Writing Blog Number 2

20240506 Answering Some Questions

Answering Some Questions

Some questions I have been asked that don’t need a full blog post to answer.

What is your advice for the first-time published authors on how to sell their book?
Not being self-published, I can only go from my experiences with small and mid-sized trad publishers.
         While publishers like social media, in the last 5 years it has stopped working effectively. Facebook has not worked for years, Twitter stopped working when it became ‘X’, Instagram is seen as too niche and TikTok has never worked. Yes, some people have had success that way, but in general, they don’t work.
         However, a Goodreads page does seem to work. An Amazon authors page can also work if you have more than two things for sale on Amazon. Your own website can work, but then you need to market/publicise that.
         Be willing to do interviews. Even if only on radio or podcasts or even via email, do them all.
         Attend conferences, workshops and other places where authors and readers congregate and use the opportunity to sell yourself.
         Join writers' groups and network. The writing community at a lower level is generally helpful and you'll be surprised what you can learn.
         The joy of NOT self-publishing is that I don't have to pay for marketing and I let the publishing companies do what they think is best. They will sometimes recommend I do things and that is fine as well.


How should I look when I submit? Eager, naïve, bright, foolish, what?
Professional. Always professional.
         If it's somewhere I've submitted to before and been accepted (especially if accepted more than once) then slightly more relaxed, but still professional.


Why shouldn’t I just submit my work? I write good stories. All this extra stuff is just making us jump through hoops for no reason apart from control.
Because, again, you want to look professional. If you submit something that does not meet the submission guidelines, you will not even get a look in. If your work is filled with spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, punctuation issues, etc., no editor is going to spend time fixing it (no matter if the story seems good) because they do not have that sort of time and who wants to put the effort in if the author doesn't? It says you do not take writing seriously. You look like you don't care.
         And remember, a number of the smaller and mid-sized presses talk to one another. Get a bad name in one place, and it becomes really hard to sell anywhere.


If you're at the stage where you're talking with a cover artist, how particular do you get? Like do you nitpick every little detail? Do you let the little stuff go?
If going the trad route, generally you will be asked for ideas, but the publisher will want it to fit the house style, so nitpicking will give you a bad reputation.
         If you’re self-publishing, you are paying big money for a cover. You want it to be as perfect as you can. Nitpick away – it’s your money!


Agent told me NOT to write my sequel until after book 1 is a proven success. What do you think? And why?
Okay, this is an interesting one. If you have the idea, write it anyway, just to get the idea out of your head. If you don’t have the idea, then this advice is spot on.
         Thing is, if you are looking at a book series/trilogy (etc.) and you write the first one and it sells, and then you can’t finish it because the idea didn’t work, then you’ve let down readers, publishers and, in this case, agents. I own so many first books in obvious trilogies that were never continued it hurts.
         So, if I know I’m writing a trilogy, I will have all three books done before I try to sell number one. On the other hand, if a standalone book sells well, then I might write a sequel (haven’t done so yet, though).


Do you think that self-published books should have professional covers, formatting, and editing done?
Editing is vital. Formatting is important. Covers are very important. But editing first. Pay an editor! The amount of books I've read with misused homophones, poor punctuation and shocking grammar is huge. Then again, some authors “know best” and that's why I no longer edit for others.


How many times do you let your story get rejected before you stop submitting it/tweak it? I’m not sure if I’m giving up too early, or if I’m being too stubborn!
Depends on the story. Some I've given up on after one rejection; I think the most I’ve done is twelve tries out there before acceptance. It comes down to how invested I am in what I've written.


I’m finding the Beta read stage kind of hard. My beta readers have been amazing, but I’m struggling with feelings of inadequacy now, despite having a sharp word with myself. How do you combat that?
To me, the beta reader stage is a relief. It means the book is at least 75% finished, maybe more. It also means I can get started on the next thing. Once it's out there, it stops me from changing it; someone is actually reading it, the goal of the majority of writers. I like the beta stage.


Does a short story collection need to have a theme?
I have to say that I enjoy a good themed anthology. Unfortunately, that does mean that sometimes surprises are not surprising because the theme gives it away. So... not good?
         Then again, the theme could simply be the same writer. However, in general, having similar genres of all stories helps.
         Having said that, trying to sell a story collection to a publisher is really tough.


Do you keep track of your queries? Do you track the rejections or just forget them? What do you do? What recommendations do you have?
I keep track of who I've submitted what to through an Excel spreadsheet, including acceptance, rejection or non-response. This covers everything from poems to short stories to longer works. It also makes sure that you do not submit the same thing to the same publisher two years later. Not that I’ve done that by accident…


I have a rookie question. If you have a finished manuscript and are NOT self publishing... What steps need to be taken in between finishing the manuscript and querying for agents? Hiring editing? Beta readers? These are the steps I’m not familiar with.
This is not just querying for agents, but also submitting direct to publishers.
1) Get yourself an editor
2) Get at least one beta reader
2) Research who publishes/agents your genre
         2a) If going to a small/mid-sized indy publisher, look at their list, buy a couple of books and see if your style matches theirs
3) Look at the company/agent carefully
         3a) Make sure you check "preditors & editors" sites so you won't be ripped off
4) Submit (follow their guidelines to a T)
5) Hope for the best!
Good luck!