What to Do After an Agent Says Yes: 3 Essential Steps for Writers

From Edie: An agent said yes—now what? Lilks helps us discover  3 essential steps every writer should take after landing representation to stay professional and move forward.

What to Do After an Agent Says Yes: 3 Essential Steps for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."

Vincent van Gogh

I attended a writers conference this summer as I usually do. Unlike previous years, I left represented by an agent. Professional networking is one reason I attend but suddenly receiving a yes after years of pitches left me stunned. 

Only days after thanking God for answered prayer, analysis paralysis set in. Then fear. Though confident that God provided the best agent for me, doubts about my own abilities came quickly. Thankfully, I got it together and didn’t squander this opportunity. Unlike last time. And the time before that. 

Need Writing Work? Network with Other Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Three Reasons for Writers to Connect with Writers

“Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.” – Michele Jennae

Even the most reclusive writers must associate with people. Though self-publishing may require less interaction with industry professionals, it still requires engagement with potential readers. Writing may be a solitary pursuit, yet to publish our work and build an audience requires that we meet, greet, and form relationships. Here are three reasons for introverted writers to network to gain work.

Professional Development for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still.”

— Chinese Proverb

Conference season is underway, yet many of us aren’t able to attend. However, there are multiple ways to expand our skills that don’t require the investment of a writers conference. Consider these alternatives that also enhance our knowledge.

Write to Give, Write to Live

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael 

If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased

Maya Angelou

As writers, we often explain what we write. However, we don’t always consider why we write. Some authors are diligent with purpose, their reasons are clear. Yet there have been times that I wasn’t quite sure why I was writing. The only certainty was the compulsion to write. 

A Post Conference Checklist: Five Things to Do After a Writing Conference

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael 

Writing is both intuition and trial and error, but mostly it’s very hard work—Cheryl Strayed

The exhilaration of a writing conference can quickly morph into mental chaos. The onslaught of information, ideas, and prospective leads drain even accomplished attendees. Once the conference has ended, now what? 

Do These 5 Things After a Writing Conference

Writing Conferences: Four Tips to Enhance the Conference Experience

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Learning never exhausts the mind—Leonardo da Vinci

There are conferences available for nearly every genre. Still, many writers fail to make the most of their experience. Here are my tips to maximize the bang for your buck at your next writers conference.

March Forward, Write Now

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“You fail only if you stop writing.” – Ray Bradbury

Many writers measure their progress based on goals or resolutions. Almost a quarter into 2025, many resolutions are now a distant memory. However, one way to gauge success is by utilizing a quarterly countdown. By the end of March, I take inventory of what I’ve written (and have yet to write) so that I can recalibrate and target specific outcomes for June.

Pursue Your Passion

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Writing is my obsession, my passion. My relationship with it is one of the most complex and agonizing and richly vexing that I have in my life—Julianna Baggott

Each new year brings with it opportunities to stretch ourselves and hone our craft. Yet if writing is your passion, this typically requires us to exhibit discipline, commit time, and develop techniques that improve our writing.

Conferences and online resources help us push through boundaries and develop our talents. There are opportunities for every skill level. Some conferences skew toward those who are new to drafting a novel or a exploring a freelance writing career. There are also advanced conferences and workshops that cater to accomplished and acclaimed writers—authors with years of publishing experience and success. Whatever your status, there are endless options that provide knowledge and insight into traditional and self-publishing. Most importantly, these resources are fertile ground for connecting with other authors, agents, and making new friends who share our interests.

Resolutions for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

New Year: a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately 

we write it. The choice is ours.” Alex Morritt

Most people either love the optimism for change that accompanies a new year, or they hate the notion that they must reinvent themselves. The following resolutions aren’t ambitious, but they may spark innovative changes for your writing routine.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

With the holidays looming, finding the perfect gift can be tricky. Whether you are shopping for your true love or best friend, here are gift ideas at different price points for the writers in your life.

Beatitudes of Gratitude for Writers

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding - Alice Walker

Writing is a profession full of highs and lows. Rewards and accolades can be rare. Yet, we continue to write despite fatigue, disappointment, delays, and revisions. 

Three Tips to Move Forward When You find Yourself Writing in Circles

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Three Steps to Minimize Writing Frustration

“I am irritated by my own writing. I am like a violinist whose ear is true, but whose fingers refuse to reproduce precisely the sound he hears within.” Gustave Flaubert

In a perfect world, we would write from beginning to end without delay and interruption. However, life happens. A writer’s life is often circular, not linear. The process of writing is plagued with insertions, deletions, and revisions. We can have the best of plans only to succumb to circumstances beyond our control.

Words with Friends: The Value of Creating a Writing Community

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Writing is a solitary endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. Though most of us sit alone at our keyboards, writing is gratifying when we associate with other writers. Even if social gatherings make you cringe, consider the following opportunities to mingle while honing skills.

A Willingness to Let Our Writing Take Us New Places

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new -Albert Einstein

Staying in one lane is crucial when driving, however it is counterproductive when exploring our potential as a writer. As there are multiple facets to our personalities, there are probably more than a few distinct writers within each of us. Pushing past the familiar not only stirs our creativity but can unearth hidden talents as well. There comes a time when it may be appropriate to shift gears and veer off into another direction. I learn something every time I research scripture for a devotion. However, there are also multiple storylines running through my head. Though nonfiction is my priority, I am curious to see how this long simmering story unfolds.

Four Habits to Improve Your Writing

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael 

“The only way to learn to write is to force yourself to produce a certain number of words on a regular basis.” ― William Knowlton Zinsser

The desire to become a famous author, bestselling novelist, or see your screenplay displayed on a marquee are worthy goals. However, aspiration only gets us so far. Most writers occasionally question their worth. Do I have what it takes? Will anyone take me seriously? Our solitary endeavor and anguish over words is not for the faint of heart. However, the following habits can invigorate our writing and propel us toward success.

Get It Right—Three Reasons to Rewrite Your Work

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

“Good writing is essentially rewriting.” Roald Dahl

I recently attended a writers conference and one of the instructors reiterated the importance of rewriting our work. His take on the profession was an acknowledgement that writing is the art of rewriting. For those of us in the initial stages of a writing career this is especially true. The determination to complete our work does not absolve the obligation to refine our words into the emotions, imagery, or information sought after by our audience. Here are three reasons to get it right with the rewrite.

When Opportunity Knocks for a Writer

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

A successful writing career requires patience and persistence. It also requires that a writer maximize every opportunity that comes to call. The adage, “Opportunity only knocks once,” is not necessarily true. However, it may not knock as loudly when it returns. As writers, achieving our goals challenges us to anticipate opportunity and prepare for its arrival. 

Preparation requires that we keep writing when we feel uninspired. It is incredibly easy to find reasons not to write. There are so many things that vie for our attention. Death by distraction probably kills opportunity quicker than anything else. Yet, diligence entices opportunity. The resolve to keep writing and allow submission guidelines to influence what we write may not open a door, but it can crack it. We can stay true to our voice while considering the marketability of our work and the audience for our words.

Why Do You Write?

by Lilka Raphael @LilkaRaphael

You can make anything by writing—C. S. Lewis

I find it easier to answer the question of what I write rather than why I write? This is primarily because my why evolves as I do. What prompted my writing a decade ago no longer entices me now. Perhaps, when we acknowledge the motivation behind our words, we can deliver them effectively.

Writers use words to sway opinion. Charitable organizations, hobbies, and politics also spur us into action. Some of us entertain and deliver the gift of laughter with our words. There is writing that educates. With the birth of the internet, we have infinite information at our disposal. In hindsight, I realize that I wrote about autism not only to support other parents but also because it was therapeutic as I navigated that chapter of life. 

Writers Conference 1102: Eight Things to Do after the Conference

by Lilka Raphael @LilkaRaphael

Writers conferences always stoke my passion for writing. However, the information overload makes my head spin. Consequently, I have learned to do a few things that enhance the experience once I return home. 

Writers Conference 1101: Ten Tips to Maximize Your Return

by Lilka Raphael @Lilka_Raphael

Conference season is upon us. Investing in writing conferences is by far the smartest thing I have done to refine my writing. Publishing trends and challenges evolve. Appointments with editors, informative classes, and connecting with other writers yield an invaluable return on the time and money spent attending.