• Here’s the Story

    I wrote a book called The Forest for the Trees and it’s an advice book for writers. This blog hopes to continue in the spirit of the book, answering basic questions such as how to write an effective query letter to more complex issues involving writers' personalities, especially but not limited to their self-destructive proclivities. But mostly, it’s a place to regularly vent about publishing.
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Events

FORTHCOMING EVENTS:

December 8, 2011: Holy Cross College, Wooster MA –Writing Panel

February 3, 2012: University of North Texas – 2 Day Writing Workshop

FEBRUARY 11 + 18 , 2012 TWO DAY WRITING WORKSHOP AT RJ JULIA in Madison, CT from 3-5 WRITING AND PUBLISHING: The Agony and the Ecstasy

February 22, 2012: Harvard University, Boston, MA – Writing Panel

April 27 + 28: Bethlehem, PA – The Art of Memoir

F

Betsy Lerner gives talks, workshops, and on-line discussions on all aspects of the publishing process. As an author, former editor and agent, she has worked in publishing for 25 years. She began her career as an editorial assistant at Simon and Schuster and then worked as an editor at Ballantine, Houghton Mifflin, and finally as executive editor at Doubleday. Now she is a partner with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency.

She has given talks and workshops at Columbia University, Pratt Institute, The City College of New York,  Emerson College, Goucher College, Breadloaf Writers Conference, Radcliffe Publishing Course, Goddard College, Tin House Summer Conference, Miami Book Fair, LA Times Book Fair, Florida Writer’s Conference, Denver Publishing Institute, Lighthouse Publishing Conference, Aspen Writers Conference, William Patterson University, Holy Cross College, Salon.com, BarnesandNoble.com among others.

Frequently requested topics include:

  • How to get an agent
  • How to write a query letter
  • How to write a proposal
  • What should I expect from a publisher?
  • Titles Workshop – what is my work really about?
  • First Page Test
  • What should I look for in a contract?
  • Should I hire an editor, self-publish, e-publish?
  • Self promotion – do I need a blog, website, facebook; should I tweet?
  • After I get an agent, what’s the process?
  • After I get a publisher, what’s the process?
  • Should I get an MFA?
  • What if my agent stops returning my calls?

Please contact her to set up a program for your school, conference or writer’s group.

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