What to do while you're waiting....and waiting....and waiting

Okay, so you found a publisher for your great American horror novel and you have a release date. Most of the editing is done and now maybe you’re just missing the finished cover and copy edits.

In the meantime, what do you do?

As you probably already know, especially if you’ve been through this before as I have, the work is really just beginning.

The past couple of weeks I have spent feverishly putting together a new website, one that looks professional and will hopefully make me look professional. I put in lots of links to other sites, mainly authors and publishers that I know and like, and pages concerning my outside interests, such as music. 

I also like to get people involved with the process of publishing, especially since a lot of my fans are writers, which is why I started this blog. I know that I always looked for blogs like this when I was just starting out. I love to see things from behind the scenes.

I am also revising a manuscript for a young adult novel I have been writing for the past few months and will have that done, soon. Then I will have to begin the whole process of finding a publisher over again. Yay!

 I have also begun to look at the various aspects of marketing my new thriller, LILITH. My publisher, DarkFuse, has an excellent marketing director named Dave Thomas, and I know I will be working closely with him, so there will be a lot he can help me with. But as an author, I am also responsible for selling my book. I need to find the best options for reaching my target audience by using tools such as blogs, message boards and advertisements, and go from there.

I also do freelance writing for my local newspaper and other things, so that keeps me running, too.

Then, there is family. Got to cut out time for them somewhere along the way, right? Since I work from home, it seems like it’s usually the other way around—I’m trying to cut out time to work!

 So as you can see, it is possible to stay busy while waiting for something else to work its way through the process. But waiting isn’t so bad. After all, I’m doing what I love, so what more could I ask for?

A Novel View of the Editing Process

Ever since I finished my first thriller, DIABLERO, back in 2009, I have been involved in the editing process in one way or another. Now with my second novel, LILITH, I have embarked on a new journey with a new editor and a new publisher and so far it’s been a great experience.

First of all, my editor, Greg Gifune, is a best-selling author with a dozen published novels and hundreds of published short stories under his belt. That in itself can be intimidating. But I knew I had a great book so I was confident that it would need a minimum of editing. After all, this was my second novel and I had already reworked it several times. It should be good to go, right?

Wrong answer. I found out that I still have a lot to learn. Compared to most of the authors in the DarkFuse catalogue, some of whom are probably half my age, I’m still a greenhorn. Luckily for me, Greg is not afraid to work with greenhorns. 

Don’t get me wrong—I know it’s a good story. Getting a deal with DarkFuse proves that. But it needed work, from grammar to punctuation to continuity. My first book was the same way, but I have definitely improved since then. I look at some of the writing in that book and cringe, though it’s still a great story.

The thing I like most about working with an editor is having that objective viewpoint. Some of the scenes in the book that I thought were serious got a good laugh from Greg, and some lines I thought were funny just fell flat. A professional editor has a good eye for those things and that’s a priceless commodity when you want your book to rise above the fray.

Seeing all the red notes on my manuscript seemed a little daunting at first, but Greg talked me through it and explained everything to the point that I felt confident making the changes that were needed. I spent hours restructuring sentences, adding commas (I’m terrible about not using commas), showing instead of telling, changing dialogue, and even adding a new prologue.  

At 3 a.m., I finally hit “send” on my email and then dragged myself to bed.

Was it worth it? I think it was. I had written a good story, but just like a race car, it takes more than just a driver. It takes a crew to fine tune it, shine it up and make it the best it can be. After all, there are a lot of other cars on the track.

Soon I’ll be getting a look at the cover art and talking to the marketing department about the next phase. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for listening!

Why I Held Out for the Publishing Deal

I’m finally living the dream! That’s right, as of this writing my supernatural techno-thriller, LILITH, will be published nationwide in hardcover, paperback and e-book by DarkFusePublishing in Jan. 2013.  

I have a lot of friends (yes, that’s right – I have friends!) that have suggested over the course of my writing career that I self-publish and keep all the money to myself. Well, here’s why I decided not to go that route.

For one thing, self-publishing ain’t cheap—it can run up into the $15,000 range, and while I’m not looking to get rich (though I wouldn’t complain if I did), I just don’t have that kind of bread. I realize that a confident writer should be willing to invest in their own talent, but I’m investing time, and lots of it.

Take my first novel, DIABLERO (check out my website). While working full-time, taking care of a family and going to college, I started writing DIABLERO just to see if I could do it. It took five years, but I did it. A year after I typed “The End,” I found a publisher. A year after that, it was published. So, from starting the book to publication: seven years. Was it worth it? It was to me. Here’s why: because someone believed in my book enough to put their own time, money and reputation behind it and believe me, that’s a great feeling. 

I finished my second novel LILITH, around April of 2011, about a year after I started it. As I did with my first novel, I began the search for an agent. Several nibbles and 75 or so rejections later, I decided to search for a publisher on my own. The publisher of my first novel had indicated interest, but already had a full line-up through 2012. Being of an impatient sort, I began looking at other publishers and found about a dozen or so that accepted submissions from authors without agents. More rejection.

Eventually, I gave up and started writing a young adult science fiction novel (which I am nearly half way done with). About that time, I got full manuscript requests from two publishers, one of them being DarkFuse Publishing. DarkFuse made an offer first and I accepted, mainly because I liked them best. I’ll have to say the experience has been exhilarating from day one. They are a great bunch of guys publishing high-quality books by world-class authors and I am excited to be working with them.

Along the way to publication I had the usual thoughts, like “Just self-publish it as an e-book,” “Maybe your writing really sucks” or “Get a real job,” but my family continues to support my dreams and my books continue to get published, so why stop now? I’m on a roll!

Another reason I decided to go with a traditional publisher is the fact that self-publishing is like being a soldier trying to go into battle without basic training: You may be gung-ho, but you’re just not ready for the real world and your writing can suffer for it. I’m saving that topic for next time.

Next week: Going Through the Gauntlet: The Editing Process

It's Not Just a Dream Anymore

I met Jennifer Oliver while working at The Daily Advance, a newspaper here in Elizabeth City. She interviewed me recently on her blog site and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Jennifer is a wonderful human being and an aspiring novelist with a story to tell. Though she hasn't been officially "published" as a novelist, she has years of experience with the written word and I am glad to be able to give her a forum. Besides, her blog has a heck of a lot more followers than mine!

          

I have always dreamed of being a published author, but that's all it was – just a dream.  It never occurred to me that it could really happen. I mean, how many people daydream about being an actress, or astronaut, or a billionaire, or whatever else they want to be when they grow up?  Just about everyone, right? And how many of them actually get off their tushes and do something about it? Yeah, that number just decreased dramatically.

Yet it wasn't until I contributed in writing a novel a year or so ago, that something in my wee brain clicked in place. I could do this. Little old me could be an author, I really could. It would take some long hours and hard work, but it was possible.

So, after some over-analyzing, a few moments of panic, and my husband talking me out from underneath the bed, I decided what the heck – I'm going to follow my dream. I'm going to be a real writer, not some chick who dawdles and stashes tons of snippets in a folder somewhere in the desk. Nope, I'm going to a published author.

Oh yeah, I could see it all happening right before my eyes. I would do interviews and book-signings, deal with movie rights and promote international best-sellers. I'd eat lunch with James Patterson and text back and forth with Stephen King. I'd even do those Nook commercials!

Then reality smacked me around a bit bringing my lovely imagination to a screeching halt. My vision cleared and there I was sitting at my computer staring at a blank page, the cursor taunting me with its consistent blinks. How was I going to make lunch reservations with Bentley Little if I don't write a book? I had to find the proper way to write a novel, and I had to find it now.

So I did what most people do when they need information, I hit the internet. There were loads upon loads of blogs, articles, books, videos, and even vlogs on how to write a novel and how to get published. I read until my eyes crossed and my brain trembled from information overload. It wasn't a pretty sight.

Once I was able to function again, I saw that mostly everything said the same thing - there is no one true path to getting published, nor is there a “one size fits all” formula to writing a good novel. You have to do what works for you. You have to find your own groove, your own magic pace, and your own voice.

ACK! How do I do that? What is “voice?” What about structure and scenes? What if I use the wrong words? How will I know if its ready to submit? All these questions and more came swooping into my brain. I was no closer to writing a novel than when I first sat down in front of a blank document. But I didn't give up. I kept researching and reading everything I could find.

The turning point for me was when I started reading best-selling author Kristen Lamb's blog.  And then I took the online course that she taught, “How to Build an Author Platform.” Through her, I was introduced to the WANA (We Are Not Alone) concept. Kristen didn't just put this out as a theory,  she made it come alive. She started the WANA network, an amazing community of pre-published and published authors in all stages of the process, who not only support and encourage each other but share their knowledge and advice. I felt like I had hit the jackpot.

 Now, I feel like I'm truly on my way to becoming an author. I'm learning everything I possibly can about the craft of writing. I'm reading books like Plot and Structure and Hooked. I'm taking online classes and workshops that totally fit my budget through Lawson Writer's Academy and Who Dares Wins Publishing. I'm networking through social media platforms and blogging regularly. I'm half way through a first draft of a work-in-progress and along with a fantastic critique partner, I have an entire group of people who are cheering me on every day. 

The best thing though is I'm learning to believe in myself. Don't get me wrong, I still battle with that evil monster, doubt. Most writers do. This gig is tough. You are putting yourself and the work you have slaved over, on a figurative stage for all the world to see and judge. It can be scary, and downright heart-breaking if you let it.

But that's okay because I know that as a writer I'm still learning and growing. I know that I'm in the beginning stages of a journey that will most likely last my whole life. And that excites me.

I may not text Stephen King or exchange emails with Bentley anytime soon, but I will follow my dream through to fruition. I will be a published author one day. And to me, that means the world.

I'd love to hear your experiences, as well. Have you ever followed your dreams? Are you struggling as a new writer, trying to find direction? Or maybe you're a seasoned author and want to offer advice to us newbies out there? Feel free to leave your questions and comments! 


Thanks Jennifer! Check out Jennifer's awesome blog featuring interviews with authors (like me!) and others at Jennifer L. Oliver's Blog.

Mr. Agent Man (or: Hey, Why Do I Need an Agent?)

As I go through the seemingly endless process of finding a literary agent, the devil sits on one shoulder and an angel on the other, going at it like prize fighters. “You don’t need an agent,” one says. “You’ll do just fine on your own. In fact, you’ll do better because you can keep more of your money!”

On the other shoulder is the voice that says, “But the publishing world is huge and so difficult to navigate for a writer. You need some help!”

I believe there is some truth in what both of these voices say. Sure, I got my first book, DIABLERO, published all by my lonesome by a small press in Atlanta, Georgia and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Nightbird Publishing is a quality publishing house with integrity and vision. They set me up with a book release party in Atlanta, helped get me some book signings, some publicity and were just generally easy to work with and enthusiastic about my book. DIABLERO was one of their best-selling releases up to that time, so I can’t complain.

Then, along came David Niall Wilson and Crossroad Press, who offered to release DIABLERO as an e-book. That deal was also done without the aid of an agent.

So why get an agent?

Well, let me put it this way: I believe I could get along in the publishing world without one, maybe eventually publish a best-seller at some point. I’ve always believed in being self-sufficient and self-reliant, so it would fit right into my philosophy.

But the thing is I don’t want to do it alone. Sure, my family and friends are supportive, but they aren’t in the publishing business and I want someone on my side that is—someone who knows the ins and outs, the loopholes in the publishing contracts, the editors at the publishing houses and the people that will review my book. I want someone on my side that believes in me and my work and will fight to get it out there into the world and make sure I get paid when it does.

I don’t think 15 percent is too much to ask for a little piece of mind.

Whenever I see my novelist friend and mentor Stephen March, the first thing he always asks me is, “Got any offers on that book, yet?” followed by, “Don’t give up and don’t stop believing in yourself.”

I can’t think of any better advice to give a struggling writer. So far I’ve had several agents request my full manuscript and right now it’s in the hands of one of the most influential agents in the world. Not bad.

But even if he says, “No thanks,” I will continue my quest, because eventually I believe someone is going to say, “Yes!”

For more info on my books and other craziness, visit my web site at Toby Tate Stories.

Chasing the Fame Train

A lot of writers think that chasing the latest fads in the literary field is the way to a publishing contract. The misunderstood vampire, the wild-eyed zombie, the child-wizard, the gin-soaked, smart-mouthed private investigator—you know the ones—the tired, clichéd, overused characters.

Well, I used to be one of those writers. I was ready and willing to jump on that fame train.

But I have learned that if your writing doesn’t come from the heart and is instead motivated by the hope of an expanding wallet, you are headed down a rocky path and toward a perpetually empty bank account. Literary agents’ in-boxes are filled with queries from would-be authors following the latest trends or trying to copy the styles of famous writers. But those authors are traveling a dead-end street and they don’t even realize it.

I read blogs—lots and lots of blogs—by literary agents that receive anywhere from 30 to 100 queries a day and one theme that occurs throughout these blogs is this: Write in your own voice and don’t follow trends. So why try to be someone you’re not? Write what you love. Write what you would like to read, but use your own words and ideas, not someone else’s. Yeah, vampire stories are the schizzle right now, but that market could soon fizzle and you’re left standing with manuscript in hand and nowhere to turn.

Instead of trying to figure out what agents and publishers are looking for and writing for the market, write for yourself and try to find a niche—something that no one else is writing about. Make it unique and interesting, make your characters jump off the page, make your story crackle with excitement!

My latest manuscript has been requested by no less than five literary agents and I’m still waiting to hear back from several more because I chose not to follow trends. I read the latest books by authors who write in my field, not because I want to copy them, but to make sure I DON’T copy them. I try to keep an eye on the latest trends to make sure I DON’T follow them. My characters and my stories are unique because I dare to be different, and hopefully it will pay off in a big way.

But if not, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have integrity and will continue to have integrity because I write stories that come from my own heart and mind and no one else’s. If the fame train leaves the station without me, then so be it. I'll take the bus.