Publishing Series: #11 Traditional or Indie Publishing?

This is a huge question.

There are folks out there who want to be traditionally published and are willing to die on that hill. Traditional publishing means being offered a book deal by a major publishing house.

This path requires finding an agent first. Back in the old days, you could send your manuscript right to a publisher, but no more. If you do that, you'll be lucky to have it sent back to you.

Nowadays, you need to find an agent first. There are tons of them out there. If you have no other publishing credits behind you -- in other words, you haven't published any articles, short stories, or poetry in magazines or newspapers -- it's best to start with an agent who is new to the business. Sounds like it won't get you very far, but these folks are eagerly looking for a good manuscript. Search out new agents on google, in the Writer's Market, or in ads in writer's magazines. Since agents specialize in certain genres, you'll want to find an agent who handles the genre you are writing.

When you have gathered a few names, you'll want to craft a query letter. The first paragraph of the letter should tease your book, much like the back cover blurb would tease a perspective reader. The rest of the letter should include your book's length, genre, and your contact information. This letter will accompany the first part of your book -- usually the first 30 pages. To an agent, these first 30 pages are key, so make sure something big happens in the first 30 pages. If it doesn't, rewrite!

Then send off your packages. And wait.

As you might have guessed by now, this is the hard part. You'll get rejection letters. Some of them nice, some of them form letters. The most disappointing part of this path is that agents will only represent one writer per genre, so if they already have a science fiction client, for instance, and you write science fiction, they won't represent you also -- at least not until they have sold that first client's book to a publisher.

Book deals are hard to come by. They take talent and a whole lot of luck -- but there are other options.

Next Up: Indie Publishing

Publishing Series: #10 Are We There Yet?

So the beta readers have given your manuscript a look-see. You've taken their comments and questions under consideration and made the necessary changes and improvements. Now you're done, right?

Well, not quite.

The next suggestion is going to sound a bit odd.

Close yourself up in a room with your manuscript and a pencil. Make sure there will be no interruptions. Your job now is to read the entire story to yourself out loud.

Yes. Out loud. 

By reading out loud, you hear how the sentences sound in another person's head. You are reading what is there on the page, not what you think is on the page. You may catch awkward wordings that other read-throughs haven't caught, or even noticed words you intended to include, but have left out. 

If you are good at punctuation and grammar -- and really make sure that you are before attempting this part by yourself -- you can also catch these types of errors. If you are not good at editing -- and by that I mean punctuation, capitalization, and usage -- than I recommend finding a good editor. But this can cost money. Either spend the bucks or educate yourself by using resources like Strunk and White's Elements of Style, the Associated Press Stylebook, or Warriner's Grammar book.

This is one of the last read-throughs your manuscript will have, and when it goes out into the world, you want it to be as pretty and shiny as it can be!

Next Up: Indie or Traditional Publishing?

A Huge Thank You!

I had a wonderful time this weekend at the Buffalo Historical Society's Maker's Market! A huge shout-out to friends Laura, who showed up for moral support, and Ann and Jay who traveled great distances to support my efforts as well. So great to see them!

It was a great venue, and the folks who run and volunteer at the museum are the friendliest!

What a super time meeting so many people -- young and old alike -- who were interested in Relic and Eye of the Peacock, their story lines, themes, and inspiration. I had some great conversations! This was my first big signing since Covid hit, and meeting potential readers is really the best part of being an author. Writing is a very isolated craft -- you're really kept company only by the characters you create. But when you do a signing, you get to connect with people who are interested in those characters that you have become so close to. 

So many people out there like to read -- and write. If you bought a copy, I thank you. If it was a gift, I hope they love it. Please feel free to contact me here. And don't forget to write a review on either my Amazon or my Good Reads page. Friday and Saturday let me also talk about this blog and the writing tips I've been offering. I hope you all visit and take advantage! It felt so good to be back in the saddle again!

My Next Author Signing

The excitement is growing! 

As you know, Covid shut down so many of our enjoyable activities, and they are just now starting to gear up again. In that vein, I'm preparing for my first author signing in quite a while!

Nov. 25 and 26 I'll be signing and selling books at the Buffalo Historical Society's Makers Market. You can find me on the third floor!

There should be some excellent Christmas shopping there as well, as there are over 30 artisans and authors at this juried event!

The Historical Museum will also be open so you can peruse their educational displays as well! What a wonderful time of year to get reacquainted with the Historical Society.

Attending Conferences

Lately, my blogs have been highlighting how to go about writing and getting published. This week, I'm taking a small break from that topic, and yet, I'm not.

In between all of the writing, revising, and editing that leads to a published story, you have to search out additional ways to answer your questions. No one has all the answers. No one's journey is the same as anyone else's, and you can get tips you never knew you needed by talking with other authors and people in the book business.

Saturday, I attended the Indie Author Day at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library. It's a great mini-conference -- only a half day. This year there were four speakers on the agenda, and I learned something from every one of them. I must say one of my favorites was Susan Bottaccio, the librarian from the rare book room. She detailed all of the resources available in the space and, knowing how important research can be when writing, I was amazed! Frankly, I want to move in and never leave!

Another speaker, Susan Solomon, was very informative. Among other things, she stressed the importance of reviews and writer's groups. She even gave me some personal advice that I won't reveal here, but I am in the process of implementing!

When I attend these events, I always search for at least one take-away from each speaker. Even if you don't find something new, there's the affirmation aspect of such an event. I could sit in the audience on Saturday and repeatedly say, "Yup. I do that," and that feels good.

Publishing Series: #9 So You Think You're Done...

Okay. You've written and revised. And revised some more. You're pleased. It sounds good. That manuscript is done! 

Ah, not quite. Now you need to find some beta readers. Three or four should be plenty. They should be people who enjoy a good story. They should also be people you trust to tell you the truth. Their job will be to read your entire manuscript and track their thoughts in the margins. If they have a question, they should write it down. If they are shocked or surprised, they should write it down. They should have a conversation with you and the text in writing in the margins.

Set a date when they should have completed their task and returned the manuscript to you. Then sit down and re-read your story and read their comments. My habit is to spread out at a large table with all the copies in front of me and page through them all at the same pace. I read all the page one comments, then all the page two comments. You get the idea. I also have my writing up on my computer and make suggested changes along the way. Sometimes the beta readers' comments won't help, but if a reader has a question about something they should have the answer to, that is either their fault as a reader or your fault as a writer. You need to figure it out. Having several eyes on the text will help you do that.

If they laugh when you wrote something funny or are shocked when you wrote something surprising, your writing is working. Beta readers can be reaffirming in this way, and they can also help you discover holes in your plot or flaws in your characters.

So what do you do when you have digested all your beta readers' comments? Revise again!

Next Up: Are We There Yet?

Publishing Series: #8 How Do You Know When You Are Done?

How do you know when a piece of writing is finished?

Good question!

Sometimes you don't. The best advice at this stage of the writing process is to get your writing in front of other people that you respect for their writing talent and that you trust. In most cases this is some sort of writers' group.

I've belonged to a writers' group for about 15 years. The membership has changed over the years -- people drift out as life gets complicated and sometimes drift back in when they enter a period of time to dedicate to writing. Our core group of writers, however, has pretty much remained the same. They are a great group of talented, intelligent, creative people.

We meet once a month and bring a piece of writing to share -- something that we need help with or need to see a response to. Before we read our piece to the group, we try to tell them what we need them to look for. We provide a copy of the piece for each member and they mark up their copy while we read it aloud to them. Constructive criticism runs the gamut from spelling and punctuation errors to word choice and development suggestions.

At one meeting, I brought one of the last chapters of Relic before it was published. After I read, the group was upset. The character of the county historian had been mean to the two young girls in the story, they said. He needed his "comeuppance" -- their word, not mine. All the way home that night, I cursed them out! How could I fit this in? How could I make it happen? By the time I got home, I had figured it out. And to this day, I think it is one of the best parts of the story!

The writers' group has been invaluable in my journey as a writer. Find one near you, or reach out to your local library or indie bookstore and see if there is interest to start one!

Next Up: So You Think You're Done...

Publishing Series: #7 Revising by Choosing the Right Word

Every word matters.

Believe it or not, writers sometimes agonize about which word to choose. So how do they decide?

First of all, a writer needs to realize that words are defined by both their denotation and their connotation. The denotation is the dictionary definition, but the connotation is the emotion and feeling that goes along with the word. It is the difference between the word "jog" and "flee". Both entail some kind of running, but jogging sounds fun. Fleeing sounds like a person is running from something dangerous. There is a connotation difference.

Every word an author chooses has to add to the tone of the piece, and connotation helps with that.  If nothing else, know if the word you are choosing has a positive or a negative connotation.   If you are writing a battle scene, you don't want words with positive connotations -- unless your character is winning! 

Some people use a thesaurus to help them choose the right word. Sometimes I do. But you can't just choose any word from the list of synonyms. Know the definition of the word, and certainly make sure you know its connotation so that you can decide if it is adding to the piece's overall tone.

Next Up: How Do You Know When You are Done?

Just Got the News!

I am excited to hear that Indie Author Day will again be held November 5 at the Buffalo and Erie County Central Library in downtown Buffalo! 

It's always an informative convention-style event that is free for independent authors and offers a way to connect to the library and the writing community. This year it will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the library's auditorium. Registration is necessary and closes the day before the event.

Last year there were some great speakers -- a publisher and a writer who talked about historical research. Those are the two I remember the most, although I think there were a couple more.

If you are a writer or an aspiring writer, I highly encourage you to attend!

Publishing Series: #6 Revising by Adding Description

Description is a tricky beast.

How does a writer decide what to describe and what not to describe? How does a writer know what details to include? 

First, look at events through the eyes of your character. They wouldn't notice everything, only things that were important to them at that moment. The details, then, would help move the plot along. Remember, too, that details aren't always what is seen. Pulling in smells and sounds really bring the setting alive, but again, they need to be important to the action happening at that moment.

Individual word choice at this point can also help bring the story to life. A character could walk, but it is better to choose a more descriptive word. Picture it like a movie in your head. Think about how that character is walking at that moment in the story. Does he stride? Trapse? Skulk? Trot? Determine how their state of mind is materializing through the character's movements. Consider other body movements as well. Where are their eyes looking? What are they doing with their arms? 

And remember, too much description can weigh a reader down.

Next Up: Choosing the Right Word

Publishing Series: #5 Revising by Adding Dialog

Once you have completed your first draft, there are several ways to begin your revisions.

One of the first places I look for are areas that I can expand with dialog. Dialog shouldn't be there just to have characters talk, however. Good dialog moves the plot along, while at the same time helping to define your characters. 

Mark Twain said, "Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream." What he meant was look for places where you told the reader something. Maybe you say your character was worried or pleased about something. Instead of saying it, let the character say it. It is often why I work to keep characters traveling together, so they have someone to talk to.

And dialog needs to sound authentic. While you are out and about during your day, listen to people talk. Really listen. The spoken language isn't usually stiff and formal. People hem, they haw. They don't speak in complete sentences. And people usually don't monolog. If your characters are having a discussion, don't let one of them take over unless it is essential to the plot, and even then, intersperse it with comments or body language from the other characters.

Remember, each character needs to sound unique. This is where character traits come into play. What is important to that character will come out in what they have to say.

Writing good dialog takes practice. I have often thought that my experience as a reporter has helped my dialog sound authentic. I spent years writing down exactly what people said so I could quote them in articles. I spent time listening to the rhythm and nuances of language and how it was punctuated. It was time well spent.

Next Up: Adding Description

 

Publishing Series: #4 The First Draft

 As author Terry Pratchett says, "The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

That was an absolute stress reliever and eye-opener for me.

When your outline is done, just start writing. At this point you don't need a fancy beginning or a tear-jerking ending. Don't worry too much about correct spellings, punctuation, or capitalization -- although fewer errors in these categories will save you time later. Don't worry about word count or length. Just tell yourself the story.

Push through. Sometimes, I must confess, I combine my first and second drafts, but more about the second draft later.

Don't necessarily even worry about dialog unless you immediately hear the conversation in your head.

There will be many places where your story will be expanded in a second draft -- places to describe, places to add dialog, parts to rearrange.

This doesn't mean do a slipshod job. Tell the story as well as you can. This first draft can take several months to complete, so be patient.

But when you get bogged down, just repeat that mantra: Just tell yourself the story.

Next Up: Adding Dialog

Publishing Series: #3 More on Outlining

You have your idea.

No matter how well you think you know your story, some type of outlining is a must. I know -- Stephen King swears he does not use an outline, but face it. We're not Stephen King. If the hero's journey won't work for you, look for another style of outline. There are tons of them out there.

A writer friend of mine, Martin Wilsey, uses the following one. I like it and referred to it -- although I don't think I used it faithfully -- in my first two novels.

1. Fill in the blanks:  When [INCITING INCIDENT OCCURS], a [SPECIFIC PROTAGONIST] must [OBJECTIVE], or else [STAKES].

2. Write a paragraph describing each part:
   a. The Setup
   b. Rising Action
   c. The Resolution

3. Now break down the 3 parts by bulleting points under each of the acts below.

The Setup: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 1 - The Setup

    Act 2 - Something Bad Happens

    Act 3 - The Protagonist/Antagonist Identified

The Rising Action: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 4 - The Push - The Door to Act 5 (It's a one-way door, no turning back)

    Act 5 - Go for the wrong goal

    Act 6 - Reversal - It is the low point, reveals the Achilles heel of the nemesis

Resolution: (Start with your paragraph from above)

    Act 7 - Go for New Goal - The clock is ticking - protagonist has a new plan.

     Act 8 - Wrap it Up, New goal is achieved.
     Act 9 - The denouement. Closure. The End.

I personally love Act 4 and 5 -- the no turning back and going for the wrong goal. It adds much needed tension to a story line.

Just remember, whatever outline model you choose, there is no reason to follow it faithfully. If you closely examine any of the Harry Potter stories, it is clear J.K. Rowling used the Hero's Journey outline, but there are events that are rearranged or missing. That's okay. As long as it works in the end!

Next Up: The First Draft