To writers chasing after publicati0n,the publishing world appears to shut down from Thanksgiving until after New Year’s Day. Agents can be hard to reach, editors often take vacation, leaving writers frustrated and defeated.
Writing Tip for Today: Since it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get in touch with agents or editors during the holidays, what can you do to feel productive?

• Work on Your Platform. Write some blog posts and schedule them to post at different times. You can find this function on Blogger under “options” at the bottom of the post box. Troll other blogs/sites for those seeking guest bloggers and volunteer to write a guest post.
• Research a New Batch of Queries. Look up a list of 50 agents, editors or publishers who are looking for your type of work. Use online agent/publisher sites and catalogues, peruse published books for authors acknowledging their agents or use the reference market books at the library. Make up an “A” list of more well-known agents, and a “B” list of newer or hungrier agents. BEWARE of scams, though. Vet a potential agent through preditors and editors or AbsoluteWrite.
• Write, Write Write. During these dark days, when it’s ugly outside and agents aren’t as available, you can bang out word count on your work-in-progress. Or revise a project that’s been sitting in the drawer. Or start something new. Don’t let the publisher’s lull keep you from your goals.