Back To Basics: Writing, Publication, Where do you start?
Regardless of your age or genre, if you are serious about writing and want to pursue publication then join a writing critique group. A solid group will give you valuable feedback and help you improve your writing. You will be able to get help with plot problems as well as query letters, pitches, and everything else along the way.
Next, look for organizations. See what writing organizations exist in your area and join them.
Find your nearest conference. Writing conference are incredibly valuable for what you can learn as well as who you can meet. I have been pursuing writing for a long time but once I decided to take myself seriously I googled Oregon and writer’s conference, that’s how I learned about the Willamette Writers. Some conferences offer reduced fees if you volunteer so be sure and check into that too.
Volunteer. Volunteering can help you build networks and meet other writers.
Learn. Learn about your craft as well as the business of writing, the industry standards/expectations, and the marketing of books. All of it is important. It’s not enough to be a great writer, you have to know how to sell your book too.
Begin networking, building your name, and creating a platform, NOW. Do not wait until after you get published or even until you are trying to get published. It is never too early to begin building a name for yourself.
There is really no order that you must do these things in, but the one I would place above all the rest is joining a writing critique group.
Check out the resources/links page for additional information and suggested reading.
Are You Conference Ready?
The WW conference is coming up and you are probably tired of me blogging about it, but alas, I take at least a month to prepare for the conference.
This is my check off list for the conference:
Edited Manuscript–first chapter
Query letter–addressed to whomever I am pitching to
Synopsis
Verbal Pitch–memorized AND practiced–in front of other people, but I take it with me just in case.
Elevator Verbal Pitch—The one or two sentence condensed version of my pitch, so that when people ask me, “Oh, what are you writing.” I can answer them in a succinct manner.
Business Cards–I order mine from vistaprint.com–This helps me network with other writers.
You may or may not want to put together a dossier by getting folders, having the first chapter, the query letter, and the synopsis printed and ready to hand to an agent if they happen to request it. Is this a requirement? Heavens no. But I would have all of the above written and ready to email in an instant. If you get a request from an agent, you don’t want to come home from the conference and be rushing around trying to get a submission together.
I would say that one of the most important things to do is practice your pitch in front of other people. Know how long it runs, aim for 3 minutes, 5 minutes at the absolute max and that would only be for one on one consults. If you are doing group consults, keep it to 3 minutes.
Most of all go to the conference of the mind to learn, meet new people, and have fun. I know that it’s terrifying to go in front of an agent and pitch your work, but for the most part they are really nice and understand that you are nervous.
My first year, I remember I was terrified. I rewrote my pitch the night before (no idea why I did that) so I didn’t know my pitch as well as I should have and I sat down and just started to spiel it out (which I know better than that). The agent stopped me, told me to calm down and take a deep breath, and to just talk about my book. He was very nice. So don’t worry, they understand how nervous you are and generally don’t hold it against you.
And the thing is, I like public speaking. I did speech and debate in college. I know how to prepare, but pitching to agents is still nerve wracking. So if you are pitching, practice is your best weapon to combat that nervousness.
If you want some more conference tips, check out Mary Andonian’s website. She has done past articles on how to prepare for a conference.
Harry Potter Plagerism?
According to Publisher’s Weekly The estate of Adrian Jacobs is suing Bloomsbury, J.K. Rowling, and Scholastic for plagiarism found in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Do I think that these accusations are founded? I doubt it. I will be very surprised if the court rules in the favor of the Estate.
Plagiarism as defined by dictionary.reference.com
is : the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.
Notice I quoted where I got that definition.
According to Reuters.com the similar plot elements include a contest, clues, and a bathroom. Well, I don’t know that, that in and of itself is plagiarism. Are all plots that have clues and contests then plagiarized? Is it the bathroom that they find the fault with? From the articles that I’ve read, the characters are vastly different.
The concept of a “hero” overcoming quests/clues/obstacles is found throughout literature. Also if you have a society then you aromatically have to have laws and all the trapping of society like medical care, recreation, etc. That is all part of creating the world. I don’t think that every author who creates a world is plagiarizing simply because their book has a “wizard prison” and so does another book.
The book claiming plagiarism is only 32 pages. Quite a difference from Rowling’s 752 page, paperback edition, tome. I’m curious as to whether this is all a publicity stunt. Sue a renown author to get people to buy the book, if it’s still in print. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the case and if it affects plagiarism laws and definitions.
Back To Basics: Submission Guidelines
So, you’ve finished your manuscript and polished until it shines. Now it’s time to submit. More and more agencies are now accepting online submissions. Generally speaking when you email a submission you are going to paste your query letter and your sample pages into the body of an email, because most places will not accept attachments.
However, always, always, always, check the agency’s submission guidelines. Follow those guidelines and do not stray from them. Often, the simple mistake of not checking and following guidelines will automatically lead to a rejection.
If you are mailing, then make sure that it, again follows the guidelines, and two looks presentable. Do not hand write query letters, type them. Never send your only copy because chances are you will not get it back.
Now, as for the mailing itself, well it’s funny, everybody has their own opinion. Some agents I’ve listened to at conferences have said a basic #10 envelope is all you need. Others like the large, cardboard, letter mailers because of the easy open pull tab. It’s totally up to you.
Personally, I use the priority mail letter mailers, send it priority mail, and add a delivery confirmation on it, but that’s just me and my personal tastes.
Back To Basics: Research
Ok, you’ve written your book, edited until your brain turned to mush, created a stunning synopsis, have the basic query letter, and now you need to send out a submission.
Before you start emailing agents or snail mailing them, you need to do your research. Make sure that the agency and the agent and/or editor represent your genre and is looking to add clients to their list.
Have names and addresses and look up their credentials. Have they sold any books lately? Who else do they represent? What percentage do they make? Do they charge you postage for mailing out submissions?
It boils down to know who you are submitting to and know if they are a good fit for your work.
These are my favorite sites for agent research:
www.writersmarket.com – This site is well worth the subscription fee. You can buy the book, but the site is updated more often and the search features are great. You can also save your searches and organize them. If you don’t already know this site has listings of agents, editors, publishers, magazines, etc. It also has useful articles and advice.
www.agentquery.com – This has a database of agents. They have very specific standards and as far as I can tell they are all legitimate agents with sales. It’s a free database and the search features are great. A very good place to start to figure out who to submit your work to.
http://www.querytracker.net/ – This is another database of agents. They have a lot of extra information, like recent sales, and whether they’ve responded based on the information submitted by users. There is a free version (which is what I have) and a paid version.
Editors and Preditors – This site has agent listings with reviews and information. They help you know if someone is trying to pull scams or if they went out of business. A great site.
You want to write for a living?
If you want to write for a living then the first thing you need to do is take yourself seriously, because if you do that then others will believe you are serious about your career as well.
It you treat your writing like a career then it will become one (it just might take awhile.)
Step One: Decide.
Decide if you want writing as a career. Decide that it’s worth your time, effort, and occasionally money.
Step two: Set Goals.
Goals are important. They are like your road map to your life. Even tiny goals like, do the dishes, take the dog for a walk, write 500 words are goals worth setting.
Step three: Track and Achieve your goals.
Setting goals is great, but you have to follow through and complete them. If you were never a goal setter, then start small and work your way up.
Step four: Connect and Learn
Connect with other writers. Join a critique group, attend a conference, go to workshops, do what you can to build a network and you will learn a lot in the process. It’s important to not just learn how to better your writing and submit correctly, but also learn about the industry-the business of publishing, the marketing of books. It’s good to know what’s going on and how it will affect you.
Step five: Read
Yes, read. Read books in your market so you know where your book falls. Read books on writing to improve your prose. Read submission guidelines (more than once) when you submit your work. Read to support your industry and other writers just like you.
Step six: Never give up.
If you are truly passionate about what you are doing, don’t give up. Believe in yourself, even when it seems impossible. If you listen to others who tell you your dream is a “pipe dream” then that is all it will ever be, but if you listen to yourself, believe in yourself, and put in the effort to further yourself, then you really can take a “pipe dream” and turn it into a dream career.
It was in 2007 when I finally decided to take myself seriously as a writer. One of the first things I did was go to the Willamette Writer’s Conference. Then, I joined a critique group. Since then I have met wonderful people, improved my writing, learned about the industry, and had a few nibbles on my book. I am still writing and still submitting and will keep doing so because I believe in myself and my dream.
Back To Basics: The Synopsis
I really hated writing synopsis up until last year. The idea of condensing my entire book down to one page single spaced seemed impossible, but I finally managed it. Thinking of synopsis as an essay about a book I read, helped me write it. How would I, essentially, write a book report on my own book? What would I include? How does the plot make me feel? What does the main character go through? How does it change them? You may want to brainstorm on those questions before writing the synopsis.
Okay, moving on.
A few quick formatting suggestions. Synopsis can be about 2-3 pages double spaced or 1 page single spaced–always check any submission guidelines and adjust accordingly. If using the single space method do not indent your paragraphs. Put a return line between them instead, this is business letter format.
The first time you mention a character’s name, the name should be capitalized. After that you can type it normally. Remember to adjust your margins to 1 inch. As for font, I don’t remember reading any font rules for the synopsis, so I think you would be safe with Times New Roman or Bookman Old Style. It’s up to you.
As for the content of a synopsis:
First, introduce your character and give us the central conflict
Example:
AIDEN, a fourteen-year-old foster child, has always longed for a real home, but after he learns his home is in a different world he must choose to be a leader in Pelegra or a modern day hero on Earth.
After that initial paragraph, I have five more paragraphs depicting my plot. Things to remember when writing the main body of a synopsis:
1. Drop all of your subplots, focus only on the plot points of the main character, the main plot, and the character arc.
2. Make the plot points emotional, by describing them with strong verbs and strong adjectives.
For example: Aiden is ecstatic to discover he has a father…a desperate fight for peace begins…Aiden is plagued with dreams…He is triumphant with his success…Outraged, Aiden joins the rescue mission…. Aiden has finally found a sense of home and chooses…
3. By using emotion, show your character development through the story.
4. Yes, you MUST include the ending.
5. Your synopsis needs a header with your contact information and if you plan on using the multiple page, double spaced method, you should also have page numbers.
Well, that’s the basics. To get a better overview, the best and only book I have found that deals with synopsis in depth, to my liking, is the Sell Your Novel Toolkit by Elizabeth Lyon. I definitely recommend picking up a copy or at the very least, check it out from your local library.
Back To Basics: The Hook & Query Letter
Never send a generic query letter. I tend to think of query letters like cover letters that I would send out with my resume, they need to be tailored to a specific company and in the case of agents to a specific agent. Always address it to a specific person, double check the spelling of their name, and address them properly, for example Ms. Smith. Mr. Jones. Your query letter is a business letter, remember that.
The body of your query letter should start with a solid hook. Now what exactly comprises a hook? Well, it’s going to vary person to person but the goal is to introduce your character, add in some suspense, and make the reader want more.
My hook is the following:
Aiden was recently suspended from school. He’s been having strange dreams he doesn’t understand and after his 14th birthday he will never look at a major appliance the same way again.
This tells you who the character is, how old he is, something about his personality and/or past, and leaves you wondering what exactly happens to change his views about major appliances. At least, I do hope that you are curious about that.
The next paragraph should clearly state why you are contacting them, what you want them to represent or publish, including title, genre, and word count and then a few sentence summary of your plot.
Example: I am seeking representation for my 50,000 word young adult fantasy novel entitled Pelegra and the Son of Merek where…
Be sure and include the central conflict of the store. My central conflict is this:
Aiden’s decision to be a leader or a modern day superhero will affect an entire world, the question is which one.
The next paragraph, you may want to explain why you are contacting this particular person. For example, we met at the Willamette Writer’s conference or author xxx recommended that I submit to you, or even, your agency bio says you specialize in… Now is also a good place to state where your book fits into the current market. Does it share themes with other books? What audience do you see it reaching.
The last paragraph should be any credentials and/or platform that you have.
Always be sure and thank the agent , for example:
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to hear from you at your convenience.
End with sincerely, do four returns, type your name, do two more returns, and then type the word Enclosed: followed by a colon and what you have enclosed—if you have not enclosed anything and you are just sending a query letter by itself then ignore the enclosed part.
I hope that helps you and for an in depth look at query letters and submission etiquette try the How to Sell Your Novel Toolkit by Elizabeth Lyon.
Writer’s Block…and what to do about it
I’ve been having problems with one specific chapter that I’ve known that I needed to write for quite some time. So, yesterday I spent a couple of hours while my son napped going over my notes. I had to make some changes and rewrite a few things, but I was still stuck on this one chapter. I decided to move away from it and work on something else for awhile, which led to me perusing some of my books on writing. One of the books I skimmed through yesterday was Novel Shortcuts by Laura Whitcomb. One of the exercises in that book is called shortcut to a scene.
I’ve used this tool before and it has worked well for me and I must say it worked well for me once again. I have about a third of the chapter written now and the rest of it planned out.
My point is try different things, step away from the rut that you are in. I spent a large chunk of my writing time yesterday working on different sections, moving things around, rewriting bits, and doing general editing before I was finally able to move forward and write the chapter I’ve been trying to write for several months now.
And, if all else fails, step away from the computer. Go read or go for a walk or something else to clear your mind, but remember to come back to your project and to not give up.
Back To Basics: Manuscript Formatting
Occasionally I will do a series of posts regarding a specific topic. I’ve decided to discuss some basics, things I wish I had known long before I did. I’m going to start with a common term: manuscript format. Essentially, a manuscript should have a title page, the body of the manuscript should have a header, be in a non condensed font, be double spaced, and have 1 inch margins.
Let’s break this down a bit.
The title page should have your contact information in the upper left hand corner and the title should be centered and approximately two thirds of the way down the page.
The header should have your last name, a hyphen and some identifier, such as the title of your book, or a partial title, and the page number. The page number should start on the first page of your manuscript (in other words there is no page number on your title page) and should be in the upper right hand corner.
The body should be in a non condensed font, such as bookman old style and should be double spaced. You will want to adjust the margins to be 1 inch. If you Microsoft word the automatic settings are 1.5 inch margins and Times New Roman font–so you will want to make some adjustments. Your font size should be 10 or 12, though 12 is often the preferred size.
New chapters should start 2/3 of the way down on a new page. Also, if you are like me and were taught that you should put two spaces after a period, think again. The publishing world only wants one. Don’t despair, just use the edit>find/replace tool to change it. Type a . space space in the find and type a . space in the replace and there you go, instant fix.
There are other things a beginning writer should be aware of like dialogue is indented and often in a new paragraph, but not always. When you switch characters you start a new paragraph. I highly recommend buying a book on formatting. It will get you started in the right direction and you won’t have as much correcting to do after the fact.
Personally, I suggest Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon, it’s a great book. Again, if you can’t buy one right now, go to your library and see if they have or can get you a copy through inter library loan.