Author: Jim Devitt

Jim Devitt’s debut YA novel, The Card, hit #1 in three separate categories on the Kindle Bestseller list in early January and was a finalist in the Guys Can Read Indie Author Contest this past summer. Devitt currently lives in Miami, FL with his wife Melissa and their children. Learn more about Jim at his blog and his Amazon author page.

Ten Common Mistakes from a Literary Agency Point of View

checklistA little while back, I attended a class offered in conjunction with the Miami Book Fair International led by Amy Rennert. Her literary agency, The Amy Rennert Agency, includes authors such as Herman Wouk, Jimmy Buffett, and dozens of other New York Times and national bestsellers. Throughout the two days, I developed a list of the top ten mistakes writers make that will assure that your decline letter goes out by page five.

In no particular order, here is my list. Continue reading “Ten Common Mistakes from a Literary Agency Point of View”

Six Things to Avoid if You Want Success

success-Throughout my life, I’ve been lucky enough to hang around million-dollar athletes, history-making attorneys, world-famous musicians, and friends that you never heard of who change people’s lives for the better every day. The common bond between all of these people is the ability to live life to its fullest on their own terms.

While there is no secret to success, I’ve tried to learn from other successful people who have entered my life, even if only for a minute or two. Today, I’m sharing a few of those lessons. The universe offers boundless rewards and only your own thinking and behaviors can determine how much of it you reap. I’m not saying that I’ve perfected all of these, but I have witnessed the result of both positive and negative influences. Continue reading “Six Things to Avoid if You Want Success”

Launching into 2014

Atlas redstoneIt’s time to launch into 2014.

Follow the least travelled path and you are assured success.

We’re not looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; we’re embracing the journey, one step at a time.

After all, it took twelve years to design and build the Space Shuttle. Once launched, it served as a workhorse for four decades.

“Let’s Go!” and let’s do it together.

Happy New Year!

Reflect, Embrace and Move Forward

DSC_0413Last week I talked a bit about reflection—looking at the past year and appreciating what worked and what might not have worked.

I might not have stressed enough the importance of reflection. Without reflection, improvement is UNATTAINABLE. Continue reading “Reflect, Embrace and Move Forward”