Writing a book is hard in its own way. Writing a synopsis about said book? Somehow even harder. Like clearly you have written thousands of words, but trying to boil those words down to approximately 800-1500 words ( two pages) with the perfect mix of summarization but also intrigue, is a royal pain in the ass. You’ve likely seen authors lamenting over their synopsis online, and I’m here to say, same, friends, same.
Read MoreIt makes absolutely no sense that the final installment of an “advance” meaning something that’s supposed to be paid BEFORE something happens, should be coming through four years after the initial contract. We’ve talked a little about this before, but I want to go a bit more in depth with you about the reality of trying to make a “living” as an author. Which I don’t do, by the way. Let me make it very clear that your girl still has a very big girl, full-time job, which is how I survive in a place where groceries are $100 no matter what you buy.
Read MoreBreaking into any new industry can be a scary thing. Listen, I have worked my whole professional career at a music organization, so deciding I was going to be a published author one day was a huge undertaking. Even after self-publishing two of my own books, becoming a debut novelist was a jolt to my system. I was learning in real time how the traditional publishing industry worked. Funny enough, there is no onboarding document that you’re handed once a publisher decides to acquire your book. Just phone calls, deadlines, and a ton of industry jargon you may or may not understand.
Read MoreMany of us dream of being able to write for a living. But I think it’s important to define exactly what that means. When you think of a life as a writer, what does that entail? How do you make your money? While we romanticize the idea, I know I have, it may involve some creativity and ingenuity to make it make sense.
Read MoreI’ve come to the conclusion there’s not a lot of rhyme or reason in the who and what of publishing. Like in anything I’ve tried to do in life, I’m always studying. Trying to learn the ins and outs and nuances of what it takes to be successful in any given industry. Whether it’s music or literature, if I’m going to do something, I want to be the best at it. And the way you do that is studying those that are in the position you want to be in and trying to reverse engineer. Except, every time I have a conversation with someone who I think is a successful writer, I think I’m left more confused than when I started.
Read MoreDuring the Torch retreat, we had the opportunity to hear from the director of Northwestern University Press Parneisha Jones as one of the guest speakers. It was clear from her introduction that she was a dynamic woman especially as one of the two Black women currently leading a university press. But she said something important that I’m still thinking about weeks later. “There’s a difference between a writer and an author.”
Read MoreBy the time you’ve gotten this far in the agenting process, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be unable to believe it’s actually happening for you. But it is happening and at a certain point you have to grab a hold of this idea that it’s not happening by accident, but because you did the necessary work.
Read MoreNow, the agent has sent an email and they absolutely adore your story. They’re going to want to set up a call with you to get to know you, ask questions they may have about the story, and give some feedback. And yes, rejection is rough, but acceptance, well, doesn’t that come with its own anxiety?
Read MoreQuery letters these days are mostly formally written emails or more often now even forms that you complete through a link provided by many agents. Back in the day, this used to be a physically mailed letter to have an agent consider your manuscript.
Read MoreWith the news of New Leaf Literary Agency dropping a whole roster of authors floating around the interwebs, I don’t think this series could have come at a better time. Writers who are hoping to publish traditionally covet the idea of having an agent, but it really is important to know exactly what you’re looking for to set yourself up for success in your publishing journey. And that starts with finding the right agent for your particular work.
Read MoreBeing a full-time writer is something many beginning writers fantasize about. This dream life involves slow mornings, great travel, and stimulating conversation. Is it possible? Absolutely. We have seen top selling writers' lives completely change. Is it feasible for every writer? Not necessarily. Even less likely when starting out. I know, sometimes I’m coming in way too grounded. Lol. But stay with me.
Read MoreSo, first and foremost, this is the first statement I’m receiving and the book was released in June 2022. It’s important to know that you won’t actually receive a statement until six months after your publishing date. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, because people want to always ask, “how is the book doing?” It’s almost as maddening as people asking what you’re working on next when you just spent years of your life working on this one thing. While your royalty statement is your most accurate gauge of how things are going, there are still things that could be missing.
Read MoreI’ve been working on a manuscript over the past year and some change that I recently sent over to my agent for her feedback. And even as my cursor hovered over the send button, I was having second thoughts. Maybe I needed to read it one last time. But then I had to remind myself, this is not the finished product. It’s a draft. If publishing my debut novel taught me anything, it’s that there will still be a lot more feedback coming down the pipeline. So it doesn’t have to be perfect, just done.
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