Advice to First-Time Authors

Since I am yet to be published, I would consider myself in this category, and definitely needing some advice.  Who better to get it from than Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson publishing.

Here is an excerpt from a recent post on his blog (which I strongly recommend you follow).

As you might imagine, I receive a lot of email from would-be authors who are trying to get published. Because I make my email address public, it’s pretty easy to get to me.

However, by the time I hear from people, they are usually frustrated. They can’t get anyone in the book publishing world to respond, and they are convinced that they have a killer-idea. “If only someone would just read my manuscript,” they plead.

The problem is that most publishers will not review unsolicited proposals or manuscripts. I personally receive hundreds every year; our staff receives thousands. We simply don’t have the resources to review these. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

So as an author, what do you do? Here’s what I recommend:…

You can also follow Michael Hyatt on Twitter as: MichaelHyatt

Well, you’ve written your masterpiece and now what do you do? One of your options is to find an agent that will market your book to various publishers and editors. While this may not be necessary in every case, I think that using and agent is the smart choice.

It is their livelihood to get your book into the hands of a publisher. Yeah, they may take a percentage of the money that will be made, but you know what they say, “80% of something is better than 100% of nothing.”

I would like to note that finding an agent in your genre is vital.  There is no sense in wasting your time and money sending agent queries to people who will drop them in the trash.

That being said, where can you find an agent. Scouring the internet is one way. Buying the Guide to Literary Agents is another.

One of the best is to find a gree listing that you can search for by genre.  one such list can be found at Agent Query.  There is no charge to use their service and it is quite extensive.   Each agent has a link to their bio which includes (in most cases) how to (and how NOT to) sumbit your work for review.

A last note, through the research that I have done,  it is recommended by many that you do not pay an agent to review their work; and get some references.

Let me know how it goes.

- mooney

I do not know everything there is to know about writing, editing, finding an agent, getting published, or marketing my work, so I have to learn from people that do.  Podcasts about writing are a way to learn (for free) from people who have already traveled the road.

If you do not know, a podcast is an audio feed that you can subscribe to that automatically updates whenever new content is released by the author of the podcast.

I have added a page that lists several of the podcasts about writing that I listen to on a regular basis. Each has a link to the blog/website of the podcast, as well as a link to the iTunes store (all those listed here are free).

If you know of any other podcasts about writing, please leave a comment and I will add them.

Thanks,

- mooney

Well, it is finally here: Ted Dekker’s revamped website. (www.teddekker.com)  I am a huge fan, and honestly, Ive only read a handful of his books. (Thr3e and the Circle Trilogy).

The “new and improved” Ted Dekker 2.0 boasts some pretty sweet animation, a discussion board, a library, and what I believe to be the best improvement, The Underground.  It allows you to read the first few chapters of Boneman’s Daughters in a pretty unique way.  It’s an animated book that has turning pages, and illustrations to boot. I just finished reading chapter one and it’s definitely moving to the front of the reading pile.

Just like his books, the new sight is a captivating, no holds barred assault on your senses.  Here’s a peak at the header, linked to the site.  Enjoy!

Fantasy author Wayne Thomas Batson recently posted eight tips on beating deadlines at his blog.  I have included the intro and the tips, but please visit his blog and read through them.  Mr. Batson is the author of the Door Within Trilogy, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire.

Sir Wayne

Deadlines:

DEADLINES: Even the word sounds ominous. The finality of the concept is frightening: something is due. There are no excuses. No exceptions. No extensions. Finish on time or pay dearly.

We’ve all had deadlines. But for the author or aspiring author, deadlines become an everpresent reminder of what is left to do. If handled poorly, deadlines can lead to all kinds of pressure and stress. Deadlines are a part of the business, but ours is a creative field. We create when the muse strikes. How do you rush creativity? Doesn’t rushing a creative endeavor mess it up? Hmmm, seemingly valid points. So what’s a writer to do? …

Deadline Tip #1: Set reasonable deadlines.

Deadline Tip #2: Set your own deadlines.

Deadline Tip #3: Frontload as much as possible.

Deadline Tip #4: Be satisfied with little deadlines met.

Deadline Tip #5: Nibble away at the numbers.

Deadline Tip #6: Outline.

Deadline Tip #7: Stop in the middle of a cool part.

Deadline Tip #8: Eliminate distractions.

Let me know your thoughts.

- mooney

Well, I have been waiting for some time to receive word on if my article was accepted for this, and it has finally arrived. My submission was not accepted.

Yay! It’s my first rejection letter! While not the BEST news in the world, it’s one step closer to being published. Here is the email and list of those who made it through the selection process. Congratulations to you all!

- chris mooney

Hello!

I’m a couple of weeks late on getting the Love is a Verb/Love Lessons results to you. I am sorry for that.

Below I’ve listed the pieces that have been chosen for this book.

If your name is on the list (some titles have been changed), you will receive a contract in a few weeks. You have made it through Bethany House’s initial acceptance phase and will probably (though I can’t promise) be in the book.

If your name is not on the list, please read on: We had more than 300 stories submitted to this collection and I read every one from start to finish. So many of them were so good! Many of your stories even brought tears to my eyes or made me go “awww”–not an easy feat! So many touched my heart (even if not to the teary-eye stage).

There were many reasons why manuscripts didn’t fit into this compilation. I received many wonderful stories about loving people, but this compilation focused more on learning to love someone. We also had to deal a LOT with too many articles on several of the different topics. We had a lot of learning to love people through illnesses, a lot of learning to love parents stories, etc.

Many times, the reasons stories were not chosen had nothing to do with the actual quality of the story. In fact, as I read the stories and made initial choices, I also kept a second file–in it I put 80 stories I loved, but that didn’t fit in the Love Lessons (now called Love is a Verb) book. I wanted to look through those stories when it came time to choose stories for another book I was starting to work on for Jim Bell–God Sightings. Unfortunately, as you probably know, shortly after I finished the first selection process for Love Lessons, I lost all of my computer files in a hard drive crash, including that file. But I was so impressed that so many stories were so good.

So if your story did not make it into Love Lessons/Love is a Verb, please do not feel you did a poor job–please remember, as I’ve said, manuscripts did or did not make it into this book for many reasons besides quality.

If your manuscript is not in this book, please send it out again to another publisher (or feel free to submit it to me again if it may fit another project I put out a call for later–Jim has a couple of more in the works he’s asked me about doing). You’ve done the hard part–writing it–now keep getting it out there til it finds the right home!

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate each of you for being part of this compilation call. You have invested in a ministry, and you have taught me, challenged me, inspired me, and blessed me through your writing. Thank you so much.

(one last note: Because I lost all my submission files between July 26 and October 26, if you know of someone else who submitted to this project, will you please feel free to pass this along to them? Thanks!)

Jeanette

Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Editorial Associate
Love Is a Verb (formerly Love Lessons)
by Gary Chapman
A James Stuart Bell Project

Loving Lavishly — Tamara Vermeer

The Potato Fiasco — Eileen Roddy

The Changeling — Louise D. Flanders

A Simple Cup of Cheer – Steven L. Brown

Drinking Milk with a Spoon — Doris E. Clark

The Hug I’ll Never Forget — Rebecca Willman Gernon

Between Mountain Streams and Ferris Wheels — Sheila Farmer

The Little Girl Who Changed My Life — Laurie Perkins

Opposites Attract — Then What? — Emily Osburne

The New Love-Room — Betty Johnson Dalrymple

A Christmas Miracle — Loretta J. Eidson

Between the Baby and Basketball — Kevin Lucia

A Reason to Live — Sudha Kristmutki

Better than Chocolate — Midge DeSart

Who’s Winning the War? — Laura Bradford

Lost and Found: Four Sisters — Sarah B. Hawkins

My Knight Knows — Leslie Payne

The Heartbeat of Springfield — Jon Hopkins

A Wounded Heart Set Free — Amy Chanan

Entering Molly’s World — Elsi Dodge

Just Call Me Babe — Donna Smith

When Sara Taught Me Freedom — Nancy Sheek

The Good with the Bad — Sheila Farmer

Every Day Adventures with Mom — Faith Waters

Trials and Errors — William Cuchens

It’s Not About Me — Christine McNamara

Not the Girl for My Son? — Ann Varnum

Silver-Boxed Kindness — Pamela Dowd

A Spring Tulip in Frozen Ground — Gena Bradford

Losing a Brother, Gaining a Son — Pierre Eade

All She Needed was Time — Katherine J. Crawford

The Day My Husband Prayed I’d Die — LaQuita Havens

The Battle of the Dishwasher — Susan Stanley

The Weather Kitten — Nancy Farrier

Say Goodbye to Your Mistress — Jennifer Devlin

The 50/50 Proposition — Sandy Cathcart

For Richer or Poorer — Chris Wright

The Price is Worth It — Jackie Strange

Pulling Weeds on Blossom Trail — Connie Pombo

Love’s Doorway — Nora Peacock

Author Gary Chapman

On August 14th, I posted an opportunity to be published in a collection by Gary Chapman called Love Lessons: Everyday Acts of Love That Change Lives, which Bethany House will publish in Spring, 2009.   They were accepting 40-50 stories at 1,200 to 2,000 words each.

I submitted an article for the book and was told they were notifying submitters if their articles were accepted by the end of November.  Has anyone heard back from them one way or the other?

- chris mooney

Most of my posts here are articles from other people.  Today, I would like to share a little on my own.  I’m working on a nonfiction book, There’s Something Deep Inside.  It has been a long road as this is my first attempt at writing.

One of the hardest things for me is actually sitting down and writing.  Maybe it’s because I’m so ADD that I don’t force myself to focus, or that I’m just stalling becuase I am not sure what to say next.  I have the ideas and outlines laid out, but getting the words out still seems so cumbersome at times.

A friend sent me a link today to a little app called Write or Die!  Basically you set up a time that you want to write, and a word goal, and it helps you stay motivated to keep writing.  If you stop writing for a period of time (seconds) the screen changes colors to get your attention.  If you take too long before you start writing again, it plays these awful noises. 

I tried it out to see if it would keep me going (hey, I’ll try anything that’s free!).  I set a goal of 250 words in ten minutes.    I paused lomg enough at the end to see what would happen if I stopped, and this dreadful violin rendition of Fer Elise started blazing through my speakers.  It was more then enough motivation to kepp going.  Wha-la!  I hit 285 before the time was over.

Now, this might not be for everyone, but give it a try and let me know how it goes for you.

“Remember, “Ameteurs wait for the muse to arrive, the rest of us just get to work.” – Philip Roth

- mooney

Guide to Literary Agents helps you find the right agent to represent your work

From the Guide to Literary Agents website:

Writers are the experts at writing, whether that means crafting a blockbuster novel or a critically acclaimed biography. However, writers are not necessarily great at selling their writing, negotiating subsidiary rights, knowing the correct editors to pitch, and mastering legalese and publishing business jargon. And that’s why so many writers seek agents after they’ve finished their manuscripts.

Guide to Literary Agents lists literary and script agents, publicists and conferences. Each listing includes specific contact information, submission details, and other valuable information to help you find the agent best suited for your writing career.

In addition to the listings, the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents, now available, presents an impressive line-up of articles, including:

• Interviews with literary agents.
• Conference etiquette tips.
• One writer’s first experience with an agent.
• Negotiating tips on how to improve your contract.
• How to learn from rejection.
• Sample query letters.
• What to know before and after you sign with an agent.
• And much more.

Writers are the experts at writing, and agents are the experts at handling all the nitty-gritty business details and negotiating the best deal possible for their authors. When a good writer pairs up with a good agent, the sky’s the limit on what you can do together.

Chuck Sambuchino
Editor, Guide to Literary Agents

Click to learn more about Chuck and his upcoming speaking engagements.

Writer’s Digest Books

F+W Publications, Inc.
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Cincinnati OH 45236
(513)531-2690
E-mail

I have found that a large part of writing is never thinking I know it all.  Since I have not been published (to date), it goes without saying that I have quite a bit to learn about the craft and business of writing.  One of the ways I accomplish this is by listening to podcasts about writing.

If you don’t know what a podcast is, basically it’s a program, video or audio, that is made available to be downloaded automatically to your computer (or iPod).  The most popular medium for this is iTunes.

There are quite a few podcasts available on the subject of writing, covering various genres and topics.  One of my favorites is The Writing Show by Paula B.  In her weekly show, Paula B. covers topics including author interviews, writing the beginnings and endings of short stories, point of view, finding an agent, getting published, and some of the business of writing.  She is also following three individuals on their quest to get published and offers mentoring for writers.

I have been a listener to this podcast for over a year now, and each episode offers something I can glean to improve my writing technique, I hope you give her a listen and that her show helps you as well.

Here is a link to subscribe:  iTunes: The Writing Show with Paula B.

- chris mooney