The Daily Writer

One year ago today, I was going to quit my business. But I made a decision that helped me overcome the frustration and discouragement. On this episode, I tell the story and help you see why you should keep going also.

This is the last official episode for The Daily Writer podcast! Thank you for listening and supporting the show. The Profitable Writer will launch in a few days and I hope to see you there!

We live in an amazing time when authors have lots of options for publishing. The main three options are these:

First, you can self-publish your books, which means you assume all the risks, responsibilities, and rewards.

Second, you can work with a hybrid publisher, which usually means you pay for their help with specific services, and they provide some of the functions of a traditional publisher.

The third option, and the one most familiar to everyone, is traditional publishing. In this scenario, you sell your book to a publisher in exchange for an advance. They own the book but also take all the risk of producing and distributing the book, in addition to some marketing.

Even though self-publishing has come a long way in the last ten or fifteen years, many authors still dream of getting a traditional publishing deal, especially with one of the big five New York publishers. If that’s your goal, you will need help in pitching your book to publishers to secure the best deal.

That’s where a literary agent comes in. On today’s episode, I’m honored to talk with Mark Gottlieb, a New York literary agent who is here to give us the inside scoop on how to find and work with an agent.

Mark is the vice president and literary agent at book publishing’s leading literary agency, Trident Media Group in New York City. He attended Emerson College and was President of its Publishing Club, and established Wilde Press. After graduating with a degree in writing, literature and publishing, he began his career with Penguin’s VP.

His first position at Trident Media Group was in foreign rights. He was the EA to Trident Media Group’s Chairman and ran the Audio Department. He is currently working with his own client list, helping to manage and grow author careers with the unique resources available to Trident Media Group. He is ranked highly among literary agents in overall deals and other categories.

Some of the topics I talk about with Mark are: how he became a literary agent, what an agent actually does in the publishing ecosystem, the benefits of traditional publishing, what kinds of projects he looks for and how to stand out as an author, what the most successful authors do when pitching and working with an agent, and some common mistakes to avoid when trying to secure an agent.

You can connect with Mark at https://literaryagentmarkgottlieb.com and find out more about the Trident Media Group at https://tridentmediagroup.com.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Vellum, the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

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📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by editor Karen Hunsanger, also known as “The Word Wizard.” I’ve worked with Karen many times, and she is your secret weapon for crafting the highest-quality book possible. Visit the link above for a free sample edit.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

Today’s email is sponsored by Plottr, the #1 visual book planning software for writers that helps you plan books in the same way you think. Plottr helps fiction and nonfiction authors, podcasters, speakers, and anyone creating content to organize their material and story points. Visit the link above to start your free 14-day trial.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

Today’s episode is sponsored by Write Your First Nonfiction Book: A Primer for Aspiring Authors by my friend and business coach, Honorée Corder. You’ll learn strategies for arranging your chapters, how to get started and stay organized, and easy step-by-step instructions that will eliminate the fear that’s been holding you back.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

Want to learn to write, self-publish, market, and monetize your book like a professional? Check out the Author Success Bundle, a collection of resources from my business mentor, Honorée Corder. Grab this amazing collection at a special Black Friday price you won’t find the rest of the year!

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Kristi Griffith, owner of Thumbprint Creative. Kristi has created the cover design and interior layout for many of my own books, and books of my ghostwriting clients and friends. She works closely with you to create a design that perfectly captures the theme, message, and genre of your book.  

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

Today’s episode is sponsored by Vellum, the go-to book formatting software for indie authors who care about creating beautiful ebooks and print books. Use the link to download Vellum for FREE.

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter

📚 Download your FREE Daily Writer Starter Kit at https://dailywriterlife.com/free

✉️ Want writing tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Writer email at https://dailywriterlife.com/dailyemail

🚀 Want to grow your writing business and accelerate your success? Check out our Daily Writer Club.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter