Not Safe For Words

Not Safe For Words

By Crystal L. KirkhamArtsBooks
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Not Safe For Words episodes

  • Comparison Titles: A Necessary Evil

    Be original, but tell us what books your story will remind us of. I know it seems confusing, but here's why agents and publishers ask for them, how to find them, and what it might mean for your book. 

    14 min
  • Genre-ly Confused

    You've got to know your genres to get your book into the right  hands—whether reader, agent, or publisher. If you don't nail this part,  there is a good chance things aren't going to go so smoothly.

    And with so many genres and sub-genres to keep track of, sometimes this is a monumental task.

    16 min
  • The Query Conundrum

    You've got your manuscript, you bled for your synopsis... now you must query the publishers and/or agent if you're aiming for more traditional publishing.

    This all means, you're also likely to get a lot of rejections.

    Resources mentioned: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/ and https://querytracker.net/

    15 min
  • Synopsis? Oh, no!

    The dreaded synopsis is something that nearly every author out there  moans and groans about. I can't promise you'll ever like writing them,  but here's some advice on how to get the right.

    11 min
  • Pitching it on Twitter

    Twitter pitch events can be an exciting whirlwind. Here's what they are,  how they work, and how to not waste your time if you decide to  participate.

    13 min
  • Is it Ready?

    You've been working on that manuscript forever—or it seems that way—but how do you know it's ready to be submitted to a publisher? Well, that is the hard question and, hopefully, I can help you find some answers.

    11 min
  • Alpha, Beta, CP, ARC: Your Early Readers

    Who are these people? How do you find them? And why you should use them?


    Book recommendation: Early Readers Catch the Worms by Carol Beth Anderson
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56304569-early-readers-catch-the-worms

    On a totally unrelated note, happy 42nd Anniversary to my parents. I love you and thank you for believing in me. xoxoxo

    14 min
  • Pen Name Problems

    There are good reasons to use a pen name. There are even good reasons to write under an assumed gender.

    There are also a few things you should never do—and I don't say never lightly.

    12 min

About Not Safe For Words

From the publisher's feed

An opinion podcast about writing, the writing community, and how to not be an asshole author hosted by author and publisher, Crystal L. Kirkham.