First, Kindle. Next, Robot Maids
It finally arrived. My new Kindle was dropped off by my UPS guy bright and early this morning, and now that I’m off the day job, I’m able to play with my new toy for a bit. So, short post today.
There’s been so much talk about how e-books and e-readers are changing the world of publishing. Detractors of the e-book say the e-sale numbers are exaggerated. Detractors for print say paper books are already dinosaurs akin to the 8-track.
My verdict: They all make good points.
I can’t speak for THE MARKET, as that’s a job for economists, and analysts, and guys who didn’t choose their college major based on what required the least math classes (hey, sue me). I will say this, the Kindle sure makes things convenient, and I can certainly see opting for an electronic version of books I’m on the fence about. But, I will still purchase hardcovers (as long as they’re available) from my favorite authors.
That’s the thing, though…why go through the extra trouble of driving to the bookstore, using my legs to walk into the store, and paying twice the (ebook) price for a book? Aside from the fact that moving and leaving the house help me not to become a diabetic hermit, the ancient way of buying a book could very well become a collector’s novelty, like the search for classic vinyl records.
And if it does?
Some folks will bitch and moan and tell stories like, “When I was your age we read our books on dead trees…”
But the world will keep spinning and our cars will keep flying (wait…that hasn’t happened yet…I have to stop revealing the secrets I learn during my time travel adventures with my eccentric scientist friend).
Anyway, you get my point. Life will go on.
At least until the Robot Maid Revolt of 2087…
Anyone got any hot Kindle recommendations for me? If so, leave ’em in the comments. Later…
The Difference: Writing Stuff vs Writing-Part 2
True story: An Accomplished Writer who has sold and published nearly a dozen novels attends a conference. While having a drink, a New Writer takes the bar stool next to her and strikes up a conversation. They chat about the industry, how the conference has been, what they’ve read lately. Finally, they get to the subject of self-promotion.
The Accomplished Writer is impressed with the New Writer’s use of social networking, web radio, conference hopping and mail campaigns to promote their project. The Newbie is way ahead of where the Accomplished Writer was at a similar point in her career. The New Writer even has a fancy t-shirt featuring their new book’s cover.
Totally willing to support this New Writer, the accomplished writer asks, “Do you have any copies of your book on you? I’d like to buy one.”
To which the New Writer responds, “Oh, I haven’t written it yet.”
Don’t be THAT guy…
In my previous post we talked a bit about “Writing Stuff”, or the activities that writers engage in to reach more people. It involves everything that relates to your writing but isn’t your writing. Now, I want to talk about the writing itself.
Believe it or not, your craft should be your top priority, though it’s easy to see how it can fall into the 2, 3, or 4 spot behind all the other stuff that’s a part of the 21st Century Writer’s life. Put it in perspective, let’s say you’re a great marketer. You Tweet like nobody’s business. You’ve got 5,000 friends on Facebook. Everyone who knows you knows your book is coming. They’re excited. Then, they get the book…
…and it sucks.
Or, it’s never finished.
Or, it’s never even started (though having t-shirts printed does show initiative).
Never forget that writers write. No matter what.
Writing is Writing
Not having enough time is NOT an excuse.
I’ve often heard that writers should write everyday. I guess that’s a good thing, but it’s not something I’ve been able to stick to. I do write at least 5 out of every 7 days, and I focus on one project until it’s completed (unless someone pays me to do something else).
This is one of those areas where you have to keep the schedule that works for you. My schedule works for me (I’ve sold work, have a great agent, one of my novels is going on submission in 2 weeks) and I’m still able to hit the gym. However it breaks down, you have time to write. You may currently call it Desperate Housewives time, or Madden 2010 time, but you can easily re-allocate that time to your writing.
If you’re not willing to manage your time in a way that incorporates your writing, you don’t really want the job.
Oh, and just to clarify, writing means putting new words on the page. AdviceToWriters.Com has an interesting quote from E.L. Doctorow that sums it up nicely, “Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you’re doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.”
Quality Control
Steven Barnes says, “Perfectionism Is Procrastination Masquerading As Quality Control”
That means you can’t revise forever. Yes, writing means re-writing. And if you’re just writing for yourself with no further aspirations, feel free to tweak and tinker to your heart’s content. But if you’re serious and want the job, here’s where I give you a hard and fast rule to follow.
1 Draft -> 1 Revision -> Get quality feedback from someone (other than yourself) -> repeat as necessary
If you know anything about Quality Control, then you know the QC Evaluation is never conducted by the product’s creator. There’s only so much you can do given the emotional investment you have in your manuscript. And stalling the revision is just a way to avoid taking your lumps.
Guess what, after all that solo revising, it’s still going to suck.
Boom! We just got that out of the way, so there’s no need to be scared. It can’t get worse than that. Just know every time you get some new, crucial piece of feedback your manuscript will suck less and less until it’s just unsucky enough to get you where you want to go.
It can’t do anything for you sitting on your hard drive while you swap out commas.
On to the Next One
Congrats!! You’ve completed your project. You’ve done what writers do despite the Writing Stuff and everything else life throws in your way.
Now do it again.
There’s nothing wrong with getting your queries and proposals together. If you get a few rejections then go back, tweak some things and try again (that’s what landed me my agent).
Keep writing, keep putting new words on the page. Sound daunting? Think about this, if you get the job you say you want, you’re going to have to come up with new stuff all the time. Might as well get some practice in now.
And when you’re doing all that Writing Stuff, you’ll have plenty to talk about…
The Difference: Writing Stuff vs Writing – Part 1
If you follow the publishing industry, particularly with aspirations of being a professional writer, you’ve likely heard things like “you have to own your career” and “writers can no longer take a passive role in promoting and selling their work”. Gone are the days of the full-time writer having a hermit-like existence, only surfacing to buy scotch and pipe tobacco while waiting for royalty checks. Heck, let some tell it, gone are the days of the full-time writer.
As with anything, there are exceptions. But, most likely, you (and me) aren’t.
Which means we’re going to have to balance the “writing stuff” in our careers with the actual “writing”.
What stuff?
This question may seem simple. You can probably tick off a good sized list of “writing stuff” you’ve done, are doing, or plan to do. In quick succession, it probably looks a little like this:
-Develop and maintain a web presence (site, blog, social networking, message boards)
-Make your work available on the cheap through Amazon or Smashwords
-Meet other writers with career aspirations similar to your own and nurture those friendships
All of the above are good efforts, or at least that’s what we’re told. However, without a clear vision, good planning, and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts, all that stuff can easily become a time suck that takes away from the most important part of your career: writing.
Clear vision
I’ve met a lot of writers who are hesitant to say exactly what they want from their careers, as if stating the desire for full-time income/notoriety based mostly on writing will jinx the possibility of it ever happening. Really, it’s quite the opposite. By not clearly quantifying and qualifying goals, your efforts will start to resemble those of a driver who is lost, but won’t ask for directions.
They’ll drive straight for awhile, but when they don’t like how the road’s looking they take a left. Then they’ll randomly decide that was wrong, and make another turn. And so on.
Compare this to the driver who knows where they’re going. It doesn’t matter if the road is narrow, under construction, or congested. They stick to it with their mind focused expressly on their destination.
Good planning
Once you know what you want, you have to make a solid plan to get it. No one accomplishes goals accidentally.
How you go about this will vary person to person. Obviously, one of the goals you should be planning around will involve a certain amount of writing on a regular basis. But, we’ll discuss that in Part 2 of this topic.
In regard to “writing stuff” part of the planning will center around gaining an understanding of the industry as a whole, then specifically the area you want to work in. I can’t tell you exactly how to do that. Like I said, it varies. But, I can point you to some great conventional (and not so conventional) resources.
Trade Magazines: Publisher’s Weekly, Writer’s Digest, The Writer
Writer/Promoter Blogs (emphasis on promoter): JA Konrath, Kiersten White
Books by Genuis Marketers: Crush It!, The 4-Hour Workweek
The value of the items above may or may not be apparent, but the key is to find what works for you, and that’s mostly going to come through trial and error. Thus the next point…
Evaluate effectiveness
You gotta be able to see what’s NOT going to work for you. Video blogging may not work for you if you’re camera shy. Building a Twitter following may not work for you if you only tweet once or twice a week. Selling your work on the cheap through digital platforms may not be your thing if you’re not a diligent online promoter.
There’s nothing wrong with trying any and everything, but in order to control your time (which you need to write), you’ll have to figure out which avenues are worth taking, and which ones justify a detour.
Next time
We’re going to leave the writing stuff alone and focus on what you can tweak in your writing to help you find that road to success a little faster. If you have any specific questions you’d like me to address, please leave them in the comments section.
Hunger Games Spin-offs (Mockingjay Spoilers)
I finished Mockingjay. If you have, too, then I have questions. Do you find it interesting/odd/suspicious that the book was so vague about the 2 decades between the end and the epilogue? What’s Gale’s job in District 2? How did things go with Mrs. Everdeen’s hospital? Did Plutarch start his upbeat singing program?
This is all speculation, but is it possible that Suzanne Collins left the door open for some Hunger Games Trilogy spin-offs? If so, I have a few theories (which you shouldn’t take seriously at all) about potential directions for new Panem-based stories.
Angel Gale
Knowing that he can never truly be what Buffy Katniss needs, Angel Gale moves to Los Angeles District 2 to make amends for the atrocities he’s committed in the past. And in this corrupt city district, there are numerous threats only a vampire hunter with a soul is capable of facing.
Totally original.
Everdeen’s Anatomy
Dr. Katniss’s Mom Everdeen (does anyone remember her first name? I don’t.) is the newest surgical intern at Panem Grace Memorial Hospital. She’s super-focused on her medical career, using it to block the pain and loss she endured during the rebellion. But, when she accidentally sleeps with her new boss, things get complicated. It doesn’t help that he’s super handsome and all the other doctors call him McDistricty.
High stakes drama, disease-free promiscuity, and wacky medical conditions pulled straight from the headlines will make this an instant hit, possibly creating its own spin-off, Pirate Practice (starring Johanna and Annie).
Panem Idol
Plutarch does get his singing program off the ground. Caesar Flickerman, Effie Trinkett, and Haymitch Abernathy make up a panel of judges who make or break aspring singers throughout the nation. While it becomes a smash hit rivaling the Hunger Games themselves, it’s no less vicious. Behind the scenes cat fights, backstabbing, and a conspiracy to hijack the audience voting system makes for drama worthy of several books.
And so on…
Those are just a few of my ideas. Do you have any? Drop a line in the comments for the world to see.
Defending Mockingjay (slight spoilers)
You may have heard of a tiny, independently produced novel by Suzanne Collins titled Mockingjay, the third book of The Hunger Games trilogy. It debuted on Tuesday to overwhelmingly positive praise. However, as stated in my last post, no matter the book, and no matter the level of praise, someone’s always going to trash it.
Here’s the thing…they’re entitled to. No one’s opinion is invalid.
Still, opinions can be the springboard for lively (and civil) debate. I wanted to take the time to address some of the grumblings I’ve heard in regard to this (IMO) incredible close to The Hunger Games. Slight spoilers lie ahead, so if you haven’t read Mockingjay and wish to remain pure, please stop now and come back later. Spoilers in …
3
2
1
Complaint #1: Katniss is out of character
I’ve seen more than a few comments about how much the character runs away in this book (in to closets and various other hiding places). I can’t help but wonder if people who make this complaint realize that Collins has done an incredible job of creating a fully fleshed out character, not an Amazonian combat machine.
She’s 17. She’s spent a little over a year in situations where she should’ve died. A bunch of times. In front of a camera, no less.
She had opportunities to run but did not take them to preserve the safety of her family. Multiple lives depended on her giving up her own. When Book 3 opens, just about all of her worst fears (District 12 destroyed, Peeta captured) and greatest wishes (Gale, Prim, and her mother safe in District 13) have come true. There’s no longer a camera hovering over her. She can do what she wanted to do all along, to an extent. She runs and hides in the moments where her absence won’t cost someone else their life.
Notice how she always comes back when she’s needed, though. I’d say she’s very much in character.
Complaint #2: Mockingjay is too different from the previous books
The claim that it differs so greatly from the other books is lost on me. Perhaps my writing background makes me look at it from a different angle, but I think what Collins has done to get through this series is genius.
A similar structure has existed throughout the books. Katniss is meant to be a pawn and submit to her role as television star and sacrificial lamb, but turns the tables on her oppressors. Taken at that level, Mockingjay is exactly like the other books. Those who are complaining in this manner, aren’t looking at it that way. Frankly, I don’t know what they’re looking at.
Their are a small group Readers/Television Viewers/Movie Goers/ Music Lovers who all have something in common when it comes to their favorite series or artists. They want same-different in equal measure. In other words, they want the impossible. If it’s too much of the same, it’s a redundant fail. If it’s too different, it’s a radical fail.
I hate to say it this way, but these are the people who don’t like sunshine, but hate clouds. Moving on.
Complaint #3: Team Peeta vs. Team Gale
My friend and fellow writer Dia Reeves made a statement last week that struck me funny, “I don’t understand how there can even be a TEAM GALE. He’s not even in the book for crying out loud. Not enough to matter.”
Well, all that changed in Mockingjay. Gale got much more limelight, and I must admit, he’s pretty badass. It doesn’t take long for him to establish himself as a solid contender for Katniss’ affection. I won’t say who she ends up picking, ultimately, but I will say this…one team (possibly both) were destined to lose this one. People who judge the merit of the book on who got the girl at the end seem to miss the point…it HAD to be resolved one way or another. If you’re sore about it, and are ready to decry Mockingjay literary tripe, just hold off a bit. Snuggle up with your homemade Team Gale/Peeta pillow for a couple of days, then re-evaluate.
Collins did what she had to do here.
Complaint #4: The deaths (too many, too anonymous)
Folks…Its. A. War.
The book opens at the gravesite of 7,000 people. We already know it’s going to be bloody. And, in AT LEAST one death, utterly heartwrenching.
The complaint that we don’t get to know many of the characters who do meet their end is indicative of war. We don’t know every casualty…but someone does. And the ones we do know–the pain we feel at their loss–should form some sort of sympathetic bridge between us and the soldiers/bystanders we don’t know by name.
Also, a technical note, the story has been a 1st person narrative from the beginning, we can only know what Katniss knows. If she spent too much time getting to know new characters, there’d be complaints about our favorites being neglected.
Bottomline: Collins painted an accurate picture here. In war, sadly, we tend to know very little about the heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice.
Complaint #5: The book is terrible, a disappointment, a waste of time
I’ve seen a lot of reviews that say this and nothing more. In my mind, these declarations say more than the wordy reviews.
These readers are upset. For various reasons, I’m sure. But, can I posit this: maybe they’re upset because that’s what this book was meant to do. It’s upsetting.
All I can say to those who had this immediate reaction is wait. The book came out Tuesday, a mere two days ago, and some of these bad reviews went up within 24 hours of its release.
My point: terrible/disappointing/wasteful books don’t get read cover to cover in a day.
Terrible books don’t get you past the first 5 pages (sometimes the first page).For whatever reasons, you may not have liked the outcome, but something pushed you through Mockingjay (and the series as a whole). Take some time to think about it. I don’t know if your opinion will change, but I think you’ll see that Collins did her job. She got a reaction out of you.
Hurry up and finish…
That’s all I have for now. I look forward to the coming week as more and more of you finish Mockingjay. Should be some lively discussions. In the meantime, what do you think the next big series will be? There’s definitely a void to fill, and I’m open to suggestions. Give me some recs in the comments.
Later…
Are you having trouble crossing the finish line?
I’ve spoken at length about my novel WHISPERTOWN, which my agent will be taking on submission next month. It’s pretty much done (I say pretty much, because we’ll likely make tweaks/line edits up until the day we start shopping it to editors). Bottomline: It’s got a beginning, middle, and end.
That alone is a feat in itself.
I’ve met so many people over the years who “always wanted to write a book”, and a few of them have even hammered out some chapters, maybe even half of a novel.
Too many of them never finish.
There’s no sin in starting a book and not finishing. I’ve done it plenty myself. However, if you really want to be in this game, you gotta finish something.
In my estimation, there are a few reasons why an aspiring writer doesn’t finish ANY project…
1) Fear
A broad term, yes. To be specific, fear of rejection. If you don’t finish, you never have to hear someone say that you wasted your time, that you shouldn’t quit your day job, that you suck.
Here’s the bad news: someone’s going to say that anyway, particularly if you ever publish. My first major sale was to an anthology called DARK DREAMS and one current Amazon review is titled “100% Pure Garbage”. Granted, since it was an anthology, the venom wasn’t aimed directly at me, but I still felt the pain. And I have no illusions, someone is going to (or already does) feel that way about any solo project I do.
If you don’t believe that someone is always going to dislike your work, go look up the reviews for the most brilliant novel you ever read and see if someone doesn’t trash it. It happens.
Get over it. If you really want this, you get a thick skin and tell the best stories you can (to completion). You’ll learn to love the negative feedback; it’ll make you write that much harder.
2) You don’t have a support system
As a writer, you spend a lot of time in a vacuum, you and your computer/notebook/legal pad. You may be mistaking the mid-story fatigue you feel as something unique, a personal weakness that no true writer suffers. It’s so not true.
Writers get tired. They procrastinate. They spend 10 hours straight playing God of War III (okay, maybe that’s just me). My point is, we all get worn out after a few thousand words.
That’s why it’s good to talk to positive people who are trying to do what you do. A writing partner, critique group, online message board. All can be good support systems to get you over the hump. You’re not alone, and if you approach them in the right manner (meaning don’t ask them to read your half-written, unedited manuscript) you may find your favorite pros are willing to offer some encouragement, too.
Get out there and meet some writers. You never know, they may have been looking for you, too.
3) You don’t really want this job
I don’t blame you. Sometimes I don’t really want this job. Writing stories, books, poems, screenplays, etc. is hard work. However, there’s a difference between occasional fatigue and not being built for this.
Are you ready to spend long hours alone, typing away, no guarantee that anyone will ever appreciate your hard work? If you’re not finishing the stories you start, that could be a reason. Maybe you’d rather be at the gym, or on your Xbox, or out with your girl/boyfriend. If so, there’s nothing wrong with that.
But, be careful you’re not using your half-hearted writing aspiration be a shield between you and the real world. Your true passion is probably out there somewhere.
What ideas are you looking for?
Want to know how I went to my “where” and found an original “what”?
In other words, how did I beat the odds to not only score an incredible agent, but get 70% of the agents I queried to request my full manuscript?
I focused on finding ideas that AREN’T like everyone else’s. You can, too. Listen up.
The question
“Where do you get your ideas?”
It’s the question pro fiction writers hear most often.
For the average reader, the question is simply the most concise way to discover how an author took them to another place, touched them, made them want more. For others, particularly the aspiring writer, the question might be seen as a key to a secret club (or Fort Knox if it’s Stephen King’s, James Patterson’s, or J. K. Rowling’s key).
Ask 10 writers and you’ll get 10 answers ranging from witty, to straight forward, to annoyed. Some are inspired by news stories, some by dreams. Ideas can come from anywhere.
The dutiful aspiring writer will likely try whatever technique their favorite author ascribes to, and if that doesn’t work for them, they’ll move on to the next. That’s great, they (and you) should keep going until they find what works for them. In my opinion, it won’t take most scribblers very long to find their “where”.
But, now that you’ve found this secret idea garden, with all of the possibilities in the universe buried just beneath the surface, another dilemma forms. Another mystery.
“What”, exactly, are you looking for? If you want to get past the gatekeepers (namely literary agents), your “what” needs to stand out. In order to find it, you need to understand the winning ideas in your market/genre. Study the “whats” that have made your favorite authors household names.
I did. Then I did something pretty simple. Once I understood what was selling, I wrote what wasn’t selling.
You wrote what wasn’t…huh?
It’s counter-intuitive, I know. Hear me out.
I took a look at the New York Times Young Adult Bestseller List awhile ago. Here’s what I saw in the Top 10: Twilight, Percy Jackson and Olympians, The Hunger Games.
All great series, the kind of fantasy stuff I wanted to write. Me and a million other writers.
Agents were harping on all the derivative fantasy getting pitched to them, and I knew my chances for recognition were slim if I went down the well traveled road I wanted to take. I needed to find a gap.
What was missing from the bestseller list?
It was obvious. None of the books in the top 10 were based in any sort of contemporary reality.
How could I spin that? How could I still write an epic story about a hero in a fantastic situation facing evil monsters/villains without any true fantasy elements? That’s the sort of “what” I needed to find. Once I had that framework in place, my ideas came naturally.
My novel WHISPERTOWN (repped by Jamie Weiss Chilton of Andrea Brown Literary) was the result. A noir-ish murder mystery, set in contemporary times, with a hero in a fantastic (but not supernatural or post-apocalyptic) situation.
I sought my idea, my “what”, with several specific goals in mind. 1) To be able to write a query that stands out from other queries 2) Get a top-notch agent 3) Get a book deal with a major publisher.
Right now, I’m 2 for 2. WHISPERTOWN will be going out on submission next month so we’ll see how number 3 works out then…
Notice that my goals weren’t to “write what I know” or “write what I love” (though I do love WHISPERTOWN). I’ve always wanted to be able to walk into my local bookstore and see a book with my name on the cover (that wasn’t in the true crime section). If you desire the same thing, it’s time to get past romantic notions about this job. My methods may sound mercenary to you, but even mercenaries have to start somewhere…
This post is long, but there’s a ton to discuss here. If you have specific questions, lay them out in the comments. Otherwise, I’ll continue in a separate post.
Keep Writing!!
Gremlins in the manuscript
Sorry to leave you for a few days, kiddies. Been hard at work on Agent-requested revisions to WHISPERTOWN. I’m nearly done on that front and wanted to take time to speak to the little (vicious) things.
Typos, missed words, and other general manuscript weirdness (AKA Gremlins).
If you’re familiar with the film, then you know the creatures I speak of. If you’re not familiar with the film, the picture to the left should let you know they aren’t chinchillas.
To clarify, I didn’t come home to find a green reptilian midget chowing down on my pages. In the film, Gremlins were mischievous, with antics ranging from messing up your appliances (especially microwaves) to murder. And they were damn hard to get rid of. The more you attacked, the more there were.
Thus is the nature of problems in manuscripts (for me, anyway…maybe for you, too).
You need to be perfect (REALLY perfect)
This is not true, nothing and no one is perfect. When dealing with Manuscript Gremlins, you gotta try for perfection, though. We’ve all read books where we noticed a misspelling, incorrect word usage, or just a missing word all together. It happens. It’s forgivable. But, have you ever read a book where something is wrong on every other page? Like the author didn’t check it at all?
Admittedly, the worst offenders I’ve run across were self-published books (NOTE: I’m not saying ALL self-published books are poorly edited, I’ve simply experienced SOME that were). That’s not to say I haven’t seen a novel come from major publishing houses with embarrassing mistakes, too. Bottom line: it’s your book, it represents your name, try to make sure it’s right. We’re all human, but don’t let the mistakes in your book label you a ‘lazy, illiterate, and possibly blind’ human.
“I don’t want to read the whole thing again…”
With each subsequent draft of your manuscript you’ll gain confidence that the material is getting better and better. You’re right. But along with the confidence comes a level of comfort, and you’ll be tempted to skip whole sections because you know they’re good to go.
Never, ever do this.
Changes in manuscripts cause a ripple effect. That change to a character’s motivation in Chapter 5 effects what they do in Chapter 27. You changed the paint color on page 40, you better make sure it matches on page 216.
Make your changes, then re-read your whole manuscript with a critical eye. It’s the only way to catch lurking Gremlins.
Your new draft is still a first draft
So, you’ve made sure that your shiny new word upgrades haven’t conjured new Gremlins in your manuscript. All the new stuff is compatible with the old stuff, and you haven’t heard a peep from the little monsters. Guess what?
They moved.
They’re in the new text that you added. How? Why? Because Gremlins love first draft writing most of all.
“Wait,” you say, “this isn’t my first draft, it’s like my fifth.”
Technically, yes. However, anything you’ve added hasn’t been critiqued or revised, so those portions are first draft writing. You’ll need to pay special attention.
Seems like a lot of work
It does. And it is. If you do all this, you’ll know your manuscript inside and out, will likely get sick of it. You wanna be a pro, though, and part of the job description is Gremlin Killer.
So, have at it. Just don’t take your manuscript to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs…that’s not going to help anyone.
Learning to love red ink
Last time I said I’d discuss training your brain to write original stuff (in other words, the opposite of what most aspiring writers are doing based on what I’ve seen the agents complaining about). I’m sorry to disappoint, but another more timely subject came up. My agent sent me the editorial letter for my YA Mystery WHISPERTOWN today, and I thought it would be a good topic to get into.
Direct your attention to the cartoon on the left. It’s kind of funny, but not the red ink I’m talking about (though mine can be just as difficult to handle). I’m talking about editorial changes, something you’re going to have to deal with when your writing career takes off.
If you’re really trying to break into this business, I’m sure you’ve got critique partners and beta-readers (if you don’t, you better get some) to help you iron out rough spots in your manuscript. These folks are invaluable, and they can really get your work past the initial suckage. However, you have to understand that even the most conscientious beta-reader, while enthusiastic and often willing to go the extra mile, probably lacks two things: 1) A vested interest in your work beyond friendship or reciprocation 2) True editorial experience.
Bottom line: serviceable editors are all around, but GREAT editors are hard to come by.
What’s that mean? Maybe nothing. But let’s say you’ve gone through your beta readers a couple of times, they’ve given the stamp of approval, then you’re fortunate enough to get an agent. That stamp just got revoked. All those re-writes are out the window because now your agent wants to fine tune.
This is the point where you might be tempted to get a little huffy. “The book was good enough for my agent to sign me, how could it possibly need more work? I’ve reached the pentacle.”
No, you haven’t. You’ve got potential, your agent saw it, and now she wants to make sure you’re not wasting her time by sending her out into the world with a mediocre manuscript. This is why the agent you choose is very important.The editorial pill will be much easier to swallow if you’re confident that your agent knows what she’s talking about.
My agent has great editorial experience, and backs up every change she requests with sound rationale. For the record, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of huff when I read her letter. I only disagreed on a couple of points, and once I explained my position, she backed me. We work well together.
If you’ve chosen your agent wisely, then you should look forward to those requested changes, because they mean your agent can go into the world with confidence in your project. A confident agent will work hard for you, because success benefits you both.
But, what if you don’t look forward to the letter? What if you hate the letter?
Then you better get over it. Because if you agent sells your project, most likely you’re going to get another letter from your new editor. More changes. And what are you going to do then? Throw a fit at the person who’s cutting you a check and fulfilling your lifelong dream at the same time?
It’s not your book anymore. Sure, your name’s on the cover, but you have investors to please. Beyond the investors, you have readers to entrall. If you’re lucky, you’re birthing your new career, a career that will bleed red ink often.
Learn to love it. Because as long as those agents and editors are staining your manuscript, you’re still in the business. When no one’s telling you what to change, it means they’re not reading anymore.
The Query Process: My .02
I’ve struggled with this blogging thing for some time now. I’ve stopped and started several times, always searching for a sustainable angle, the oft-mentioned “sticky content”. Haven’t had much success, though.
The obvious direction is a writing advice blog. But, I’ve always avoided it for a couple of reasons:
1) Only a billion other writers are doing it
2) I always felt like I wasn’t quite qualified enough
Recently, a good friend pointed some things out to me. She noted that I’ve been writing for over 20 years (and in the past 10 years I have racked up some professional sales). I’ve completed several novels. I’ve won awards and placed in prestigious contests. I’ve crafted a query letter that generated a nearly 70% positive response rate from the agents who read it. And, just recently, I actually acquired an incredibly qualified agent at a well respected agency (Jamie Weiss Chilton of Andrea Brown Literary, for those who don’t know).
Basically, I know a little bit about this writing game.
My friend went on to point out that my reluctance to give writing advice wasn’t about my qualifications, but my confidence. In my mind, anything less than a book deal was a failure, and failures shouldn’t give advice.
Yes, I’ve been hard on myself. But no more.
I have knowledge to share, and I’m not shying away anymore. So, if you have any topics you’d like me to touch on, feel free to ask. In the meantime, I’ll steer the ship. First up, let’s talk about your query process (not the specifics of the letter, that will vary), particularly when and how.
The First Thing
This should go without saying, but don’t query until your book is complete. I’ve met more than a few writers who worry themselves with what agency they should sign with (you’re lucky if you have a choice), whether they can negotiate commissions (not likely), and whether or not their agent is going to have the experience to negotiate six-figure deals BEFORE THEY’VE WRITTEN THEIR FIRST WORD (your agent actually needs something to negotiate with). It’s so counter-intuitive to me, but I’ve met enough of these writers to know this has to be said. So, please, write THE END before you even THINK about writing query letter.
Tier-y Eyed
Even though you have a list of 20 agents you wish to query, I suggest you break them into tiers. Your top choices, the middle, and the guys you’re not that interested in. Then, pick a couple from each group so you can send out an initial 5-6 queries. Based on the response, you’ll know if your query is solid (they’ll ask to read your whole book) or still needs work (some lowly office worker emails you a letter that begins “Dear Author, thank you but…”). If you bomb on the first tier, make adjustments and try again. With a little polish, you might get to choose your agent after all.
Pull a BP…
…and always have something in the pipeline (rimshot). Um, okay, anyway…always be working on the next thing, because the reality is you can polish a rusty tin can all day and it’s still going to be a rusty tin can. That was a metaphor. For your book. Which may not be as good as you think. I’m not trying to diss you, but sometimes the project just isn’t solid and you’re not doing yourself any favors by obsessing over it for six years (like I once did). Always keep writing. Crank out your ideas faster while improving at the same time. Sounds like a lot of work, but think about it, that’s exactly what you’re going to have to do when you do get the call you’ve waited all your life for. Might as well start practicing now.
That’s all for now. Next time, I’ll talk about training your mind to generate original ideas…it may help those of you who are currently working on your YA romance about a girl who’s torn between a vampire, and a werewolf, and derivatives. (I know, I know…yours is DIFFERENT. The girl has a peg leg. I get it. Really.)
Later…