31 Things I wish I'd known before I became a Writer
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
Book of Your Heart
2
Developing Characters
3
Character Naming
4
How Setting Affects Story
5
Emotional POV
6
Dialogue
7
Start Your Book on Chapt 3
8
Back Story
9
Show vs Tell
10
Critique Groups
11
Writer's Guilds
12
Research is More than the Internet
13
Reference Books and Internet
14
Different Routes to Publishing
15
Publishers and Agents
16
Writing Rules
17
NO-NO's for Writers
18
Pitch It!
19
Self-Edit
20
Make Your Own Luck
21
Not Getting Attached
22
Internet Marketing
23
Booksigning Tips
24
Taxing the Writer
25
Tracking and Assessing Output
26
Boosting Productivity
27
Writing isn't for Wimps
28
How Do I Stack up?
29
Reviews
30
It Doesn't Get Easier
31
Comfort Reads
 
31 Things I wish I'd known
before I began writing

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.

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 Adams

For 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?

~
Sets the pace & tone for the entire story.
~
Grab your reader's interest.
~
Readers picked up your book for a story, not your heroine's dossier.
~
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?

~
Find the scene where the status quo changes or what Christopher Vogler's The Hero's Journey labels the "Call to Adventure"
~
Think like a journalist, provide the basic facts first and go into details later
~
Who - Hero or Heroine
~
Where - Setting
~
What - Their goal
~
Why - Most pressing reason
~
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 Kersten

Most 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?

    Double checks facts~
    - not everything on the web is accurate.er's
    Personal knowledge
    - allows you to write with greater comfort.
    Experience
    - some things in life need to be experienced to be understood
    ~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.

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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.

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    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.

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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.

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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.

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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!


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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

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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

    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.)

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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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