000 profiles and reported the average salary for an affiliate marketer was over $53,000. Remember, this was the average annual salary, and Payscale also reported that a large number of affiliate marketers make much more.

What Are Some Examples?

Three concrete examples of affiliate marketing are as follows.

#1 – Pay per sale: This may be one of the most common examples for ways in which affiliate marketers make their commission. When you make a sale for the company, the company pays you a percentage. 

#2 – Pay per action: Marketers want their audience to take action. Whether they create what’s stereotypically called a call-to-action at the end of a blog, ask users to trade their email to receive a newsletter, or something else, affiliate marketers can make money each time a user completes an action. 

#3 – Pay per lead: Are you looking to grow your email list? Chances are high that at least one company you market for is as well. With offers being made around the clock in order to draw in leads, guide them through a sales funnel, and eventually make a sale, this is a common way you could receive your payout.  

For instance, let’s say you team up with a successful author and promote their writing course. You could get paid every time a user purchases the course, opts in to their newsletter, or enters a sweepstakes or some other lead.

Check how to earn money with affiliate links.

Things To Be Aware Of.

When it comes to affiliate marketing, integrity and honesty are the name of the game. Social media users know that influencers can make six figures, if not more, for simply posting a square to their grid. Maintaining integrity in posting about products or services is crucial if you want to keep your affiliations, not to mention your honesty. 

Do your due diligence prior to making a post, and read the room globally before pressing post. Some affiliate marketing may be acceptable and even needed during specific times, others could appear tone-deaf and intensitive. 

Different Affiliate Schemes 

Depending on your personal brand goals, you may want to choose to go with either ClickBank or Amazon. For instance, Amazon sells physical products. Are you a writer wanting to promote ergonomic keyboards, your favorite planner, or your go-to pen? Consider working with Amazon.

ClickBank, on the other hand, focuses more on digital products. Take note of any percentages that may be taken from your commission rate: “At ClickBank, we do charge a small commission to our vendors on product transactions, so as an affiliate, your commission is based on the remaining total.” 

You may also want to consider the eBay Partner Network. They are known as one of the highest programs, with commissions going from 50-70%. Even if you choose to work with eBay, they allow you to work with other programs and do not demand exclusive rights. 

What’s Right For You?

Your next best step will depend on your brand, your career goals, and your website presence. What do you want viewers to think first when they land on your website? Do you want to come off as salesy, and if not, what’s the best way to start affiliate marketing? 

Consider these questions before setting out. While this form of marketing can be extremely lucrative for some, for others it may hijack the brand you’ve worked so hard to build. Remember that growth will likely be slow and steady whether you increase your income through book sales or other income streams. 

Regardless, affiliate marketing could be just what you need to get over a growth hurdle and continue in an upward trajectory. Take your time, research different programs, carefully access your brand and long-term goals, and only then take the plunge. Best wishes on whatever route you choose!