Quill and Quire

Opinion

Agony Editor: Is it in poor taste for an author to charge a book club an appearance fee?

If your writer relies on writing for her livelihood, I think it’s perfectly reasonable for her to ask for compensation. Remember: it’s work for her. The time she spends with your book club is time away from writing.

Agony Editor: If you’re going to have a contact page on your author website, you should probably respond to your fans

For better or worse, being a writer means putting yourself out there.

Agony Editor: Feeling envious of another author’s success is normal, just don’t let it blind you to your own accomplishments

It can be tough watching another writer’s career smash through the ceiling while your head keeps bumping against it.

Agony Editor: Getting a film option is great, but don’t count on the movie actually getting made

There are no guarantees the cinematic version of your literary masterpiece won’t end up on Rotten Tomatoes with a 26 per cent average on the Tomatometer. If you feel comfortable with the producers and the contract, the wisest thing to do is simply hand over the reins and walk away.

Agony Editor: Find an early reader for your manuscript that isn’t afraid to give you the hard truths

Finding first readers can be stressful. Ask avid readers who don’t have an emotional connection to you.

Agony Editor: There will always be better writers than you. And that’s okay

Brian Francis answers your burning literary questions.

Agony Editor: When negotiating the details of your book, don’t forget, your publisher is the boss

I’m about to publish my second novel. My publisher wants to change the title, and I hate the cover design.

Agony Editor: Don’t worry wallflower, it’s okay to choose TV reruns over the festival after-party

Ask the Agony Editor.

Lauren McKeon: Writing a book about feminism backlash forced a confrontation with skepticism

Feminism is a done deal. At least, when I started working on F-Bomb: Dispatches from the War on Feminism in 2014, that’s what everyone kept telling me.

Agony Editor: Provoking an author on social media isn’t a cool, but neither is bullying back