{"id":80,"date":"2021-08-04T22:58:24","date_gmt":"2021-08-04T22:58:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.dfmwebdev9.com\/?page_id=80"},"modified":"2021-08-04T23:06:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T23:06:50","slug":"articles","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/articles\/","title":{"rendered":"Articles"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium color_primary\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><h1 style=\"text-align: center;\">Giving It to You Straight<\/h1>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Articles written by Lisa Martin, Ph.D. &#8211; LITERARY AGENT<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"l-section wpb_row height_medium\"><div class=\"l-section-h i-cf\"><div class=\"g-cols via_grid cols_1 laptops-cols_inherit tablets-cols_inherit mobiles-cols_1 valign_top type_default\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"w-grid type_grid layout_109 cols_2 ratio_4x3\" id=\"us_grid_1\" data-filterable=\"true\"><style>#us_grid_1 .w-grid-item{padding:1.5rem}#us_grid_1 .w-grid-list{margin:-1.5rem}.w-grid + #us_grid_1 .w-grid-list{margin-top:1.5rem}@media (max-width:599px){#us_grid_1 .w-grid-list{margin:0}#us_grid_1 .w-grid-item{width:100.0000%;padding:0;margin-bottom:1.5rem}}.layout_109 .w-grid-item-h:before{padding-bottom:75.0000%}@media (min-width:600px){.layout_109 .w-grid-item.size_1x2 .w-grid-item-h:before{padding-bottom:calc(150.0000% + 1.5rem + 1.5rem)}.layout_109 .w-grid-item.size_2x1 .w-grid-item-h:before{padding-bottom:calc(37.5000% - 1.5rem * 0.7500)}.layout_109 .w-grid-item.size_2x2 .w-grid-item-h:before{padding-bottom:calc(75.0000% - 1.5rem * -0.5)}}.layout_109 .w-grid-item-h{background:var(--color-content-bg);color:var(--color-content-text);border-radius:0.3rem;z-index:3;box-shadow:0 0.03rem 0.06rem rgba(0,0,0,0.1),0 0.10rem 0.30rem rgba(0,0,0,0.1);transition-duration:0.3s}.no-touch .layout_109 .w-grid-item-h:hover{box-shadow:0 0.10rem 0.20rem rgba(0,0,0,0.1),0 0.33rem 1.00rem rgba(0,0,0,0.15);z-index:4}.layout_109 .usg_post_image_1{position:absolute!important}.layout_109 .usg_post_title_1{font-size:1.4rem!important;font-weight:700!important}.layout_109 .usg_vwrapper_1{position:absolute!important;padding:9% 11% 11% 11%!important}.layout_109 .usg_hwrapper_1{color:var(--color-content-faded)!important;font-size:0.9rem!important}@media (max-width:600px){.layout_109 .usg_post_title_1{font-size:1.2rem!important}}<\/style><div class=\"w-grid-list\">\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-100 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"100\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/wikipedia\/\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">While reading over reports written by my daughter\u2019s classmates, I became aware of how many people take it for granted that Wikipedia is a dependable reference source. After all, the typical researcher is directed to Wikipedia by using a search engine, and immediately discovers it is an encyclopedia. So it must&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/wikipedia\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-98 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"98\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-internet\/\">The Internet<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">As we all know, the Internet is notoriously unpredictable and unreliable. However, millions of people rely with certainty upon information found on websites and blogs. Should we trust everything we read on the Internet? Should we believe all statements written by so-called advocates or self proclaimed experts, without considering the motivation&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-internet\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-96 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"96\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/what-defines-a-writer\/\">What Defines a Writer?<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">There seems to be an ongoing discussion of what qualifies an individual to be considered a writer. Any person that pounds out words on a computer is writing, but does that actually constitute a writer? Webster\u2019s Dictionary defines a writer as \u201cone who performs the act of writing, a professional scribe,&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/what-defines-a-writer\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-94 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"94\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-power-of-words\/\">The Power of Words<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">As communicators and creative wordsmiths, we sometimes take for granted the actual intensity and forcefulness of the spoken or written word. Words formulate perceptions, awareness and expectations. They develop emotional bonds and guide how we rationalize our thoughts. Since what we think affects behavior, there\u2019s a strong relationship between the words&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-power-of-words\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-92 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"92\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/persistence\/\">Persistence<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">A week doesn\u2019t go by without another hopeful, yet frustrated writer asking me what it takes to be published by a commercial publisher. My answer is always the same: persistence and the capacity to learn. Persistence, the strength and skill to move beyond adversity and thrive is an invaluable trait. For&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/persistence\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-90 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"90\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-importance-of-a-platform\/\">The Importance of a Platform<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">As mergers and downsizing continue to cause unexpected changes in New York publishing houses and independent publishers are becoming more prevalent, an author\u2019s platform is essential for an individual looking to be published. A platform describes who the author is in relation to the subject-matter. Related educational degrees, certifications, speaking experience,&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/the-importance-of-a-platform\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-87 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"87\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/query-letters\/\">Query Letters<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">Every day, literary agents are bombarded with query letters from hopeful writers, many claiming to have the next New York Time\u2019s bestseller. Even small agencies are inundated with requests for representation, often written by inexperienced individuals who have put little to no thought into what they are sending. There are not&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/query-letters\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n\t<article class=\"w-grid-item size_1x1 post-84 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-giving-it-to-you-straight\" data-id=\"84\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"w-grid-item-h\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"w-vwrapper usg_vwrapper_1 align_none valign_top\"><h2 class=\"w-post-elm post_title usg_post_title_1 entry-title color_link_inherit\"><a href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/a-literary-agents-responsibilities\/\">A Literary Agent\u2019s Responsibilities<\/a><\/h2><div class=\"w-hwrapper usg_hwrapper_1 align_none valign_top wrap\"><div class=\"w-post-elm post_content usg_post_content_1\">You can ask fifty people, \u201cWhat is the responsibility of a literary agent?\u201d and you know what? You will get 50 different answers. There are no set rules or regulations that apply to literary agents, and I\u2019m often amazed at what writers expect. A literary agent is a professional business representative&hellip;<\/div><\/div><a class=\"w-btn us-btn-style_1 usg_btn_1\" href=\"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/a-literary-agents-responsibilities\/\"><span class=\"w-btn-label\">Read More<\/span><\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\r\n<\/div><div class=\"w-grid-preloader\"><div class=\"g-preloader type_1\">\r\n\t<div><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\t<div class=\"w-grid-json hidden\" onclick='return {&quot;action&quot;:&quot;us_ajax_grid&quot;,&quot;ajax_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/martinmcleanlit.com\\\/wp-admin\\\/admin-ajax.php&quot;,&quot;infinite_scroll&quot;:0,&quot;max_num_pages&quot;:1,&quot;pagination&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;permalink_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/martinmcleanlit.com\\\/wp-json\\\/wp\\\/v2\\\/pages\\\/80&quot;,&quot;template_vars&quot;:{&quot;columns&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;exclude_items&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;img_size&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;ignore_items_size&quot;:false,&quot;items_layout&quot;:&quot;109&quot;,&quot;items_offset&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;load_animation&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;overriding_link&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;post_id&quot;:80,&quot;query_args&quot;:{&quot;post_type&quot;:[&quot;post&quot;],&quot;tax_query&quot;:[{&quot;taxonomy&quot;:&quot;category&quot;,&quot;field&quot;:&quot;slug&quot;,&quot;terms&quot;:[&quot;giving-it-to-you-straight&quot;]}],&quot;post_status&quot;:[&quot;publish&quot;],&quot;posts_per_page&quot;:&quot;50&quot;},&quot;orderby_query_args&quot;:{&quot;orderby&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;DESC&quot;}},&quot;type&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;us_grid_ajax_index&quot;:1,&quot;us_grid_filter_params&quot;:null,&quot;us_grid_index&quot;:1,&quot;_us_grid_post_type&quot;:&quot;post&quot;}}'><\/div>\r\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You can ask fifty people, \u201cWhat is the responsibility of a literary agent?\u201d and you know what? You will get 50 different answers. There are no set rules or regulations that apply to literary agents, and I\u2019m often amazed at what writers expect. A literary agent is a professional business representative whose main objective is...","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110,"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/80\/revisions\/110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinmcleanlit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}