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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 523
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 11:36 pm: | 
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When it comes to the publishing industry, I am no expert. I readily admit that each progression I take is a journey I hope will lead to the goals many authors hope to accomplish: multiple book deals, recognition in the industry, movie deals, and most importantly, the opportunity to live off of writing alone.
Though I’m not an expert, I’m often asked advice on the industry, from how to write query letters to how to publish and market a book to how to get a traditional publishing deal. When I have an answer based on my own experiences, I gladly share it. When I don’t, I inform the curious about my own ignorance and refer them to someone who may be more enlightened.
My philosophy is this: if you want advice on how to arrive where you want to be, ask someone who has been there. I don’t think ya’ll heard me in the cheap seats so I’ll say that again. If you want advice on how to attain your goals, ask someone who has been there. For example, if you want to know how to make your marriage last for silver and golden anniversaries, don’t ask the bitter divorcee. Ask the folks who’ve been married for 25 to 50 years how they make it work. The same applies to the publishing industry. If you want a traditional publishing deal, don’t ask the guy in your writers’ group who has only self published fifteen books. Wanna know how to write excellent query letters, ask someone whose queries have gotten results that lead to obtaining a deal or a contract. If you want to know how to get on the bestsellers’ lists, don’t ask a mid-list author who is struggling to make it there herself. Wanna be on the radio? TV? Who do you think you should ask? Exactly…the person who has been there.
As an author who has published two of his own books and had a book published through a subsidy publisher, I’m always happy to share my learning experiences both positive and negative. As a freelancer who has written book reviews for years and press releases that have helped authors get newspaper coverage and radio interviews, I’d love to share how I did it. Wanna know about sales and marketing? I got you on that too with a degree in marketing and several years working in corporate America in sales, not to mention a published book on cold calling currently on the market. But if you want to know about how to reach #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, how to get on Oprah’s show, or how to get a movie deal, perhaps you should seek advice from someone who has been there. And when you get that advice, be sure to hook a brother up ‘cause I need it too.
So the next time you think about seeking the advice on attaining your particular goals, consider asking people who can pull you up with them versus folks who may be struggling to get there too. And if you’re giving advice about something you have no experience with yourself, cut it out.
Emanuel Carpenter is a writer living in Cleveland. He is currently working on his next novel.
Comments?
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11754
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 01:05 am: |
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True dat. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 111
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 01:19 am: |
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Hear, hear. I'd add to this that not only do people get unhelpful advice when they ask the wrong people, doing so complicates matters when they finally get around to asking the right people.
Case in point: An aspiring (but heretofore unpublished) writer starts out by asking her friends to comment on her writing. Not to say that people who don't write themselves can't give tremendously helpful feedback, but they can't always be counted on to give feedback regarding what is likely to be marketable/well-received by an agent, publisher, magazine editor, etc. They can't always give good advice on the writing process either.
So...this aspiring writer has been told by her friends, for years, "This is good! You should be published!" But when she asks a writer that's a few steps ahead on the writing-publishing path to give feedback, the expectation is that she will get more rah-rah cheerleading, instead of feedback that will actually help make her work more marketable.
So...the aspiring writer is devastated because suddenly the work that she had thought was so good, isn't, according to someone in the know. What the non-writer friends could not help the aspiring writer to grasp is the fact that she should welcome constructive criticism as much if not more than praise. Appreciating the value of constructive criticism should be considered a must-have skill for a writer, right up there with "show, don't tell."
Non-writers can't always be counted on to help aspiring writers understand things like the importance of revising and of writing what Anne Lamott calls "shitty first drafts." Getting advice from a non-writer can set a writer up with unrealistic expectations that can cripple them and delay their growth.
My personal philosophy on giving and receiving advice and feedback is "Don't tell me that something I wrote is good" and "Don't ask for my advice if all you want is for me to tell you that it's good." Yes, I want to know if what I wrote "works", if the writing accomplishes what I set out to accomplish, but the most helpful advice is that which tells me how to make the writing better.
I came to this understanding because years ago I gave my first lame attempt at a novel to someone would would become one of my writing mentors. I was so in love with those chapters, and I was sure he would love them too. Instead of telling me the writing was good (it wasn't!), which is what I wanted to hear, he told me how to make them better, which is what I needed to hear. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2170
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 06:54 am: |
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When I have an answer based on my own experiences, I gladly share it
This is good. I try to do the same thing. I met an author some months back who had the same publisher as I do. She was so kind and freely shared her experiences, and gave me tips on internet marketing and what I could realistically expect the publisher to do and not do. And no, your agent doesn't give you this type of information in the detail that a fellow writer can. An agent is your advocate, yes. But they also have a dual advocacy. To preserve their relationship with acquisitions editors at the major houses, so that when they sign a new writer they will be able to shop that new manuscript to an editor(s) they have developed a rapport with and increase their chances of landing that next sale/book deal for their client, so they in turn will make money too. An agent also serves as a screener to the publishing house and editor, so the latter doesn't have to wade through a bunch of crappy submissions. So an agent must constantly balance the two.
I have come across many authors who have had the same mentality--they freely share what they know. One has even invited me to share many of her venues to do a reading from my novel, or pass out promotional materials. I plan on extending the same helping hand to others that I meet, as well. |
A_womon
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 2171
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 07:14 am: |
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I readily admit that each progression I take is a journey I hope will lead to the goals many authors hope to accomplish: multiple book deals, recognition in the industry, movie deals
Yes, I agree, this is the fantasy, the dream many writers have, though realistically not the norm.
and most importantly, the opportunity to live off of writing alone.
This hits the nail on the head for me, and many other writers, IMO. I aspire to have a career in writing that will allow me to write fulltime and pay all the bills and make enough to save, buy the items I want and live comfortably. And anything else that may develop, the multiple deals, the movie options, any of that, would just be a huge bonus!
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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 525
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 09:45 am: |
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Ferociouskitty I know exactly what you mean. I spent over an hour going back and forth with a self-pubbed author who had a problem with my review of her book. She had been told by those who love her that her writing was wonderful. I asked her if she'd ever gotten professional critiques from a college professor, an editor, or even another writer in a writers group. She hadn't. She still wanted me to change the review.
Well, I'm a firm believer in writing honest book reviews because it helps the writer grow, my integrity is on the line, and my reviews are written with the potential buying reader in mind not the writer's ego. So, because this was a commissioned book review (the author was paying for my time not my opinion) I offered the author a refund and told her I'll just withhold the review from publication (I give this option to authors if the review is considered negative and it is commissioned). I suppose she figured some publicity is better than none at all and decided to go ahead with the review as is.
So yes, it's kind of like American Idol where your loved ones gas you up and tell you you can 'sang.' Then you stand in front of professionals and find out your talent could use some work.
As a writer, I love to receive constructive criticism versus those "it was great" critiques. Hopefully, by the time the work has gone through enough edits, those "it was great" critiques will be in the form of professional and customer reviews. Not everyone is like that though. I know several people who only want praise.
It reminds me of another article I wrote over on Blogging In Black called "Tough Love." Check it out here:
http://blogginginblack.com/?p=546
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Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 526
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 09:49 am: |
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Hey a_womon,
The multiple book deals and movie deals is definitely more a dream than a realistic goal. Living 100% off of writing is more in tune to what I'm looking to accomplish. It doesn't really matter to me if it's copyrwriting, technical writing or even grant writing.
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Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 114
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 10:25 am: |
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Another great article, Emanuel. Do you maintain a current blog? I Googled and found what I think was your old one (you got squatters, bruh!). |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 528
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 10:50 am: |
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Those squatters are a trip, selling ads using my name. What's a broham to do? It ain't my url. I don't have a current blog because I just don't have enough to say on a steady basis for my own blog anymore. So once a month on BIB is plenty for me. Blogging regularly takes away from writing that pays. Maybe after I have another published novel on the market though. Thanks for asking, and thanks for the compliment.
I will be starting up my blog related to my business book again soon. Nothing writing related though. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 115
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 11:46 am: |
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Got it. Thanks for hipping me to BIB, and I will look forward to your columns there. |
Emanuel
Veteran Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 529
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 04:03 pm: |
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Sorry ya'll. I can spell. Nothing like re-reading your posts and going WTF? I just need to slow down a bit. Sometimes my toddler is hanging from the chandelier demanding Cherrios while I'm posting. You parents know what I'm talkin' 'bout. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 117
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 04:13 pm: |
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LOL @ Emanuel. I guess I should blame my own kids for the fact that I didn't even notice any misspellings you made! Mommy brain... |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 11755
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 06:44 pm: |
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I guess "age" is my excuse. It seems like lately my left hand has a mind of its own and is stuck in a mode that automatically writes certain words whether it's the one I want written or not. e.g. "one" for "on", or "as" for "a" or "they" for "the". When I proof read, my mind supplies a missing word and I don't notice that I've left it out until I later read what I've written. I used to be a good speller but - not any more.  |
Joymarie
Newbie Poster
Username: Joymarie
Post Number: 3
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 04, 2008 - 07:43 pm: |
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Excellent Advice. |
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