Tag: submit your work

Categories
Book Proposals Uncategorized

Be the Exception

It’s easy to feel lost in the world of book publishing. Experts say there are over a million proposals and manuscripts in circulation at any given time. With the proliferation of self-publishing, there are over 4,500 new books published every day. The average self-published book sells about 200 copies during the lifetime of the book.

            With these discouraging statistics how can a writer stand out and be the exception?  Some people are amazed that I’ve written over 60 books for traditional publishers and my writing has appeared in over 50 magazines. It is not because I am one of the best writers in the room. I am one of the most persistent and consistent writers that you will meet. As an editor, I’ve been speaking and attending conferences for years. I will listen to a writer’s pitch, then with sincerity say, “That’s a great idea, write that up and send it to me.”  I’ve learned that if you do what the editor or agent asks, you have put yourself in the top 10% of the people at that conference. Many writers never send their manuscript or proposal or query. 

Here’s four simple yet important ways for you to be the exception.

  1. Submit your requested material. Your writing and storytelling has to be excellent but it will never be considered if you don’t send it. I still get rejected as a writer but I seize the opportunity and submit my material.
  2. Build Your Platform or Presence in the Market. Edtors and literary agents are looking for writers who are connected to their readers. I’m not talking about Instagram or Twitter or Facebook. Do you have a direct connection to your readers or fans of your book? Do you have an email list? Are you working to grow this email list and increase your reach? It is one of the greatest tools any writer can start and build. I have more details in this free ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author.  Also I have an inexpensive ebook on list building called The List Building Tycoon.
  3. Follow-up and meet their deadlines with editors and agents. Writers are notoriously late on meeting their deadlines. New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins who has also been an editor says only one writer in 100 will meet their deadline. If you deliver quality writing on the deadline, it is a way for you to stand out in the market.
  4. Develop habits so you are in the top 10% A recent Pew study showed that 80% of tweets come from about 10% of users. I meet many writers who have a small Twitter following and post something once or twice a week.  I am probably in this top 10% because of my frequency of tweets, the diversity and providing excellent content.  If you create a habit and then execute your plan over and over, you too can be in this top percentage. Your consistent action will move you to the top of the stack.

Your persistent efforts will pay off in the publishing community. If you take consistent action, you can be the exception.

Terry Whalin

——–

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Connect with Terry on Twitter, Facebook, his blog and LinkedIn.

Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success.
Categories
Mastering Middle Grade

Real talk: When to submit your manuscript

Writing a book is the literary exercise equivalent of taking a cross-country road trip. No matter how beautiful the scenery, after a few miles even the most energetic drivers grow road-weary, and the “are we there yet” questions start flying from the back seat.

That’s when we start thinking about shortcuts. How much easier would it be to go ahead and take the tollway instead of the scenic route?

Of course what I’m referring to here is knowing when it’s time to stop editing and send your manuscript to an agent or editor. How do we know we’re ready? That’s a question I’ve both asked and heard at conferences or workshops.

The answers I’ve heard have varied, but I’ve collected the responses that resonated the most with me and put together a little checklist. This is what I’m using to determine whether my most recent works-in-progress are ready to go. 

Have you read your work out loud?

One agent suggested that unless you’ve listened to your own work out loud – whether you read and record then play it back, or have a trusted friend read it to you – your work may not be polished enough to send. 

Imagine you’re reading your middle grade novel to a classroom full of fourth or fifth graders and really listen as you read. Is the dialogue easy to follow? Do the jokes make sense? Are there scenes that lack tension or is the pace awkward? When you hear it, you can fix it.  

What does my critique group think?

There’s truly no substitute or shortcut for good writing. If you don’t have a trusted critique group or reading partner, you need to find one or create one. The best groups will read thoughtfully and give sincere feedback on what’s working and what’s not. If your critique group thinks it’s ready, that’s a good sign.

Is this your fifth (at least) draft?

I’ve heard a number of authors say that their agent never sees the first five drafts of any project. Sometimes they don’t even submit draft number six. They revise, polish, pause, revise again… you get the picture.

It’s hard, but you must resist the temptation to submit your second or even your third draft. Make sure you’re putting your shiniest, best work in a prospective agent’s or editor’s hands.

If you’ve done all three of these things – read it out loud, received the “go ahead” from your critique group, and you’ve revised the whole thing a few times, good news! You are probably ready to submit. Now you’ll want to research agencies and editors to check their submission guidelines, but that’s a post for another day.

I am still on this road trip to being published, and these are the biggest, most painful things I’ve learned along the way.  Please know I’m writing this not to discourage anyone from submitting. Far from it. I am cheering for you and I want you to succeed.

I’m writing this because I have made the mistake of submitting manuscripts too soon simply because I was excited about a story.

 I mean, I loved my story, my husband and son loved it, so why didn’t the rest of the world? I’ll tell you why. My husband and son read past the unpolished words and saw what was in my heart. They love me.

Loving me is not an editor or agent’s job. Their job is to fall in love with what’s actually written on the page. My job – your job – as a middle grade author is to make sure the words on the page are worth falling in love with.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.

Categories
The Intentional Writer

What to Do When the Conference Is Over

The intentional writer

A few days ago Annette’s Embrace the Wait column listed good strategies to prepare for a writers’ conference. Conferences are important investments in our writing career, so it makes sense to start well by preparing ahead of time.

It also makes sense to end well, which means thinking about what you do after the conference is over.

Here are seven post-conference strategies to get the most out of your investment

  1. Send thank yous. Send a brief email to every professional you met with, thanking them for their time and their advice. You may also send thank yous to conference hosts and anyone else that seems appropriate.
  2. Follow up on contacts. Dig out the business cards you collected and follow your new writing friends on social media. Even better, send them a brief personal message that will help them remember who you are. You never know which contacts will turn out to be important a few months or years from now.
  3. Follow through on submissions. Right away. Do not procrastinate. (In fact, having your query/proposal/sample chapters polished and formatted should be part of your pre-conference checklist so you are ready to take advantage of these opportunities.) Sending your promised materials promptly shows busy agents and editors that you are professional, disciplined, and prompt. It also puts you in the front of the line, when they can still remember who you are and why they wanted to see your work.
  4. Give yourself time to recover. Conferences can be exhausting, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yes, you may be pumped to go home and try all the wonderful things you learned, but be patient. Practice good self-care by allowing your writer self to recover for a day or two before starting a blog or completely revamping your website.
  5. Organize your notes. Go through all the materials you acquired during the conference. File course materials where you can find them for later reference. If you do not have a workable system for storing information so you can find it again, this is a good time to create one.
  6. Choose One Thing to implement right away.  Conferences can fill us with motivation and inspire us to try new and wonderful techniques, but attempting too much too soon usually leads to frustration and a lack of focus. You will be more successful if you select one or two practical strategies or ideas to implement. Choose ones that particularly resonated with you or that apply to exactly where you happen to be in your current project. Once you get that going, you can return to your notes and apply something else.
  7. Journal your thoughts. It may be helpful to spend some time pondering your experiences and journaling about them. Pay attention to what excited you the most, what struck fear into you, and what caused a pang of some other emotion. Think through the reasons for those emotions and ponder what to do if those emotions are holding you back. You may also find it helpful to list all the key takeaways you learned, or list the wonderful people you met and jot down a note or two about what you discussed with them. Whatever will help you put useful information into long-term memory.

May your next writers’ conference be the best one yet.

Award-winning writer Lisa E. Betz believes that everyone has a unique story to tell the world. She loves inspiring fellow writers to be more intentional about developing their craft and courageous in sharing their words. Lisa shares her words through speaking, leading Bible studies, writing historical mysteries, and blogging about living intentionally.

You can find her on Facebook  LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

Categories
Becoming an Author

Wishing for Publication Part 1: Rush or Wait?

When I receive a new submission at Illuminate YA fiction (teen imprint of LPC Books), I can usually determine fairly quickly if the writer has sent an undercooked manuscript.

It’s disappointing, too, because many of these undercooked submissions offer potential. The premise is intriguing. The main character is likeable. But unfortunately, the content just doesn’t match with what was promised in the cover letter.

To illustrate this—let’s pretend you’ve bought a box of brownies to bake. The picture of the fudgy brownies displayed on the box makes your mouth water so much that you just can’t possibly wait 30 minutes for them to bake. You need them now. So after putting them in the oven, you trim that time and set the timer for 5 minutes instead. Shouldn’t make much of a difference, should it?

But unless you want to eat undercooked brownies (which doesn’t actually sound so bad to me!), that twenty-five minutes will strike the difference between batter-brownies and cakey brownies.

So even though these Illuminate submissions may seem close to being of professional quality, we typically ask these authors to revise, according to our feedback, and resubmit no sooner than three months. Why? We know that, if we were to give them a small follow-up time window, we would risk receiving yet another undercooked submission.

The truth is—quality takes time.

Yes, I know this may be a hard truth to swallow when it comes to your publication dreams. The idea of holding your book may seem so alluring that you’re tempted to do whatever it takes just to make that dream come true ASAP. And with the ease of self-publishing these days, that temptation may actually be unbearable.

So why should an aspiring author stick around for the long haul when short cuts are easily accessible? Is it worth the frustrations that may come with waiting?

I believe so. Here’s why:

By rushing, you get a book out there and may even garner some pretty good reviews. But … you’ll sacrifice the potential to garner five-star reviews instead.

By waiting, it may take a while to perfect the manuscript. But … the emails you’ll receive (once it is published) from readers who rave about your book and its strong writing will be priceless.

By rushing, you throw your book together and can claim you have officially written a story from beginning to end. But … the story never had a chance to gain the kind of depth that could bring it to life.

By waiting, it may be years before your dream comes to pass. But … this process grooms writers into authors. The kind who are able to withstand long-term author careers.

By rushing, you can finally see your name on a printed book! But … your brand and reputation as an author is now attached to an undercooked piece of work. 

By waiting, you may receive endless rejections and grow weary of the inaction. But … you are developing patience and humility, both of which are necessary character traits for an author to possess.

By rushing, you will be able to tell people that you are officially an author. But … you lack the sense of accomplishment you would have had if you didn’t take the short cuts.

By waiting, you may grow frustrated as you realize there is much about the writing craft and publishing industry that is unfamiliar to you. But … during this process, you are sharpening your craft and learning how the industry works. 

By rushing, you can have multiple books out on Amazon for the world to enjoy. But … the joy of meeting each new author milestone may be cheapened and underappreciated.

By waiting, it may take years for you to prepare the fields and set the foundation of your author career. But … the fruit that will result is the lasting kind that will not spoil over time.

So, rush or wait … which will you decide?

I would love to hear what you think! Let me know in the comments what you believe are the pros and cons of waiting vs. rushing.

In the next post, I will share with you how you can make the most of these waiting seasons.

Now, if you’ll excuse me … I have some brownies to take out of the oven!

Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who writes inspirational yet authentic books for teens to remind them they’re not alone. She writes both fiction and devotionals for teens, including her upcoming release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Her latest devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, encourages teens to pursue a personal relationship with Christ. Tessa’s passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating art journals, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is through connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Writer’s Block Or Submission Block? Play to win the Publishing Game

We came. We pitched. Did we send?

Writer’s conferences are well-planned days of speakers, workshops, and opportunities. After pitching themselves and their beloved projects, many writers leave their meetings with agents, editors, and publishers, clutching close a business card and those much sought after words, “Send that to me. I’d like to take a look at it.”

Perhaps you submitted a query or proposal and received the coveted invitation to submit your manuscript.

Editors report that they often never see the projects they invite writers to send. 

There are two types of writers. Those that submit for publication and those that don’t. In the writing industry, the difference between players and spectators is frequently determined by who takes the next step. 

While the unpublished group may claim writers’ block, professional writers are adamant that writers block is as mythical as Nessy the Loch Ness Monster. 

“A professional writer doesn’t wait for inspiration anymore than a professional plumber waits for inspiration to lay a pipe.”

John Erickson

After spending his first forty years as a Texas cowboy, John Erickson is the author of 60 some Hank the Cowdog books. “A professional plumber knows some principles like you don’t lay a pipe uphill or in frozen ground but he lays that pipe. Professional writers write. I write four hours a day seven days a week because I’m fanatical about that because that’s what I do.”

Batter Up

Are your projects stuffed in a drawer, or stored on computer files? Submission block is like a batter that refuses to swing. Opportunities wing past. 

What are you afraid of? Rejection? Success? Both? Taking action that will change the status quo of your life? Is the dream of one day being a published author greater than your courage to go after it?

Even a rejection proves you are in the game. A participant rather than a spectator. A “no, thank you,” is not calling your baby ugly. It is a step closer to connecting with the agent or publisher that shares your passion for the project. It is valuable feedback. Behind a “no” is generally three plays. 

  • The piece does not fit with the purpose of the publisher. For instance, a publisher of non-fiction books is not interested in novels. 
  • There are similar projects already available or in process. 
  • The writing needs improvement.

A homerun response is an enthusiastic yes followed by that favorite call, “Check enclosed.” 

Get in the Game

If submission block is keeping you out of the publishing game, here are moves to get you playing:

  • Accountability. Tell someone you will submit on or before a specific date. 
  • Submit your best work knowing it may not be perfect. 
  • Approach an editor as an eager team player. Be coachable.
  • Like athletes, writers improve with practice. Every time you submit, you take a swing at the ball. 

Betcha’ a cold ballpark hot dog and warm soda that your publishing home run average improves when you submit your work. 

PeggySue Wells is the bestselling author of 29 books including Slavery in the Land of the Free, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Chasing Sunrise, and Homeless for the Holidays. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com

Categories
Becoming an Author

Avoid Automatic Rejections by Following This Checklist

It can be discouraging to not receive a response on your submission—and even more frustrating when the response is an automatic “no.” I personally don’t give automatic rejections to submission; however, there are agents and editors who may delete a submission even before they’ve had a chance to evaluate it. 

It might sound rude for them to delete a submission before even considering the project. However, they receive multiple submissions per week. If a writer does not adhere to specific guidelines, then, well, that’s an easy way for the agent/editor to separate the pros from the amateurs.  If the writer can’t follow the submission guidelines, how can the editor/agent trust that they will behave professionally in the future?

Would you like to avoid this automatic no? If so, here are 5 questions to review before hitting the submit button:

1. Did I spell the agent or editor’s name correctly? 

This is likely the first impression you’ll make (after the subject line, of course). You would be surprised how many emails I receive that are addressed to “Emily” (my middle name) rather than “Tessa” (my first name)!

2. Am I submitting to the right person? 

Check the site. Ensure that the agent or editor accepts your genre and would make a good match for your works. 

3. Did I follow the specific guidelines? 

There are some writers who think they’re “above” the rules. But guidelines are set for a reason! Don’t be lazy—unless, of course, that’s the impression you’d like to make. I doubt it is. You’re hoping to work with this agent or editor, so make sure it’s obvious that you are a professional. And professionals don’t carry an egotistical attitude. 

4. Have I edited my submission—including the query letter, book proposal, and sample chapters? 

Don’t rush this process. Search for typos. You are a writer, after all. And even though writers aren’t always perfect in the arena of grammar and punctuation, your submission will look sloppy if it’s not clean. (I personally recommend asking others to read over the proposal/submission just to double-check. We’re often blind to our own faults.)

5. Did I submit the right file and adhere to the standard format? 

Again, you’ll want to read the guidelines carefully to make sure you’ve hit every request regarding format, font, and file type.

For those who are unfamiliar with this process, you may think agents and editors are asking too much of writers—as if they’re requesting you to jump through unnecessary hoops. But trust me when I say that these guidelines are set for a reason.  Not to frustrate the author, but because it helps the agents and editors to quickly evaluate each submission in an orderly manner. It also helps to differentiate the pros from the amateurs. Do what you can to come across as a pro! Keep in mind, too, that almost every successful traditionally published author has gone through this process. 

Then, when you’re ready—and only then—should you send your work out to the publishing world. But not without going over this checklist first, of course! 

Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who writes inspirational yet authentic books for teens to remind them they’re not alone. She writes both fiction and devotionals for teens, including her upcoming release, LOVE YOUR SELFIE (October 2020, Ellie Claire). Her latest devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, encourages teens to pursue a personal relationship with Christ. Tessa’s passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as a Literary Agent at Cyle Young Literary Elite, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 128 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating art journals, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is through connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.

Categories
Devotions for Writers

SEIZE the Day!

devotions

“Pharaoh…is only a loud noise; he has missed his opportunity.”

Jeremiah 46:17 (NIV)

Do you know anyone who talks about what they will do “someday,” but never seem to get around to it? Maybe that someone is you? Just today, I realized I hadn’t worked on a priority project in two weeks.  The tyranny of the urgent monopolizes my days. Time slips away and other things fill the void where that priority would have been.

What is holding you back? Are you afraid the editor will change your words? Are you worried about rejection? Maybe like me, you’ve shelved works that have been rejected and given up on ideas you once championed?

Would you believe me if I told you rejection is good for writers? I never thought I would be thankful for rejection, but I can see ways it toughens me. I am developing a “thick writer’s skin” that enables me to write for the Lord, instead of worrying about whether or not people like my words. I knew I was making progress, when a recent rejection helped me reevaluate the project, instead of dumping it.

The Pharaoh Jeremiah referred to must have been quite boastful. He talked big, but the Lord proclaimed his bragging as fruitless. There are times that I talk about being a writer, but don’t actually do it. Daily activities consume my energies before I realize I haven’t produced the fruit of writing. It’s convicting to confess I squandered the chance to develop thoughts and words into sentences and paragraphs that could propel others into a better place with their own lives.

Be encouraged. Your words are needed in this world. No one can form ideas quite like you. You bring a unique perspective to events in your community people need to hear. Let two of my favorite verses for writers bolster you, too. Proverbs 25:11 says our words are beautiful. And, Psalm 22:25 prods my commitment to use my writing to encourage God’s people and to challenge growth.

Today, determine to miss no more opportunities. Take a risk, and send out your words!

Exercise:

Get out your Writer’s Market and make a list of publications that line up with one of your current pieces. Write a query letter. Polish it. Edit it. Then let go of it. Press “send” and stop worrying.

When you receive a rejection letter, revise your query and send it to the next editor on your list.

No more missed opportunities!

Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.

Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon. 

Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.

Visit Sally’s blog at www.sallyferguson.net

Categories
Becoming an Author

How to Prepare for Submission

Editors and agents receive multiple submissions per week. If a writer fails to adhere to specific guidelines, then that submission is an easy no. This is why it’s important that writers spend as much time necessary preparing their work for submission. Otherwise, they may risk receiving an automatic rejection from their favorite agent or editor.

So what can you do, as an aspiring author, to ensure that you do not receive this automatic no? 

Here are five ways you can prepare for submission.

1. Double check that you have spelled the agent’s or editor’s name correctly.

This is likely the first impression you will make (after the subject line, of course).

2. Ensure you are submitting to the right person.

Check the website. You don’t want to make the mistake of submitting a YA fiction project to an agent who only represents adult fiction!

3. Follow requested guidelines.

The guidelines are there for a reason! It’s only the writers who adhere to these guidelines who will make a professional impression.

4. Edit your query, proposal, and sample chapters.

Don’t rush this process. Search for typos. I personally recommend having beta readers, critique partners, and/or professional editors review your submission before sending it off.

5. Save your submission in the right file and stick with the standard submission format. 

Again, you will want to review the guidelines to ensure that you hit every mark. There are some agents and editors who are particular about the file and font type. Remember that the standard file is .doc/.docx file, and the standard font is Times New Romans, 12 pt. 

For those of you who might be unfamiliar with this process, you might assume that agents and editors are asking too much of writers—as if they’re requesting that writers jump through unnecessary hoops. But trust me when I say that these guidelines are set for a reason. Not to frustrate the author, but because it helps the agents and editors in their specific evaluation process.

So if you want to avoid those automatic rejections, do your research ahead of time. Yes, even if it requires hours upon hours of prep work. Keep in mind that almost every successful traditionally-published author has gone through this process as well. 

Then, when you’re ready—and only then—should you send your work into the publishing world. 

How do you prepare your work for submission? Let me know in the comments!

Tessa Emily Hall writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show teens they’re not alone. Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as an Associate Agent at Hartline Literary Agency, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. Tessa’s first teen devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, will release with Bethany House in 2018. She’s guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating her insulin pump, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: tessaemilyhall.com.