Good Tuesday morning!
I received several emails asking the same question about promoting so that's today's topic...
When? Why? Do I even have to? Isn't that handled with the publisher/editor/agent? My book isn't even out yet/ don't even have a contract yet, so what's the rush?
Promotion is something that I feel every author 'should' do, regardless of whether it's a first book, or the hundredth. If you can't think of any reason to promote, the most basic answer would more than likely be.. you are connecting with readers and talking about your upcoming book. But, promoting is so much more than saying 'hey, hi, it's me, I have a book coming out...' So back to the questions in the emails..
Personally, I think that you should have some type of social media regarding your writing. And yes, even if you're not published yet. Even if you haven't queried and you're still polishing up your ms, the answer I feel is still yes. And yup, even if your book isn't due to release for several more months. Why? Well, because you're not just promoting a book. If only it were that easy, right? But think of it this way. You've done a lot of promo's and maybe even a contest or two. The book was released and it's been a few months and things have slowed down for you while you're working on your next book. This 'next' book is no where near ready to query out or send to your editor/agent and let's say won't be for another nine months.
So sticking with this, now we're talking about a great span of time that you have been silent, like dust blowing in the wind silent. And we'll make it even a little more ugh factor, you really don't like to promote.. So how hard do you think promo's are gonna be for you when the time comes for your next book release? It'll be like you're starting over, or at least may feel like it.
I know, I know.. not everyone is comfortable with doing promotion, or blogging and whatnot. But, and again this is just my opinion, you may as well get yourself comfortable with it now because you're gonna need to, at some point. Yes, there are publishing houses/agents who will do some form of promo of your book. But, there are also many that don't offer any type of promoting services. Even if there is a promotion clause in your contract with your publisher/agent, you'll still need to promote.
Now, let's say, you're not published yet but you have a ms under consideration. You have no blog, you're not buzzing about it, not sure why you should or even if it's necessary. Well, personally, how I would tackle this is.. sign up/start a blog, set up a facebook page and get on line and talk about your writing where you can. Now, I'm not suggesting to shout it to the rooftop or post everywhere there is a blank space. What I'm saying is, allow people to get to know 'you' first. A little look inside your world, even if you're having a hard day making your characters fit on the pages like they're supposed to. Or, you've finished a chapter and you're rewarding yourself with your favorite movie tonight.
Someone buys a book because they liked what they read (covers of a book or blurbs, etc.) or have heard, yes. But, when a reader can connect a little deeper with the author by following posts on line, it changes from just reader/author. It's more personal. It's not just about hey my book is coming out and this is what it's about. A reader now knows you go through ups and downs just like the rest of the world, and reward yourself with a little me time.. just like many of us.
We'll flip to the other side of the topic and look at it from an agent/publisher point of view. If you're querying your first book several things happen over here. Not only are they looking at your submission package, they'll more than likely do a quick search on line to see what's going on, to find out a little more about you than a sentence or two in your cover letter, and where you are as far as on line presence. Yes, they know, based on your query, that this is your first book, so why do you need to do anything? Well, again, it gives them a feel of who you are, what you're doing regarding writing, they may even be checking to see how many people join in one of your conversations. Or, how long you've been putting yourself out there on the journey to becoming a published author. Now, to you, this may seem not important, but in fact, it is.
Because they'll know when it comes time to do promotion, you'll be able to hop right in because you've essentially been doing it all this time. The posts will change from time to time due to book buzz, but they'll see this as a plus in regards to how you're able to self-promote, vs no on line presence. But, and this is huge here, there is a fine-line and you have to choose what you want to include in your posts about your daily/weekly writing life. Yes, include personal tidbits here and there, but try to remember the business side of it. Should you really include several posts about how your sister/cousin/neighbor was such an ass at that party you went to and go in great detail? Nope, not even close. Should you chime in on a friends post when she's venting about how something went a little south with her publisher/agent? Nope.. and I feel, not ever!
Your writing is your business, you/your writing is your brand. So put your best brand forward, always... because you never know who's on the other side reading your posts. If you're just starting out, keep it simple if it's easier and not so intimidating for you. The more you are putting yourself out there, the easier it gets they say. So, take it slow, a weekly post. Then once you've gotten your feet wet and are more comfortable, maybe twice a week. But mix it up, a smidgen about you and your journey, a smidgen about your current wip or queried book. Balance it out, this way people get a quick look at what you're working on/progress, and what you're doing because you hit your 5000 word count goal for today.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Friday, February 17, 2017
The Revolutionary War..
Good Friday morning!
Today's post are for those who write/want to write about the Revolutionary War and are gathering some tidbits to base bones of your story on, but who are looking for a little different spin on what may first come to mind when writing about the Revolutionary War. This post is about a small town in NY, called Salem.
There is a cemetery in the town that is called the Revolutionary War Cemetery, aka, the Old Salem Burying Ground. The cemetery holds over 1000 graves and about 100 of those are of from the Revolutionary War or veterans. The Battle of Saratoga though was what really made it well-known because it's said that a hundred bodies were placed into one mass grave. It's also believed that there are more war-time deceased buried here than anywhere/another graveyard in Washington County, and even the state.
The headstones during the 18th century mainly faced east. It's quite an experience to walk though, I'll admit, and if you're on vacation and headed towards Salem, I do hope you etch out a little bit of time to walk though/visit. Anyway, back to the burial ground... it's said that in the early to mid 1900's, the count was placed at little over 1000. But in the late 1900's a recount found the total was close to 1100.
There's another tidbit that I found to be fascinating. Though the majority of markers were of headstone, there are 3 made in red sandstone. The material wasn't commonly used at the cemetery during this time.
If I'm not mistaken, the cemetery wasn't founded until around the 1700's, and the first known burial was in 1767, the year the cemetery was formally established. The second, legend has it, was of a local Indian who wandered into the settlement and died.
Another tidbit.. it's said/believed that if all the men who supposedly are buried in a mass grave after the Battle of Saratoga somehow are confirmed, it would make the Old Salem Burying Ground one of the largest burial sites of the Revolutionary War soldiers in the country.
If you're looking for more information on people and whatnot, do a search on James Turner and Joshua Conkey. Both are huge as far as history regarding Salem.
You'll also find there's a lot of room here.. inventing your characters, families, community, their lives, and living in the town during this time period.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
Today's post are for those who write/want to write about the Revolutionary War and are gathering some tidbits to base bones of your story on, but who are looking for a little different spin on what may first come to mind when writing about the Revolutionary War. This post is about a small town in NY, called Salem.
There is a cemetery in the town that is called the Revolutionary War Cemetery, aka, the Old Salem Burying Ground. The cemetery holds over 1000 graves and about 100 of those are of from the Revolutionary War or veterans. The Battle of Saratoga though was what really made it well-known because it's said that a hundred bodies were placed into one mass grave. It's also believed that there are more war-time deceased buried here than anywhere/another graveyard in Washington County, and even the state.
The headstones during the 18th century mainly faced east. It's quite an experience to walk though, I'll admit, and if you're on vacation and headed towards Salem, I do hope you etch out a little bit of time to walk though/visit. Anyway, back to the burial ground... it's said that in the early to mid 1900's, the count was placed at little over 1000. But in the late 1900's a recount found the total was close to 1100.
There's another tidbit that I found to be fascinating. Though the majority of markers were of headstone, there are 3 made in red sandstone. The material wasn't commonly used at the cemetery during this time.
If I'm not mistaken, the cemetery wasn't founded until around the 1700's, and the first known burial was in 1767, the year the cemetery was formally established. The second, legend has it, was of a local Indian who wandered into the settlement and died.
Another tidbit.. it's said/believed that if all the men who supposedly are buried in a mass grave after the Battle of Saratoga somehow are confirmed, it would make the Old Salem Burying Ground one of the largest burial sites of the Revolutionary War soldiers in the country.
If you're looking for more information on people and whatnot, do a search on James Turner and Joshua Conkey. Both are huge as far as history regarding Salem.
You'll also find there's a lot of room here.. inventing your characters, families, community, their lives, and living in the town during this time period.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
You've been switched to another editor, now what?
Good Wednesday morning! Well, the snowstorm has come and gone, dumped quite a bit of snow where I am, and by now you all know I'm not a huge fan of the cold weather so wasn't liking it, lol ;) Anyway, this week I will be posting more research tidbits and whatnot so if you're looking for those, they're on their way soon :)
Today's post though is about editing, yeah, I know I know..another one? Yes, because the topic for today does happen and that's the point of this blog, to touch base on what may happen and whatnot, along with tidbits.
So, we're gonna assume you've been working with your very first editor. You've gone through the whole complete process and things went so well, it was the best experience ever so far since you signed the contract. Life could not be better for you as an author! You're working on your next book and you've been in contact with your editor on a regular basis... out of the blue, you receive an email informing you, your editor will no longer be your editor and you're now going to be working with, we'll call her Ms. X. I know, not original, sorry, not enough coffee in me yet. But anyway, Ms. X sends a really nice email introducing herself... you reply to her email, introducing yourself as well, and then it all sets in. Your comfort zone has just been shattered into a million pieces!
We're still assuming this is your very first editor, and you were working so well with her, things were great. In fact, you didn't even know that things like this happened. Sure, you've heard of an editor moving to another house or different position in the same company, but it never dawned on you that it would happen to your editor. And you certainly didn't think it would happen so quickly, just when you were starting to get into the groove of things. So what now? Is probably the first question that pops up in your head, followed by a string of like dozens more, lol ;) But anyway..
The best thing you can do then is just sit back for a minute and absorb the news. Allow the change to sink in. Take a deep breath or two, or twenty, though it may not feel like it's helping, it is though. Now, you have a choice, and hopefully you make the right one for you. You can either pitch a fit about it or look at it not in this moment, but down the road. What I mean is, will it really do any good to pitch the fit? Probably not, the opposite I would think. Not to mention, is this the impression you want to give? Not just to the editor, but her boss as well, because I can assure you more times than not, it will be discussed. And let's not forget how many mss you've sent before you were signed with an agent/publisher. If you're thinking about pulling out/leaving, do you really want to start over with a different publisher, this quickly, over something that 'you/your actions' had control over?
The truth is, change happens all the time.. even in publishing. You may as well roll with it, do the best that you can and look ahead, and not get stuck just in the moment. Ask yourself, does it really matter how many editors, or agents for that matter, are switched while you're working on your books, as long as everyone is on the same page? The best possible book that you can give, is their goal too. And if you didn't want to share your stories with the world, you wouldn't be where you are now, right? So it all boils down to what you do, how you react to this change.
Change can be a scary thing because we really don't have that crystal ball allowing us to see the future before we do anything. But change also makes us grow, gets us out of our comfort zone so to speak, and experience life differently. It may be an editor change, an agent retired, a publishing house merging, or yes, even closing their doors.. it's all a part of the business. And most importantly, it is all about how you take the next step.. for you :)
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
Today's post though is about editing, yeah, I know I know..another one? Yes, because the topic for today does happen and that's the point of this blog, to touch base on what may happen and whatnot, along with tidbits.
So, we're gonna assume you've been working with your very first editor. You've gone through the whole complete process and things went so well, it was the best experience ever so far since you signed the contract. Life could not be better for you as an author! You're working on your next book and you've been in contact with your editor on a regular basis... out of the blue, you receive an email informing you, your editor will no longer be your editor and you're now going to be working with, we'll call her Ms. X. I know, not original, sorry, not enough coffee in me yet. But anyway, Ms. X sends a really nice email introducing herself... you reply to her email, introducing yourself as well, and then it all sets in. Your comfort zone has just been shattered into a million pieces!
We're still assuming this is your very first editor, and you were working so well with her, things were great. In fact, you didn't even know that things like this happened. Sure, you've heard of an editor moving to another house or different position in the same company, but it never dawned on you that it would happen to your editor. And you certainly didn't think it would happen so quickly, just when you were starting to get into the groove of things. So what now? Is probably the first question that pops up in your head, followed by a string of like dozens more, lol ;) But anyway..
The best thing you can do then is just sit back for a minute and absorb the news. Allow the change to sink in. Take a deep breath or two, or twenty, though it may not feel like it's helping, it is though. Now, you have a choice, and hopefully you make the right one for you. You can either pitch a fit about it or look at it not in this moment, but down the road. What I mean is, will it really do any good to pitch the fit? Probably not, the opposite I would think. Not to mention, is this the impression you want to give? Not just to the editor, but her boss as well, because I can assure you more times than not, it will be discussed. And let's not forget how many mss you've sent before you were signed with an agent/publisher. If you're thinking about pulling out/leaving, do you really want to start over with a different publisher, this quickly, over something that 'you/your actions' had control over?
The truth is, change happens all the time.. even in publishing. You may as well roll with it, do the best that you can and look ahead, and not get stuck just in the moment. Ask yourself, does it really matter how many editors, or agents for that matter, are switched while you're working on your books, as long as everyone is on the same page? The best possible book that you can give, is their goal too. And if you didn't want to share your stories with the world, you wouldn't be where you are now, right? So it all boils down to what you do, how you react to this change.
Change can be a scary thing because we really don't have that crystal ball allowing us to see the future before we do anything. But change also makes us grow, gets us out of our comfort zone so to speak, and experience life differently. It may be an editor change, an agent retired, a publishing house merging, or yes, even closing their doors.. it's all a part of the business. And most importantly, it is all about how you take the next step.. for you :)
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Other things to check off your list before you send out your ms..
Happy Wednesday! I know I've been a little less visible over the past week or two; that was not my intent. I'm sorry and will post more frequent starting next week.. a lot in store then :) In the meantime, let's talk about more items on your checklist before you send your book out into the world of editors, publishers, etc. We've touched base on the lines, and how to tell as best as you can, if you're not certain. We've talked about queries and synopsis, and things to look out for while editing.
We'll be adding to a prior post about sending out and double-checking their guidelines. This time though, let's talk about the actual sending out part of it. By now, if you're close to polishing your story to within an inch of its life as best as you're able to, you have probably checked out their guidelines and whatnot. Now, I'm not talking the genre you're shooting for or word count, though those are important, too. But I'm referring to the actual 'sending' it out part.
Let's assume you've already made up your mind where you're sending your story, and thinking along this same wave length, you probably have a back up or two if the first passes. But, do they accept simultaneous submissions? If they do, you're able to send to another at the same time, providing the other accepts as well. Do they only accept snail mail or do they want you to send on line? If you're not sure take a look at their site, and even if you're sure but it's been a while since you last visited, you may want to refresh your checklist.. they may have updated their site and changed the way they want and/or accept submissions.
Moving forward, do they want a certain font, size? What about the margins 1/4, 1/2 or 1", header, footer? Every or every other page numbered? Double spaced? Page breaks for each chapter? Title and your name in left or right hand corner? All of these you'll want to double-check to make sure how they want your book to land on their desk.
Yeah, mistakes happen, things get overlooked all the time. You swear you checked to make sure everything was in order, only to find you've made an error and realize they want it a different way than you've sent it. And you know there is nothing you can do because it's on the way.
The only advice I would ever give anyone if asked is.. double check everything.. and I mean everything.. before you send it out. Not a month before, not a couple of weeks before, like a day or two before you send it out.
Sharpen your pencil, make a list of exactly how who you are subbing to wants your ms. Write it down and check off each item as you go along. Even if that means reading/going over your ms again, when honestly, that's the last thing you want to do because you've read/checked it damn close to a hundred times already, lol ;)
The point is, you've come this far.. you've spent so many hours writing, rewriting, editing, scratching pages or chapters even, starting over half way though because of a sagging middle, and frankly, everything in between. The last thing you should want to do now is rush sending it without giving your ms the best version you can possibly give it. And it goes way beyond the actual story. Sure, they may love it, be ready to jump through hoops to sign you on because your sample chapters grabbed them 'that' much. But if the complete is riddled with typo after typo, in 8pt, single spaced, no page numbers etc. Can you imagine printing say, 300 pages, and when someone goes to take it off of the printer, every... single... page... slips from their fingers, falling to the floor? I ask you, would you want to sort through the messy pile as you try to figure out which is the first, second, third, or page sixty? I like to think I am a patient person, but I'd be ready to walk away after about an hour of sorting through all of it.
And with that vision, is this how you want your first impression to be remembered? I personally wouldn't. They're asking for a ms to be a certain way because that's how it works best for them, and so they can focus on the story. Don't give them a reason not to be excited to read your ms by not even considering or adhering to their guidelines.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
We'll be adding to a prior post about sending out and double-checking their guidelines. This time though, let's talk about the actual sending out part of it. By now, if you're close to polishing your story to within an inch of its life as best as you're able to, you have probably checked out their guidelines and whatnot. Now, I'm not talking the genre you're shooting for or word count, though those are important, too. But I'm referring to the actual 'sending' it out part.
Let's assume you've already made up your mind where you're sending your story, and thinking along this same wave length, you probably have a back up or two if the first passes. But, do they accept simultaneous submissions? If they do, you're able to send to another at the same time, providing the other accepts as well. Do they only accept snail mail or do they want you to send on line? If you're not sure take a look at their site, and even if you're sure but it's been a while since you last visited, you may want to refresh your checklist.. they may have updated their site and changed the way they want and/or accept submissions.
Moving forward, do they want a certain font, size? What about the margins 1/4, 1/2 or 1", header, footer? Every or every other page numbered? Double spaced? Page breaks for each chapter? Title and your name in left or right hand corner? All of these you'll want to double-check to make sure how they want your book to land on their desk.
Yeah, mistakes happen, things get overlooked all the time. You swear you checked to make sure everything was in order, only to find you've made an error and realize they want it a different way than you've sent it. And you know there is nothing you can do because it's on the way.
The only advice I would ever give anyone if asked is.. double check everything.. and I mean everything.. before you send it out. Not a month before, not a couple of weeks before, like a day or two before you send it out.
Sharpen your pencil, make a list of exactly how who you are subbing to wants your ms. Write it down and check off each item as you go along. Even if that means reading/going over your ms again, when honestly, that's the last thing you want to do because you've read/checked it damn close to a hundred times already, lol ;)
The point is, you've come this far.. you've spent so many hours writing, rewriting, editing, scratching pages or chapters even, starting over half way though because of a sagging middle, and frankly, everything in between. The last thing you should want to do now is rush sending it without giving your ms the best version you can possibly give it. And it goes way beyond the actual story. Sure, they may love it, be ready to jump through hoops to sign you on because your sample chapters grabbed them 'that' much. But if the complete is riddled with typo after typo, in 8pt, single spaced, no page numbers etc. Can you imagine printing say, 300 pages, and when someone goes to take it off of the printer, every... single... page... slips from their fingers, falling to the floor? I ask you, would you want to sort through the messy pile as you try to figure out which is the first, second, third, or page sixty? I like to think I am a patient person, but I'd be ready to walk away after about an hour of sorting through all of it.
And with that vision, is this how you want your first impression to be remembered? I personally wouldn't. They're asking for a ms to be a certain way because that's how it works best for them, and so they can focus on the story. Don't give them a reason not to be excited to read your ms by not even considering or adhering to their guidelines.
Hope this helps :) Happy Writing!
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