A writer's life... on hold for the holidays

In the month of December I've noticed that many a writer has their life on hold... At least when it comes to books, promotion and writing.

With the holidays in full swing, it's easy to understand why people aren't spending hours on line or reading new books. So taking the month off is an easy thing to do as a writer. Even publication houses have been known to close their doors this month to submissions.

So take the month to recharge, and reconnect to online friends... and even off line friends.

Rejections... Responses...

Every writer out there has a certain feeling that passes over them when they see a note in their inbox from a publisher or an agent. If I'm sending out a new project to find a publishing home, or searching for the perfect agent, I check my inbox daily hoping to see something from someone.

So lets talk rejections and responses for a few minutes. I recently found a post on the BookEnds blog talking about a standard rejection letter that Jessica Faust wanted feedback on. I can't imagine what it would be like to open my inbox and find 100 queries a day. How on earth does an agent weed through the pile and ever find anything?

But alas, they do. So the question she had was about standard rejections and how they make an author feel.

I've been in the business for a while now, and I've had my run of rejections. Every author who puts themselves out there is going to get them! So I thought I'd post some of those rejections I've received over the last couple of years and dissect them.

"Thank you very much for your query, which I have read with interest. Unfortunately the project does not seem right for me, and I am sorry I cannot offer to read your work.

I do wish you all the best on finding more suitable representation, and thank you again."

Obviously this is a standard rejection. How does it make me feel?

* I'm sure glad the agent took the time to send it! So many don't bother, which to me is a little rude. Did this agent 'read with interest?' - Probably not. They probably read something in the first paragraph that made them pass. Am I upset about that? No. I want an agent that is excited about my work and wants to help make things happen.

"Thank you for thinking of me with this project; I appreciate the chance to have a look. I'm sorry to say I won’t be pursuing representation at this time, but I hope you have every success in finding the perfect agent and publisher for your work."

Okay, again, a standard rejection. I liked this one for two reasons.

One, the agent realizes that I've chosen him or her. And I do. I don't send out masses of agent letters. I look at the agent, the agency, what books they are selling and the clients they work with. I try and find a fit before sending the letter.

Two, nothing about the book that makes me think she wants to see it again. WHAT? You're asking! Let me 'spalin... When an agent uses words like intrigued, or interested, or fascinating and then doesn't go on to say anything else, I wonder what part did they like, and what part didn't they like. I ask myself if I can fix something and send it back or what? This rejections politely passes on the project so I can move on.

"Thank you so much for writing me about your project. I read and consider each query carefully and while yours is not exactly what I am looking for, I would certainly encourage you to keep trying. I know your work is important to you and I am grateful that you wrote to me."

Love this one. Why? Lets face it... it's not me, it's her. LOL * but think about it for a minute. This does say it all... It says 'no thanks' 'not for me' 'keep trying' 'thanks'

And themes go on and on... Nearly every agent has said keep looking. Finding the perfect agent or publisher is about finding the right fit.

Some of you are saying... But, Cathy, don't you get discouraged? Don't you want feedback?

Duah, of course I would love feedback, but did you see the '100 queryies a day bit I posted above. If an agent or publisher is going to give feedback, they'll ask for revisions. If they spend all day tailoring each rejection, they won't have time to work on sales for their clients. And baby, that's their job. When I find the right agent, I'll want them to do it even more.

Another thing... are they sorry? Damn right they are. They want the next best writer in their house nearly as much as you want to be that writer.

So, Dear Agent... Thanks for taking the time to send the 'auto response' that you even received my query... and again for sending me 'form rejection'.

For those agents who don't bother... My guess is you find a lot of "Did you get it?" mail from lots of authors. A little communication will probably clear out your inbox. Hint... hint...

Of course... this is the next best response:

"I read your sample chapters with interest, and I would like to invite you to send along the first 100 pages for review."

OR

** Most recent from Harlequin:

Hi Catherine,

I did receive it, and I would be interested in looking over the full manuscript...

Gauging your success as an author

Okay my writer friends... How do you gauge your success as an author?


Two years ago, before my first book was contracted or released, I'd have to say I gauged my success on selling my story to a publisher... Before that all I wanted to do was finish a book and have someone I know read it and like it. LOL

But now I find myself surfing the net, following other published writers, and changing my views on what I now need to use to gauge my success.


As a small press published author, I spend an awful lot of time online, yakking, and tagging, and making comments on blogs and forums. I love talking with other writers and readers and plan to always put aside time to do these things. Yet sometimes, when I'm looking at a blank screen, I realize that I really do need to put more hours behind a WIP in order to make it a submittable manuscript and hopefully the next best seller.


I'm looking forward to the day where I don't have to worry about how I'm going to make next banner, and go crazy about where I'm going to spend promotional dollars to reach new readers. I'm hoping one day to have the money to hire someone to design my website and blog and take the worry out of it for me.


When I sign on the dotted line for an agent, they will know what the publisher is looking for, and I won't have to stress about what to send... a query? a synopsis? a partial? WHAT? Ya, know what I mean?


I suppose if one were to create a Success O' Meter for the romance author, it would have someone like Nora Roberts or Christina Dodd one one end and the unpublished author on the other. I'd be inching the gage toward the middle of said fictitious meter, but still have a long way to go to reach the status of the previously mentioned authors.


For now, I'm quite happy to have the fans I do... The contracts I've signed... and the releases that are out or coming. More than that... I'm happy to have a sea of ideas still swimming in my head that I've yet to put on paper or hard drive.



How do you gauge your success as an author?

Top Ramen or Steak?

It's been awhile since I wrote a blog about the business of writing... and today I though I'd give a bit of insight into the life and business of a new author trying to make it in a big sea or books.

Some of you who know me have heard me use the terms - Top Ramen or Steak - For those who don't know me, let me 'splain! LOL

When you first start writing... 'really writing'... which to me means you actually finish a book and go through the effort of editing said manuscript and writing a synopsis and start to query agents or publishers... you actually think that when you sell your one-of-a-kind story you're going to be eating steak and signing autographs! Right? Well, hold on... There are some great articles put out by writers all over the Internet who give the good, the bad and the ugly about the actual paycheck of an author. I'm not going to give you numbers... I'm simply going to use food as a barometer.

When an author receives a e-mail accepting their manuscript for a contract... chances are the author will be able to spring for Top Ramen for dinner. Chances are an e-mail means they are being contracted by a small e-press who doesn't offer any advance of any kind. Once their royalty check comes in... McDonald's may be in the works for a small family of four. Not all e-presses are alike however... sometimes a royalty check can mean a nice dinner out at a trendy restaurant (omit any adult beverages) but be sure and order the special!

Now... if a "call" is received to tell an author that they have sold their masterpiece... Steak Baby! And please order that bottle of wine! For whatever reason, the only publishers who really call their new authors to tell them they want their book are the big NY houses who put their books out in mass market or trade in book stores everywhere. I want to stress here that a celebratory dinner will be in the works... but a every night spree isn't going to happen. An advance is just that, a payment to the author that the author has to earn after the fact.

Most authors I know don't 'count' on their earnings from their stories to pay the rent. Otherwise this blog would be more about the size of cardboard they're living under as oppose to what they are eating.

I recently read a book that was simply awful. And NO, I'm not going to tell you the name of it. I don't do that here! But the entire time I was reading this book I kept saying... "This author ate steak!" UGH! It amazes me sometimes what books make it to the big houses... and why some authors are still eating Top Ramen when they have Steak quality writing.

I know a lot of authors who LOVE their e-publishers to death! I think I will always write some stories for the smaller presses, regardless of when I'm eating steak. (notice I said when? Positive thinking... not cocky) The autonomy of writing for a small press who doesn't hold an author in a small box is worth a lot. I've heard of several steak-eating authors who would love to stop writing historical romance and start writing about vampires... but their steak-calling publishers have tied their hands. Which isn't always a good thing. So hence, I'll take my Top Ramen on the side with my Steak, thank you very much!

So, when the day comes (notice I said when again?) that I write a blog saying- "I'll have my steak medium rare please"... just know that means that I'm earning an advance.

I'll try and order that steak on a cruise ship, too.

So, authors... What are your thoughts? And what did you order when you received "the call" - or cook up when you opened your inbox?

Goals 2010

Goals! What are yours? Have you committed to them in more than just your mind? Have you written them down?

This year I'm going to make a dent in shifting the time I'm online. And limiting it. I love all of you, but in order for manuscripts to be written, I need to make certain words are being placed on paper... or in this case, on my computer.

My kids are very distracting when home from school, so the days they're under my feet, I'll do my online work. When they're at school... time to concentrate on new work and edits.

What are your goals?

The difference this time around...

The difference this time around…

As many of you know I’m on the ‘Great Agent Search of 09’” Why 09’? Because I’ve done this before. If you’ve never done the great search than perhaps some of what I’m going to blog about will come as a surprise to you while other things may not.

Before I started this journey to become a writer, I did a lot of research on exactly what I needed to do to get a book published. Yes, I know the first thing one needs to do is write a book… but that had already been done. I polished and glossed my ms to the best of MY ability. (at the time I’d no idea about CP’s) but I really did think ‘my baby’ was ready for the world. *snort!

Anyway, my first thought was to get on the internet and put my feelers out with an e-mail query or two… or three. Two years ago there where a lot of agents who didn’t accept e-mail queries. This has changed, thank God. So my list of agents to send to was small. Surprisingly I was asked for a partial right off the bat… My mother’s voice in my head said… “Good things come to those who wait.” Being an impatient woman, I didn’t like that voice and loved my instant feeling of… “I don’t suck at this.” This unnamed agency offered to represent me with a ‘form letter’ ** WARNING** then went on to say that they would have me seek a critique with one of their people for a small fee. ***WARNING*** My smile fell! I then learned about the P&E list and sure enough this agency was in the top 20 DO NOT USE!

Needless to say, I didn’t sign a thing with this agency and moved on to other agents. Out of about 20 queries, I had several “This isn’t right for us at this time.” responses, and several agents who didn’t even bother to send that letter. I received one request for a full and a couple of heart felt, ‘we discussed this at length but…’ letters. In the end, the ms simply wasn’t ready. I learned a lot about rejection in those few months.

Why is it different this time around? I’m so glad you asked. First, I don’t query to any ‘WARNING’ agents right from the get go. This time, I send out 3 – 5 queries at a time, knowing that depending on the responses from these agencies I may need to tweak my query letter, which I’ve done twice now. Out of ten queries, I’ve only had one not respond at all, six ‘not right for us at this time’ responses, one – not this at this time but think of us in the future and two requests for partials.

Why do I think this time around is going easier? First, I have CP’s now and my writing is much cleaner when it hits cyber-space. My query letters have improved and many agencies are now asking for 5 – 10 even 20 pages along with the query so they can get a feel for the writer before asking for more. I also believe that with the internet and e-mail agents are quick to respond if for no other reason to avoid the flood of “Did you ever get my query letter?” e-mails.

The agent search isn’t over by a long shot, but I do think that one day I’ll be able to say the words… “_______, is MY agent.”

One can dream, right?

Goals

How many books do you read a month?

Here is a subject that many writers are familiar with.

As a writer, reading often becomes 'something I used to do'. But not me. I make a point of reading at least two full length books a month and several 'snippets' in between. First because I want to see what all of you are writing. I want to be supportive to my author friends. And that means I actually buy your books directly from the publisher. Yeah, I can save a few pennies by going on a discount site but I'm not going there if I don't have to.
I find it completely necessary to read what is being published out there. Both to inspire me and to encourage me. I try and analyze how an author keeps me on the edge of my seat, or how they keep that sexual tension so bloody high I curse at the phone when it rings.

Most writers don't take the time to read. Yet reading is what started almost every writers journey to publication.

Take the time. Sit back and read a book. It will make you a better writer in the end.