C h a z z W r i t e s . c o m

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05/18/2010 • 6:40 PM 0

Don’t dream about the look of the story too long

I’ve met with a couple writers lately. They had designed elaborate worlds. One guy had invented new physics and had some interesting ideas about gravity. He made notes, but he was much farther from publication than he thought he was.

The problem was that neither of these writers had a story in mind at all. There was no rising plot boiling characters whose needs cross swords. Complications did not ensue. There were no people/aliens/sulphur-based plants doing anything. When these writers do some further inventing, they might have interesting environments for their protagonists.

When you’re thinking about your book, ask yourself, “What’s the story?” These folks had a where but no what. Where is less important.

Filed under: publishing, queries, plots, queries, story

05/18/2010 • 3:51 PM 0

Are your chances of publishing really lottery odds?

Here’s a great survey fantasy author Jim Hines conducted into the stats behind publishing a first novel.

It’s fascinating to look at the breakdown. I’m attending another writer’s conference next month and, according to the survey, that’s one thing that helps.

If you’re a writer, don’t be discouraged in any case. If you’re a writer, you’ll write your book despite the odds.

Filed under: publishing, first novels, publishing, publishing stats

05/17/2010 • 11:43 PM 0

Research before you query an agent

I ran across an agent’s site proclaiming what they wanted and what they didn’t. They emphatically did not want any more novels about middle-aged white man angst.* Really? Doesn’t this sound suspiciously like all those declarations that the world can’t possibly stand one more book on vampires (declared variously in 1975, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009)?

No more male midlife crisis novels, huh? Goodbye to the next Updike! Hey, Roth! Apparently, you SUCK!

Uh-huh.

I know. The response would be that it’s not Updike or Roth writing this flood of manuscripts that they want to damn and dam up.

My answer? Updike and Roth weren’t always Updike and Roth. Once upon a time, they languished in slush piles, too.

At least when you do your research you can figure out which agents have silly prejudices and avoid them.

*No, you guessed wrong. My novel is about a sixteen-year-old (with angst.)

Filed under: agents, publishing, Rant, agents, publishing, queries

05/17/2010 • 8:45 PM 0

Proofing a manuscript

My local newspaper fired its copy editors as a cost-saving measure. Now typos and grammatical errors abound. It’s a detail that particularly bothers older readers and fired copy editors. It’s happened in publishing as well. Fewer bodies mean fewer lines of defence against the dark arts errors in manuscripts.

When I was a proofreader for a publisher, the manuscripts had already gone through the author-editor-copy editor-first proofreader stages. I’d put the books together on computer and probably find up to thirty-five errors on average. The last proofer might find two to eight formatting errors or problems that I missed if it was an especially long book. By the end of all that, the text would be pretty clean. (I’m not counting the errors readers think are errors but aren’t. Usually this rears up when people misunderstand the differences between affect, effect, comprise and American vs. English english.)

If you catch a lot of problems in a published book, that may mean the book is self-published and an editor didn’t look at it at all. It may also indicate the publisher cut back on the expense of multiple lines of defence (proofers and editors.) Another possibility is that the manuscript was packed with errors to begin with and lots of errors were caught, but the sheer number of typos overwhelmed the worker drones.

When next you notice a short guy has turned into a tall guy or someone’s eye color has changed or you see a flock of geese instead of a gaggle, you’ll know why. I’ve just finished reading a Writer’s Digest book and noticed ten or so errors. I don’t get too self-righteous about it, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t irk me, especially when you think of all those people who are now out of work. With the idiosyncrasies of text messaging, the new generation of readership are much more tolerant of textual errors than their parents and grandparents.

Curmudeonly grammarians are a pain, but too many errors are distracting and can detract from reader’s confidence in the work.

Filed under: Books, publishing, editing, proofreading, publishing

05/17/2010 • 4:51 PM 0

I heard the eight sweetest words in the english language today:

“Great work! Go ahead and send the invoice.”

(I wrote a speech. Now the client shall ring forth…and conquer the world.)

Seven sweetest words: They want to buy the movie rights.
Six: You were right. I was wrong.
Five: The lotto finally came through.
Four: You have lost weight.
Three sweetest words? I love you.
Two sweetest? It’s benign.
One? Published …Peace

Filed under: publishing, Speeches, speeches, Sweetest words

05/17/2010 • 3:19 PM 0

Medieval help desk for luddites

Filed under: Books, publishing

05/16/2010 • 9:27 PM 1

Envying Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood recently turned 70. Don’t think about how many books she’s published while you’ve been thinking about writing your first book. Focus on all her unknown poetry books (not because her poetry sucks but because no one buys poetry books.)

Do not compare yourself to Margaret Atwood (especially not in a query letter but not in your head, either.)

That way madness lies.

Concentrate. Head down. Claws on keyboard. Teeth gritted. Weiner untouched.

Filed under: publishing, Writers, Margaret Atwood, writer envy

05/15/2010 • 4:13 PM 0

Your Book, Publishing Platforms and Cross-pollination

Brainstormed some ideas for a friend last night. He makes films. He’s not an author yet, but he’s in an excellent position to get published and build a media empire. I have every confidence he will be a published author soon after he decides to do it. Here’s why:
1. His films provide excellent material.
2. Book launch + world film premiere = mucho moolaaaah because one medium cross-pollinates the other!
3. He has a background in writing.
4. He’s not shy about going on the road for screenings, signings and presentations.
5. I think he could bring a distinct voice to the material.
6. He has the equipment and know-how to launch websites and a podcast to build his audience.
7. The film tie-in is very attractive to grant institutions, agents and publishers.

I went on and on about my enthusiasm for his publishing potential but it boils down to these seven points plus this:

BONUS

If you want to write a novel, you are better off writing non-fiction first. Non-fiction is more profitable (generally) and is easier to sell. If you’re selling fiction, you need the full manuscript. Do not go to an agent or editor with an idea for a book if you’re a first-time author. They need to see you have the full, complete and polished manuscript. No exceptions.

With non-fiction, you can put together a killer book proposal and synopsis and swing a deal before you officially type “Chapter 1” and begin pulling your hair out. Non-fiction is a different skill set in many ways, but after you’ve got an audience, agents, editors and publishers are much more receptive to the fiction you want to write.

I’m not saying never write fiction first. I’m saying that, in this person’s case, the road to publication will be wider and smoothly paved compared to the goat path most writers find themselves on at the beginning.

DOUBLE BONUS:

Have you got an advantage in a particular niche either through specialized knowledge or unique access? Who is your audience? Can you reach them through networking, association connections, websites, blogs, speaking engagements? Do you have expertise and the credentials to back it up? Are you comfortable speaking in front of an audience?

The potential abounds in many people I know. For instance, I know a professional woman who has a special interest and experience with bullying in the workplace. She’s connected to a community of like-minded people. She’s a non-fiction book proposal away from making her book happen.

More examples: I know an opinionated teacher who uses imaginative approaches to reach his students. Another friend is a SWAT expert who could write an antiterrorism manual (or a terrorism manual, come to think of it.) I know a couple of cops whose fascinating career experiences would make great memoirs. I’m editing a memoir for a lady now who catalogues all the tragedies, events and family foibles into a loving memoir that sees the pain through humor. A great friend of mine travels the world constantly. He’s a font of hilarious travel stories, each tale the length of a Blackberry entry. I know an expert in strategies to deal with mental illness and I’m married to an expert in learning disabilities. Another friend was a casualty of Multiple Sclerosis, overcame it and became an expert on MS and alternative health treatments. My God! There are potential books everywhere!

If you’ve got a special interest, (and who doesn’t?) start working on your platform now. Publishers expect it as part of the business plan for your book.

Filed under: Books, Publicity & Promotion, publishing, book proposals, platforms, publishing

05/14/2010 • 10:32 PM 0

More on self-publishing (courtesy of the NY Times)

Through agent Nathan Bransford’s weekly wrap-up (recommended reading every Friday) I was tipped to The New York Times story on self-publishing. The author kind of glosses over problems with distribution. Also missed: the general lack of editing self-published books suffer and their snake-belly low chance of being a hit. However, due to economic changes across the publishing industry, many books suffer from too light editing and proofreading–I’m looking at you Writer’s Digest Books (among others.)

Also, nobody really knows what will be a hit. JK Rowling was famously rejected twelve times before the thirteenth publisher said yes. The editors who rejected Harry Potter and The Most Profitable Franchise of All Time now work in animal husbandry. In the Sudan. Beaten by Oompa-Loompas. In heat. Uphill. Both ways. (Rim shot!)

As the most underrated novelist of our time, William Goldman, said of Hollywood, “Nobody knows anything.”

Filed under: agents, publishing, self-publishing

05/14/2010 • 8:36 PM 0

Pricing ebooks

Prices will vary. It depends on the material, but when you’re figuring out what to charge for an ebook, you can’t price it the same way as a 1990s hold in your hand book made from trees.

I put together an ebook for a client of mine. When I spoke to him the other day he was concerned the book wasnt selling much.

“What’s the price point?” I asked.

“Around $25,” he said.

And there’s the problem. He was used to charging hundreds of dollars for his manuals, so when he wrote a business book he thought he was making a huge concession to price his e-book at $25. Actually, that’s getting into hardcover territory. It’s not the appropriate pricing for that ebook because it’s essentially a marketing device for a much higher-priced service.

He’s selling the book as part of a strategy to market his seminar business, so he needs to take the risk out of the equation for his clients. I suggested he come down to $4.99 and make it up in volume. Another alternative would be to use the e-book as a loss leader and give it away as a promotion (it’s relatively short) as added bait to his excellent seminars.

Taking risk out of the equation is why all those 1.99 and .99 apps sell so much. When you can instantly download something and the risk is the change in your couch cushions, you’re going to buy a ton of it.

Evaluate your ebook and price it objectively.