#pathtopublication

[atruebloodwrites]

On being a career writer... Yesterday, I visited my local B&N and was pleased to see that almost two years later my debut is still on the shelves. This got me thinking about longevity in the publishing world. With all the talk this week about what makes for a good agent/writer relationship, I wanted to chat about being a career writer. I know when you write that first book all you can think about is getting it polished and published. It’s this very shiny time where everything is new and exciting. If you’re a Type A personality like me, you take on the query process as your own personal mission. You fanatically research agents, take notes about submission guidelines, and then spend hours tweaking that query. But what happens when you get that email from an agent who asks for a “call”. That moment is exciting, but it’s also a time to slow down and consider what you want to discuss. In that “call” you’ll be deciding who will be your voice to editors. Who will tell you if your book is ready to go on submission. But most importantly, they will become your long term business partner. This leads to my point. You need someone you can work with honestly and openly. If you want to write beyond the category and genre of your current manuscript, that needs to be addressed. You also must ask what the agent’s vision is for you beyond the current book. Some other questions to ask: What if you don’t rep what I want to write next? Can we still work together or do I have to find a second agent? (This sometimes will happen if say you want to write a PB or an adult book and the agent only reps YA) Next, what if you write something you love but the agent doesn’t? Will they still work with you on it? This can be a huge point of contention and a subject that needs serious discussion. You need to make it clear in that first “call” what your goals are and ask that agent if they are in it for the long haul. #pathtopublication #literaryagent #querying #writingabook #writinganovel #writershelpingwriters #igwriters #writergram #igauthors https://www.instagram.com/p/CLhW_9pgFsj/?igshid=13eive67xwbi3

[atruebloodwrites]

On being a career writer... Yesterday, I visited my local B&N and was pleased to see that almost two years later my debut is still on the shelves. This got me thinking about longevity in the publishing world. With all the talk this week about what makes for a good agent/writer relationship, I wanted to talk about being a career writer. I know that when you write that first book all you can think about is getting it polished and published. It’s this very shiny time where everything is new and exciting. If you’re a Type A personality like me, you take on the query process as your own personal mission. You fanatically research agents, take notes about submission guidelines, and then spend hours tweaking that query letter. But what happens when you get to the point where you have some movement? You get that email from an agent who asks for a “call”. That moment is exciting, but it’s also a time to slow down and give serious thought to the discussion. In that “call” you will be deciding who will be your voice to editors. Who will tell you if your book is ready to go out on submission. But most importantly, they will become your long term business partner. This leads to my point. You need someone you can work with honestly and openly. If you want to write beyond the category and genre of your current manuscript, that needs to be addressed. You also must ask what the agent’s vision is for you beyond the current book. Some other questions to ask: What if you don’t rep what I want to write next? Can we still work together or do I have to find a second agent? (This sometimes will happen if say you want to write a PB or an adult book and the agent only reps YA) Next, what if you write something you love but the agent doesn’t? Will they still work with you on it? This can be a huge point of contention and a subject that needs serious discussion. The main goal here is to think not only about your current manuscript but the entire length of your career. You need to make it clear in that first “call” what your goals are and ask that agent if they are in it for the long haul. #pathtopublication #query #literaryagent #writershelpingwriters #writersclub #writersden https://www.instagram.com/p/CLhVwpmgVFW/?igshid=v4fk8b60ppzt

[atruebloodwrites]

Most of my life people haven’t taken me seriously. Maybe it’s because I’m short, female, and have a voice that sounds like a ten-year-old. Whatever it is, people always bet against me. . When I said I wanted to run a half-marathon, most people said I’d never finish the training and the run. I did both. . When people warned me not to try to find a job in entertainment after college, I ignored them. I had a job in L.A. within the first month. . Even when I told people I wanted to write a book, they were skeptical. When I went to my first conference, and editor told me my chance of being published was less than 1%, I took it as a challenge not a devastating reality. . Maybe it is because people always underestimate that I fight back, struggle through, crawl toward that finish line. . What I’ve learned is that it’s not so much about showing everyone that they’re wrong, but proving to myself that I am right. . . . #workhard #nevergiveup #writingpath #pathtopublication #selfconfidence #liveyourdream #writinglife #authorlife #writerscommunity #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingcommunityofig #noselfrejecting #pushforward #yawritersofinstagram #yawriter #yaauthor https://www.instagram.com/p/CEPOLUPATpW/?igshid=rp63sqr7b7uo

[atruebloodwrites]

Writer friends: A quick word about the intricacies and perils of publishing. . . . If you’ve been writing for years and years, the whole aspect of querying, or selling that manuscript, may feel daunting, especially if you are getting nothing but rejections. . . . When you do get interest, it may finally feel like victory & validation. It’s a wonderful and hopeful time, but you also have to be cautious. . . . Before you agree to anything, please make sure you are doing your research. It’s great that an agent has taken an interest in your book after a pitch contest, but what do you know about them? Are they from a legit agency? Do they have sales to all different kinds of presses (big, medium, small)? Do they have clients you can speak to about their relationship? If an agent balks at making any of this info available, it’s a flag you should think about. . . . What about an offer from a publisher? Are they legit? Do they have a distribution arm? Will your book have both hard copies & digital versions? FYI, A LOT of small or indie presses only offer digital deals - some with print-on-demand options only. Know about this before you sign. If you are not agented, you should query with “publishing offer” in subject line. If you don’t get an agent, PLEASE have an attorney look at the contract before you sign. . . . Your work should be valued and that means taking time to vet offers. Many of us in the writing community are happy to answer questions. Please put in the work so you don’t get burned. There are a ton of details that effect your rights that you should know & understand. . . . #writingpath #writinglife #pathtopublication #aspiringwriter #aspiringauthor #publishingdeal #agencycontract #writingcommunityofinstagram #writingcommunity #writershelpingwriters #igauthor #writersofinstagram #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/CBv1Y4KAmL-/?igshid=wrgfn574hqz8

[atruebloodwrites]

#mywritepath Day 10 A Dream Worth Fighting For It didn’t hit me until I took this picture at my local Barnes and Noble a few months ago that my dream had come true. Ten years of writing, getting rejections, feeling hope, and then defeat, as I worked day after day to create the right book. I wish I could go back to younger me and tell her to hang in there. That even though it’d be years before she’d reached her goal, she’d get there. One day she’d stand in the YA aisle and hands shaking, tears running down her cheeks, she’d take this picture of her book babies next to each other on the shelf. It’s what I tell other writers just starting out when they ask about my journey. I tell them that I got crushed a lot along the way, but because of my will to succeed, and the support of so many friends, I refused to give up. I hope that if you’re reading this, you’ll look back at my path and remember that even though it’s a struggle, it CAN happen for you. Just continue to write, believe, and dream. Any day now, your “yes” could be on its way! 💗 #writingjourney #pathtopublication #aspiringwriter #writingdream #yawriter #storyteller #amwriting #writergram #writersofig #authorsofig #authorgram https://www.instagram.com/p/B_S0pWYAAWT/?igshid=1vsuj4qs9tazj

[atruebloodwrites]

#mywritepath Day 9 Your reviews I wish I had some sage advice when it comes to reviews. People are always saying reviews are for readers, that is very true, but as an author it’s hard not to read them. A big part of you wants to know if people are getting your story. Connecting with your characters. It’s a very hard line to walk. Truthfully, for Nothing But Sky I read everything. I rejoiced at the 5 stars and cringed at the less than favorable reviews. In fact, those less than complimentary reviews stayed with me for hours, even days later. It sucked the joy out of what should have been a triumph. I learned my lesson then that I shouldn’t read reviews unless they came from trades- which I couldn’t avoid because my publicist sent them to me. I had to embrace the fact that once the story was on shelves it was no longer mine. With time this has become easier to accept, but I’ll admit that when I catch a glimpse of a review, a biting comment still stings. The only difference now is that I’m smart enough not to go searching for them. #pathtopublication #bookreviews #yawriter #storyteller #authorlife #writerlife #writersofinstagram #igauthor #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_QJO4xADZn/?igshid=9ab1nzsv8109

[atruebloodwrites]

#mywritepath Day 9 Your reviews I wish I had some sage advice when it comes to reviews. People are always saying reviews are for readers, that is very true, but as an author it’s hard not to read them. A big part of you wants to know if people are getting your story. Connecting with your characters. It’s a very hard line to walk. Truthfully, for Nothing But Sky I read everything. I rejoiced at the 5 stars and cringed at the less than favorable reviews. In fact, those less than complimentary reviews stayed with me for hours, even days later. It sucked the joy out of what should have been a triumph. I learned my lesson then that I shouldn’t read reviews unless they came from trades- which I couldn’t avoid because my publicist sent them to me. I had to embrace the fact that once the story was on shelves it was no longer mine. With time this has become easier to accept, but I’ll admit that when I catch a glimpse of a review, a biting comment still stings. The only difference now is that I’m smart enough not to go searching for them. #pathtopublication #bookreviews #yawriter #storyteller #authorlife #writerlife #writersofinstagram #igauthor #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_QJO4xADZn/?igshid=9ab1nzsv8109

[atruebloodwrites]

#mywritepath Day 8 Querying again There’s this quiet, unwritten rule in publishing. When things go wrong, you’re not supposed to talk about it. Your deal goes sideways, keep quiet. You part ways with your agent, don’t mention it. All of these things makes it harder to be a writer. There is this sort of belief that you can’t talk about the hard things. Now I’m not saying you should be able to air your dirty laundry, but it should be okay to talk when you’re having a hard time. I see this issue come up the most when a writer leaves their agent. There is this sort of pall of shame that taints that experience that isn’t fair. Many writers have break-ups with their agents for any number of reasons. It is a plain and simple fact of publishing. When I had to go back to the query trenches a second time, I felt more jaded. I understood how the process worked, and I was A LOT more picky about who I sent my work to. Knowing about this business has its pluses and minuses. You learn who is great to work with and maybe those to shy away from. But no matter how you handle it, going back to the trenches is no fun. After having two books published, I knew it was time to get back out there. I wrote something very different than my historical books, and I needed someone who would let me widen my brand. The quote I’ve shared is from that book. A YA Contemporary set in L.A. It still has a strong female lead, she’s just battling the paparazzi now instead of social boundaries. It took a few months until I finally connected with someone who got my story, but also understood my career goals. In the end, that’s what you want in an agent. Someone who can look past the current book and plan for your future. Don’t settle for any less. #pathtopublication #querying #publishing #writerlife #writersofinstagram #storyteller #yawriter #igauthor #igauthorlife https://www.instagram.com/p/B_NgwNjgZlO/?igshid=141esa8b8vnpb