It's an interesting road, no matter how to take it, no matter how you get there. I've been submitting queries, writing synopses, writing new books, honing my craft, and a bunch of other activities. I even have serious interest from a publisher--Shadow Mountain. But nothing is set, and I'm beginning to wonder about the probability of success through the new epublishing models on Amazon.com. I'm even thinking of focusing this blog, or a new one, on adventures in publishing, or my road to publication.
How do you determine what to write about? What has your path to publication been like?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
LTUE and ePublishing
I attended LTUE this weekend. That's a writing conference at BYU. I learned a ton about writing, spent time with some fantastic friends, including Lisa Mangum, author of the Hourglass Door trilogy, author and entrepreneur Dave Farland, Tracy Hickman, and a host of others.
Talked about how my book is in a positive holding pattern at Shadow Mountain.
And learned a great deal about how the publishing market, especially ePublishing, is changing. With Amanda Hawking selling 450,000 some-odd books online only in the last few months, I'm impressed and giving serious consideration to going that route myself. Thoughts on the road to self publishing?
Talked about how my book is in a positive holding pattern at Shadow Mountain.
And learned a great deal about how the publishing market, especially ePublishing, is changing. With Amanda Hawking selling 450,000 some-odd books online only in the last few months, I'm impressed and giving serious consideration to going that route myself. Thoughts on the road to self publishing?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Humbling (in a good way) reviews
As part of our great push to get my novel ready for second submission to the publisher, I leveraged my wife's Yahoo! groups and was able to target about 900 people to see if anyone was interested in reviewing the ms at a lickety-split pace. As an incentive, we offered $10 gift cards to Amazon.com to 10 reviewers who read the entire book and filled out a questionnaire. Close to 60 signed up. Now, they only had about 12 days, and a number of them did not make it in time.
However, we got excellent feedback (we here means me and my wife, who was a tremendous help). Helpful suggestions on a number of places to strengthen, clarify, expand, simplify, and such. A couple of readers had trouble--and that led to some important changes in the text as well.
Most gratifying to me was that most of the target audience kids--ages 9-13--loved the book. The boost to the ego was just extraordinary. The kids said things like, "It was amazing; I loved it; exciting, action-packed, fun!"
One 11-year-old boy answered the question, "Would you ask your parents to buy this?" said 'No--I'd buy it myself.' Wow. I just felt really grateful.
So, to all you reviewers out there, thanks a million. It's a much better book for your efforts. And I'm a much more excited writer as well.
So, the book went back to the publisher on Tuesday. Now they've asked to see it again, but they did tell me that this early in the game there are no promises and that I can still submit elsewhere. I'm querying agents now. Two out last night, and a number to go. We're on a roll!
However, we got excellent feedback (we here means me and my wife, who was a tremendous help). Helpful suggestions on a number of places to strengthen, clarify, expand, simplify, and such. A couple of readers had trouble--and that led to some important changes in the text as well.
Most gratifying to me was that most of the target audience kids--ages 9-13--loved the book. The boost to the ego was just extraordinary. The kids said things like, "It was amazing; I loved it; exciting, action-packed, fun!"
One 11-year-old boy answered the question, "Would you ask your parents to buy this?" said 'No--I'd buy it myself.' Wow. I just felt really grateful.
So, to all you reviewers out there, thanks a million. It's a much better book for your efforts. And I'm a much more excited writer as well.
So, the book went back to the publisher on Tuesday. Now they've asked to see it again, but they did tell me that this early in the game there are no promises and that I can still submit elsewhere. I'm querying agents now. Two out last night, and a number to go. We're on a roll!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Storymakers Conference
I just signed up for the LDS Storymakers Conference. I'm really excited by this year's conference. Part of that is because they've asked me to teach two classes! One will be on writing for magazines--partly emphasizing the Ensign and such, but also some more mechanical things on how to craft such stories.
The other will be on writing back cover copy--the secret to pitches and queries. I'll draw a lot from a webinar I took from Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency, combined with a few other things. She deserves credit. That was a fantastic seminar that completely changed how I consider queries and such. Really opened my eyes. I hope the material will be useful for the class!
Fortunately, I've got over four months to prepare. Not to procrastinate, I hope!
There will also be other editors and agents coming. This is mostly a fiction-based conference, but it is excellent. I believe last year drew about 600 people. One of the finest writing conferences I've been too.
I also signed up to attend the Whitney Awards. I've been helping a little behind the scenes to prepare for the awards. I've been impressed with the professionalism of the committee and their efforts to ensure a quality contest. If you haven't nominated someone and think their book is worthy of the award, you have until December 31st. Better get on it!
The other will be on writing back cover copy--the secret to pitches and queries. I'll draw a lot from a webinar I took from Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency, combined with a few other things. She deserves credit. That was a fantastic seminar that completely changed how I consider queries and such. Really opened my eyes. I hope the material will be useful for the class!
Fortunately, I've got over four months to prepare. Not to procrastinate, I hope!
There will also be other editors and agents coming. This is mostly a fiction-based conference, but it is excellent. I believe last year drew about 600 people. One of the finest writing conferences I've been too.
I also signed up to attend the Whitney Awards. I've been helping a little behind the scenes to prepare for the awards. I've been impressed with the professionalism of the committee and their efforts to ensure a quality contest. If you haven't nominated someone and think their book is worthy of the award, you have until December 31st. Better get on it!
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