ARCHIVE FOR Katrin Schumann

By Katrin Schumann

I've been on submission many times over the years. It's fun, until it's not. Or... it's fun and then gets a lot more fun. Here's what I've learned.

1) Create a serene environment around you. Preferably light a candle first thing in the morning. Not one of those scented things called Enticing Aroma's Fall Festival or, god forbid, Pumpkin Spice. Something classy and reeking of intelligence, just like you.

By Katrin Schumann

I was on the phone in my office, scanning my bookshelves and chatting when my eye stopped on Leo Benedictus' book THE AFTERPARTY. He's a British writer, not well known in the US. I admire him for his witty, powerful, original writing; I aspire to that kind of authority combined with fun in my own writing. 

"Ah, yes," I thought. "Leo with the great last name. Wonder what you're up to?"

By Katrin Schumann

My friend Stephen had an incredibly interesting life. When he died at age 50, he left behind a small family and lots of burned bridges. One thing he didn’t leave behind—something so important that its absence is a tragedy—was any kind of cogent record of his life or work. 

There are pictures and half remembered stories. There are paintings and sculptures, covered in Saharan dust, the details of their provenance lost forever

By Katrin Schumann

This spring, a new writer—let’s call her Sharon—sent out dozens of queries for her novel and received zero response. Nothing, not even a single no thanks. She contacted me to ask if I could help with her query letter. Understandably, she thought there might be a secret to writing a query that would catch an agent's attention, and she'd missed it.

By Katrin Schumann

The best advice comes from people who have been in the trenches. Battled the highs and lows, enjoyed successes and perhaps been disappointed--or delighted--by the unexpected.

I recently asked some of my writer colleagues, friends, clients and former students--all now published--for advice they wish they'd known before launching into the process. Here are the top twenty tips: