Shut-up and write!

With a new year upon us a renewed spirit of accomplishment should take the helm of your writing expedition. You hemmed and hawed through 2013, finding every excuse in the world for why you couldn’t finish writing that first book, and look at the result–a great story that no one will ever read.

So where did you go wrong? I’m sure you started off in the right direction, making notes about the plot, jotting down chapter outlines, etc. I’m just as sure the excitement of starting the book was like the feeling of driving to the airport the morning you are to start your holiday. That’s the way it should feel. So what happened?

There are many answers to that question, but I’m going to focus on one that I’ve encountered many times in conversations with first time writers. I’ll tell you what happened, they were so excited over the prospect of writing a book they told anyone who would listen all about it.  They went into nauseating detail about every aspect of the book, with each encounter unknowingly planting the seeds that would eventually chip away at their very desire to finish said book. As the weeks went by, and they settled into writing, they became distracted by the, “. . . have you finished the book yet?” questions from all those people they mentioned the book to. Each time having to reply, “no, not yet,” a thin shred of self-confidence peeled away in the process. Over time some even started to resent the book. And why not? If it weren’t for that damn book they wouldn’t be subjected to appearing such a failure in public. They saw every understanding smile in response as, “new books are published every day, so why aren't you done yet?” I’m sure nothing could be farther from the truth, but subconsciously it still had an affect.

So, what to do? Keep in mind writing is a solitary function. It’s you, an idea and a keyboard. I would suggest, as I did with those I’ve spoken with afflicted by the above scenario, in order to keep the distractions to a minimum refrain from telling anybody what you’re doing. There will come a time when you need to broadcast your intentions, but save yourself the grief and aggravation and wait until you have something really exciting to say.

With that in mind, you start off alone wading into the murky waters of writing a book. You won’t be alone for long. As the story develops, you are suddenly surrounded with a new group of people. These are the people you’ve created to bring your story to life. Without distraction you start getting to know and understand this new group of friends. Some are thoughtful, some humorous, some evil (I write mysteries so there is always a villain I need to keep a watchful eye on), but none ever judgmental. They appear at your beckon call, ready to take on whatever challenges that days’ writing conjures up. This group, though constantly aware of every sentence you peck away at, have an inexhaustible amount of patience. They are the best motivators you have.

Take your time and write the book. Then, when it’s finished, or at least the first draft, you can shout it from the rafters. It’s no longer just an idea you mention over dinner, or one of many New Year’s resolution that may or may not take hold over the next few months, it is a complete manuscript. It’s something to be proud of.

I’d like to say you’re done here, but in reality that was just the easy part. On the positive side, you have proven you can see something this difficult all the way through, so getting through the next steps–edits and beta readers–may not be so tough after all. While all this is going on you should be working on the marketing end of things. Start with a website promoting the future release of the book. Then onto blog entries about your struggles/accomplishments through the process. Anything to get the buzz going will work. Finally getting to notes and the outline for the second book. Second book? You’re going to need something to keep your mind off all those queries you’re sending out.

The query process is a subject all in itself. There is enough free information out there to help you craft a query letter that will help you fulfill your dream of becoming a published author. The key is to continue to believe in the book you wrote and not give up. First time authors have so many options now that one will certainly be right for you.

Image courtesy of Wiangya/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A Few Words About Rejection

So you got rejected. As a writer you should understand this is all part of the process. It’s not like this is something new. We have experience rejection since we were old enough to draw on a wall with a crayon. We saw it as art, but mom saw it as a reason to hide the crayons. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t art.

We put pen to paper (or actually fingers to keyboards) with the idea of one day standing beside those literary giants that inspired us to do more with our thoughts and imaginations than just daydream. We toil over a keyboard for what seems like an eternity. Editing, then editing again. Reading, editing, moving this, adding that, until we are certain we hold within our hands exactly what the world has been waiting for–the novel all future novels will be compared to.

With the query written, and the first chapter attached, the email shoots off into hyperspace in search of a worthy agent for such a masterful work of fiction. You start the next book, certain your offer of representation is being drafted simultaneously. Maybe just one more cup of coffee as you await the email alert indicating your invitation to success has arrived.

Then it happens. You open the email and, with little more than a polite salutation, your heart is ripped from your breast. It’s a short paragraph, and the only word that stands out is – ...unfortunately.

No need to read on. That same feeling comes over you. The painful vision of mom collecting up the crayons and carrying them off to another room flashes through your mind. You weren’t old enough to understand then, but you should now. Even though mom took the crayons away, you didn’t stop finding ways to express yourself or finding an audience for that expression. You continued on despite the rejections you faced. For those who didn’t give up, the roots of those scribblings blossomed into true artistic expression.

Remember, as with every artistic expression, it’s not suited for everybody. Patience and a belief in what you’ve produced should keep you to task. I read somewhere 90% of writers don’t become published authors because they quit after the first sense of rejection. If you look at this from a glass half-empty/half-full perspective, what really happened is 90% of your competition has been eliminated. You can certainly compete with the other 10%.

With the New Year upon us, it’s time for a new resolution. You felt strongly enough about putting those fingers to the keyboard, now keep at it until your query lands in front of the right person at the right time. Do your research, continue to develop your writing skills, and get the next idea on paper and out the door. There is an agent out there waiting for you’re your submission, don’t disappoint them.  

A very bright and Happy New Year to all the soon to be authors out there!

A Book Review In A Forest

Have you ever wondered– If a book review was tacked up in a forest, and no one was around, would it make a noise?

The second best promotional tool an author has (I'll get to the best in a minute) is a good book review. As a first tier author this is an easy one, you pretty much have your choice of reviewers. But lets move a little deeper into the forest to the self-published or first-time authors published by small independent presses.

As you toil away at your first novel you begin to fantasize about your place on the New York Times Best Sellers list. You know if you could just get your book in front of the right reviewer it would be your ticket to the big time. They're out there, you can hear them typing away. They're just beyond the clearing. So you set your compass and begin to blaze a trail, fighting your way through the underbrush of obscurity. Easy, right? Not so fast. Before I get to the book reviewers, let me say a few cautionary words about the publishing forest.

As with any forest there are dangers. The sign reads Authors Beware! There are thickets of "Get Published Fast" schemes waiting in the shadows to ensnare unsuspecting writers. Cottages where evil "Self-Proclaimed Editors" lurk, tempting you with fame for the gold in your pockets. Fire-breathing "Critique Groups," beating down your prose with poisoned pens. And don't even get me started on the flying monkeys. But you're strong and stay on course, making it through the worst of it. The day finally arrives when your idea has become a published book. Now, what about those book reviews?

There are a multitude of sites/blogs willing to review books of every fiction genre. What you need to consider is– What is their visibility and what are you getting in return? By this I mean, if a blog touting itself as a book review site has a hundred or so book reviews but only 8 followers, what have you really gained by submitting your book for review? Were comments left by someone other than friends or family members? Were comments left at all?

You may regard this as cynical but there is a certain reality to it. I'm not saying ignore these sites/blogs; like anything else they should have a place in your marketing plan as part of a blog tour. What I caution is to keep it all in perspective. And, in case you missed it, I'll say it again, the important thing here is your marketing plan. This is an authors best tool. Without a solid marketing plan you can expend a great deal of energy for very little return. Getting reviewed should be a priority, but getting reviewed by a top reviewer should be a top priority. Set your sights high and go for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight, but the greater the effort the greater the prize.

In this day and age of spider bots trolling the web, the more links you have out there the greater your exposure. So, in relation to our forest, continue to tack up small reviews as you make your way to the clearing, but be selective. Each one increases the chances of your book being stumbled on by intrepid readers passing by, but each one requires an effort on your part. Make that effort count.

Photo courtesy- dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

David vs. the Publishing Goliath

In this past year leading up to the BEA I’ve read a flurry of articles how the rise of the eBook is heralding the demise of the publishing industry. On the surface they resonate as depicting anyone venturing down the road of self-publishing as latter-day David's, banding together and swinging their keyboards in an attempt to topple the publishing world of Goliath. As I read through them a second time it occurred to me they were more a critique on the writing process itself, and how much that landscape is changing. Self-publishing is a time-honored means of expressing oneself, the eBook is merely its irritating little brother. Criticize it all you want, but it’s not going away. Take it under your wing and you can mold it into a productive member of the family, not an adversary.

Since the cave dwellers of Chauvet, man has always found a way to express himself. Whether with a brush, or a quill, or a keyboard, it’s still the quality of that expression that determines the authors place. That sense of place may not occur instantly. It may need to be out there for years before someone stumbles upon it and sees the true value in what you’ve done. It could also be discovered and looked upon as rubbish, but that is the risk you take when you strive to be heard.

The idea of self-publishing is certainly not new and it helped launch the works of many noted writers. What would General Washington have used to inspire his troops if Thomas Paine hadn’t self-published Common Sense? Children are still captivated with the tales of Hans Christian Anderson and Beatrix Potter, while adults continue to marvel at the works of Audubon, Poe, Eliot and Joyce. And the list goes on. I doubt anyone would dismiss Capital Offence because it was originally self-published, and we should thank Christopher Paolini’s parents for lending him the money to publish Eragon. These, and many more, are all writers who had something to say and had the tenacity to forge ahead to bring their work to the public. And our lives have been enriched as a result.

In the shadow of these successes are the multitudes of writers whose names most of us will never know. Writers who felt they had as much to say as their contemporaries, but whose talent to string the words together only captured the attention of a handful of readers, and not the millions achieved by others. That aspect of writing hasn’t changed. A web site, a blog, and advancements in technology may make the process easier, but it will never replace talent and relevance. Along with this, the desire for acceptance by your contemporaries should also come into play. You should remember here acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean someone agrees with you it only means they welcome what you have to say.

Twenty-six letters arranged one way is nothing more than the Alphabet. But in the right hands those same letters can be arranged in such a way as to whisk you off to exotic lands; they will bring tenderness and awe behind the tears that streak your cheeks; a smile that will linger throughout the day; or solace when nothing else has worked. Like my father used to tell me, “Anyone can purchase a set of Arnold Palmer golf clubs, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be walking down the fairway at Augusta any time soon.”

Do we really think giving writers more opportunities to express themselves will topple the industry? I doubt it. If anything, it may serve to introduce a future Eliot or Joyce whom might otherwise have gone unnoticed. The publishing giants and their irritating little brother will learn to get along, as they’ve done in the past, and the written word will go on.

Photo Courtesy Photos8.com

One Man's Review Is Another Man's Treasure?

This is certainly one for the books.Scathing Amazon Reviewer Revealed as Author Orlando Figes' Wife - AOL News Call me naive, but I was genuinely shocked by this. I'm sure many authors secretly harbor a bit of jealousy towards more successful contemporaries, but it surprises me to read what lengths someone close to them would go attempting to discredit a rival. A rival? They are fellow authors, writers who also devoted their time and energy to a subject they felt strongly enough to write about and present to the reading public. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, in fairness to the authors, it should be based on the work. To use it solely as a means to forward a personal agenda just isn't right.

It is the works of our contemporaries that paves the way for our own words. And it is our own words that define our place in the literary world.