 31
Things I wish I'd known
before I began writing |
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 Day
1 - I wish I'd known to
write the
Book of Your Heart
by Shayla
Kersten
Every writer has one.
THE book. One she's put her heart and soul into, slaved
over every word, nuance, nurtured the characters to maturity.
Yes, that is the book of your heart. Unfortunately, an editor
or an agent might not see your manuscript the same way.
What do you do when a
publishing professional wants you to change your book?
First, congratulate yourself
because the editor or agent sees something in your manuscript
that will sell. No time would be wasted asking you to change
anything if the manuscript didn't have potential. Instead,
you'd receive a politely worded rejection.
Next, rip away your emotional
attachment and look at the suggestions. As hard as it is,
you have to become objective.
When I submitted my first
partial manuscript, I received a request for a full. After
reading my fabulous work of literary art, the editor dropped
the bomb. She didn't like one of my main characters. Very
graciously, she spelled out exactly why and offered to look
at the manuscript again if I did rewrites.
Gasp! She wanted me to
change my precious character? What did I do? On the advice
of more experienced authors, I stopped to read her comments,
reread the manuscript and examined the character with new
eyes. As hard as the fact was to admit, she had a point.
A bunch of good points. Ouch.
Of course, her view of
my book was in relation to her publisher's wants and needs
and what she thought would sell. Could I have taken my manuscript
elsewhere and sold it? Maybe. Could I make the changes she
asked for? Yes. Did I want to? Well, in the end, I did but
that was a personal decision. After the revisions, I was
comfortable with the changes and thrilled when she offered
a contract.
Each writer has to look
at her goals as an individual and make her choice. If your
instinct is to keep your manuscript intact and keep looking
for the right publisher, then do it. However, if you're
willing to change, work with an editor, maybe the book of
your heart will end up on a bookstore shelf near you.
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 Day
2 - I wish I'd known all
about
Developing Characters
by Roni Adams
I'm a character-driven
author so characters come to me all the time-settings are
what I struggle with. If you struggle to find the characters
of your book, you'll have to research a bit more. What type
of characters do you identify with? The strong heroine?
The quiet one? The alpha hero or the booksmart executive?
The best way, at least in the beginning, is to write the
type of character you can truly identify with. You have
to become this character when you write so you might as
well make it easy on yourself.
When I write, I pretend
I'm an actor and I put myself into that character's head.
How would she react to this scene? What would she feel?
What would she say? I have more trouble when I write the
male point of view but the process is the same. What would
he think about this? Would he say this or that, or would
he just walk away?
Sometimes you have
to get out and observe people to see how your characters
will act. Go where people congregate-malls, museums, restaurants-anywhere
you can watch people interact. Watch them. See how they
react to one another, how they move, how they talk, touch,
speak. Character research goes hand-in-hand with dialogue
research, take notes on both while you're out eavesdropping
on their lives. You'll be surprised at how much you'll learn
simply by observing the general public.
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Day
3 - I Wish I'd Known
Naming Characters
Would be Harder than Naming My Children
By
Eve Savage
What's in a name? Well, when I
was pregnant I absolutely knew the names of our children.
No wavering, this was it. My husband didn't even really
get much of a say. Okay, he got to pick the middle names.
Why can't it be that easy with
characters? Because they have minds of their own with stories
they want to have told.
Where
do the names come from?
Some, very few in fact, pop into
the author's heads ready to go. Their names are set in stone
and that's the way it is. Others are a bit more difficult.
A myriad of places and ways exist to help you discover your
character's names. Baby name books, websites, Writer's Digest
Naming Sourcebook, people you've met, spam emails, songs,
poems, the list goes on and on.
How do you decide on a name?
First, they should fit the archetype.
Your strong warrior hero probably isn't named Frederick,
but more likely Slade or Cage. The sensitive beta male is
more likely a Tom or Phillip.
Second, look at the lineage of
the character. A woman with a Norwegian background is more
likely to be named Britta rather than Concepcion.
Third, and perhaps most important,
the name should speak to you. You can't very well work on
the story where the heroine's name is the girl you hated
in high school.
If
all else fails, let fate decide
Put a list of names on the wall
and throw a dart. But if the name Melchizidech McPhlugernarf
pops up - try again.
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 Day
4 - I wish I'd known
How Setting Affects Your Story
by Layla Chase
Some writers sit at the keyboard
and start typing out dialogue or choreograph an exciting
action scene. Several pages are created before they worry
about where the event is happening.
Not me. I've learned my creative
process involves knowing where the story occurs. Geographic
research for the location of an early novel became so involved
I found myself reading the Federal Report (dry facts about
mean income, topographical features, bushel yield/acre of
agricultural land) for two states. That was being just too
scared to start writing.
Essential now are these basics:
contemporary, historical or futuristic; real world or fantasy
world; geographic region of the world; big city or small
town, house or apartment or office or hotel. Here's an example
of the variables these choices create. A story set in a
Norwegian ski lodge on a winter's weekend must contain enough
specific details about life in Norway to be believable,
and to be distinctive from a story set in a California mountain
conference center during a corporate retreat event.
Both are erotic romances so the
main focus is the characters' relationship, but their activities
are inherently restricted by the surroundings. Those in
the ski lodge wouldn't spread out an outdoor picnic lunch,
while those involved in the corporate retreat couldn't dash
out to Starbucks for their favorite latte.
Give the setting ample space in
the storyline. If a company or business is mentioned in
your story, give it a name. Jill and Brad don't just walk
down a street-they walk down Teton Street and turn left
onto Bryce Blvd. Specifics add verisimilitude, they make
the story real to the reader. Don't want to invent a new
city? Think of the street layout for your current city (or
your college town) and just change all the names. Working
with the familiar will help you move the characters through
the story without too much research.
Terrific research tools I've used
for years are the state tour books issued by the American
Auto Association and travel books. In addition to listings
of tourist attractions, these books include short descriptions
of hotel and their amenities, and restaurants and their
menu specialties. The right amount of facts needed by a
writer to create a story that lets the reader escape to
a faraway place.
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Day
5 - I wish I'd known about
Emotional Point of View (POV)
by Betty Hanawa
The point of fiction
is to take the reader out of her life and put her in your,
or rather, your characters' world. In any good book, the
reader experiences the story with the characters. If the
reader doesn't know who is being emotionally affected
by the actions of the other characters, she'll lose interest-fast.
The
action is affecting two characters, you say?
This is when you
decide at which place the scene point of view switches
from one viewpoint to another. Try to switch with a transitional
paragraph of description and/or action before the second
character's POV comes into play. This will help the reader
more easily adjust to a different POV.
Head-hopping
Jumping directly
from one character to another is known as head-hopping,
which jars most people out of the story's world. Something
you do not want to happen. If the reader is jarred back
into reality, she might not finish the book.
The drawback with
head-hopping is a reader can't get deeply emotional with
the main characters when bouncing from POV to POV. The
technique often occurs because the writer is unconsciously
shying away from the deeper emotions.
Writing the deep
emotions is taxing for a writer. When you drive your characters
into the emotional morass and force them through it, you
learn things about yourself-things you might not realize
you yourself needed to learn, or wanted to. However, facing
this makes a better story with more deeply developed characters.
As Robert Frost said, "No tears in the writer, no
tears in the reader."
Consistent
POV
Keep your reader
tied to your story with consistency in the point of view.
Go deep in each main character's POV. Let those emotions
reach out and grab the reader. That's what keeps the reader
turning the pages of your book. Your readers will thank
you.
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 Day
6 - I wish I'd known about
Dialogue
by Roni AdamsFor me, creating dialogue has
always been one of the easiest parts of writing. But I know
this is not the way for every writer. One of the things
I suggest to new writers when they struggle with dialogue
is to get out in the world and listen to people talk.
Get out
and listen
Sit in the mall, at the food court
and listen to the conversations around you. Hear how differently
the teenage girl talks with her boyfriend, compared to when
she's talking to her grandmother. Listen to the mother have
a conversation with her teenage son and then with her husband.
Hear the differences and make notes.
People
don't tell each other what they already know
People don't repeat one another's
names while carrying on a conversation. They don't say things
like "remember when you were in Boston and we found
out your sister was pregnant with her married lover's child
and the wife found out?" In other words, people don't
include the back story of their lives in their conversation.
They don't tell each other what they both already know.
Don't' do it in your writing.
Write
as you speak
Write as they speak, keep it natural.
Read your writing out loud to yourself, how does it sound?
Run it past a critique partner, have her read it out loud.
You'll hear soon enough if the flow is right or way too
formal. Dialogue research is as easy as an outing to the
mall, so grab a latte and a cinnamon muffin and settle in.
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 Day
7 - I wish I'd known
to
Start Your Book on Chapter Three
by Megan Kerans
This is another
way of saying open your book when the action begins and
not with your character's backgrounds.
Why
the Third Chapter?
Often writers fill
their first and second chapters with their character's
backstory, too much of this at once is called an "info
dump," and setup. In the third chapter, they introduce
the events that propel the plot.
Why
does where your book starts matter?
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Sets the pace
& tone for the entire story. |
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Grab your
reader's interest. |
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Readers picked
up your book for a story, not your heroine's dossier.
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Your book is
competing against TV, Internet and music for the reader's
attention. |
Hollywood is expert
at knowing how to open a movie. Remember the original
Star Wars? The film doesn't first show the viewer how
evil The Empire is, or how the rebellion against them
originated. Instead, viewers learn the very basics of
who and what before immediately being blasted into a space
battle.
Indiana Jones and
Raiders of The Lost Ark doesn't begin by explaining the
hero's academic career. From the first credits, moviegoers
are dropped into an ancient temple in the jungle filled
with treasure and traps.
How
do you start with the action?
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Find the scene
where the status quo changes or what Christopher Vogler's
The Hero's Journey labels the "Call to Adventure" |
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Think like
a journalist, provide the basic facts first and go
into details later |
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Who - Hero
or Heroine |
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Where - Setting |
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What - Their
goal |
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Why - Most
pressing reason |
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Cut info dumps
or any clumps of information that don't have immediate
bearing on the scene. |
Some writers need
to pen those initial two, background-filled chapters to
get a feel for their characters. If that's you, write
those pages. You need to fully know your hero and heroine
and their histories; your reader doesn't. Later, go back
and cut 90% of what you wrote.
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 Day
8 - I Wish I'd known
about
Back Story and How to Handle It
by Eve Savage
Have you ever
been on a plane and the person
next to you, while well-meaning, just wouldn't shut
up? By the time you land in New Jersey (from California)
you've heard everything from where they were born to
how they met their mate, colicky kids, bowel functions,
their latest doctor's appointment, and the bastard their
sister married. And divorced.
Ahhh,
history
Your characters
have it too. The horrible accident that left your hero
disfigured. The father who walked out and made your
heroine afraid to trust and love any man. History is
everywhere. It makes us who we are, shapes where we
go and how we get there. But, how do you deal with all
this information in your story?
Dialogue
Isn't it always
better to learn about someone by asking questions? Going
back and forth? It works in stories too. Have the back
story come out in dialogue. Conversations between the
Hero and Heroine. Phone chats with best friends. The
reader will feel as though she's part of the conversation
and the back story will have that much more impact.
Light
Narration
Pages and pages
of narration without any dialogue are one of the fastest
ways to turn off a reader. Everything in life is about
balance and writing is no different. Remember to balance
the back story narration with lots of dialogue and action.
Limited
Memories
A small dream
sequence that peppers in important details or a quick
memory are also good ways to bring in the back story
without inundating the reader. Use these infrequently
as they can confuse readers and editors.
These are just
a couple of techniques on how to handle back story.
But, one thing to remember is when writing sometimes
you have to think about who you're targeting. Some of
the Harlequin lines actually like quite a bit of back
story right up front. Blaze and Desire come to mind
straight away. For longer single title stories, filter
the back story in throughout the whole book. You want
to keep the pace going and 17 pages of history isn't
the way to do it.
Back
story is like a recipe
You don't want
to just dump all the spices in at the start, you want
to season and layer it in to taste.
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Day
9 - I wish I'd known
how to
Show vs. Tell
by Shayla Kersten
Have you ever heard
the phrase "show me, don't tell me" in relation
to your manuscript? First time I heard those words, I
said, "Uh, okay," and I had no idea what the
speaker meant. Fortunately,
I found a wonderful teacher in Layla Chase. For a quick
definition, I'm plagiarizing the fantastic Ms. Chase-
Telling
is passive and involves an omniscient, observable description
of a character's actions. Showing is active and involves
an internal, emotional description of a POV character's
action or an external, observable description of another
character's action.
Now what does that
mean?
Watch out for words
that simply tell you what a character is doing such as
felt, feel, watched, saw or heard.
Example
of telling: Susan felt
pain over losing him.
Example of showing: An intense
burning pain seared through Susan at the realization he
was out of her life forever.
The change provides
the reader with a more intimate connection to Susan and
her emotional state.
Another example
of telling is the overuse of adverbs-also known as the
dreaded "ly" words.
Words such as quickly, gently, softly
and loudly, etc., can be replaced with phrases
using more vivid imagery.
Example
of telling: John walked
quickly to the door then
slammed it loudly.
Example of
showing: John stormed across the room then slammed
the door so hard the windows rattled.
The first sentence
only gives you part of the picture. John could be scared,
worried, cold-all good reasons why he wanted the door
shut in a hurry. The second allows us to see more of John's
mental state. The action word of "stormed" implies
anger and his actions are more intense than just slamming
the door "loudly".
Why
write more words when one will do?
Although showing
may add words to your manuscript, the rich imagery makes
for a more intriguing read. So when you read your first
draft, imagine being the director of a movie and write
so your readers will see more than just words on a page.
Create an image they can see on a big screen in their
mind.
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 Day
10 - I wish I'd known
why I should bother with
Critique Groups
by Shayla KerstenMost people will agree when you
say writing is a solitary profession. To some degree, you're
right. We produce our product in the depths of our hearts
and minds with our trusty computers as our most frequent
companion. However, at some point, we have to come out into
the sunlight and face the fact that someone is going to
read our work.
Now, we all want the 'someone'
to be an editor or an agent, but we need another reader
before the manuscript reaches a publishing professional.
we need
a critique
Some writers are fortunate to
have a critique partner or two. If you're one of the lucky
ones, great. If you're just starting out, your only reader
may be your mother or your best friend. However, if neither
is in the industry, they may not provide you with much-needed
feedback.
Critique groups are a great place
for a new writer. Most groups are a mix of published and
unpublished authors. Sometimes you luck out and find an
editor in the mix as well.
more than
one set of eyes
One of the big advantages is having
more than one set of eyes looking at your manuscript. Different
people look at different things. Some will look at grammar
and sentence structure but others may notice plot inconsistencies
or continuity issues. Each critique is valuable input.
thick
skin
However, you need to develop a
thick skin when you open your critiqued manuscript. No one
likes to have his or her baby's faults pointed out. Remember,
critique does not mean criticize. Like a pediatrician's
job, the process is meant to improve your baby's health,
not embarrass you with her faults.
reciprocity
Another issue with critique groups
is the reciprocity. If you get a critique, you have to give
one. With my first group, I worried I wouldn't contribute
anything and I'd be shown the door! And at first, other
than plot inconsistencies and a few comments on continuity,
I didn't have much to say. As time went on, I learned what
to look for from the comments I received. Don't let this
stop you because most groups are patient with the newbies.
finding
one
Finding a critique group that
fits your needs and genre can be difficult. Romance Writers
of America is a great place to start. Many local chapters,
as well as online and genre specific chapters, have well-established
critique groups.
I won't mislead you. Critiques
are work and sometimes frustrating, receiving and giving.
However, in the end, your manuscript will be polished, pretty
and ready for submission. At the same time, you begin applying
your new knowledge as you write so your next story is cleaner
from the start. And believe me, editors love authors who
write clean. So get out there, find a group and start critiquing
your way to an editor's mailbox today!
.
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Day
11- I wish I'd known
about
Writer's Guilds by Genre
by Megan Kerans
Many romance authors know of Romance Writers of America.
But, they are not the only genre-specific writer's group.
Here are some others you might want to check out.
Science
Fiction & Fantasy:
The British Fantasy Society
- http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/
The British Science Fiction Association
- www.bsfa.co.uk/
New Zealand Science Fiction
& Fantasy Writer's Association - nzsfw.sf.org.nz/
Science Fiction
& Fantasy Writers of America - www.sfwa.org
Horror:
Horror Writers Association
- http://www.horror.org/
Horror Writer Association of New England
- www.horror.org/ne
Michigan Horror Writers
- http://www.michiganhorror.com/
Mystery,
Crime & Thrillers:
American Crime Writers
- http://www.acwl.org/
The Crime Writers Association (UK)
- http://www.thecwa.co.uk/
CRIME WRITERS OF CANADA (CWC) -
http://crimewriterscanada.com/cwc/index.html
International Thriller Writers
- http://www.thrillerwriters.org/
Mystery Writers of America -
http://www.mysterywriters.org/index.htm
Sisters in Crime -
http://www.sistersincrime.org/
Westerns:
Western Writers of America -
http://www.westernwriters.org/
Women Writing the West -
http://www.womenwritingthewest.org/
General:
The Authors Guild -
http://www.authorsguild.org/
Canadian Authors Association(CAA) -
http://www.canauthors.org/
The International Women's Writing Guild -
http://www.iwwg.org/
Other:
EPIC: Electronically Published Internet Connection -
http://www.epicauthors.com/
The Erotica Readers & Writers Association -
http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/index.htm
The Historical Novel Society -
http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/
Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) -
http://www.militarywriters.com/
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 Day
12- I wish I'd known
Research is More than the Internet
by Megan
Kerans
In this day where information is only a google away and
few mouse clicks can take you to an online encyclopedia,
it's easy to do all your research on the Internet. But
many of your best resources may not be digital.
Why look elsewhere?
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Double
checks facts~
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-
not everything on the web is accurate.er's
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Personal
knowledge
|
- allows you to write with greater comfort.
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Experience
|
-
some things in life need to be experienced to be
understood
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~Greater
depth
|
-
when you know or have experienced something first
hand you bring your familiarity to the page and
your reader
|
| Museums & Historical
Societies |
| Most staff members are
glad to share their knowledge and can point out sources
otherwise unknown. |
| Learn information and tidbits
that aren't part of the "official" texts.Motivation,
and Conflict
Debra DixonISBN:
0965437108 |
| Seeing
items in real life is different than photos - gives
an idea of size, texture, weight and more. |
| Reenactment Societies |
| Part
of their purpose is to share knowledge, they'll love
to talk to you. |
|
See and maybe
handle realistic items such as uniforms or swords.
|
| Watching
combat is much different than reading about the event.
|
| Personal Interviews |
| Before
contacting a professional do your basic research first
so you can go in with specific questions. Respect
people's time and get the most out of your one-on-one. |
| People like to share their
expertise. |
| Contact the media or public
affairs offices of police, fire, EMS, or many other
businesses. |
| Get anecdotes that add
flavor. |
| Real
life is different than a textbook. |
| Take
a Trip |
| Watch a travel video |
| Ask a friend who has visited
or lived in a location you want to use. |
| Contact cities' visitor
& convention center or chambers of commerce. |
| Hop in the
car or on a plane and take a trip. (It's tax deductible.) |
| Take
a Class or Course |
| Go to a gun range, take
an art class, try scuba lessons. |
| Contact your local park
or school districts or university about adult continuing
education programs. |
| If you can't participate,
watch those who do. Ask to observe fireman or police
cadets on training exercises. For sword fighting,
watch a fencing match.
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Day
13 - I wish I'd known
about
Reference
Books and Internet Links
(those found
to be useful by the Roses)
by Betty
Hanawa
|
TITLE
|
AUTHOR
|
ISBN
|
| WRITER'S
CRAFT |
| The Complete
Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines, Sixteen Master
Archetypes |
Tami D. Cowden,
Caro LaFever, and Sue Viders |
ISBN: 1-68065-024-4 |
| Goal, Motivation,
and Conflict
|
Debra Dixon |
ISBN: 0965437108 |
| Techniques
of the Selling Writer |
Dwight V. Swain |
ISBN-13: 9780806111919 |
| Screenplay
By Disney |
Jason Surrell
|
ISBN: 078685440-5 |
| Scene and
Structure |
Jack Bickham,
Jack Heffron |
ISBN-13:9780898799064 |
| Self-Editing
for Fiction Writers |
Renni Browne,
Dave King |
ISBN-13: 9780060545697
|
The Romance
Writer's Phrase Book
|
Jean Kent and
Candace Shelton |
ISBN: 0-399-51002-8
|
| The Writer's
Brain Storming Kit |
Pam McCutcheon,
Michael Waite |
ISBN: 0-9654371-4-0 |
Writing Romances
|
edited by
Rita Gallagher and Rita Clay Estrada |
ISBN: 0-89879-756-X |
How to Write
a Romance and Get It Published
|
Kathryn Falk |
ISBN-13: 9780451165312
|
| Writer's
Life |
| The Artist's
Way |
Julia Cameron |
ISBN: 0-87477-694-5 |
|
Writing Down
the Bones
|
Natalie Goldberg
|
ISBN: 0-87773-375-9 |
| Inspiration
& Motivation, Writer's Little Instruction book |
Paul Raymond
Martin |
ISBN: 1-58297-342-3 |
Zen in the
Art of Writing
|
Ray Bradbury |
ISBN-13: 978-1877741098 |
| Genre
Specific Reference Books |
Forensics for
Dummies
|
Douglas P.
Lyle |
ISBN-13: 9780764555800 |
The Sociopath
Next Door
|
Martha Stout |
ISBN-13: 978-0767915823
|
| The A to Z
Encyclopedia of Serial Killers |
Harold Schechter |
ISBN-10: 1416521747
|
| The Writer's
Digest Character Naming Sourcebook |
Sherrilyn
Kenyon |
ISBN-13: 978-1582972954
|
| Let the Cowboy
Ride: Cattle Ranching in the American West |
Paul F. Starrs |
ISBN-13: 978-0801863516 |
| Pirates: Terror
on the High Seas |
Angus Konstam
|
ISBN:1-84176-452-3 |
| By the Sword |
Richard Cohen
|
ISBN: 0-8129-6966-9
|
| A Witch's Guide
to Faery Folk |
Edwin McCoy
|
ISBN: 0-87542-733-2 |
| The Element
Encyclopedia of the Psychic World |
Theresa Cheung |
ISBN-13: 9780760790236 |
| The Big Book
of Filth: 6500 Sex Slang Words and Phrases |
Jonathan Green
|
ISBN-13: 9780304363872 |
| Joy of Sex |
Alex Comfort
|
ISBN-13: 9780743477741 |
| The Kama Sutra |
Anne J. Hooper
|
ISBN-13: 9780789450722 |
| Daily Life
in (choose your historical era) |
Publisher:
The Greenwood Press |
|
| Internet
Links |
| How Stuff Works |
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
|
| Behind the
Name-Surnames |
http://surnames.behindthename.com/
|
| Behind the
Name-First Names |
http://www.behindthename.com/
|
| Deb's Historical
Page |
http://home.insightbb.com/%7Ed.lawson/
|
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 Day
14 - I wish I'd known
about the
Different Routes to Being Published
by Roni Adams
If you don't have
a contract from a NY publishing house, are you any less
published? A lot of writers have to get past that notion
before they can begin to explore other publishing routes.
Small
Publishers/Electronic Publishers
Small publishers
and electronic publishers are willing to take a chance
on a new writer. You won't get the advances like from
one of the big houses, but then again, you may never get
that chance to get an advance with the bigger houses.
You might spend the next decade submitting to them and
continuing to get rejected, while these smaller presses
might be very interested in what you've written.
Short
Story Market
But writing a full-length
novel isn't the only way to be published. A market exists
for short stories, as well. The confessional market is
a good example. Dorchester Media publishes four confessional
magazines each month and are always looking for new voices
and good stories. Adams Media (www.cupofcomfort.com),
the publishers of the "Cup of Comfort" stories,
solicit personal experience stories from good writers,
often with suggested themes.
Open
Mind
If your goal is
to be published-to have someone actually read what you've
written-then you need to open your mind to new options.
These days, more opportunities than the big houses are
available, and these other publishing routes are just
as satisfying. For 2008, make a goal to explore other
avenues.
Top
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Day
15 - I wish I'd known
about
Finding That Right Publisher or Agent
by Judith Rochelle
You're frustrated, right? You've written your manuscript,
polished it and revised it, and now you want to know where
and how to sell it. You can submit it to a publisher yourself
or look for an agent first. Some writers do both.
publisher
first, agent first or both?
Check Writers' Marketplace, a
book heavier than my cat. This book is available at the
library, as well as for purchase. It lists publishers and
agencies in every genre, along with a description of what
they're currently seeking. Remember, their needs change
as their client list changes.
Check the Predators and Editors
list online. If a publisher or agency is on their 'watch'
list, they'll mark it accordingly.
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/
If you're an RWA member, check
their list of qualified publishers and agencies. If a company
isn't listed there, feel free to email them and ask why.
Talk to other writers who are
published. Ask them if they have one, who their agent is,
and how they feel about her or him. Ask for help in making
up your list of questions to ask an agent when one is interested
in your work.
Check out Marketplace in Romance
Writers Report. You'll find the latest updates on who's
looking for what. Look especially for the words "actively
acquiring."
Learn
to write a GOOD Query Letter
This is important! Learn to write
a good query letter. A lot of publishers and agents have
links to good examples. Remember, you only have one chance
to make a first impression.
So
get started…and good luck.
|
 Day
16 - I wish I'd know
that
Writing Rules are More Like Guidelines
by Betty Hanawa
We've all heard about "The
Rules" in writing. Some are practical and logical.
Others can be bent or simply ignored. At some point, most
of us have had our manuscripts torn apart by someone who
is obsessed with "The Rules." Writing strictly
to "The Rules" can destroy the freshness and
creative Voice. Every author needs to learn where, in
her own writing, the rules can be bent or broken.
Rule:
Don't head-hop, keep only one POV per scene
There's a NYT best-selling
author who probably laughs all the way to the bank when
she hears that one. This rule does have a logical reasoning
behind it. Abrupt head-hopping pushes a lot of readers out
of the story because they're trying to figure out exactly
who is talking or thinking at the moment. A smooth transition
can lead the reader into a different character's point-of-view
even in the same scene.
Rule:
You have to write every day
Not everyone has the opportunity
to write every day. Some people are binge writers, producing
dozens of pages over the course of several days, then needing
a break of several days to unwind and recharge. Daily writing
does reinforce the mind to remember the story line, but
everyone has to work within their own schedules and lifestyles.
Rule:
Always plot and get to know your characters
before you start writing
Again, this is a lifestyle choice.
Some writers know what a character had for breakfast when
the character was ten years old. They have detailed plotting
flow charts in which they color-coordinate the characters'
growth, the rising intimacy, internal and external conflicts,
subplots, and secondary characters. Other authors don't
know what the character is going to do until the words show
up on the computer screen. They might work from a vague
outline, but they like to be surprised about what happens
next, the same way a reader is.
The
Only Rule
The only writing rule an author
needs to remember is keep things interesting so the reader
keeps turning the pages. How you do that is your choice.
Top
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Day
17 - I wish I'd known
the
NO-NO's for Writers
by Elle James
|
Evils
of E-mail
|
|
Spending
more time on email than writing
|
|
Sending an email in anger
|
|
Hitting REPLY ALL with a snide remark meant
for one person
|
|
Reading between the lines - interpretation
is in the eye of the beholder
|
|
(Remember,
email is a professional tool, not an obsession.)
|
|
|
Bad
Karma
|
| Want to end your career
in a hurry? Bash publishers and fellow writers. Treat
people with disdain, and you too will be treated with
distain. Editors tend to move from house to house
and may come back to haunt you. The same goes for
bashing other writers. Bashing another author only
makes you look bad. |
|
Career
Schizophrenia
|
| Can't settle on a genre?
Some authors manage multiple genres by having different
pen names. Some write different genres under the same
name. An editor might have issue because the writer
is not branding himself in a certain genre. Be prepared
for kickback if you choose to be the schizophrenic
writer. |
|
Waiting
|
| You submitted your first
manuscript? Now you sit around and wait for THE CALL,
right? WRONG!!! Your first, second, third, fourth
or fifth manuscript may never sell. Keep writing and
throwing those noodles against the wall until one
sticks. |
|
Stalking
& Uninvited Pitching
|
|
Want to turn off an editor?
Pitch in a social setting(restaurant or bar in a
conference setting) when all she wants is to talk
about anything but publishing. If you're invited
to tell her about your story, be ready and do it,
otherwise DON'T.
Unless you want to be
blacklisted, don't stalk an editor or agent. That
includes slipping manuscripts under the bathroom
stall.
|
|
Refusing
to Change
|
| If your editor asks you
to change something, be flexible. You don't have to
give in on everything, but pick your battles. |
Top
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 Day
18- I wish I'd known
how to
Pitch It!
by Myla Jackson
What
to include in the pitch
| Title |
some books
sell based on the title, choose wisely |
| Word-length
of manuscript |
how long is
the book? |
| Line
it fits |
some publishing houses
have different lines, indicate where you think your
book fits
|
| Theme |
what should
the reader take away from the story? rebirth, redemption,
faith. Leave it off, if you don't know it |
| Status
of completion |
example: three
chapters or 20K of 85K |
|
Logline |
a one to two
sentence sales line like from movie trailers |
Logline example:
Hitch: Professional matchmaker's program is threatened
by a female journalist who enrolls as a student and plans
on publishing an exposé on his fraudulent methods
If the
editor asks for more.......
KNOW YOUR HEROINE
Start with an adjective
and an occupation that nails your heroine (i.e. Spunky
Newspaper Reporter, Absentminded Scientist). Then give
your heroine's goals and motivations in short and simple
terms. Names aren't important.
KNOW YOUR HERO
Same with the hero.
Give him a defining adjective and his occupation, his
goals and motivations. Be prepared for the editor to ask
why he wants what he wants. His motivations should answer
that question.
KNOW THEIR CONFLICTS
What external conflict
drives the plot of the book and what are the hero and
heroine's internal conflicts keeping them from living
happily ever after in chapter one?
SHORT SYNOPSIS
Be prepared to
tell a very short synopsis of your story. Don't hide the
ending, cut the fluff, get to the point and practice.
Omit secondary characters and subplots.
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|
Day
19 - I wish I'd known
how to
Self-Edit Your Manuscript
(before submitting)
by Layla Chase
Because
your writing (and by default, you) can't make a second first
impression, make sure your work is sparkling when you submit.
Don't let your haste in getting the submittal into the postal
mail or launching it into cyberspace be the major reason
for your rejection. If an editor is frustrated at determining
what your sentences mean, s/he will want to toss out your
story.
|
~
|
Run the spell check and grammar check functions of your
word processing program-address all words underlined
with a red or green squiggly line. |
|
~
|
Check
for homonyms (words pronounced alike with different
meanings-their instead of there, hear and here). |
|
~
|
Do
a search on the word 'that'-95% of uses are not necessary.
|
|
~
|
To improve the reading pace and understandability, break
long sentences into shorter sentences. |
|
~
|
Look
for -ly adverbs-choose stronger verbs. |
|
~
|
Be
aware of word or phrase repetition. Restructure sentences
to
avoid. |
|
~
|
Use
consistent spelling of character and place names. |
|
~
|
Skim
the pages for a balance of narrative and dialogue. |
|
~
|
Keep actions and dialogue of each character in distinct
paragraph. |
If a friend or relative
isn't available to perform a final read-through of manuscript,
do it yourself but read from end to beginning. Instead of
skimming through a too-familiar story, you'll become aware
of the various issues above.
After this final polish-edit,
your story should shine.
Top
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Day
20 - I Wish I'd known
about
Making Your Own Luck
by Elle James
1.
Have a plan
If you want writing
to be a career, treat it like a career. Have a plan with
long range goals, intermediate objectives and tactics
to get you there.
2.
Submit!
If you don't submit,
you'll never sell. If you want to be a published author
or keep publishing, YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT! And keep submitting.
If one editor doesn't like the manuscript, another could
think it's great. Think about the many editors who turned
down JK Rowling's Harry Potter.
3.
Persist
Someone once told
me the average length of time between starting your career
and actually being published could be anywhere between
5 and 10 years. The key is persistence. Don't stop after
your first manuscript. Write more. Your skills improve
with each book.
4.
Follow up
Keep a spreadsheet
of where you've submitted your manuscript and check on
status after 2 months, 6 months, 1 year. Yes, even 3 years!
If you receive
a rejection that says revise and resubmit, that's a clear
invitation. Don't ignore it, do the work!
If you pitch to
an editor and she wants to see more, SEND IT. If it's
not ready, ask if you can send what you have. Strike while
the iron's hot so she won't forget the story-or you.
5.
Be prepared for THE CALL
Practice your acceptance
speech for when you get THE CALL. If you're too flustered
to be coherent, ask if you can call back with your answer.
You have time to decide. Just don't take too much!
Top
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Day
21 - I
Wish I'd Known
Not To Get To Attached To...
Insert Item Here, or
How To Be A Willow in a Forest Full of
Oaks
by
Eve Savage
Your book is done. The editor
of your dreams has bought it. You've got a nice little advance
coming and are expecting your edits any day now. They arrive
in the e/mail. You open them up and… "I'd like
to change the title. The heroine's name just isn't working
for me. Are you sure it's set in San Antonio? I'm getting
an England-vibe here."
One of the biggest lessons Rose's
Roses have learned is not to get too attached to ANYTHING.
The Perfect
Title?
I can't count the times one of
us has sent an email saying their editor didn't like the
title and wants 10 suggestions straight away. Brainstorming
time. Lucky for us, we're pretty good at that and usually
have about 25 suggestions within 10 minutes.
The Perfect
Setting?
It's happened. I have another
writing friend whose editor told her she didn't think the
Caribbean was quite the right setting and could she move
the story to North Carolina. No kidding. "No problem,"
my friend said, and started the rewrites.
The Perfect
Hero?
The perfect werewolf hero? Maybe
not. One editor asked the author to change the protagonist's
furry secret over to the villain. Talk about a rewrite.
Rewrite
the 2nd Half?
Yes, this happened too. The book
was loved and bought, but the entire second half had to
be rewritten because the editor wanted the suspense to go
in a completely different direction.
Basically, it comes down to this.
Write what you know. Write the book of your heart. But in
the end, publishing is a business and changes will be made
to your perfect story to make it more relatable, more concise,
more appealing, and more marketable. However, if you've
got reasons for the story being set in San Antonio rather
than England, talk to your editor, give a good explanation
and she'll either change her mind about the edit or you'll
compromise.
Either way, you're both working
for the same goal
The Perfect
Book
Top
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|
 Day
22
- I
wish I'd known about
World Of Internet Marketing
by
Judith Rochelle
You've sold your first book. Congratulations. Enjoy your
success, have a glass of wine, and get ready for the big
plunge into techno-promoting. Getting your name out there
is what it's all about. Welcome to the world of the Internet.
Start
with Yahoo!
Yahoo has a wonderful world of
groups for any subject. Go to the main Yahoo! Page. In the
Search box for groups, type in Romance and you're off to
the races. The list you'll get includes groups that promote
romance, read romance, write romance, do just about anything
with romance. They're easy to join and great places to promote
yourself and your book. Read the rule. Introduce yourself.
Get to know the people. They're friendly.
Start
your own Yahoo! Group
Give it a catchy
name. Invite people to join your group. This is a great
way to build a core of loyal followers that will expand
with each release.
Online
Romance Magazines
Want to spend a little
money? Search for online romance magazines. There are some
really great ones and the fees they charge for promotional
ads are nominal.
My
Space
Ready for the next
step? A My Space page will open the world to you and provide
a place to link with the vast population "out there."
You
Tube
And finally, be sure
to check out You Tube and the world of book trailers.
You won't want to do everything at once, so just dip your
toe in the water with Yahoo! Then you'll be off and running.
Good
luck!
TopTop
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Day
23 - I Wish I'd known
some
Booksigning Tips
by Betty Hanawa
A
Month Before:
1. Double-check with the bookstore that the books have
been ordered. Confirm the number the store policy insists
on being sold during the course of the signing.
2. Find out the store's buy-back policy on unsold books.
If you sign books and place an Autographed" sticker
on them, will the store keep them on the shelf or will
they return them? How many are you allowed to sign and
leave to be sold? Will the store give you the employee
discount to purchase the remaining books?
3. If the store is not creating a display sign, make one
yourself with an enlarged copy of your book cover and/or
yourself, the date, the time of the signing.
4. Send your press release to the local media.
5. If you're not signing in your local area, research
writing groups in the area to send them a press release.
Two
Weeks Before:
1. Send the media a follow-up press release about the
book signing.
2. If signing in your local area, place flyers in libraries
and on announcement boards at various stores. Make a list
of where you posted the flyers so you can remember to
remove them after the signing.
3. Prepare promotional material to hand out.
4. Have a small display sign made for the signing table.
Week
Before:
1. Check to see if the books have arrived. Offer to bring
your own copies if necessary.
2. Place an ad in the local newspaper if the bookstore
hasn't done so.
Day
Before:
1. Get a small thank-you gift for your contact at the
bookstore. Starbucks and fast food restaurant gift cards
are appreciated.
2. Plan to take cookies for the store employees.
3. Call your friends and family in the area to remind
them of the signing date, place, and time.
4. Prepare a name tag to wear.
5. Make sure your camera is ready
The
Big Day:
1. Dress appropriately. This is a professional venue.
2. Arrive early to make sure everything's in place or
to help the booksellers get things set up.
3. Wearing your nametag, wander around the bookstore to
introduce yourself to customers, explaining why you're
in the store. Hand each person you talk to one of your
give-away items.
4. Sign promotional material for store customers even
if they don't buy your book. If your books didn't arrive,
stay and sign promotional material anyway. Offer to come
back another time.
5. If you can afford it, purchase any remaining stock
if the bookstore is planning to return the books.
6. Leave signed bookmarks and tri-folds for the clerks
to put in store bags with purchases.
Afterwards:
1. Make sure to remove your display signs from wherever
you posted them.
2. Send a thank-you note to the bookstore contact person
and any media people who helped get the word out.
3. Relax…until the next time.
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|
 Days
24- I wish I'd known
about
Taxing the Writer
by Shayla Kersten
Writing can be expensive!
Go figure… Between
membership dues, conference fees,
travel, meals, research materials-including books you
read to keep up with the market or to check out what a publisher
is buying-the list goes on. A beginning writer without a
sale under her belt has no income to offset the expense.
After you're published, the cost keeps growing. Now you
can add advertising and promotional
materials.
If you are serious about
writing as a business, you can deduct all of the items listed
above and more. Computers, printers,
paper, postage…you can't write or submit
without those. Today's technology makes writing easier-internet
research, email to editors and agents, online promotions.
Although these items don't add individual expense, you need
access to the internet. So add your internet
bill to the list of deductible items.
If you have a home office
where you go to lock out the family, or because you need
a place to go to "work" each day, you can deduct
a portion of your mortgage interest
expense based on square footage.
Essentially, if you need
to spend it to further your writing career, you can deduct
it. But there's a catch. It is the Internal Revenue Service,
after all. Isn't there always a catch?
The catch...treat
writing as a business
Whether you make money
writing or not, to deduct anything on your taxes, you have
to treat it like a business. The best proof to the IRS of
the seriousness of your intentions isn't selling a book.
It's record keeping.
Some writers work for
years without a single sale but they have records to show
they are in the business of writing. Rejection letters,
keeping track of writing time and submission/query letters
with proof of mailing are some of the best ways to keep
the IRS off your back.
Track
writing time?
My preferred method of
tracking my writing is by word count per day. I keep an
Excel workbook by year. Each tab in the workbook represents
a different book. I have one column with dates and one with
daily word counts. Other parts of the sheet I use for notes,
chapter lengths and daily word count needed for a deadline.
Another sheet at the end of the workbook lists submission
dates, response dates, contract dates and publication dates
of each book.
Since proofing and working
on edits take away from my daily word count, I note the
date and length of time I spend on those in the appropriate
sheet. Promotional chats, book signings, chapter meetings,
lunches with other authors and conferences are a few other
necessary distractions from the daily count. I keep a calendar
where I note each event.
And of course, I keep
all my receipts filed by type of expense for each year.
Being an accountant by day, I also have a spreadsheet of
expenses and income by classification so doing my taxes
at the end of the year is a breeze. Even if you don't do
your own taxes, your accountant will kiss the ground you
walk on if you provide a summary of all those little pieces
of paper.
If the IRS ever comes
knocking on my door, I'm ready with all the proof I need
of my dedication to the business of writing.
(Disclaimer:
I am not a tax accountant. For more detailed information,
see a tax professional near you or check out www.irs.gov.)
Top
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|
 December
25 - I wish I'd known how to
Track and Assess Output
by
Delilah
Devlin
One of the things I wished I'd
known before I published was how fast I could write.
Knowing how productive you can
be is important for several reasons, but here are a couple
that have caught me flat-footed a time or two. Say you want
to enter a contest, but you need a new manuscript to wow
the judges. Do you know for certain that you can finish
it in time to enter? Or, what do you tell an editor who's
crazy about a proposal she just accepted when she asks how
fast she can have it, especially when she wants it yesterday?
I've kept a spreadsheet that captures
my daily page count since 2002. Taking an average of the
page counts per week can help me estimate my productivity,
but looking at periods where I wasn't particularly productive
forces me to evaluate why I wasn't and helps me plan better
in the future for those things that cause the lulls (conferences,
between book rests, plotting).
Keeping the chart up to date "keeps
it real" for me. I can't romanticize what I can accomplish
when I have cold, hard data. Follow the link to the EXCEL
spreadsheet page count chart I will keep for 2008 if you'd
like to give it a try.
Daily
Page Count Link
Counting pages isn't always straightforward.
Different publishers have different formats for manuscript
submission. For Ellora's Cave, I submit my manuscripts in
Book Antiqua font, 1.5 lines, rather than double-spaced,
which gives me an average word count of around 300 words
per page. For Avon, I submit in Times New Roman for an average
word count of 285 per page. For Kensington, I submit in
Courier New for an average of 250 words per page. I personally
don't make a distinction between formats for the tally I
enter in my page counter, but you might convert your documents
daily to one format to get a truer picture of your productivity
for planning purposes.
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 Day
26 - I wish I'd known how to
Boost Your Productivity
By Delilah Devlin
I spent the first couple of years
of my writing life, writing whenever the mood struck. Once
I contracted, however, I had to write to meet a deadline.
If you are published, or just want to prepare yourself for
the "writer's life" once you do sell, try some
of these suggestions to boost your productivity.
1) Do some pre-work before you
begin to write, so you aren't struggling with what to write.
You could plot each chapter, each scene and refer to it
as your story bible as you go.
2) Who says you have to start at the beginning and work
your way to the end of your story? Try writing the pivotal
scenes you already have in your mind first to get you jumpstarted.
3) End your day's writing in the middle of an exciting scene,
rather than at the end.
4) If you're stuck, try writing the synopsis, then plunking
the paragraphs under separate chapter headings to give you
a starting point.
5) If you're still stuck, move onto the next project that's
calling you. Write a few pages, and then go back to your
most pressing WIP.
6) Write at the same time every day to get into the habit.
7) Set a daily or weekly page count goal and don't get out
of your chair until you reach it.
8) Establish a daily routine and follow your own personal
ritual to get in the mind frame to write.
9) Part of that ritual might be selecting mood music for
the scene you are writing. Turn it on and let your fingers
fly.
10) Light candles, arrange your "tools" in your
space, and then open your programs in the exact order.
11) Select a set of affirmations that speak to you and repeat
them like a mantra every day before you begin writing.
12) Do not open email until you've reached your page count/hourly
goal.
13) Join a critique group that meets on a regular basis
so that you have to produce pages on their schedule.
14) Do timed writing activities with a group of writing
friends.
15) Try the annual NaNoWriMo challenge in November to produce
50,000 words in one month.
16) Accept a BIAW (Book-in-a-Week) challenge from your local
RWA chapter or online chapter and prepare to slam those
pages during that week.
17) Try writing with your font colored white so that you
aren't tempted to edit what you can't see! (when you're
done, just change it to black)
18) If you don't have to look at the keys while you type,
try writing with your eyes closed. Imagine the setting,
the scents, and the sounds and describe the scene, then
go back and layer in the action and dialogue.
19) Write your draft using an AlphaSmart word processor.
The smaller screen isn't very conducive to editing as you
write. After 4 lines, the first scrolls out of sight.
20) Reorganize or declutter your desk to remove distractions.
21) TIVO your favorite TV shows to watch when you have finished
writing for the day.
22) Bribe yourself with a present when you reach a big goal.
23) Give yourself little "gifts" when you make
your daily page count: play that online game, read your
email, watch that TIVO'd show.
24) Go to a hotel by yourself for a couple of days-nothing
but you and your writing materials.
25) Encourage your friends to nag you about a daily word
count.
26) Post your progress on your blog. There's nothing like
knowing your editor might check in to see how you're doing!
27) Attend a writing retreat where you meet for morale-boosting,
then trek off to a solitary corner to write.
28) If daily life intrudes, take that AlphaSmart or a pad
of paper to your child's ballet lesson or soccer practice,
to your dentist or doctor appointment. 15 Minutes here and
there can really add up.
29) Keep a pad of paper or a tape recorder beside your bed
for those scenes or snippets of dialogue that come to you
just when you're drifting off to sleep.
30) Keep a tape recorder in your purse so that you can dictate
dialogue while you're on your daily commute to work.
31) Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy
foods, and get some exercise. You can't expect to create
when you aren't feeling well!
Here's a calendar
for you to plan your year on: 2008
CALENDAR
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 December
27 - I wish I'd known
Writing isn't for Wimps
by
Myla Jackson
Feedback
can hurt
If it's not your
editor or critique partner telling you to rewrite the
entire last half the book, it might be a reader saying
you got it wrong, or you write like a ten-year-old. If
you don't have a thick skin, grow one!
Long
dry spells
If
it's not writer's block...
The emotional rollercoaster can take its toll and leave
you stymied for new ideas or even the desire to write.
It's
buyer's block...
You're at the whim of editors who have to be in the right
mood, looking for a book just like yours, given the go-ahead
to acquire for next year and the stars have to be aligned
to be purchased off the slush pile.
And just because
you sell one book doesn't mean you're "in".
If your sell-through is lousy, you might not sell again
for a long time.
Persistence
pays
Very
little control
Nine out of ten
times, you have no control over your sell-through. First,
you're at the mercy of buyers at the corporate level who
determine which books to stock in the chain stores. IF
your book makes it to the store, the cover gods better
have been kind or your book won't make it off the shelf!
Green-eyed
monsters
When you finally
sell, even your staunchest supporters will suffer from
attacks of the green-eyed monsters. You'll struggle over
sharing your excitement with your unpublished writer friends.
Or if you're the writer who has been writing for more
years than you care to count, and the person you critiqued
to perfection sells before you...well, you get the picture.
Love
it or leave it
The pay isn't great
unless you make it big. If you're thinking of quitting
your day job, you'd better love writing enough to sacrifice
a steady paycheck, benefits and a pension plan with no
promises of future sales or continued sales.
Be prepared,
be determined and make the decision that's right for you!
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ay
28
Day 28 - I wish I'd known
How do I Stack Up Against Other Writers
by Judith Rochelle
Okay, you've written
your manuscript. Maybe more than one. Your family and
friends think it's great. Someone should publish it immediately!
But how does the story really stack up in the marketplace?
If you want to
compare your work to others, two really good places to
do this are
critique
group and writing
contests
Most critique groups
work pretty much the same, although some are in person
and some are online. A group of writers, some published
some not, will critique your work and point out both strengths
and weaknesses. In return, you critique theirs. Believe
me, this is a good thing because you see other people's
strengths and weaknesses at the same time.
Give yourself a little time with a critique group, then
move on to writing contests. RWA chapters all over the
country hold annual contests. They have specific scoring
sheets, and a lot of them will email you a blank one,
or post it on their web site, so you can see how your
entry be judged.
When you receive
your judged submission, check your scores in each area.
If you aren't a finalist, look for the areas on the score
sheet where your numbers are lowest. That's the craft
areas you need to improve.
Both methods require
an open acceptance of criticism and a willingness to learn.
But if you do, your book could be the one I'll be reading
this time next year.
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Day
29 - I wish I'd known about
Reviews and What
They're Worth
By Roni Adams
"Your
review"
That's what the
email subject says. Two words that set any author's heart
to beating harder and her palms to sweat.
"Did
they like it?"
That's the question.
Any time you write anything, what you are really waiting
for is the reaction of the reader and the romance writing
world. Often times, we as authors are also waiting for
the reaction of those magical people called Reviewers.
For some reason, we think that if they love our story,
everyone else will. If they hate it, everyone else will.
What I've learned
is that book reviewers are the same as movie reviewers;
sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I don't. They
are, after all, humans. They have their own tastes and
opinions the same as we do. What they like, I might not.
How many times have you bought the latest bestseller only
to be disappointed. The genre or story life wasn't something
you like to read.
Why
do we care?
So why do we still
put so much weight in the reviewers' opinions? For one
thing, they can truly stir up interest in your story or
just the opposite. We want them to love our story so they
will give it a positive rating which we hope will translate
into others wanting to read our book. As with anything
in writing, reviews are all subjective. So read them,
enjoy the good ones, share them with your writing friends,
share them with your family. The bad ones... let them
roll off your back and hope no one pays them too much
attention.
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Day
30 - I wish I'd known
It Doesn't Get Easier
By Shayla Kerstan
So you've sold your first book!
Congratulations! Now those contracts will come rolling in
like water through a leaky roof, right? Right?
....not
necessarily....
Many authors create a brilliant
first book but obtaining a second sale isn't guaranteed.
The market may change and what was hot with your first sale
is now passé. The editor who adored your first romance
book may move to another publishing house editing mainstream
mysteries.
Instead of being discouraged,
authors need to roll with the ups and downs of the publishing
industry. How do you do that?
Keep
abreast of industry news and watch trends
Many industry professionals-agents,
editors, publishers, authors-blog about what is going on
in their world...
Bookends Literary Agency (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/)
Ellora's Cave Redlines & Deadlines (http://redlinesanddeadlines.blogspot.com/)
Jenny Cruise & Bob Mayer's He Wrote, She Wrote (http://www.crusiemayer.com/)
...are a few with
good information.
Publisher's Marketplace
(PW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and Romantic Times
Reviews (RT) are some sources for watching trends.
PW's free email newsletter gives
deal news on what's selling now. For a monthly fee, they
provide detailed information across the industry, not just
romance.
RWA
RWA provides a wealth of information
in the romance genre through their RWR magazine and member
Yahoo email groups. Detailed information on what publishers
and agents are looking for is regularly updated.
RT
Romantic Times Book Reviews is
filled with reviews of the latest romances. This source
is a good way to keep up with what is being published and
how it's being received.
Don't
put all your eggs in one basket
It's wonderful to find a publisher
that loves your work but like a fickle lover, the house's
feelings can change. Just because you sell to one house
doesn't mean you can't submit to others. Keep your options
open.
Read
the competition
If someone in your genre consistently
has bestselling novels, read them. Keep up with what readers
are buying.
Keep
learning your craft
You are never too old or too sold
to learn something new. Conference workshops and online
classes are two excellent sources for keeping up with the
changing world of publishing.
Remember, just because you've
sold once isn't a guarantee you'll sell a second time. Don't
get comfortable. Stay hungry for the next sale, and you
are more likely to find yourself at the dinner table with
a new contract.
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 Day
31 - I
wish I'd known
How Much My Comfort Reads Inspired Me to Write
by Delilah Devlin
One
thing I never would have guessed before I published was
how dear the books that inspired me to write would become.
My "comfort reads" are books that always take
me back to that place where I happily spent hours inside
another author's world, and is a place I seek now when I
want to relax. Finding new authors who can give me that
old "Calgon" moment and take me away is always
a treat, but I still keep a few select books that I reach
for when I want assurance I won't be disappointed. It's
rather like pulling on your most comfortable pair of pajamas
and snuggling into a down pillow to dream.
Delilah's
favorite comfort reads are:
1. Linda Howard's MacKenzie's Mountain
2. Johanna Lindsey's Warrior's Woman
3. Sharon Sala's Jackson Rule
4. Julie Garwood's Rebellious Desire
5. Julie Garwood's Saving Grace
Then I polled some of my fellow
Roses for their own lists. The results were interesting
and include many volumes also sitting on my shelves.
Megan
Keran's top comfort reads are:
6. JK Rowling's Harry Potter series
7. Meagan McKinney's 'Til Dawn Tames the Night
8. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Seize the Night
9. Alexander Dumas's The Three Musketeers
10. Edgar Allen Poe's The Collected Works
Layla
Chases' favorites are:
11. Judith McNaught's Whitney, My Love
12. Dinah McCall's Dreamcatcher
13. Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon
14. Pamela Morsi's Simple Jess
Betty
Hanawa's favorites include:
15. J.D. Robb's In Death series
16. Anything by Dick Francis
17. Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Rider series
18. Iris Rainer Dart's When I Fall in Love
19. Her own, Once Upon a Family - "…because it
reminds me of why I wanted to have my imaginary stories
published."
Judith
Rochelle/Desiree Holt's comfort reads are:
20. Robyn Carr's The Virgin River series
21. Joey Hill's Chance of a Lifetime
22. Diana Palmer's A Man of Means
23. Anna Jeffreys's The Love of a Lawman
Shayla
Kersten's list includes:
24. Ally Blue's Willow Bend
25. TA Chase's No Going Home
26. Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael mysteries
27. Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice
Eve
Savage's comfort reads are:
28. Miriam Minger's Captive Rose
29. Julie Miller's Intimate Knowledge
30. Virginia Henley's A Woman of Passion
31. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dance with the Devil
Elle
James' comfort reads are:
32. Pamela Morsi's Courting Miss Hattie
33. Michael Crichton's Timeline
34. Betina Krahn's The Husband Test
35. J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series
Myla
Jackson's comfort reads are:
36. Gina Shoewalter's Playing with Fire
37. Sandra Hill's Cajun Series
38. Lisa Gardner's The Other Daughter
39. Jennifer Cruisie's Fast Women
My personal TBR pile just increased
exponentially! Try some of our favorites or find your own
this year. Happy reading!
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31
Things I wish I'd known before I became a Writer
