I often get queries from aspiring writers who ask me for
tips on how-to-get-published, and I find my responses now falling into a
familiar set of recommendations. On the
off chance that these tips might be worth more than the proverbial two-cents, I
post them here. I’ll also leave the
comments open for tips or road-to-publication questions. Join the conversation!
On Writing
Read. Read. Read.
As much as you can and as widely as you can.
Write. Write. Write.
If you are stuck on a story, write a scene or a character sketch. Journal.
Not only is it good practice, but you have a nice little keepsake at the
end of it.
Revise. Revise. Revise.
Don’t be afraid to make dramatic changes. Edit boldly.
Cut scenes. Kill off
characters. If one or two crit partners
offer you similar feedback, listen. Don’t
respond immediately to critiques and try not to argue with readers. Most are on your side. If they had a particular response to a scene,
consider what they’re saying. Sit with
reader input for a few days, then revisit their advice and see what you want to
implement.
Stop revising. You
can make changes forever, and at some point, you’ll need to send your
manuscript off to face its fate. Polish
as well as you can, and then get ready to submit.
On Querying
Do your research.
There are so many fabulous resources available to help make the querying
process less intimidating. You’ll easily
be able to find some of your own favorite blogs, forums, and books to help you
figure out how to format a query letter and find reputable agents. My favorites are:
The Absolute Write Forums.
There is a wealth of information here and the added bonus of writerly
companionship in what can often be a lonely journey. You’ll find space here to indulge in a bit of
submissions-angst but you’ll also find practical tips for every stage of the
writing process. One of my personal
favorites is Query Letter Hell, where you can post a draft of your query and
receive expert advice. This lovely
people were a huge help to me when I was querying. And after you receive some input, pay it
forward! Drop by and offer your tips for
other writers and share the love.
Nathan Bransford’s Blog.
I discovered this gem back when Bransford was still agenting and
blogging regularly, but I think all the posts are archived and easily
searchable.
2013 Writer’s Market.
You can easily find this at your public library or local bookstore. For those of us who are often overwhelmed by
the searchability of the internet, this provides a finite way to search for
agents, understand what they’re looking for, and find further contact info. I recommend starting with the book and then
following up with an agent’s website as sometimes submissions requirements
change between printings.
Once you’ve done your research and crafted your perfect
query letter, you’re off and running.
You’ve probably heard the sound advice of sending out your queries in
batches. This is a good idea, because if
you send out your first round of ten queries, and get ten form rejections fired
back at you, you have the opportunity to tweak your query and get input from
crit partners on what might not be working with your story idea.
As far as finding agents that represent MG, I’ve found that
many who represent “juvenile fiction” or “young adult” also represent
middle-grade. It’s often lumped in there
somewhere, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t find MG specified on agent
listings.
A word of advice: we all know this industry takes a bit of a
thick skin. The first rejection still
stings. It does get easier.
On the Call
Do more research.
This will help you from obsessively checking your e-mail while out on
submission. Read up about what the
agent’s role is in publishing and determine what kind of professional
relationship matches your personality. I
know some writers who loathe phone calls.
Others who have regular friendly chats with their agents. I found that the Idiot's Guides were helpful
for understanding the agent role.
If an agent does call to talk about representation, have a
list of questions about things that are important to you. Of course you’ll have done your research on
scammy agents on the outset, so only reputable agents will be contacting
you.
I would suggest considering:
1.
How enthusiastic is the agent about your
project? How many clients do they
represent?
2.
How do they handle communication? When can you expect to hear back from them if
you e-mail a question? How available are
they by phone? Something I have
profoundly appreciated about my own agent, is I can count on a speedy reply to
every e-mail. Figure out what elements
of communication are important to you and make sure you find out if the agent
is a good match.
3.
Do they have a “handshake agreement” or a
written contract? I’ve heard mixed
opinions on this. Study the ins and outs
of both and find out how your potential agent operates.
You’ll find other elements that you may want to consider,
but I think understanding an agent’s communication style and figuring out how
that matches with your own expectations is central to a positive professional
working relationship.
On Submission
Congratulations!
You’re agented and you’re on your way.
Over the first hurdle, that is.
The submissions process can be quite the rollercoaster. In some happy success stories, authors land
an agent and then a deal almost immediately.
For debut authors, it seems to typically be a longer road.
Most agents have some editorial input, so plan to make
revisions before your book even goes out on submission. This will be good practice for your eventual
editorial letter. Remember, that your
agent is your friend. They want to sell
your book. They have experience in the
industry. Listen to their professional
editorial advice.
Unplug. Go
offline. Start another writing
project. Get caught up on your
reading. While your book is on
submission, you’ll go nuts with the waiting.
Twitter-stalking potential editors will only leave you half-crazed. Was that snarky comment about your lame manuscript? Or maybe the rave was because she read your
masterpiece? Opt out of this. It will also be good practice for future book
reviews. At this point, there’s not a
lot you can do except wait, check in with your agent, and wait some more. This is yet another reason why it’s important
to determine communication styles early on and make sure you find an agent
that’s a good fit.
Be positive and try and cultivate humility. In my case, my now-editor asked if I’d be
willing to do an exclusive revision for her.
We went through two significant revisions over a period of about six
months before she took my book to acquisitions.
I loved her for her willingness to invest in my book and me as an
author. I learned so much through the
process and owe much of the final book’s form to my editor and agent’s astute
input. An exclusive revision was not at
all what I imagined. I imagined the “Of
course we want it! I couldn’t put this
book down while I was reading it! I
stayed up all night to finish it and we must buy it now. At auction.
For lots of money” reply.
This is a touchy subject, because our creative work is
always dear to our heart. We obviously
think it’s in great form before we send it out to agents and editors, so
hearing that it’s less-than-perfect, in fact that there’s much room for
improvement can sting. Remember that
your well of creativity won’t run dry.
You won’t miss out on an opportunity by being willing to listen to
someone else’s feedback. But you can
pretty much guarantee stagnation if you’re only listening to your own creative
voice. Be willing to learn from others. Seize every opportunity. Even if a revise-and-resubmit request doesn’t
pan out, you’ll have benefited from valuable insider professional input on your
work. Celebrate that!
On Writing (Part 2)
Enjoy the process.
Enjoy writing. Enjoy your
story. The road to publication can rob
you of some of the joy. Hold on to
joy.
What about you, dear readers? What questions do you have about the road to
publication? What tips would you like to
share with others? Where do you find
your favorite resources for writing good queries or researching agents?
