Friday, November 5, 2010
Know the Business Before You Submit
Being ready to particpate in the professional writing community takes a lot more than simply having one or several manuscripts finished. It requires much more than having additional works that you want to write later or are in a "work in progress stage." Readiness really does mean you have a clear sense of how this business works and the intricacies of the publishing industry.
I was recently working with a group of beginning writers in a creative writing seminar. All of these writers were very energetic about their craft. They were writing fools and honestly have the drive to make it. But for every one of the writers in that seminar, they didn't have a clue as to what it really took to move that project from their computer to the book shelves.
Now I know what some of you seem to be thinking. If I get an agent, that person takes care of everything for me. All I need to do is write. While part of that is certainly true, it is not the job of the agent to teach you the business. Agents can certainly fill in some gaps in your knowledge, but they cannot teach you "the basics."
Let's try it this way:
I was recently working with a group of beginning writers in a creative writing seminar. All of these writers were very energetic about their craft. They were writing fools and honestly have the drive to make it. But for every one of the writers in that seminar, they didn't have a clue as to what it really took to move that project from their computer to the book shelves.
Now I know what some of you seem to be thinking. If I get an agent, that person takes care of everything for me. All I need to do is write. While part of that is certainly true, it is not the job of the agent to teach you the business. Agents can certainly fill in some gaps in your knowledge, but they cannot teach you "the basics."
Let's try it this way:
- Do you understand the role of the following people in the writing process: agent, editor, copy editor, content editor, developmental editor, publicity manager?
- If a writer has a story approved what is the step by step process it goes through?
- How about these terms: advance, royalty, subsidiary rights?
- Are you aware of the time necessary to move the project from one stage to the next?
This is just a sampling of the questions you should be familiar with.
As an agent who looks at a lot of new writers, this is actually one of the factors I consider when I am thinking about signing someone. It is not the 100% deciding factor but it certainly works into the equation. The writer's level of knowledge needs to balance out with the book. I'll be honest, if I see an AMAZING, BREAK OUT novel, I might cut that writer a little slack when it comes to their knowledge. But if the book is at that "mid-list" level then I will certainly expect a bit more
Let's try it another way. You are amazing at literature. You have a BA and maybe a MA in Literature. You like kids and maybe you have 1 or 2 floating around your house. Does this mean a school district should immediately sign you on as a classroom teacher? Certainly not. In fact, as a parent of three kids, I would hope the district the kids are in doesn't hire people like, that. The simple truth is that it does take knowledge of HOW to teach. Make sense?
So what am I getting at here? Simple - take your time and learn the business. That book can sit there on the shelf and wait until you learn the business enough.
Have a great weekend everyone and I'll see you on Monday!
Scott
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Another thought on genre blending
Supposedly there is a rumor floating around there on the loops that the "new trend" is blending genres to get something new. unfortunately, this is far from a new concept. We have seen elements of this for a long time in a lot of different styles of literature. There is a bigger issue though that we need to consider here.
Authors that are genre blending are not necessarily doing what we ask for as agents when we say that we want something new and unique and not just a copy of what we already have out there. Mixing two genres and simply copying that format is not coming up with something unique.
Think about making Kool-Aid. I can make a batch of grape and a batch of orange and blend them. Is it something new? No, it is still Kool-Aid. The same goes for writing styles.
When we ask to see something new, we really want a new style and a new voice. We want you as a writer to throw us a curve ball and make us say, "WOW!"
Now don't get me wrong here. Mixing genres if fine, but if you are doing this simply to come up with something new, it isn't going to work.
Just something to consider for a Thursday.
Scott
Authors that are genre blending are not necessarily doing what we ask for as agents when we say that we want something new and unique and not just a copy of what we already have out there. Mixing two genres and simply copying that format is not coming up with something unique.
Think about making Kool-Aid. I can make a batch of grape and a batch of orange and blend them. Is it something new? No, it is still Kool-Aid. The same goes for writing styles.
When we ask to see something new, we really want a new style and a new voice. We want you as a writer to throw us a curve ball and make us say, "WOW!"
Now don't get me wrong here. Mixing genres if fine, but if you are doing this simply to come up with something new, it isn't going to work.
Just something to consider for a Thursday.
Scott
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Pet Peeves
I have been working really hard to get caught up on the submissions coming across my desk so I thought it was time to crank out a list of pet-peeves. Not sure what this is accomplishing but it certainly feels good to write them down.
1. Filling out my online form that clearly states a story needs to be 75,000 words in length and a writer enters 20,000 words in the word count.
2. Writers who seem to think they are at diva status already and only have to go by 1 name or simply initials. Makes it kind of hard to write a response.
3. Writers who send me projects that are listed on my "I don't acquire list" and then respond telling me I should not be so narrow focused.
4. Writers who jump on whatever bandwagon seems to be the "trend" with absolutely no clue what the genre really requires (this is really for those people writing YA right now).
5. Writers who keep firing off one project after another to me within seconds of receiving a rejection from me without taking the time to make sure the new project fits.
6. Writers who believe cutting and pasting the first 5 chapters of their stories into the body of the email.
7. Submissions to Dear Agent, Dear Mr. Greyhaus, Dear Ms. Greyhaus, etc.
8. 200,000 word Category romances.
9. Writers who claim they are an extensively published and highly successful author with tons of sales who really are only self-published and offer their books on their own private website only.
10. Submissions that tell me their book is amazing but don't tell me a darn thing about the book (and yes, this includes the title, genre or word count).
11. Submissions that tell me to go visit their website to get the information because they didn't feel they had to submit the necessary materials.
12. Authors that make up their own cover art for stories that aren't even published.
Yeah, I think that about does it.
Scott
1. Filling out my online form that clearly states a story needs to be 75,000 words in length and a writer enters 20,000 words in the word count.
2. Writers who seem to think they are at diva status already and only have to go by 1 name or simply initials. Makes it kind of hard to write a response.
3. Writers who send me projects that are listed on my "I don't acquire list" and then respond telling me I should not be so narrow focused.
4. Writers who jump on whatever bandwagon seems to be the "trend" with absolutely no clue what the genre really requires (this is really for those people writing YA right now).
5. Writers who keep firing off one project after another to me within seconds of receiving a rejection from me without taking the time to make sure the new project fits.
6. Writers who believe cutting and pasting the first 5 chapters of their stories into the body of the email.
7. Submissions to Dear Agent, Dear Mr. Greyhaus, Dear Ms. Greyhaus, etc.
8. 200,000 word Category romances.
9. Writers who claim they are an extensively published and highly successful author with tons of sales who really are only self-published and offer their books on their own private website only.
10. Submissions that tell me their book is amazing but don't tell me a darn thing about the book (and yes, this includes the title, genre or word count).
11. Submissions that tell me to go visit their website to get the information because they didn't feel they had to submit the necessary materials.
12. Authors that make up their own cover art for stories that aren't even published.
Yeah, I think that about does it.
Scott
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Good and the Bad of NANOWRIMO
I am sure there are many of you out there participating in the NANOWRIMO this year.
For those of you not familiar with this program, each November, writers all around the world participate in a furious frenzy of typing attempting to write a single novel in a single month. When I hear of this, I always applaud those writers taking up the challenge to put aside all of those excuses and get something written. At the same time, I am cringing at the thought of those writers and what they are producing.
While I think there are certainly benefits to such a program in terms of motivating a writer to meet deadlines and accomplish something so few people can do, I honestly have to say that the program really does miss the point of the whole concept of the writing process.
GOOD writing takes time and thought. It isn't simply a matter of putting words on the page but really crafting a story with characters that are real, situations that are believable and plots that make sense. In my humble opinion, programs such as NANOWRIMO can only lead many new writers into a sense of complete hopelessness when they hit December 1st.
Since the whole focus is on word count, the final product the writers may likely end up with (and I am betting it will be more often than not) will require far too much editing in terms of content and consistency. In other words, had the writer really taken the time to follow the writing process, to plan and think out where he or she wants to go and constantly go back and get feedback throughout the process, the time will actually end up being shorter than what they will face taking the other approach.
Now don't get me wrong. I do believe writers need motivation and this program certainly does that. But, for professional writers, you simply don't have the luxury to double the amount of your writing time because of simply "cranking out" words.
Should writers not participate in this? I'm not saying no to this. If such a program is necessary to (as one of the followers on this blog says) "to kick a writer in the butt" then by all means do it. Just know what you will be facing come December.
Scott
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
For those of you not familiar with this program, each November, writers all around the world participate in a furious frenzy of typing attempting to write a single novel in a single month. When I hear of this, I always applaud those writers taking up the challenge to put aside all of those excuses and get something written. At the same time, I am cringing at the thought of those writers and what they are producing.
While I think there are certainly benefits to such a program in terms of motivating a writer to meet deadlines and accomplish something so few people can do, I honestly have to say that the program really does miss the point of the whole concept of the writing process.
GOOD writing takes time and thought. It isn't simply a matter of putting words on the page but really crafting a story with characters that are real, situations that are believable and plots that make sense. In my humble opinion, programs such as NANOWRIMO can only lead many new writers into a sense of complete hopelessness when they hit December 1st.
Since the whole focus is on word count, the final product the writers may likely end up with (and I am betting it will be more often than not) will require far too much editing in terms of content and consistency. In other words, had the writer really taken the time to follow the writing process, to plan and think out where he or she wants to go and constantly go back and get feedback throughout the process, the time will actually end up being shorter than what they will face taking the other approach.
Now don't get me wrong. I do believe writers need motivation and this program certainly does that. But, for professional writers, you simply don't have the luxury to double the amount of your writing time because of simply "cranking out" words.
Should writers not participate in this? I'm not saying no to this. If such a program is necessary to (as one of the followers on this blog says) "to kick a writer in the butt" then by all means do it. Just know what you will be facing come December.
Scott
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
Monday, November 1, 2010
A Lot of Critique is GREAT! If it all is in sync...
Part of the writing process is getting feedback. It is this feedback that gives a writer a new perspective on his or her story. For many writers, this feedback comes from their critique partners or critique groups. For other writers, the feedback comes from contests they enter or outside critiques. It really doesn't matter where you get it from, it is all good.
Sort of...
The biggest drawback all of this critique can have is trying to meet the needs of ALL of the readers. In other words, a writer simply tries to accomplish what everyone has said in the critiques and the end result is a tangled mess of a story. Let me explain.
Writers fail to look at the big picture of things. They get feedback from two different people on one select scene or group of chapters. Instead of taking all of the comments and looking at the issues as a whole, they work with one person at a time. While on the surface, this might seem like a completely logical approach to the revisions, they could run into contradictory issues. What the writer fails to see is that each of the critique partners were seeing the story in a different light and certainly seeing the outcome differently. They were focusing on techniques that would take the story to THEIR ending.
Think of this as if you were cooking. Someone comes over and tastes the soup you have in the pot. Someone might say that it needs some sugar to enhance the flavor. Someone else might encourage you to add another spice or a vegi and someone else might recommend taking something out. The end result could be a mess that isn't even edible. All that you have accomplished is to follow the suggestions of all of your critics without thinking of how it would all fit together.
This is one of the biggest issues I have with writers who enter a ton of contests. While they might think they are getting all of these great comments (which they might be) they are also dragging the story back and forth in different directions because many of the comments might be focusing on different factors that simply don't work together.
The solution is simple. THINK!
Scott
Sort of...
The biggest drawback all of this critique can have is trying to meet the needs of ALL of the readers. In other words, a writer simply tries to accomplish what everyone has said in the critiques and the end result is a tangled mess of a story. Let me explain.
Writers fail to look at the big picture of things. They get feedback from two different people on one select scene or group of chapters. Instead of taking all of the comments and looking at the issues as a whole, they work with one person at a time. While on the surface, this might seem like a completely logical approach to the revisions, they could run into contradictory issues. What the writer fails to see is that each of the critique partners were seeing the story in a different light and certainly seeing the outcome differently. They were focusing on techniques that would take the story to THEIR ending.
Think of this as if you were cooking. Someone comes over and tastes the soup you have in the pot. Someone might say that it needs some sugar to enhance the flavor. Someone else might encourage you to add another spice or a vegi and someone else might recommend taking something out. The end result could be a mess that isn't even edible. All that you have accomplished is to follow the suggestions of all of your critics without thinking of how it would all fit together.
This is one of the biggest issues I have with writers who enter a ton of contests. While they might think they are getting all of these great comments (which they might be) they are also dragging the story back and forth in different directions because many of the comments might be focusing on different factors that simply don't work together.
The solution is simple. THINK!
Scott
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