Julie Young Freelance
Hey Everyone,
This week, I bring you Joe Wikert. He is a publisher with Wiley…you know the good folks who bring us all the “Dummies” books! He has some great insight into the industry, especially from the non-fiction/technical standpoint and what the book publishers are looking for. Thanks Joe, for helping us out!
1. As a publisher, what is your best piece of advice for writers who “just
know” they have the greatest book known to man within them?
Write it! Or better yet, write a proposal and see if you can get an agent
or editor interested in the project. There’s never been a better time to
write a book thanks to all the self-publishing options out there. Even if
you can’t get an agent/editor to bite on your idea you can always publish
it on your own.
2. Approximately how many submissions do you think Wiley gets in a week?
Boy, that’s a tough question. My group is just one part of a much larger
division and there are three divisions across Wiley. I’d be willing to bet
that the technology group alone, which my group is part if, gets at least a
few dozen ideas pitched their way over the course of any given week.
Multiply that by 5 or 10 and you’re probably getting close to a rough
approximation of the number of submissions to Wiley in total.
3. What is the biggest mistake that writer’s make?
For the books my group publishes, which are aimed at IT professionals, I’d
say the biggest mistake is planning their writing schedule. All too often
authors, especially new ones, tend to think they can write more per week or
month than they really can. We try to pad schedules a bit on our end to
allow for this but it’s more of an art than a science. I suspect this is a
common problem with non-IT pro publishers as well. It’s hard to
extrapolate how much time it will take to write a 300-page book if you’re
basing it off how long it took to write a 2-page article, for example.
4. Do you think all writer’s need an agent before making their mark in
publishing?
No, not at all. In fact, I’d encourage authors to see if they can make a
connection with an editor or publisher without an agent first. Why? First
of all, authors typically give up 15% of the royalties to agents, so why
not try and secure the deal yourself and keep 100% of your royalties
instead of 85%? Secondly, there’s a misconception that publishers take
advantage of non-agented authors or that agents somehow get better deals
than authors can on their own. Sure, there are certain terms or phrases in
the contract that an agent might be able to get changed right away, but
that’s not to say the author couldn’t negotiate the same change. And quite
frankly, most of the edits I’ve seen to publishing agreements are
non-factors; they tend to focus on areas that almost never come into play
in the real world. Before you assume I’ve got it in for agents, let me
also say that some of them are quite good at what they do and worth the
investment. For example, I have a lot of respect for Kristin Nelson and
the agency she runs. Her blog can be found at pubrants.blogspot.com, btw.
She doesn’t represent computer book authors so there’s no conflict of
interest in me mentioning her here. But Kristin is the type of agent who
is extremely open and willing to share her knowledge of the industry, hence
the blog. More agents need to adopt that level of transparency, imho.
5. Does is make a difference when it comes to genre?
Absolutely. Some publishers/editors simply won’t work directly with an
author. You absolutely must go through an agent. That’s unfortunate but I
understand the dilemma — we’re talking about publishing houses that
probably get flooded with proposals every day and they need the help of a
trusted agent to help them sift through the “slush pile”, as it’s often
referred to.
6. You have been a strong advocate for self-publishing and the Kindle, can
you explain why you think these are such useful tools for writers?
We’re still in the very early stages of the Kindle lifecycle. I think it,
or a device very similar to it, will eventually become an extremely popular
tool for reading content in both short and long form. From a writer’s
perspective I think the attractiveness is somewhat limited today, but as
the Kindle evolves and becomes must richer in features I’d bet that it will
become a more useful tool for writers as well. I like to use the iPod as
an analogy. Put an original iPod, from almost 7 years ago, next to an
iPhone today and look at the difference. Then consider what the Kindle
could look like in 7 years if the same attention is paid to new features,
services and functionality.
7. As a publisher, what are you looking for in terms of a project idea?
We want to work with authors who are oozing passion. I’m much more
inclined to listen to (or read the proposal from) an author who exudes
passion about their subject and their audience. It certainly helps if
their book idea has such an interesting, unique spin to it that we feel it
will stand out from the crowd, but passion is the key for me. Secondly,
we’re always on the lookout for authors with a great platform. By that I
mean how many people and prospective customers they can reach through a
blog, website, e-mail list, speaking engagements, etc. Author platform has
quickly become one of the most important attributes publishers look for in
new projects. If you don’t have a platform today you need to work on
building one.
8. What projects are you working on now and what would you like to tackle
in the future?
We’re doing a lot of interesting experiments with e-content. As I’ve said
before, I’ve lost more sales to free content online than I have to my
traditional publishing competitors. That’s not going to change anytime
soon, so we need to evolve our business and figure out how to create paid
content that’s superior to the free content that’s deemed “good enough.”
We’re currently selling short form content we call WROX Blox, which are
pieces that are longer than a magazine article but typically shorter than a
chapter. We’re also about to launch a major initiative where we’ll be
selling individual chapters of our WROX books for programmers and other IT
professionals. It makes sense to do this because these are largely
reference books with chapters that can stand on their own quite well; not
every book could be sold this way but it’s a good fit for our WROX list.
Great Interview…I am pursuing a few more possibilities for future offerings and will update soon!
Keep Rockin’
Julie
I am seriously disturbed by the recent outrage flying all over the media regarding Miley Cyrus and the Vanity Fair photo shoot. While working out today at they gym I heard one journalist call the photos “flat out weird” and there were noted psychologists telling parents how to talk to their kids about the pics. My first question to all of these parents out there (who I just know are my age) is, Did your parents sit you down for a chat when Madonna rolled around on the floor singing “Like a Virgin” at the MTV music awards in the 80’s?
On the one hand…I’m not a fan of the controversial Miley shot, but not for the same reasons that everyone else seems to hate it. I just think that the heroin-chic bed head thing isn’t her best look, but that’s my opinion. I loved the one of her and her father, but evidently the press is all up in arms over that because her midriff is showing. Lord, call out the fashion police!
Am I the only one who thinks this is much ado about nothing? I think that little girl has done a top-notch job at playing nice and trying to keep her cool in a very tough industry. Yes, I think having the Disney machine behind her can help her maintain her sweet disposition in much the same way that being affiliated with Mickey Mouse benefitted Annette Funicello. I know, everyone is going to throw Britney in my face, but come on! Brit wasn’t overly invested in Disney when the Mickey Mouse Club disbanded for good.
I remember Annette writing in her autobiography about the day that Walt asked her to refrain from showing her navel in “Beach Party” and she was happy to oblige him…I’d wager she still showed more skin in that movie than Miley Cyrus did in Vanity Fair. Miley is not unlike Annette in that Annette felt morally obligated never to let Mr. Disney down. Miley too seems concerned that her actions will not only reflect on her, but also her father and co-star Billy Ray not to mention her legions of fans who want to believe that Miley is somehow different than the Paris’, the Lindsay’s and the Britney’s of the world.
Personally, I worry that when Miley does screw up, as all children must do, she will endure the most horrific scrutiny for her mistake. When my teenager put my car into a ditch at midnight after having a wonderful dinner at a friend’s house, there wasn’t a gaggle of paparazzi snapping pictures of my car’s suspended back end. Miley won’t have that kind of luck. She will not only have to face her parent’s scorn, but also the jury of public opinion. I have always questioned how responsible the ‘paps’ are for turning a promising young talent into a tortured soul? Sure everyone has been given the benefit of free will, but I still think these ruthless beasts can drive someone to distraction, yet they are given a free pass to impose, criticize, push and shove to get what they want and what they need no matter what.
The press used to keep a respectful distance, but this is getting out of control. Perhaps someday the hard news will quit resembling a tabloid rag and the scandal sheets will be accountable for what they help create before we lose yet another celebrity to a haze of drugs, sex or the 13th pillar. Good luck to you Miley…I hope you make it.
Hello Everyone!
I want to intorduce everyone to Sarah Camino. I met this young woman at Mitchell Books in Fort Wayne last weekend and she offered to send us some of her work. She is 10 years old and I hope you like the poems she sent over for us to enjoy.
Drip
When a leaky faucet leaks,
What happens when it goes plink?
Each perfectly formed drop,
Makes me wonder where it stops.
When it twist and turns down the drain,
Does it go through any pain?
Does it come out and join a river,
So much more powerful and so much bigger?
When it reaches the ocean what does it think?
Does it float on top or does it just sink?
Or does it just wish it were back in the sink?
The following two poems I wrote to describe two field trips we went on this year in grade 4. My class job is to journal the trips.
Shelf fungi and pill bugs, trees covered in mold,
Bug spray stench, this never gets old,
The leaf foliage brushes your face,
Puff balls and millipedes leaving a trace,
Nature’s recyclers hard at work,
As you stand there hardly authorized to lurk.
Morengo
Walls glisten,
Stalactities shimmer,
Columns tower,
The natural beauty glimmers all around you,
Bats flutter,
Life is everywhere,
Silent but alive,
Still but living,
Majestic waters once flowed here.
Words strand you as you stand in this immense cavern gaping at what was prepared for you by the Creator.
Thanks for listening!
Sarah Camino, age 10
Great job Sarah! Keep Rockin’
Julie
Hey Everyone,
I have been sitting on this interview for a couple of days…I have had a LOT going on, but I wanted to make sure to post my recent interview with Suzanne Selfors. She is the author of a wonderul young adult book, "Saving Juliet". I have corresponded with her in the past and she was kind enough to give us some thoughts on breaking into the publishing industry.
1. Can you tell us how you got your start as an author?
I had always wanted to write but didn’t get serious about it until the day I put my daughter on the school bus. I signed up for a writing class and went for it!
2. Was it hard to get an agent? You told me before that you weren’t great at query letters, and I liked the fact that you put some time and effort into going to writing conferences. Can you comment about that experience?
My first agent wasn’t hard to get because I had a personal recommendation from my writing teacher. It was simply a matter of waiting to hear back from her and, after eight weeks, she offered to represent me. It was like a fairy tale it was so easy. But, there was no happy ending because I ended up leaving her after two years and after three novels that didn’t sell. That’s when I started going to conferences where I was able to pitch a 4th novel directly to agents. I really liked that process because it’s nice to have the face-to-face time. And, it means that you’re not sending your manuscript into some huge slush pile where it will never get read. After a summer of conference jumping, I had a few offers from agents and signed with my first choice.
3. Your titles are varied in terms of market correct? Can you talk about diversifying yourself and not just writing about one thing?
I’m all over the place. It just happened that way. Certainly, it is wise to write in one particular genre, to develop a readership, to be found in one section of the bookstore. I highly recommend that tactic if you’d like a long-term career. I never really had a plan, and that’s why, in 08, I will have an adult novel coming out in Greece, a young adult novel in the U.S. and a middle grade novel in the U.S. Crazy. I’ve just been writing the stories I want to write and hoping they will sell. So far so good.
4. What advice do you have for writers who are just starting out?
My advice is sooooo cliche but it’s the key….DON’T GIVE UP. What the vast majority of published authors have in common is being rejected, over and over and over. It’s part of the process. It’s painful. But it’s worth it.
5. For my younger readers (school aged kids) what should they know at this stage of their "careers"?
Your younger readers should know that if writing is what they want to do with all their hearts, then they should go for it. There are many ways for students to get published these days, from writing book reviews, to short story competitions. And they should turn off the T.V. and read. Reading is the best way to become a better writer.
6. Saving Juliet is a great story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can you tell us a little about the book and how it came about?
Sometimes I remember the exact moment when a story idea pops into my head, but Saving Juliet does not have one of those moments. I think it came after a lifetime of loving Shakespeare and especially R&J, after having performed in it as a kid. My agent is always telling me to think "high concept" so that was also swirling around in my head. Saving the life of the most famous suicidal teenager is pretty high concept, I’d say!
Keep Rockin,
Hey Everyone!
Here is a poem written by my young friend Anna. I am really excited as this is one of her first published pieces…To all of Anna’s friends…be sure and leave her a message telling her how great it is!
Julie
SPIRIT OF THE EARTH
With every hoof-beat
The earth comes alive,
With every breath from a pair of flaring nostrils
The earth breaths,
With the flow of every mane and tail
The wind blows,
With every twitch of the ears
The leaves rustle,
With every stamp of a hoof
The thunder sounds,
With every powerful whinny
The earth quakes,
With every foal born
There is hope.
Anna Slinker 13 years old. 4-9-08
Hello Everyone,
Just a reminder that this weekend I will be appearing at Angel’s Corner at 10th and Shadeland in Indianapolis from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. I will be signing copies of the award nominated “A Belief in Providence: a Life of Saint Theodora Guerin” Next weekend, I will be at Mitchell Books in Fort Wayne on Saturday 4/19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, 4/20 I will be at the Barnes & Noble at South Bend/Mishawaka at 1:30 p.m. and then I will be appearing at St. Joseph’s School in South Bend on 4/21. I have a feeling I will be tired when this is all over with!
It will not be long before “Images of America: Historic Irvington” is published. We have about 2 months to go and I have to tell you, I al really excited about this book. For everyone who lived in Irvington, worked in Irvington, went to school there or attended Butler University…this book is a must have! So far, those who have seen the draft seem to really like it.
A lot of people have been asking about “Fifteen Minutes of Fame” and what is going on with that…weeelllll….Several agents have expressed interest in it. One agent asked for an exclusive read of it and then unfortunately lost it during her travels. She asked me to again send part of the book and has requested an additional 25 pages. I am still taking this as a good sign. I have also been invited by another agent to submit a query letter to her in hopes that she might pick it up. I have to say, getting that book published would be my biggest dream come true.
I have been receiveing the coolest e-mails lately and I just had to share a couple with you. Rick sent this in a couple of days ago and I find it really inspiring for all of you who may be interested in writing.
“I hope things are going well for you and yours.
I’ve been working on an article submission for Country/Extra Magazine. I pulled a piece out of my manuscript about a country lady at the church I served in rual Hancock Co. Went out and shot the house and barn at her old home place. Also took a of photo of the old Charlottesville High School where her husband was a teacher and coach.
There are several hooks. He died of TB in his early 30s. Now that I think about it… you did read this because you remarked about the “screened-in room!” Anyway, I also emphasize her early farm-family life and traveling around with her vet uncle. She also lived at home and attended Butler University. She road the Inner-Urban train that followed U.S 40; at a cost of a nickle per round trip. In a time and area when many women were unable to complete high school, her persistence in attending Butler was greatly admired.
After her husband died, she continued to live at the old home place with their two children. She became the Postmistress in Charlottesville, IN. Monday through Saturday, for over thirty-five years she met the train at 5 AM to pick up the mail. By 7 AM she had the mail sorted out for three substations. By the time I became her pastor in 1984, she had declined an invitation to be a church Elder. Yet, because of her wisdom and reputation she was consulted on every issue of any importance: a true Matriarch of the best kind.
Didn’t mean to go on and on… I guess I’m excited about submitting the article. It would be a feature for them at 1600 words, w/ photos. If that doesn’t work out, I’ll pitch it elsewhere!”
That’s the spirit Rick, sometimes you have to just keep plugging away at it until you get what you want always remember that when one door closes, somewhere, there is an open window!
Anna Slinker, a student at Central Catholic in Lafayette has promised to submit some of her work for us to look at. this submission will be one of her first published pieces and I am excited she is letting us share in it.
AND Last but not least….this morning’s Indianapolis Star had an interesting article in it about a new option for self publishing…evidentally iUniverse and Author’s House are combining forces to bring would be authors a wealth of possibilities in terms of technology and options in the self-publishing industry….personally, I am a die hard fan of traditional publishing, but sometimes when you know an idea is right, you just have to go for it any way that you can. I know there are some of you out there who want to see your name in print so badly, you can almost taste it and this may be a viable option for you…here is the link to the article for you to check out….http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/BUSINESS/804100393/1003/BUSINESS
Well, that’s all I’ve got for now…my BFF Vicki is coming home this weekend for her nephew’s Baptism and hopefully we will get a chance to get together and play a little music. We haven’t done that in a while and I am looking forward to it…until next time…Keep it Rockin!
Julie
Hello Everyone!
This week, I give you Ray E. Boomhower, not only is he a colleague of mine, but a very talented local author who has written a number of books on Indiana history including The Sword and the Pen: a Life of Lew Wallace and Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. He is also the editor of the Indiana Historical Society’s magazine Traces and has graciously consented to answer a few questions on his writing process and what he is looking for as an editor.
1. When did you know you had a passion for writing?
My passion for writing began in high school from a failed audition to be a photographer for the Mishawaka High School student newspaper, The Alltold. Two of my friends were photographers for the newspaper, and I wanted to be one as well. The journalism advisor for the paper looked over my photos and immediately decided I would make the perfect news editor for the newspaper. When the editor quit during my junior year, I took over and have not looked back since. I majored in journalism at Indiana University, worked on the Indiana Daily Student, and after graduation found a job on a small daily newspaper in Rensselaer, Indiana.
2. You concentrate predominately on historical non-fiction right? Can you tell me a little about how you broke into that market? You didn’t start out with the IHS did you?
My field is non-fiction, with an emphasis on Indiana history. After switching to the PR field after some years in newspaper journalism, I found myself working at the Indiana Historical Society. In 1989 the IHS started its popular history magazine, Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History. I had been interested in history for a long time and had written a few articles for Outdoor Indiana magazine while working in the PR department at the Indiana State Museum. Traces seemed liked the perfect vehicle for my interests and I worked hard, in concert with editors Kent Calder and Megan McKee, to produce articles for Traces. I took over as editor for the magazine in 1999.
3. You are in a unique position because your work affords you the opportunity to take on some writing projects correct? Do you still have to campaign hard for the titles you want to produce?
I have taken on a number of writing projects for the IHS over the years. For each, I have to convince the other editors on staff that the project is worthy. I also have to convince our marketing staff that others will find the subject of interest as well. Not all of my proposals are successful. For the books I have written for the IHS, some are written as part of my daily duties, while others have been on my own time.
4. Do you work with an agent or have you ever worked with an agent? Do you have any thoughts regarding them?
I have never worked with an agent. I’d be happy to do so, but so far none have appeared on my doorstep to sign me up!
5. Do you have any desire to write fiction or have you already?
I have toyed with the idea of writing a mystery. I’m a fan of the works of such mystery writers as Raymond Chandler, Robert Parker, and Rex Stout, and have thought about creating a detective character that could be the focus of a series. It’s a project still in the idea stage, however.
6. What advice would you give to writers just starting out? Can you comment on not having really high expectations the first time around?
My advice to anyone wanting to be a writer is to take every opportunity they can to write in any form they can. Search out small newspapers or periodicals that need freelance writers or volunteer to produce your church’s newsletter or the newsletter of a volunteer organization. The daily habit of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) is essential to success. Also, as someone once said, keep your dreams within reason. When my first book was published by the IHS (a biography of an Indiana historian based upon work I did for my master’s thesis), I eagerly anticipated my first book signing at a local bookstore. I knew I could not expect a John Grisham-like crowd, but hoped to sell 10 or 15 copies. I sold exactly zero. Remember, except for your friends and family, nobody really cares that you’ve produced a book. You have to make them care by hard work, a little luck, and speaking to as many groups as you can.
7. What do you think of the self-publishing industry for those who just really want to see their name in print?
Publishers are so selective today, and so few in number, that it’s no surprise that self publishing has grown into a major business. But if you are serious about your writing career, I would advise to exhaust every possibility to publish with an established firm before considering self publishing.
8. For those students who want to break into the magazine writing field…as an editor of a major magazine in the city, what tips can you offer writers? What do you look for?
When I consider an article for possible publication in Traces, I’m looking for a piece of writing that will cause me to say, “Wow, I didn’t know that.” That “Wow” factor can come through learning something new about a well-known event or person, or having someone write about a subject we have not covered in the past. Before coming to me with an idea, I also encourage writers to review our back issues and get a good idea of our writing style and the kinds of subjects we cover. Also remember that Traces is an illustrated magazine and relies on quality images as well as quality writing.
9. What are you currently promoting that you would like to tell everyone about?
I am currently promoting my new book recently published by Indiana University Press titled Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. The book tells the story of Kennedy’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination. In Indiana he faced off against fellow U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy, as well as Indiana governor Roger D. Branigin. While in Indiana Kennedy also gave his famous speech on April 4 in Indianapolis following the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of RFK’s Hoosier campaign—the last time Indiana played a major role in a primary campaign. The current tight race between Obama/Clinton means Indiana’s primary might be important again.
10. What would you like to do next and how important is it to keep the “next project” in the back of your head?
I always try to keep a few ideas in mind for possible future projects as I’m working on a book. I never seem to run out of ideas for books, but the hard part is finding a publisher I’m able to convince that a subject is worthy of publishing. Two possible projects I have in mind are a biography of John Bartlow Martin, a former Hoosier reporter and freelance author who worked on every national Democratic campaign from Adlai Stevenson in 1952 to Walter Mondale in 1984. I also would like to write about a woman from Texas named Oveta Culp Hobby, who commanded the Woman’s Army Corps during World War II.
Thanks Ray for helping us out!
Until next time…keep rockin’
Julie
Hey Everyone!
I am really excited this week to bring you an interview with Margaret McMullan. She is a wonderful author I met last December at the Indiana Author’s signing at the Indiana History Center. We talked for a while and I e-mailed her the other day asking her to weigh in with you guys about the bane and blessing of being an author. I have to say I learned a lot from her responses and I really aprpeciate her taking the time. Can’t wait to hear what you all think about her story!
Julie
1. How long have you been an author and how many books do you have to your credit?
I’m not sure which years count as being an author, but I’ve written since about middle school. I have two adult novels, two young adult novels, and two more young adult novels coming out – one in Spring 2009.
2. Was it hard to break in? Can you tell us your story?
I graduated from Grinnell College, a small liberal arts college in Iowa with a double major in Religious Studies and English. I knew I wanted to write. I had this Polly-Annaish notion that if I worked for a woman’s magazine, I could educate working-class women in an entertaining, minor way. I had never been to our publishing capital – New York, but right after college I flew to New York, stayed with a friend and interviewed all around Manhattan until I landed a job at Glamour magazine. I worked my way up to becoming an Associate Editor for the Entertainment section before I quit to write fiction. This was during the 1980’s when entertainment journalism was getting BIG. It was pretty idiotic and way too risky to quit, but I did just that. With $2000 in savings, I moved to New Orleans to write a bad novel about the South. That manuscript got me into the graduate MFA program at the University of Arkansas where I then began writing short stories, which began getting accepted for publication. One of my professors told his agent at William Morris about me. The agent called and asked me what I was working on. I told her stories. She said she wanted a novel – that she could only sell novels. I told her, as a matter of fact, I was working on a novel too. I started my novel When Warhol Was Still Alive that night.
3. When you got the manuscript done and started actively searching for an agent, did you turn in the “perfect” manuscript, or did your agent help you polish your work. (This question has come up more than once, and now I am kind of curious about this one myself)
It has been different with each manuscript. I have a different agent now and she is a much better reader (she used to be an editor). I think the agent has a much bigger role nowadays of playing editor, because there are fewer editors who are willing to work with authors on changes. The more work you can put into making that manuscript no-proof, the more likely an editor will take it. I didn’t have to make any changes to When Warhol Was Still Alive, In My Mother’s House or How I Found the Strong, but I did work closely with my editor at Houghton Mifflin on When I Crossed No-Bob and the upcoming Cashay. These are two young-adult novels, and I tend to just write the story, not really considering that there could be too much violence or “complex language” for young readers. My editor tells me what’s too much and we usually come to some sort of agreement. She’s always right in the end. She knows the audiences better than I do.
4. For our younger readers out there, is it hard to write a book? How long does it take you to write a book and if a young person told you that they wanted to be a writer, what advice would you give them?
So many writers whine about the agonies of writing, but it’s not like we’re digging for coal. That said, it does take a lot of discipline to write and rewrite a book, mainly because you are your own engine. Nobody cares if you write a book. That’s the terrible secret. You write because you care and you just have to write that story going on in your head. You also rewrite because a lot of really good writing happens in the rewriting. I think you’ve got to love the whole process of writing – the reading, the thinking, the researching, the note-taking, the listening, the rough drafts, the being alone, the rewriting, even maybe the waiting. I wrote my first novel in about two years (I didn’t have a TV or a family). I wrote In My Mother’s House in five years (lots of WWII research and travel abroad). I wrote How I Found the Strong in one year (I have a husband and a son and a TV which I don’t watch). I wrote When I Crossed No-Bob in a year and the upcoming Cashay in about a year.
5. How do you juggle your writing time with your “day job” as a professor?
I used to be chair of the English department, but I stepped down when two books came out in one year. That was a too-busy year and administrative work is time-consuming. I loved to help shape what I think is a terrific academic program here at the University of Evansville. Now I teach every other semester in the spring, so that I can have the summer and fall to write. I started this system only after Houghton Mifflin offered me a 2-book deal. In other words, I’m still too scared to quit my “day job.”
But teaching isn’t just a “day job” to me. Teaching goes hand in hand with writing. You go in and you talk about what you love – great literature and writing. I try and teach literature that has changed my life – usually the great writers such as Faulkner, Keats, Browning, Dickens, Welty, O’Connor. I only assign students writing exercises that have worked for me. Often I test what I teach against what I do.
6. Do you freelance other article or is authorship your main “writing job”. (We have been talking about doing freelance work to help establish your name some and to give you some credits to make people sit up and take notice.)
Some stories just aren’t novels. So I write short stories, essays, young adult novels, adult novels, screenplays – any which way the material comes out. Lately, in the summers, my husband, son and I write essays about animals for young readers – we’ve got one piece about a green sea turtle coming out in National Geographic for Kids. I like writing with my husband – we work well together. We have a column in Evansville Living and we’ve written a few screenplays.
7. We know that you are probably asked for advice from other writers…often. What are some practical tips that you can give other writers who are looking to break in?
Read. Write what you want to read. Be dogged about your reading and writing schedule and don’t let up. Try and stay healthy. Travel. Observe and take notes. Take up a sport, even it’s just gardening. If you make writing and creating a part of your routine, something is bound to happen.
8. How long did it take you to sell your first novel and how many agents did you sent it to?
I had that first agent at William Morris just handed to me, so I got lucky. When Warhol Was Still Alive took about a year to get sold, and the publisher who took it (Crossing Press) was a medium sized press in California. I switched agents, which was terrifying but ultimately gratifying. My new agent, Jennie Dunham, really stayed behind In My Mother’s House, and even though it took her about 3 years to sell, she sold it to a wonderful editor who stays interested in my work. That’s exactly the kind of editor I had hoped for.
9. What are some of the ways you market yourself to keep your name in the public eye?
I’m not sure that I do market myself. I’m not a blogger, though many writer friends say that’s helpful. I go to writer’s conferences. I visit schools (middle schools, high schools, and universities). I have a website. I tend not to say no to things. I keep writing and sending all kinds of things out – essays, stories, books, etc. I used to actively set up signings at bookstores, but I don’t do much of that anymore because so few people show up for that one signing unless there’s an “event.”
10. What do you have new that is coming out that we can plug for you? Will you making any appearances in Indy this summer?
When I Crossed No-Bob came out in November 2007, so it’s still considered newish. Cashay comes out in Spring of 2009.
Hello Everyone!
Today I want to introduce everyone to Kirsten Sawyer, she is an author from California who wrote the laugh-out-loud-funny "Not Quite a Bride" and the brand new "Not Quite a Mom". I was thrilled that she was willing to do an interview considering she is weeks away from having a baby and took the time to answer a few questions regarding the publication process…
1. You have a unique background because you worked in TV. What shows did you work on and how did that effect your writing style. (We have talked about the difference between writing for time like a script, in case anyone was commissioned to help out a local business with a commercial, and writing for a book project.)
I worked for a television writer who had worked on many shows, most recently Scrubs. He had an overall deal to executive produce his own show and I was basically his assistant and right-hand person. It was a job that I took because I initially wanted to be a TV writer and it was a fantastic opportunity to shadow someone I consider to be one of the most talented writers in television. However, after working with him on a pilot (that unfortunately was not picked up) I became disenchanted with TV writing - the hours are insane (I was hoping to start a family soon) and I felt like studio and network executives tended to take a lot of creativity away from the writers. So, after we got the news that our show wasn’t going forward into series, I decided to try writing what I read - chick lit. I really wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull it off… I was always one of those people who finished a six page assignment in four and a half pages then had to fudge with the margins and fonts. TV scripts are short and easy so that was a good fit for me. The thought of being able to write 100,000 words was daunting, but I really clicked with the genre and was able to do it. I think the TV writing that I was exposed to probably helped me learn how to incorporate humor into my own writing, but otherwise the formats and processes are really quite different.
2. Did the television background give you an "in" so to speak?
Unfortunately, my TV contacts were no help at all. I knew people in the TV lit departments at every agency in LA, but it is a completely different world than the literary agents in New York.
3. Approximately how many agents did you send your manuscript to and how long did it take to be picked up by a publisher?
4. Do you write full time? We know that most writers don’t make enough initially to sustain themselves, so do you supplement your book income with freelance projects?I remember after my first book deal my agent told me that people don’t get rich off their first book and not to quit my day job. I’m lucky that I’m married to a wonderful man who supports my novel writing so that I’ve never had to take on any freelance projects in-between (or along side) my books.
When my agent called me with the great news that she had not only sold Not Quite a Bride, but that she had made a two book deal, I’ll admit that I wasn’t totally on board with the celebration. I was definitely worried that I wouldn’t be able to pull off another one. I think I was still kind of in shock that Not Quite a Bride had ever been completed! In the end though, I ended up writing Not Quite a Mom quickly - maybe 3 or 4 months - and I feel like it was easier than my first book because I knew the formula better. I haven’t worried too much about the book’s commercial popularity because I’ve been focusing on how much I like this book and how proud I feel of it.
Hello Everyone!
As part of our author interview portion of this journal, I am thrilled to present Meg Cabot…Meg is the author of the best selling "Princess Diaries" not to mention a host of other awesome titles including "How to Be Popular", "All American Girl" and "Teen Idol". Despite her very busy schedule, Meg, a native of Bloomington, Indiana was kind enough to submit the following answers to some questions I sent her:
1. How did you get started writing?
Well…I always wrote novels for fun, since I was seven years old. I can’t remember not having a novel or two in the works. I started getting serious about sending query letters around to every agent in Manhattan when I was 26, after my dad died and I realized you don’t have a lot of time in life to achieve your goals. One finally bit (after sounding out a letter a day for 3 years) when I was 29. By the time I was 30, I got a book deal (for a historical romance). It took years and years but I had nothing to lose….
2. Who were your favorite writers growing up?
Well, I’d read just about anything, from Star Wars comics to Judy Blume to Jane Austen. Anyone who could tell an engaging story–Robert B. Parker, Lloyd Alexander, Phyllis A. Whitney, Charlote Bronte…you name it, I read it.
3. What advice would you have for someone just starting in freelance writing or someone wanting to get a book published?
Get a good day job with good benefits! Writing full time CAN happen, but not right away for most people. I don’t mean to sound discouraging, but people look at what happened to me, and they think, "Oh, it’s so easy!" Believe me, I worked a day job for ten years, writing on the weekends and on all my vacations, before I was able to quit to write full time…
4. How long did it take before you were able to write full-time?
Really, it wasn’t until Disney actually made the first Princess Diaries movie that I was able to quit my day job and write full time. And I believe I’d published about 8 novels by then. I probably could have quit before then but I lived in Manhattan where the cost of living is a bit higher than elsewhere.
5. Indiana often plays a huge part in your novels. (i.e. How to be Popular, Teen Idol) How has your Hoosier background influenced you?
6. Will you be touring here any time soon? It’s been a while since you have been in Indy hasn’t it?
Hello Everyone!
I have some really exciting news to share with all of you. A Belief in Providence has been named a finalist in ForeWord Magazine’s 2007 Book of the Year competition! According to an E-mail I received earlier today: "Nearly 1,600 books were entered in 61 categories. These were narrowed to 658 finalists, from 350 publishers.
The winners will be determined by a panel of librarians and booksellers, selected from our readership. ForeWord’s Book of the Year Awards program was designed to discover distinctive books across a number of genres."
* A Belief in
Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, as well as Editor’s Choice Prizes for Fiction and Nonfiction will be announced at a special program at BookExpo America at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on May 29. The winners of the two Editor’s Choice Prizes will be awarded $1,500 each.
Needless to say…I am bouncing off the walls! Until next time…Keep Rockin’
Julie
Hey Everyone,
Welcome to the fist “Journal-Style” interview I have contributed to this forum! I am pleased to announce that Jennifer O’Connell has graciously agreed to offer her thoughts on writing and hopefully what she has to say will inspire those who really want to get out there and see their names in print! Jennifer is the author of Bachelorette #1, Insider Dating, Dress Rehearsal, Off the Record, and The Divorced Girls Society. She also edited a recent anthology which I personally loved entitled Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl, I Learned from Judy Blume. This book has inspired a new class that I will be offering through IUPUI in the fall. Thanks so much for participating Jennifer!
1. How did you get started as an author?
I had a dream I was on a reality dating show like “The Bachelor.” I woke up and said I had to write that story. So I did, and in two months I had an agent, a manuscript and a book deal. Sounds so easy now, but I didn’t have a lifetime invested in getting a book published so I couldn’t be disappointed and the whole thing seemed so easy. Reality set in for book #2.
2. How would you describe your writing (for someone unfamiliar with your work?)
I like to think it’s fun. I like to think it’s smart but not trying too hard. I hope readers see themselves in my books or can identify with a character or situation. My books are always about women or girls because that’s my passion. I pretty much write for myself. I write what I’d like to read, just fun, entertaining stories with smart characters who are flawed but endearing, characters I’d be friends with.
3. Can you talk a little about the trial and error process? Sometimes writers are so discouraged when things don’t start happening right away.
There are going to be errors, but there are ways to minimize them and their impact on your career (ie. Wasting time). With the Internet there’s so much information available about what’s selling, who’s buying, what agents are looking for, etc. Do your homework and the process becomes a lot less painful. Then there’s the whole writing part. My first book was so enjoyable to write, I thought, “What are people talking about, this is easy.” Then I had to write book #2 and it was deadly. So difficult. The pressure of a contract and deadlines and living up to expectations. Writing is fun when you’re writing what you love because you love to write. If you’re writing for any other reason, it’s not worth it.
4. How long did it take for you to get to a point where you were writing all the time? (I keep impressing upon my students not to quite their day job yet)
I’ve written and sold 10 books and I still have a day job! That said, I wasn’t someone who knew she wanted to be a writer from birth. I stumbled upon writing but it was by no means what I wanted to do exclusively. I can’t imagine just writing because I really enjoy my “day job” and it uses a whole other side of my brain. Also, writing can make you a little, shall we say, self-obsessed. You think about your book, where it’s being promoted, what magazines it’s reviewed in, people want to interview you, you speak at book festivals, you sign books and get fan mail, after a while it’s like, “Enough of me already!” I think, as a writer, I need perspective, to be around people and new situations to continue being excited to write. Then I feel grateful I get to do what I do instead of getting too caught up in it and begin to feel like my life depends on it.
5. Approximately how many rejections did you receive before your first novel was accepted by an agent or publisher?
None. I queried four agents and had an agent within two weeks. Why? See my answer to the next question – I knew who I was querying, why they’d like my novel and why my novel would appeal to editors. I also knew what I wanted – picking the right agent for you and your work is important. It’s not just about hoping someone asks you for a date, but knowing who you want to date as well. And, of course, I was terribly lucky.
6. What advice would you give new writers when they ask “What is the secret to getting published?”
Know the business inside and out (what agents are selling what, what editors are buying, how to write a killer query letter, etc.) and write the best novel you can possibly write.
7. Do you have anything new on the horizon that you would like to plug?
I have a new teen series coming out from MTV Books and the first two books, LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS, will launch in June. It’s a series that takes place on
Martha’s Vineyard during the summer. I loved writing the first books because I’ve spent the last ten summers visiting the Vineyard and it was so much fun to write about a place where the summer transforms people’s lives. You can read more about the series at www.jennyoconnell.com.
Hey Everyone,
After a crazy whirlwind weekend, Irene Kraas, a literary agent form New Mexico has requested the entire manuscript to Fifteen Minutes of Fame. I am so excited I could die! needless to say I am checking every word before sending it to her in hopes that she will like it alot, but I am encouraged by her initial e-mails! This couldn’t be any cooler if I were MonAmi herself getting her big break. It’s not even a done deal and I am bouncing off the walls. You know, it really is true what people say, just being considered is an honor. Win, lose or draw in this thing and I will know that the manuscript is a strong one becuase someone other than me saw it’s potential. I have had my team of critics looking at the book as well as I am doing last minute revisions. (What is it about an author who always sees room for improvement? My tip for all of you would be authors out there…know when to say "when")
I have also received my first online interview with Jennifer O’Connell. She is the author of several books and edited one I thoroughly enjoyed "Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Being a Girl, I Learned from Judy Blume". I will be posting her comments tomorrow for all of us to enjoy and I thank her so much for taking the time to talk to us and give us some insight regarding the publishing world.
Well I am off for now…need to get some sleep. Another busy day tomorrow. Take care, and I can’t wait to hear from everyone! Until then, Keep Rockin’ !
Julie
I can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts! Until next time, Keep Rockin’
I can’t believe all of the things I have had to write about this week! Sometimes there really is a lot of news to share! I invite everyone to check out my online interview with Joe Wikert, a vice-president and executive publisher at Wiley Publishing. I cannot begin to tell you all how helpful he has been and I look forward to many more chats with him about writing and publishing. Perhaps he will even consent to an interview for this journal as well. You can see my interview at: http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2008/02/author-intervie.html
Secondly, for all you freelance writers out there who are anxious to get published and get your career off the ground. There are many new electronic ways to do so. I know my class has been asking about opportunities on line and getting their own careers off the ground so I am happy to tell you about several new things I have recently heard about.
If you have not spotted the new Kindle on Amazon.com, this unique little device is a way to download your favorite books, inexpensively, BUT it also allows authors to start uploading their own materials and offering it as downloads. I am still learning about it myself but it is truly an interesting way to get your product out there! For all of my rock ‘n roll friends who want to give their careers that "big break" (and you know who you are!) this device may even be an option for you if they have a service that allows the upload of audio content. Broaden your audience base by checking out the Kindle at www.amazon.com (Joe Wikert also has a blog devoted to the Kindle so when you check out my interview, click on the link for his other blog and see what others are saying about this extraordinary electronic marvel!)
Smashwords.com is an e-book self-publishing option for writers who are interested in getting their career going with not a whole lot of capital outlay while still retaining a lot of rights. The web site is cureently under construction but this is another way of going about getting your work "out there" and creating a name for yourself. I am not always the biggest advocate of self-publishing, but it can be effective if you are retaining your rights and if sales or downloads create enough of a stir that you may be in a position to sell the work to another publishing house once the buzz gets going!
I am finalizing the works I am posting tomorrow. For those of you who read the post from Vicki Hendley, my former back up singer and my favorite musician down in the Houston, Texas area, she is very excited to read a little of "Fifteen Minutes of Fame". I will be anxious to get some feedback on this work as I believe I will be presenting it tonight at Bookmamas in Irvington for their writer’s group. That’s all I’ve got for now, keep rockin’
Julie
I have been getting multiple e-mails regarding the new book, so I am happy to announce that Historic Irvington will be published on June 16, 2008. (That seems to be the game plan anyway) The Irvington Historical Society is planning to launch the book on June 21 with a special event at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center. I am really excited about this! I hope all Irvingtonians whether they live in the area or have moved on to new locations will embrace this book. As more details are finalized, I will keep everyone abreast of the latest plans.
I gave several talks in Lafayette yesterday. Four schools + five talks= one tired writer! LOL, no it was all in good fun and I had a great time. Everyone was so nice and the kids were so cute and enthusiastic. They asked great questions, though I think my favorite was when they asked if I attended Saint Mother Theodore’s funeral. (My mother asked me if it made me feel old). One kid asked me how many books I had to read to memorize all of the information on Saint Mother Theodore…they all asked some really good questions and it was so much fun to have an opportunity to speak with them. At St. Mary’s a cute group of girls came up and sang to me "You are terrific". I have a picture with them that if I can ever figure out how to upload a photo onto my journal, I will post. (Dearest Webmaster….if you know how to do this, please clue me in!)
The Lafayette signing is just the start of the whirlwind tour I have planned for the spring…I am looking forward to revisinting some places that have been kind enough to have me out again as well as some new venues. I will even be traveling up north to South Bend and hope to see a lot of my Michiana friends up there!
I am swamped with work, but things are going well. It’s been a very busy week. Tomorrow or Friday, you will have that "deleted" scene (I don’t know what else to call part of the book that landed on the cutting room floor) from "Fifteen Minutes of Fame". I will also be posting an essay I wrote about Judy Blume’s controversial book "Forever" this is going to hopefully lead into my first online interview with Author Jennifer O’Connell who edited the book "Everything I learned about being a girl, I learned from Judy Blume". I received the most wonderful E-mail from her the other day and she graciously agreed to be interviewed for this forum. I hope you will all enjoy it!
Take it easy and as always, Keep Rockin!
Julie
I understand that the rest of the world is not a big fan of Mondays, but to be honest about it, they don’t bother me. I tend to be more motivated about what I am getting done on a Monday…by the time Friday rolls around, more than likely there has been way too much potential for disaster to leave me completely useless. Either that or I have been overly distracted watching old sitcoms on YouTube because I simply cannot handle this lack of new TV shows as well as the sub-par replacements they have put on in the meantime.
Last week, I was fortunate enough to meet Joseph B. Wikert, he is the Vice President and Executive Publisher at Wiley Publishing here in Indy. He asked me to do an online interview with him which will be published on his Blog later on this week. I was really excited about the opportunity and you can all view it at http://jwikert.typepad.com/the_average_joe/2007/02/criteo_autoroll.html.
Other big news is that an agent in New York requested the first 60 pages of "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" (a novel that I am working on) and later this week I will be posting a "deleted" scene from the book to give readers a chance to see what I am working on. While I have no idea who might pick up the book for representation, I thought this was a really good first step. Of course I will let everyone know how it goes. In the meantime, I welcome any and all feedback.
Until next time, keep on rockin’!
Julie