I'm sure you've all heard the old adage: failure is not an option.
How would you ever learn from your mistakes if you don't fail at something? Having the mindset of "failure is not an option" will make your life stagnant, where you'll be afraid to try new things, explore new frontiers, create a better life for yourself, your family, and mankind. Writers (and everyone else, for that matter) are bound to fail, so fail in style and learn from those lessons of failure.
But what does failing really look like? Failing, to you, may be receiving a rejection letter from an agent or not having anyone show up at your book signing. Do we quit at that point? No. Pick yourself up and persevere. In my opinion, a rejection letter is not failure. It's part of a writer's life. Quitting, mind you, should never be an option, depending on what quitting looks like. Smoking or drinking yourself into oblivion or abusing drugs (or any other harmful activities) are the exception to the no quitting rule.
So, my friend, continue to strive for excellence.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Don't shortsight your goals like JFK and NASA did?
The other day, my daughter asked me, "Dad, why haven't we been back to the moon?"
What a profound question from a precocious eight-year-old.
On May 25, 1961, in response to Russia's push into the space race, President John F. Kennedy boldly announced that we (the American people) would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade. In retrospect, this seems like a worthy goal. But it's shortsighted. Why just land a man on the moon? I know it was a huge feat--and one that we succeeded in--but NASA could've gone steps further by not just landing on the moon, they could've built cities on the moon where people could live and work, thriving in a new frontier. Just simply landing on the moon is like the Wright Brothers inventing manned flight and then, once they achieved it, they did nothing with their grand invention.
Don't shortsight your own goals. If your goal is to have your book published, that can be easily done today through the advent of self-publishing ebooks--publishing through the more traditional channels is a challenge, I humbly admit, and one I am striving hard to achieve. But you need to look farther ahead into the future. Do you want a career as a published author, traveling around the country, speaking at conventions, constantly marketing your work? If it is, then take up that charge and conquer. If not, then find out what it is you want to do and do it. Find out your why, as Simon Sinek tells us.
Think long-term for your life's goals, then put them into action. Today. Right now.
In thinking again about NASA . . . what are their goals for Mars? Hmmmm.
What a profound question from a precocious eight-year-old.
On May 25, 1961, in response to Russia's push into the space race, President John F. Kennedy boldly announced that we (the American people) would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade. In retrospect, this seems like a worthy goal. But it's shortsighted. Why just land a man on the moon? I know it was a huge feat--and one that we succeeded in--but NASA could've gone steps further by not just landing on the moon, they could've built cities on the moon where people could live and work, thriving in a new frontier. Just simply landing on the moon is like the Wright Brothers inventing manned flight and then, once they achieved it, they did nothing with their grand invention.
Don't shortsight your own goals. If your goal is to have your book published, that can be easily done today through the advent of self-publishing ebooks--publishing through the more traditional channels is a challenge, I humbly admit, and one I am striving hard to achieve. But you need to look farther ahead into the future. Do you want a career as a published author, traveling around the country, speaking at conventions, constantly marketing your work? If it is, then take up that charge and conquer. If not, then find out what it is you want to do and do it. Find out your why, as Simon Sinek tells us.
Think long-term for your life's goals, then put them into action. Today. Right now.
In thinking again about NASA . . . what are their goals for Mars? Hmmmm.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Some quick notes regarding your literary agent quest
Three quick notes about literary agents:
Most agencies have websites. I strongly suggest going to their website. This way, you'll ensure the most up-to-date information regarding the literary agency you've targeted. If they don't have one, that's okay.
Also, be sure to check out AAR's website. This is the Association of Authors' Representatives. The AAR has a strong code of ethics and is an agent is reputable, they're most than likely members of this organization. Their website is http://aaronline.org/
Lastly, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has a terrific website which lists literary agents that may be dishonest/scam artists. It is also a great tool for compiling yet another list of agents. Their website is http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/
Most agencies have websites. I strongly suggest going to their website. This way, you'll ensure the most up-to-date information regarding the literary agency you've targeted. If they don't have one, that's okay.
Also, be sure to check out AAR's website. This is the Association of Authors' Representatives. The AAR has a strong code of ethics and is an agent is reputable, they're most than likely members of this organization. Their website is http://aaronline.org/
Lastly, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America has a terrific website which lists literary agents that may be dishonest/scam artists. It is also a great tool for compiling yet another list of agents. Their website is http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/
Writing as a business - the selling side
In the last few blogs, I touched on the query letter, which is linked to this topic. Let's assume you've completed your manuscript, thoroughly edited it, and have polished up your query letter. Now what?
It's time to start querying.
This can be an extremely daunting task, in and of itself. There are essentially two ways to go about doing this. Okay, there's three, but the third is the self-publishing route. If that's more your style, read all you can about it, the pros and the cons. What I'm going to touch on is, what has been known as, the traditional route. Those two ways are either through a literary agent or directly with an editor/publishing company. Typically, most publishing companies won't even consider you unless you have an agent, and although there are exceptions, I'll just touch on the literary agent route.
Okay, where does one begin?
First, I'd get a copy of the Guide to Literary Agents published by Writer's Digest, preferably the latest copy but one even a year or two old should contain mostly current information. This will give you the most comprehensive list of literary agents. You can either purchase this, and I can be quite reasonably priced, or you can borrow it from your local library. You may also go to their website: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com
If you'll notice, each listing describes what each agency is looking for: nonfiction, thrillers, horror, no sci-fi or fantasy, and so on. In the back, GLA lists each category out by literary agents' preferences, so it's easier to find out which agents are looking for certain genres.
Each listing will also advise you on how they want to be contacted: mail, e-mail, fax, website. Be sure to adhere to these or else you'll find yourself rejected without your query letter even being considered. Keep in mind, literary agents are some of the most overworked groups of people on the planet, and some receive over a hundred queries a day. Be patient.
When I go searching for an agent, I scour the GLA from cover to cover. I rank each agent by genre preferences and even contact method. Due to the high cost of mail, I prefer to sort through all of the agents who prefer to be contacted either through their website or e-mail, then I move on from here.
Once you've compiled a list of agents, now it's to actually contact them. Make it a goal to send out X amount of queries in a week. If you do one to three a day, you should have all of them contacted within a month or more. Be mindful of any responses back. If an agent wishes to see a piece of your work, send it out immediately. Do not delay.
Last but not least, never ever give up. Out of a hundred agents, you might get a dozen or so who seem interested, but in the end only one or two of them will actually request the entire manuscript. If this doesn't happen, review your query letter. Is it the best you can make it? Is the description of your story seem like something that you'd even want to read?
There are a lot of factors involved in selling your story. If you go through your list and get no bites, search the web for other literary agents not listed in the GLA. Be careful though. Not all agents are what they seem. If they demand money up front for a reading fee . . . RUN the other way! This is very unethical and could typically be a scam.
As a side note, and something I haven't done up at this point but will be considering it down the road, is conferences and conventions. Attend writing conferences and conventions. I've read multiple stories from authors who've become noticed by an agent by meeting them at a convention. Even though a particular agent rejected you doesn't mean they won't consider you when you meet with them face-to-face.
It's time to start querying.
This can be an extremely daunting task, in and of itself. There are essentially two ways to go about doing this. Okay, there's three, but the third is the self-publishing route. If that's more your style, read all you can about it, the pros and the cons. What I'm going to touch on is, what has been known as, the traditional route. Those two ways are either through a literary agent or directly with an editor/publishing company. Typically, most publishing companies won't even consider you unless you have an agent, and although there are exceptions, I'll just touch on the literary agent route.
Okay, where does one begin?
First, I'd get a copy of the Guide to Literary Agents published by Writer's Digest, preferably the latest copy but one even a year or two old should contain mostly current information. This will give you the most comprehensive list of literary agents. You can either purchase this, and I can be quite reasonably priced, or you can borrow it from your local library. You may also go to their website: www.guidetoliteraryagents.com
If you'll notice, each listing describes what each agency is looking for: nonfiction, thrillers, horror, no sci-fi or fantasy, and so on. In the back, GLA lists each category out by literary agents' preferences, so it's easier to find out which agents are looking for certain genres.
Each listing will also advise you on how they want to be contacted: mail, e-mail, fax, website. Be sure to adhere to these or else you'll find yourself rejected without your query letter even being considered. Keep in mind, literary agents are some of the most overworked groups of people on the planet, and some receive over a hundred queries a day. Be patient.
When I go searching for an agent, I scour the GLA from cover to cover. I rank each agent by genre preferences and even contact method. Due to the high cost of mail, I prefer to sort through all of the agents who prefer to be contacted either through their website or e-mail, then I move on from here.
Once you've compiled a list of agents, now it's to actually contact them. Make it a goal to send out X amount of queries in a week. If you do one to three a day, you should have all of them contacted within a month or more. Be mindful of any responses back. If an agent wishes to see a piece of your work, send it out immediately. Do not delay.
Last but not least, never ever give up. Out of a hundred agents, you might get a dozen or so who seem interested, but in the end only one or two of them will actually request the entire manuscript. If this doesn't happen, review your query letter. Is it the best you can make it? Is the description of your story seem like something that you'd even want to read?
There are a lot of factors involved in selling your story. If you go through your list and get no bites, search the web for other literary agents not listed in the GLA. Be careful though. Not all agents are what they seem. If they demand money up front for a reading fee . . . RUN the other way! This is very unethical and could typically be a scam.
As a side note, and something I haven't done up at this point but will be considering it down the road, is conferences and conventions. Attend writing conferences and conventions. I've read multiple stories from authors who've become noticed by an agent by meeting them at a convention. Even though a particular agent rejected you doesn't mean they won't consider you when you meet with them face-to-face.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
A query letter - part 3 - a sample letter
***This is a basic example of a query letter, and yes I mean basic. I'm not trying to be clever in any such way. This is just a rough idea of what one should look like.***
October 26th, 2011
Your name
Your address
Your city, state, and ZIP
Phone number
E-mail address
Blog address
Literary Agency
Their address
Their city, state, and ZIP
Dear Steve: (or whoever the agent's name it)
I am looking for a literary agent to represent me. I have completed a 430-page, 85,000-word manuscript of humorous science fiction genre titled Fry Chef Alien.
Fry Chef Alien is about an alien who lands on Earth and finds his spaceship is in need of repairs. Repairs he can't do because, quite frankly, there are no repair shops for spaceships. The alien then finds work as a fry chef, only to discover that many of the customers are also from his planet, also stuck here on unrepairable ships.
I have both a B.S. and a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota in creative writing, and have studied under the direction of award-winning Minnesota author Mark S. R. Peterson. I am also an active member of a local science fiction writer’s group named "Geeks R Us"
Thank you for your time. If so desired, I am able to send either the first few chapters or the entire manuscript for you to review.
October 26th, 2011
Your name
Your address
Your city, state, and ZIP
Phone number
E-mail address
Blog address
Literary Agency
Their city, state, and ZIP
Dear Steve: (or whoever the agent's name it)
I am looking for a literary agent to represent me. I have completed a 430-page, 85,000-word manuscript of humorous science fiction genre titled Fry Chef Alien.
Fry Chef Alien is about an alien who lands on Earth and finds his spaceship is in need of repairs. Repairs he can't do because, quite frankly, there are no repair shops for spaceships. The alien then finds work as a fry chef, only to discover that many of the customers are also from his planet, also stuck here on unrepairable ships.
I have both a B.S. and a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota in creative writing, and have studied under the direction of award-winning Minnesota author Mark S. R. Peterson. I am also an active member of a local science fiction writer’s group named "Geeks R Us"
Thank you for your time. If so desired, I am able to send either the first few chapters or the entire manuscript for you to review.
Sincerely,
Your name
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
A query letter - part 2
How do you write a query letter?
If you were to type this question into Mr. Google's search engine, you're probably going to get millions and millions of hits. Most of them are going to be similar, so let me sum it up for you.
(You may ask, why should I take advice from you, since none of your novels have been published? I understand your inquiry, however even though no agents at this point have signed up to represent me, a handful have looked favorably onto my query letter and have asked to see a few sample chapters--one even asked to see my very first novel. Also, I've read quite extensively on this subject, so I do have first-hand knowledge of the subject.)
First and foremost, your manuscript needs to be complete and thoroughly edited. If it is, then let's move on. If it's not, then go back to work and finish it. The vast majority of agents will reject you if your manuscript isn't complete. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but you have to be one damn talented fellow in order to move forth through the gauntlet AND something special--like a psychologist who's been practicing for twenty years with troubled teens and have a wealth of information to share. That kind of special. Not a oh-I-think-I-can-write-like-J. K. Rowling (or whoever your favorite author it)-just-because-I've-read-all-of-the-Harry-Potter-novels. Keep working.
Manuscript complete? Check.
Thoroughly edited? Check.
Good. Let's move on. At the top of the page, put today's date, then put in your contact info (put e-mail address, cell phone number, and even a blog website if it showcases your writing) right below that. Next put in the agent's address.
For the salutation, find out the name of the agent you're sending it to. DO NOT send it to the attention of Mr. or Mrs. Literary Agent. Chances are it'll be rejected. Make it personal and put in their name.
For the body of the e-mail, there are a few formats to choose, so experiment a little to find the right one. It should contain: your name and also why you're contacting them (looking for an agent to represent me), three to five sentences on what your book is about, and a brief history of yourself. Finish your letter by thanking them for their time, and if they're interested, you could either send them a few chapters or the entire manuscript to review.
Lastly, keep your query letter down to one page. Any more than that, and you'll probably be rejected. Think of the query letter as a sales pitch, an elevator pitch. Keep it short.
Sounds fairly simple, doesn't it?
Try it. In fact, even if you're currently working on a novel right now, start your query letter immediately. That way, when it's done, you can go back and tweak it. I even suggest having a few people read it (preferably not family, as they can be a little biased towards you) and ask for their honest opinion.
If you were to type this question into Mr. Google's search engine, you're probably going to get millions and millions of hits. Most of them are going to be similar, so let me sum it up for you.
(You may ask, why should I take advice from you, since none of your novels have been published? I understand your inquiry, however even though no agents at this point have signed up to represent me, a handful have looked favorably onto my query letter and have asked to see a few sample chapters--one even asked to see my very first novel. Also, I've read quite extensively on this subject, so I do have first-hand knowledge of the subject.)
First and foremost, your manuscript needs to be complete and thoroughly edited. If it is, then let's move on. If it's not, then go back to work and finish it. The vast majority of agents will reject you if your manuscript isn't complete. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but you have to be one damn talented fellow in order to move forth through the gauntlet AND something special--like a psychologist who's been practicing for twenty years with troubled teens and have a wealth of information to share. That kind of special. Not a oh-I-think-I-can-write-like-J. K. Rowling (or whoever your favorite author it)-just-because-I've-read-all-of-the-Harry-Potter-novels. Keep working.
Manuscript complete? Check.
Thoroughly edited? Check.
Good. Let's move on. At the top of the page, put today's date, then put in your contact info (put e-mail address, cell phone number, and even a blog website if it showcases your writing) right below that. Next put in the agent's address.
For the salutation, find out the name of the agent you're sending it to. DO NOT send it to the attention of Mr. or Mrs. Literary Agent. Chances are it'll be rejected. Make it personal and put in their name.
For the body of the e-mail, there are a few formats to choose, so experiment a little to find the right one. It should contain: your name and also why you're contacting them (looking for an agent to represent me), three to five sentences on what your book is about, and a brief history of yourself. Finish your letter by thanking them for their time, and if they're interested, you could either send them a few chapters or the entire manuscript to review.
Lastly, keep your query letter down to one page. Any more than that, and you'll probably be rejected. Think of the query letter as a sales pitch, an elevator pitch. Keep it short.
Sounds fairly simple, doesn't it?
Try it. In fact, even if you're currently working on a novel right now, start your query letter immediately. That way, when it's done, you can go back and tweak it. I even suggest having a few people read it (preferably not family, as they can be a little biased towards you) and ask for their honest opinion.
Monday, October 24, 2011
A query letter
I've written a total of five novels and have queried agents on most of them. But the weird part is, writing a query letter to a literary agent is harder than writing the novel in the first place.
Why is that?
First, I think when one spends months and months (or even years) writing your book, to summarize it into a handful of sentences is a challenge equal to that of hand-to-hand combat with a gladiator. There's so much to put in, even though you can't. Second, there's a lot of importance to the query letter. It's a lot like dating.
Very, very few agents will take a look at your manuscript unsolicited. And with the cost of postage nowadays, I wouldn't want to shell out that kind of dough, because not only are you paying for the novel to ship sent to the agent, you'll have to pay to send it back in a self-addressed stamped envelope (or box in this case of your manuscript). Of course, you could e-mail it, but no agent will open an e-mail with thirty to fifty attachments. The agent will probably hit the DELETE key.
So, my fellow writer, you'll need to write a query letter.
Why is that?
First, I think when one spends months and months (or even years) writing your book, to summarize it into a handful of sentences is a challenge equal to that of hand-to-hand combat with a gladiator. There's so much to put in, even though you can't. Second, there's a lot of importance to the query letter. It's a lot like dating.
Very, very few agents will take a look at your manuscript unsolicited. And with the cost of postage nowadays, I wouldn't want to shell out that kind of dough, because not only are you paying for the novel to ship sent to the agent, you'll have to pay to send it back in a self-addressed stamped envelope (or box in this case of your manuscript). Of course, you could e-mail it, but no agent will open an e-mail with thirty to fifty attachments. The agent will probably hit the DELETE key.
So, my fellow writer, you'll need to write a query letter.
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