Q4U: Gossip, Rumors, and Myths

>Hmm – I've been writing my paranormal romance forever and I should have moved a lot faster since apparently the markets now flooded. That's kind of scary after all this hard work. So that definitely discourages me. But I also know there's exceptions, you have to work harder and do better. I write the story anyway because it's the story I want to tell and whether or not it sells doesn't matter to me as much as trying.

Not sure for the second question because I believe everything I read, I'm beyond help hehe

Overall, it encourages me. Utterly overwhelms me sometimes, terrifies me others and sometimes makes me feel like I am kidding myself – especially when it comes to the paranormal romance thing. On balance it all helps because it shows me what I need to learn and I can do that, it's hopeful.

>I love the online talk about publishing, ESPECIALLY your blog and Nicole O'Dell's blog. No matter what I have going on during the day, I always read both blogs-both have been such an asset to me. I am learning so much, taking it all in like a sponge. Had I not taken time to become famillar with the online talk about publishing, I think I would be very intimadated-now I feel I have much more clarity on the subject.

>First off, I just want to say that I'm not planning to publish. I read these blogs out of curiosity…my husband says it's not as strange a hobby as I think it is in my head.

Overall, I agree with the other comments that all this talk on the internet seems encouraging. I mean, we can educate ourselves from people who work as literary agents. How cool is that? And you can tell from their blogs whether or not the agent is trust-worthy, as long as you take the time to read them. So, the blogs I follow, I trust, and they really have never contradicted each other, either. As the goal is to educate, I trust them.

But I would like to bring up a concern, as I'm curious what other people's concerns are.

I think if I were making a submission, I would be worried about making a fool of myself with the query. I mean, there's a lot of information from blogs about what not to do in a query and sometimes the agent seems a tad frustrated with all the writers making this mistake, so they want to educate everyone on not to do that. There's a lot of good advice out there on what you can do, as well, but I think I would worry about being one of the ones to make a crazy mistake that I didn't know at the time would annoy the agent.

The logic part of my brain tells me that if it hasn't been made clear before, the agent would understand and simply inform the world that they don't like what writers are doing.

Another part of my brain pictures an agent reading my letter and thinking, "Ugghhh…that again!?" DELETE.

Then speak with other agents about how horrible and annoying my letter was. Do agents discuss things like that with each other?

I'm also curious about the whole, shred some of the pile before reading theory.

Anyhow, hope this sparks some discussion.

>Everything I've read online about publishing and agents has both encouraged and overwhelmed this aspiring author. I gave up the dream when I was too young and sometimes worry I picked it back up when it was too late. However, it is a wealth of information online that certainly wasn't available to me 20 years ago.

I think the thing that is most frustrating is "platform" and having to show previous publications in query letters. It's like when you go to get a job for experience, but they won't hire you without it.

Self publishing is the most controversial issue that I read about and find it hard to figure out if it's good or bad. I have a tough time believing it's all bad. That subject scares me and the fact that publishing books is such a risk 'these days' for publishers is also frightening.

However, I keep my butt in chair and tell myself that I'll be the one to spark some interest.

>The self-publishing debate! I hear it's awful, self indulgent and doesn't make you "really" published. Then I hear "it's the new frontier," and The Shack, and all that.

I understand that since each book stands alone there are good & bad self-published books, but I get tired of the debate.

Also, everyone is talking about E-book being the next big thing. I really like the feel of a book, I love the library, and I can't imagine everything going away. (I know you love the kindle). It's just me.

>I keep seeing: to get published you need an agent, and to get an agent you need to be published. For those who are virgin authors, what is the best way to move forward?

>The thing that makes me mad is the current claims about the "Death of Chick Lit." It's apparently a brutal market out there for anything that can be called chick lit, because who wants to read about buying Prada and boozing it up when we're in a recession?

My chick lit novel is NOT a shopping-drinking-sex novel. But, because I have a 20-something urban female protagonist, written in the first person with a somewhat confidential and humorous tone, I'm getting lumped in with the worst of the genre. This makes me angry. So I've been ranting about chick lit on my blog, and hoping for the best.

Young-women-coming-of-age stories can't REALLY be dead. It's just an unfortunate marketing bias, but it's a hard one to get past.

>I heard something really horrible…
A girl I knew from high school dated a guy that had a roommate who interned for an agent. She said that HE said agents NEVER read the manuscripts. When it is time to choose they lock their office doors, close their office blinds and employ…eenie meenie miney moe.

>Discouraging: WHen you hear that publishers are probably not going to be interested in what your currently writing. Yet you can't stop writing because you like the characters too much to leave everything unfinished. (Yeah I know, it is probably a waste of time.)

Encouraging: There is alot of information. Which leads to understanding why things get turned down, why things get accepted, etc. etc.

Sorry, to general for the heart of this topic.

Okay a less general one…

It's the whole message vs writing thing…I don't disagree with it.
I don't like to read preaching in fiction…I tend to close the book when it gets to that.

I wondered if I where less attached to what I'm writing, would I close the book? Don't know…

Anyway it is discouraging in a way, since I haven't quite figure out how to write without a message in mind. Wondering if I ever will.

However overall I would say it is encouraging since. I may not have realized this was a problem without the help of the online blogs.

>I enjoy all the chatter. I do go back and forth sometimes between feeling super hopeful and a bit hopeless.

>Not sure about all this cross-genre fiction. Don't like or read paranormal, sci-fi, YA, blah blah…Seems new novels must have several of these elements nowadays. What about a good old-fashioned mystery with lots of clues and suspense? (I'm not old either and I love TV shows like Leverage, Psych and Castle)

>The list is long. We have the self publishing debate, the e-book speculation, and things of that nature. But what really spooks me is the never-ending rant that the publishing companies are running out of money, not taking on new authors and cutting back on everything. Then on top of that we hear about how tough it is to get an agents attention. Add those two together and it can seem like getting published is an impossible task to accomplish. I will keep charging on though.

>Oh, and Susan G., I'm with you when you said,

One thing that upset me recently is hearing Nathan talk about the death of straight-on mainstream commercial fiction. Some of my favorite books fit smack into this category and as a writer, so do I.

I engaged Nathan in that debate – because I, too, was mystified by his assessment that people like Anita Shreve (a writer I admire) didn't belong in that category. It's hard hearing that literary fiction is dead – and at the same time, that mainstream fiction doesn't exist. I don't want to write genre fiction (at least, not yet)! I don't often disagree with Nathan, but that day I did, so you're not alone.

>Good morning, Rachelle!

I spend so much time in the world of my imagination, where I can (to some extent) control what happens, that coming into the real world of publishing is always something of a shock. However, with every hour I spend on-line I learn something new about the craft or the business.

Nevertheless, I recognize that learning via the internet gives me a spotty education. I know that I have gapping holes in my knowledge of the craft that need to be filled. Blogs and web sites provide the basics and the over-flow from experts in this business. This source does not replace the education we must receive from reading books on the business, from formal education, or from mentoring.

Thanks to Kristi ("…both encouraging and overwhelming this aspiring writer" in a previous comment) I know what I am at this point in my career. I am an aspiring writer. Regardless of my success in sharing my stories, I am a writer; I am an aspiring writer because I aspire to be published. At that point I will still be a writer, but I will also be a published author.

Right now being a published author is still in the world of my imagination, but by God's direction and with my hard work, I will see it become reality. It will be nice to come back to reality for a surprise instead of a shock!

Be blessed!

Lynnda

>I think many of the blogs about writing and publishing are helpful. Yes, some of it is discouarging in a way, but it's better to get a dose of reality and know where you stand than grope in the dark.

The part that scares me the most is the way the economy has made the process even more difficult.

But many thanks to you, Rachelle, for keeping up informed here!

>I've recently heard about a machine that can publish a book while you wait. Also, I heard the the same rumor about the growth of e-books that another commenter mentioned. To me, this is encouraging. I figure a publishing company could potentially take more chances on new authors if there is less up-front cost to publish them–either by print-on-demand, or e-book form. I think both of these elements of publishing could also open more doors to smaller markets and writers who specialize in books that might traditionally be slower sells.

>What have you heard about agents or publishing that scares you, discourages you, or makes you mad?

I not sure this discourages me as more overwhelms me….but the process of editing and revision once your manuscript is purchased. Of course that would be such a horrible problem to have, right? A publishing company buys your book and then the editor helps make your book better. Seriously, though….just how long is the process, usually? The waiting part…waiting to see your book out there…must be difficult.

What have you heard that you're not sure is true?

Submitting to more than one agent at a time. I know you can send out multiple queries, but what if there are three agents who have asked to see your manuscript after a verbal pitch at a conference? Do you send to all three? All three agents have a great background and cover the genre, so it would be fantastic if any one of them wanted to represent me. But should I only send to one at a time?

Overall, does the incessant online "conversation" about publishing help you or discourage you?

It helps, without a doubt. Not only do I get practical information from people who know the industry, but I stay connected to the experience of being a writer. Which is not the same thing as writing. I can write in somewhat of a vacuum, but to be a writer I feel I have to immerse myself in the world of publishing.

One final comment, related to an earlier post: Before attending the PNWA this summer, I honestly thought agents were 'not to be approached'. The idea of agent simply scared me. Will they give me dirty looks, yawn if my pitch sucks – or worse, simply walk away. Do they ever smile? I had this image of that scene in Christmas Story, where Ralphie finally gets to sit on Santa's lap, but he freezes and cannot ask for his BB Gun. He just keeps saying "uh-huh, uh-huh" to anything Santa offers. Then as Santa pushes him down the slide, Ralphie takes hold of the sides and yells out about his Red Ryder BB Gun. So you think you can get your great pitch out, but Santa slaps his boot in your face and down you go.

Well…after the conference I realized that agents are people! They smile, laugh, welcome your ideas….they are not just waiting to give you the boot. Or if they are, they do a hell of a job pretending otherwise. They listen and they really seem to want you to make it as a writer.

>What have you heard about agents or publishing that scares you, discourages you, or makes you mad?
Promotion, both in terms of the amount of time and the amount of money it takes. I know several recently published writers and they all admit to spending much more than their advance on promotion of first books. They also spend a lot of time on blogging, responding to blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. They also have husbands or large incomes to support their writing habit.
As an unpublished writer who still needs to work a full time job in order to pay the bills, I can't imagine that I'll ever be successful, even if I write the modern equivalent of War and Peace.

Overall, does the incessant online "conversation" about publishing help you or discourage you?
I think it helps. At least I'm now aware of what the situation is and won't be surprised when I'm asked about my 'platform'.

>Hillary, not true.

To move forward: write like crazy. Learn to rewrite. Rewrite more. Join a writing group, online or in person, and have your work critiqued. Rewrite again. This is the hard part.

Send out query letters, sign with an agent, sell your book. This is the easy part. I started querying in May; signed a two-book deal in July, with the first novel I ever wrote. Mind you, I rewrote it many times.

>You can't follow the publishing industry without hearing how the economy is knocking a few bricks out of it. But if you listen close enough, that's not all you hear.

Every so often I get just enough of a reminder to "never give up" that I'm good for another query letter and synopsis. And of course I'm encouraged by one of your earlier posts mentioning those who published "late," particularly Frank McCourt.

So I believe I'll survive the bad-news and/or rumors because I just can't quit!

Thanks for your good words.

>I'm with Krista Phillips above. I won't give up on my first book, especially since my second book is a spinoff from the first.

Besides this being my first novel, and I'm a newbie, other rumors have also discouraged me: Literary is out. Memoirs are out unless you're famous.

So for someone looking for an agent for her first book and whose genre is a literary memoir and who has changed her genre to a fictionalized memoir only to find that fiction isn't selling either unless it's plot-driven and not character-driven, and who writes in first person (rumor is they don't sell either), I'm apparently spinning my wheels for nothing.

But I carry on in spite of it all.

>I hear the data about how few authors get published.

But then I read so many published books that are simply awful. Not good-story-but-questionable-writing Dan Brown type books but truly awful, silly stories that seem like a parody of a novel.

Is the answer 1) the other 99% are even worse, 2) it's my poor judgment, others out there think the book is just fine or 3) it was just a mistake, and in fact there are really very few really bad books published each year.

Always wondered. Thanks.

>The book has been written, the second book started, but the query is killing me. I started the first book as a memoir then changed my mind and called it a novel. 2,000 people have read it and they think it's a memoir. These 2,000 people don't know me, but they say it makes them cry and reads too true to be a novel. That says something sad about the novel as a form.

Many of the readers were men, and even the men said, "This is my family you're writing about." That seems to be the most common comment. Readers can relate to my characters. So now what? Can I market a memoir as a novel or should I look for an agent who specializes in memoir? I can't really write my query until this question is settled. Can I call it Autobiographical Fiction?

I was married to a writer who called his writing Autobiographical Realism. It got him a PhD and a life of slavery as a university professor. That was not the life I wanted. I just wanted to write. Now that I've been writing for 20 years I want to publish. Any suggestions?

>Some of the stories of horrific experiences authors report certainly make me mad. But they are instructive. We need to know the reality we face.

I am very encouraged to learn there is an emerging, worthy alternative to traditional publishing where profit is not the sole motive, where the old slogan, "let the people decide," is at work. Given the abysmal quality of many of the books published–and promoted–by the large presses, success at epublishing just might be a better indicator of literary excellence.

>Very interesting Rachelle, thanks for pursuing this thread.

>Do you ever feel amazed/overwhelmed by how many, many, many people want to get a book published?? Wowzers.