When Is A Debut Novel NOT a Debut Novel?

Yesterday, I read a blog post from Janet Reid (the literary agent). What I spied with my little eye was the bit about the writer who was very, very good but she'd turned him down because she'd seen that story a dozen times. A debut novel needs to be something fresh and new, she said.

Over the weekend, I attended an SCBWI conference where Alexandra Cooper (an editor) mentioned that writers should do their homework, see what publishers are buying and pay attention to what kinds of books are glutting up the marketplace. But what if a writer's been working on a book for a couple years and NOW the marketplace is glutted with her kind of story? What to do then? Ms. Cooper suggested that perhaps that "overdone" novel might need to stay under the bed for awhile. A debut novelist needs something...yep, fresh and new.

The last query response I received was very sweet. I can't remember the agent's name off the top of my head, but she personally answered the email. Loved the title, she said, loved the humor, and she felt that the writing was good and that the book would find a home. But this sweet agent already had something like my novel. Honestly? It's not the first time I've gotten a response along those lines.

And so I'm considering, or perhaps I should say re-considering, whether this manuscript is the one I should be putting out there as a debut novel. I really love this story. I love these characters. And I want to tell more of their story. A story that may, if I keep pushing, sell sooner or later.

But is it fresh enough and new enough to be a debut novel? In the last three months, I keep hearing this message, and now it's beginning to take on an ominous tone, like a warning. To wit: just because you can get your first book published...should you?

Which just goes to prove that October may be all about scary monsters and things that go bump in the night, but what really keeps a person wide awake and terrified is freakin' reality and the choices we make that might affect the rest of our lives. (Boo!)

Thursday's Three: Something for Everyone (If You're a Writer)

So, I go to Twitter. And because it's been over a week, maybe two, a GAZILLION little tweets have rolled by. And at first, I get a little panicky. Egads! What have I missed? The secret to the universe may have been tweeted and where was I? I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW.

But then I breathe into a paper bag and notice that a lot of tweets are things like, "meet me at Pete's-it's on the corner of 4th and Lex" and I figure that the secret of the universe was probably not divulged at a bar in New York.

Still, I do find a couple writerly gems and save these sparkly posts to read for later. That is where Thursday's Three comes in. Here are a few sites you might want to check out. And best of all, you don't have to go through a panic attack to get there.

For the freelancer who wants to make more money, Kelly James-Enger has a wonderful blog, Dollars and Deadlines. And you might want to check her sidebar, too. Lots of great freelance resources there.

For the wannabe published author, Alan Rinzler has a blog called The Book Deal that's brimming with in-depth information on just about everything to do with the publishing business.

For the social-media challenged writer, check out Kristen Lamb's Blog. I really like her love revolution, We Are Not Alone (#MyWANA on Twitter). BUT, she's got plenty to say about all things social media, not just Twitter.

Okay, those are the top three of this week. I hope you find something you like. And please, people. If you happen on to the secret of the universe, shoot me an email.

Finding Something Friday: Packing Your Pitch!

Yikes! I don't have time to find something this Friday--I'm busy packing and whatnot for an SCBWI conference!

Fortunately, I found something earlier this week that's been quite helpful in the packing department. I found a blog post from Bubble Cow on "How to Clearly Communicate the Essence of Your Book to Agents and Publishers."

You may or may not like the idea of piggy-backing your pitch onto a well-known construct, but it can help you squeeeze out the essence of your book, and get you started. Because packing a short, well-thought out pitch is just as important as comfy shoes and your toothbrush.

Which reminds me. I need toothpaste!

P.S. That's Juniorest Hall, getting ready to throw a pitch. He's WAY bigger than that now. But he's still pretty cute!

Thursday's Three: Things I Learned from Jeff Herman

I should probably mention that Jeff Herman and I are not close friends. In point of fact, Jeff Herman doesn't know me from Adam's house cat. Which is a funny sort of thing we say around here that means Jeff Herman and I are complete strangers.

HOWEVER, I am reading his swell book, Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents 2011, and I feel like a kinda know the guy. I mean, I'm on page 515 (out of 1094) and a body gets a feel for things after that many pages.

So, as I'm done with the publishers section, I'll share three things I learned:

1. Many publishers, especially those from the publishing conglomerates (ie. Random House, Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster), don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. If you want your manuscript to find a home there, you'll need an agent.

2. The independant U.S. presses are more open to unsolicited manuscripts, but do your research! Check the websites and fine print and follow submission guidelines carefully to maximize your chance at acceptance.

3. University presses offer excellent opportunities for publication if you write non-fiction, particularly if you've written a book with regional appeal. Some presses accept fiction, too. Look into your local college or university to see if your book will fit and follow guidelines. It may be a long process, but these presses are well-respected.

That was about the gist of 500 pages. Not that there wasn't tons more exciting stuff that I learned, but if you want details, you'll just have to get to know Jeff yourself.

Monday Musings on Publishing and Such

Before I commence to gentle musing, I have a bit of a loud shout:

YOU ONLY HAVE TILL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO ENTER THE JANUARY BIG BANG CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT CARD.

Now, on to (quieter) publishing subjects and such.

My good friend, Donna, over at Donna's Book Pub, interviewed Linda Fisher on the subject of publishing (Linda edited and pubbed a recent anthology, A Shaker of Margaritas: Hot Flash Mommas). Linda also gives details about a submission opportunity at Mozark Press. You'll want to read the whole thing for inside tips to getting your work published. Then you'll want to submit. So zip over there now.

Wait! Not now, now. After you read the next publishing subject. To wit, the very BIG, very jam-packed book I just purchased called Jeff Herman's Guide to Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents.

I'm not kidding about the size of this book. It's as thick as...well, let's just say you could use it as a booster seat. I'm plowing into it this week as Book 1 on my list of writing books to read this year. I thought I'd better start in January if I have any hopes of completing it. And I'll share interesting tidbits as I go.

So, Tidbit One: "As someone who was young and is presently less young, I will confirm that nothings beats lessons learned from direct experience, especially those instances that carve humility into our know-it-all hides." From Jeff Herman's introduction

Amen to that, Jeff. You and I shall get along swimmingly. And one more note here. If you're looking to purchase Jeff's book, please choose carefully. I almost picked up the 2010 edition rather than the 2011 edition! The publishing world changes every day and you want to get the latest news, so make certain the cover reads "2011."

Now we all have brilliant writing to produce, or contests to win, so I'll end my musings and get back to work. Oh, and now, you can zip over to Donna's Book Pub!

Finding Something Friday : Harper Collins' Authonomy

If you're like me, then you've been writing along, doing your own thing, with no idea that Authonomy existed. (If you're not like me, you already know all about Authonomy and can skip to the end and gloat.) So, here's what I found out about this Harper Collins site:

1. Authonomy is a site where you can upload your book (unpublished or self-published) and hope that at some point, the readers will like it so much, that you'll get a look-see from the HC editors. (People read, they review, your book earns points.)

2. That could take a while. Unless you have a TON of friends, willing to read your book and sort of give you a push in the right direction. (Which sorta happened last spring. Harper Collins said it wasn't cheating. But a whole lot of a other folks begged to differ.)

3. People have actually gotten contracts from Harper Collins (three). And according to HC, other folks have been contacted by agents and garnered attention (Quantity unknown).

4. They've recently added Christian to the genres (Authonomy.com/Christian). They take all genres, but no pictures, diagrams or such. However, you can upload a pretty picture as a cover for your "book." From my quick look-see, it appeared as if fiction fared better in the rankings.

5. It's free.

6. HC wants to "flush out the brightest, freshest writing talent around." I suppose if you've got something you really believe in, and all that work has so far gone down the drain, you've got nothing to lose, trying Authonomy. Maybe your book will be the one that rises to the top.

Okay, I'm going to stop now. 'Cause this metaphor is making me a little uncomfortable.

What Not to Do Wednesday When Publishing a Book

I'm excited to have a guest here today at the old Hall of Fame! And not just because it gives me a day off.

Claudine Wolk is the author of It Gets Easier! and Other Lies We Tell New Mothers, so you can see that she and I already share a similar world view. But she also had some deep thoughts to share about the "behind the scenes" stuff with her book. As you know, I'm always looking for insider writer info. And you are, too, right? Take it away, Claudine! (Presumably she's telling the truth here...Okay, I'm kidding. Claudine would never lie to fellow writers in the trenches, right? Right????)

"Publishing is a tricky field. There are a few ways around the land mines, though. Below are a few of the most important things NOT to do when trying to find a publisher.

Don't ever send a manuscript without doing your research on the publisher. Each publisher has a specific set of submission requirements. If you think that your Manuscript is so great that those requirements do not apply to you, think again! There is no bigger turnoff to a publisher than an author who can't follow their requirements. Failing to follow these requirements to the letter is an easy way for a publisher to weed you out as a potential author. Look at it from their side-How can you work for a publisher when you can't follow the first instruction they ever give you?

Don't ever submit a manuscript to a publisher without knowing the meaning of the following five terms: Author Platform, Marketing Plan, Book Proposal, Hook, and Chapter Summary.

Don't ever go to a publisher without the answer to the question: Why are you the right person to write this book? The publisher wants to know why you uniquely are the right person to write this book. What do you bring to the table to sell this book? Do you have commitments for sales for this book in hand? Do you have a target market already in store for this book? Do you already have a vehicle to reach this target market? Do you have a special skill that lends credence to your book? Are you willing to speak, promote, and online market this book? Can you do the artwork for this book? Do you have a rich cousin who has promised to buy cases of this book? (In case you were wondering, I've just defined "Author Platform" for you!)

Don't ever go to a publisher without knowing your competition. You never want to be caught with your pants down in this area. You need to do the research. Make sure the title of your book is not taken. Make sure you know similar books in your genre and how yours is different. By the way, never diss another book; it's bad karma and it's unprofessional. Simply let the publisher know that you know that the book is out there and how your book is better and different.

If you are starting to think that finding a publisher is going to be tough, you are right. As my mother used to say, birthing the baby is the easy part, the raising of the kid is a challenge. So, too, with book publishing-writing the darn thing is indeed the easy part. Which leads me to my last "don't."

Don't ever give up. As monumental a task as publishing may seem, it is doable. Never give up on your message and the need to get that message out there. Consider all the work and potential rejection as part of the landscape of the journey and keep on going. You owe it to yourself and the audience who will benefit from your expertise. Go get 'um."

That, grasshopper, is about as good as it gets when it comes to publishing your book. Big thanks to Claudine Wolk for stopping here on her blog tour!

Claudine is a mother of three (Wow! So am I!) who writes columns and magazine and newspaper articles (Wow! So do I!) on the subject of new motherhood (Um, never mind). She's got a very spiffy website (help4newmoms.com) and a witty blog. And if you've got a new mom hanging about somewhere, you should get Claudine's book, It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers. Maybe even give the book to the new mom.

Or, you know, you could give the book to an old mom (Wow! Just like me!).

Finding Something Friday on Book in a Nutshell Contest and Winning Poetry!

Okay, here's your chance. You have this fantabulous book and think it really has the possibilty to shoot to the top of the best-seller lists. But there's an eensy-weensy problem. It's not published. Why, you don't even have a contract. Or an agent, for that matter.

Are you nuts? Nah. Every writer thinks like that. You gotta believe in yourself, right? So enter the Book in a Nutshell Contest. Write 150 words about your fantabulous book and if the folks over at Knight Agency like what they see, you could get representation. Maybe even a publisher! The best seller list is right around the corner, baby! But you've got to write up that 150 word summary fast, because the deadline's April 20th. That's it, in a, er, nutshell.

And since April is Poetry month, I thought I'd fill you in on an opportunity to write poetry and win some money for your fantabulous verse. Lulu, the same folks in the book business, have just launched Lulu.Poetry, where like-minded poetic souls can gather to share their poems, get feedback, references, and even win some cash in the daily, weekly or monthly contests!

You'd be nuts not to check out this opportunity. Even the squirrel thinks so.