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elizabeth kracht

An insider's nuts-and-bolts resource to take your novel idea to a finished product publishers will be fighting over.
New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni

The Author's Checklist


Elizabeth Kracht

The bad news: even really good manuscripts have weak spots that are enough to garner rejections from agents and publishers. The good news: most of these problems are easy to fix—once the writer sees and understands them. Over time, literary agent Elizabeth Kracht noticed that many submissions had similar problems, so she began to make a list of the pitfalls. She knew that even excellent projects could be rejected based on these surmountable issues because those on the receiving end of proposals most often don't have the time to walk writers through needed adjustments. And writers can't clearly judge their own creative output. The checklist Kracht has created helps writers make their manuscripts good to go. It offers short, easy-to-implement bites of advice, illustrated by inspiring—and cautionary—real-world examples. Kracht cuts to the chase and demystifies intricate issues like dialogue and pacing as well as nuts-and-bolts subjects such as query letters and agency guidelines. The result is a reliable, doable way for writers to make their work truly ready for readers. Most aspiring authors yearn for a friend in book publishing. The Author's Checklist is just that.

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Praise for The Author's Checklist

"With The Author's Checklist, literary agent Elizabeth K. Kracht has created an invaluable resource for any writer shopping their novel. This is a must-have!"
   —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of V-Wars and Rage

"A must-have book for every writer's tool kit. Finally, an insider's nuts-and-bolts resource to take your novel idea to a finished product publishers will be fighting over."
   —Robert Dugoni, New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series

"All serious writers should read this book before submitting their work to agents or publishers. It will show you how to strategically elevate your odds in the hyper-competitive world of publishing."
   —Jeff Herman, literary agent and author of Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents

"Outstanding! A smart, practical, and immensely readable book by an experienced and savvy agent. A valuable resource for published and prepublished writers. Highly recommended."
   —Sheldon Siegel, New York Times and Amazon bestselling author of the Mike Daley / Rosie Fernandez legal thrillers

"Elizabeth Kracht has carefully crafted a guide that should be on every published or aspiring author's desk. The Author's Checklist not only covers developing and editing your work but details insights into marketing and targeting toward the right agent and publisher as well."
   —Jill Marie Landis, author of over thirty bestselling, award-winning novels, including the Tiki Goddess Mysteries

"A to Z indeed! The Author's Checklist touches on virtually every aspect of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing in a readable, practical, and incredibly useful format and reader-friendly style. I love the actual checklists at the end of every section. This is a book that won't be on my bookshelf; it will be on my desk—tagged, highlighted, and dog-eared."
   —Judy Reeves, author of A Writer's Book of Days and Wild Women, Wild Voices


Media Podcasts & Interviews



Write your best book, featuring Elizabeth Kracht


Liz Kracht, agent, editor and author tells all on Authors on the Air


How to write your first book, featuring Elizabeth Kracht