When I first started on my path to publication, in my ignorance, I thought the road would be a fairly straight one. Like all new writers I presumed one simply sits, one writes, one submits, and one gets published. The reality couldn't be farther from the truth. Yes, I sit and write...and rewrite...and rewrite...and rewrite again until my stories are as good as I can make them. The road is more curvy than straight. The submitting part of the process is extremely complicated to me because there are so many factors involved in the decision making. And with so many ways to publish these days and the general upheaval within the children's picture book side of industry...which just happens to be MY genre...the chances of becoming a published author are getting more challenging every day.
So why should I even bother to try? For me, it is as simple as breathing. I write because I must. Even with all the twists and turns in the road that come with writing professionally, I am driven to do this thing I love beyond compare and it's days like today that make it worthwhile. Last week I entered into my very first pitch contest on an author's blog. It was my chance to maybe win the right to directly submit one of my stories to an agent who actually wanted to SEE it. I wouldn't be going in blind. Over 140 contestants later, I discover I am one of the winners...but there is a catch...
I realize I have make a novice writer's mistake. I THOUGHT the agent was looking for a story idea query and what they REALLY wanted was the complete story. I thought I had reached a dead end. I thought I had royally screwed up! But apparently a strong pitch is still a strong pitch and once the error was explained to the agent, she still was interested in seeing my novel once it is complete. How gracious of her to overlook the ignorance of a beginner writer. So now I focus even harder to navigate the bumps on the road to publication as I travel a sometimes crooked path to my goal of becoming a published author.
There was another lesson I learned today. Agents and publishers don't really want to see potential future books sitting on someone's blog as installments or read synopsis of works in progress on someone's website. It's like opening a new candy store and giving away the goods for free. It's just not smart business. As much as I am saddened with my having to remove all reference to my stories or poems from my blog and website, I understand and respect the advice of those who are looking out for my best interest. And I hope my friends and readers will know that I have enjoyed providing a sneak peak into some of the worlds of my imagination. Now we just have to wait to read the actual published book. I would caution others to also think twice before posting something they hope one day will be seen in print. It might make the difference between an acceptance letter and something else.
Now it's back to the land of Lunadar as I realize the final lesson I learned today...
I've made some embarrassing novice mistakes but the path to publication isn't always clear. Congrats on the pitch contest and I'm so happy that the agent is still going to let you submit. She sounds like an agent who cares and it sounds like you have a great story on your hands.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rena, for your kind words and I am thrilled to death that I haven't blown my chances! Now every other story goes on hold while I finish this one...
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Excellent post. I'm so glad the agent is willing to wait for your submission!
ReplyDeleteMay I post a link to this post on the Children's Book Hub Facebook Group? I think we all can learn from your experience.
Hi, Beth! Yes, of course you may post the link. I'm past the embarrassment and too busy typing to worry about my goof. I haven't had time to make a comment on 12 X 12 and PiBoIdMo but I think people can learn from my mistake...and that's to keep your fingers crossed that agents are merciful and don't repeat the same mistake twice...;0)
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I am 2 weeks past my deadline to the publisher. Indeed, with the advent of self-publishing in all of its various mediums, it is a difficult process to get ones writing into the hands of a decent publisher.
ReplyDeleteWhoever told you to get rid of the poems, etc from your blog gave you good advice. Agents, publishers, et al will look at your site at some point and a decision could be based on what is on your site.
Good luck!
Hi Jeremy! May I say congrats on your debut novel? I saw the trailer for White Lies and thought it was very well done! I'm going to have to add it to my wish list. When I posted bits of my stories on this blog, I was thinking it was a way to entice more readers but never thought about the possible damage it might be causing my future...I'm so glad I've got wonderful friends in this writing community watching out for me so I don't run into that brick wall I can't seem to see right in front of me...;0)
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What a wonderful break you got from that agent. Congrats to you, Donna. Will you explain (in just a bit more detail) why it is not okay to post bits of your work on blogs? Is it because that is a form of publshing? Would you post your answer on Children's Book Hub FB page, under Beth Stillborn's posting of your link? Thanks bunches, Donna.
ReplyDeleteHi Pam! I posted the longer version of the answer to your question on the Children's Book Hub FB page but I will also give the shorter answer here. Yes, it would be considered a form of publishing so why would anyone PAY for something they can get for FREE? And pitches give away a writer's IDEAS to anyone reading so why would I give someone MY best seller idea? Lol...
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I think we're in difficult times - on one hand new writers are being told to share and build a platform (one of the easiest is to create a blog and share with a readership) and on the other hand we're being told not to publish as publishers don't want to publish anything that has been anywhere else, not even our own blogs. Something I'm struggling with right now. It is hard, especially when you post a snippet, never intending to publish it, and then it turning in to something publishable!
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa! I think that is where my original confusion about the whole posting thing came from. Hopefully, I'm now a wee bit smarter about it and SOOOO grateful that agent is willing to give me time to complete my story before submitting...
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There are publishers that don't mind some of your work being published on your blog but it is usually dependent on how large or small of a following your blog has. One way to still build a platform is to only publish stories you've written specifically for giving away on your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca! I agree with what you are saying, but got to actually thinking about that last night. Writers have to consider ALL the possibilities of exactly WHO might be seeing their work posted on a blog or website. I currently have about 240 people that I KNOW are following my blog but that doesn't count the ones who follow by email or other means that I'm not aware of. Then there is the roughly 300 more on 12 X 12 FB group who see my posts every day, the roughly 3-400 on the PiBoIdMo FB group, the roughly 3-400 on the Children's Book Hub FB group, and then my author FB page, my personal FB page, my Linkedin page and the other online writing communities of which I am a member. Now my 240 literally turns into THOUSANDS of people potentially reading my blog which makes sense when I look at my stats and I see I have over 18,000 page views per month. It could end up being like Sudipta's book Chicks Run Wild where one person tells another person and soon EVERYONE is running around reading my stories for free.
DeleteNo, I'm NOT saying I'm that great a writer...lol...I'm just giving an example as to why it's not necessarily a good idea to post your works in progress on the internet...a lesson I thankfully learned early before I did too much damage to my future...;0)
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I had reservations about Boyhood and did revert it back to draft on my blog at one point. Then it was pointed out the story is one that needs to be told. I agree and consider it selfish of me not to post it simply because I have a publisher interested in the story. The one saving grace is the fact the blog version is somewhat different to the manuscript submitted to the publisher due to adult content.
ReplyDeleteHi JP! I was thinking of you when I created this post. While I think the world should read your story, I now wonder if it should remain on your blog? I am presuming this is something you have discussed with those agents interested in maybe publishing your story? Maybe you are correct that it won't make a difference if what you have submitted is vastly different from the "watered down" version found on your blog.
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Thanks for your concern. I have reverted Boyhood back to draft and will be posting selected extracts instead. Sea-Quel is just a short bridging story so I don't have any concerns about that nor indeed Wanderlust which is a trifle. I may have think again about Ghetto though.
DeleteJP, read my answer to Kathy's post. I think there is so much to consider these days which makes everything we do all the more challenging. You must do what is best for you and move forward with no regrets...
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Hi Donna,
ReplyDeleteAnother great post! :)
Uh-Oh! I had read the part where you stated "Agents and publishers don't really want to see potential future books sitting on someone's blog as installments or read synopsis of works in progress on someone's website" and I find it very interesting. I recently purchased a book by Nina Amir "How to Blog a Book" and although I have not read the book in full (yet), it suggests to start writing in chunks of your story (on your blog)not all of your story, but enough to entice an agent or publisher (who are always scouring the internet for stories)....Now I am confused. I realize I am only a fourth of the way into reading this book...but Yikes!
hmmm, to blog or book or not?
Hi Kathy! As if all of this isn't confusing enough, I think there are more factors to consider when deciding to post excerpts or not. I can only give my opinion on how it will potentially affect MY future as a writer. I am a traditonal kind of gal so I will do anything within reason that I can to entice a traditional agent or publisher to consider representing or publising my story. I have not read Nina's book but I wonder if her suggestions would best help someone going the self-publishing or publish on demand route. In that case you want a lot of prior interest because of the anticipation of a release since the burden of marketing and advertising fall mainly on the author. I also wonder if that many agents or publishers even have the TIME to troll the internet for pitches and excerpts so the chances of being "discovered" that way I would think would be relatively small. I think the reverse might be more common...that once an agent receives a query or pitch through the traditional channels, THEN they check out a particular blog or website and the majority frown on seeing something for FREE posted there for the world to read and then someone asking them to PAY for it. I hope my ramblings make sense and in no way do I claim to be an expert on this matter. I can only say what I will do for myself now and in the future...each writer must decide for themselves what is best for them. Good luck with whatever you decide...
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Noted with interest :)
DeleteYay!! I thought and hoped she would be still interested in your work. See, like me they still thought it was worth waiting for you to finish it..... Soo Happy for you. Keep me posted! (sorry about the pun!)
ReplyDeleteAhahaha...you're so funny Diane! Yeah, now I am putting aside everything else (except I will still try to create one PB a month but Lacey's Bridge will have to wait) and focus on Lunadar. I will post updates on the news section of my website (www.donnalmartin.com) and today's news post might even make you chuckle...;0)
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Congrats on the acceptance and encouragement from an agent. That is motivation to keep writing, working, creating. Good advice, too, about giving too much away.
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Hi Mary and welcome to my blog! I just checked out your blog and liked it so much I'm now a follower!
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I want JP's publisher to HURRY so I can read BOYHOOD and everything else he writes. I want Donna to get her book finished so she can get it published. And I want to be included on the list of all the "little" people who made their efforts worth the sweat!
ReplyDeleteLol, Janet...I'll even go one step farther and be the first one in line to buy YOUR first book! If I were to write a dedication to all the people who are making my writing future possible, THAT would be longer than the book itself!
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