Let’s go back to the beginning for a while. You are in the process of writing a book, the world’s next best novel, your BABY. There are really two immediate thoughts to keep in mind. One is that most of us begin by writing our very first book (duh!!!), maybe never another, and we really don’t know much about the industry. We just have this great idea flowing out of us and want to get it into print. We can call this a “personal” book (my term, there may be others), and it’s basically a one time, maybe one of a kind endeavor.
The second possibility is that you are writing a “commercial” novel, or one that you are specifically writing to get sold. This might be your first novel but your plans may be to write more of the same and get them into the marketplace. Maybe you’ve already written your first and now are considering writing more with the purpose, again, of specifically writing and selling books, poems, short stories or articles.
In either case, there is a major question that you should be aware of as you write. We’ve already discussed a lot of the principles involved in writing, but this one is more direct as it pertains to the idea of getting your work accepted by the first people to usually see it and who have the most power in making your book happen or in stopping it.
What are publishers, editors, and agents looking for in the materials they are reviewing? What do they like? What do they specifically dislike? What keeps them turning pages and beginning to get the feeling that “this might be good? I could get behind this.”
Here are many thoughts I’ve gleaned from talking with some of the above noted folks, reading their blogs and articles, and so on.
One of the first things most of them say, in one way or another, is that they need to “fall in love with” the manuscript, the story. That means that they have to get personally into the story. It has to capture them, more than professionally (as an editor, for instance), but in a personal sense. From the first sentence (remember what I said early on about capturing them from the first words?), they need to feel good about the story. The writing itself may be as good or bad as many other books, but the imagination or feel or flow simply reaches out and grabs them. Maybe there’s a sense of excitement or intrigue they feel. Maybe there’s a driving force that is pushing to the end and keeps them reading.
And if the agent or publisher you contact says “no thanks, it’s not my style” (or words to that effect), then remember they are only one—move on to the next one. Someone out there is likely looking for just the type of material you’ve written.
Consider books you’re read yourself. What made you like them? What kept you turning the pages? Maybe it was a science fiction kind of book, and you don’t like science fiction; but this one had a mystique or intrigue that kept you reading it. Maybe it was the theme; maybe the feeling that you never knew what was coming next and had to find out; maybe it was the beautiful flow of the words. The New International Bible and the New American Standard are acclaimed as excellent Bibles written in quite modern language; fewer of the “thees” and “thous” and much easier for a lot of people to read. However, many people simply love the beautiful poetic language of the old King James version, and just cannot get away from it. What is “capturing” about your book?
As you think about the theme and direction and flow of your writing, ask yourself what people will like about it, especially those who will be the first to rule on it’s success or failure. Freely compare your style, choice of words, and so on with several of the bestsellers. Does your book give you the same drive and feeling as the others do? (Remember what I said earlier about “copying” them?) One editor said, “Does it come alive to me?”
Another thought: Does your story seem to have a theme that’s real or alive? Can the reader see the world or the struggle or intrigue through your words. Many of the editors and publishers said that the writing from two authors was just about the same, just about as good, but one had a force, or choice of words, or painted a picture that the other didn’t, and their mind was captured by that one.
Is your story set in a time period, or does it tell a type of story, that the particular editor is interested in? That’s why you might send your material out to a hundred different editors or agents and only get replies from six. Don’t worry about that; not all readers are interested in the same thing. But, from the six, what kind of comments did you get? Were they interested; did they give any hints in their comments as to what they thought of the work; did they ask any questions as to what you were trying to do or what you meant? Even if it was a rejection letter, try to analyze anything they said that might give insight into how they or others might be feeling about your work.
Is all this beginning to sound cold and analytical? If you really do have the desire to get your book out there into the reading hands, you do have to be analytical. If you can’t get past first base (the agents and editors), Why? What can you learn from their responses that will help you write better and get them interested? Editors, agents and publishers simply cannot read everything, so they stick within their own specialized genre and they have to almost immediately get an attraction for your work. If they say No to what you’ve sent them, in that earthshaking REJECTION letter, do they give any hints as to their feelings? Do they send you any possible names that might be interested in your type of work? Do they make any suggestions as to how to change your work to make it more interesting?
Once you’ve made your first effort to get your manuscript reviewed by a group of people, maybe it’s time to sit back with any comments they’ve made and completely re read your book, or especially your query letter. Look back at your chapter outline and see if you can see where you might re place some chapters. See if any words, phrases, ideas, conversations and so on seem to be dull or out of place. Look at those first few sentences and paragraphs and pages to see if they are attention capturing or “sleepy time.” Perhaps it’s time to have a friend read the book (again?) and give an honest (you hope) appraisal of what they see. Maybe you can see a completely new format for what you’ve done; maybe a new “voice”; maybe a change for a character that makes them more real or lively.
However, this is not to say that you need to re write it. Maybe you just haven’t gotten it into the hands of the one person who will immediately fall in love with it. Maybe you need to send it out to the next hundred agents on your list and see what happens. Maybe, though, you need to put yourself in the shoes of the agents now and seriously ask the questions they are all asking: What is there in this manuscript (query letter) that really jumps out and demands that it be read, or what makes me want to put it aside and go on to something else?
One more suggestion: There are people out there you can actually hire to review your work and help you “fix” it. Look up “Editors – Books” in the Internet and you’ll find some who will review your work before it gets to the publishing stage. (Watch the cost, though, and get some references for sure. Anyone can read your book, say it looks great, and happily collect your money.) Check with friends who you feel are avid readers. Maybe one of them would help you by giving your work a good, solid read and a hard, critical review. (Yes, they can still be your friends afterward.) If you’ve done the best you can and still can’t see the forest for the trees, still can’t get a feel for why it’s not being accepted, get some fresh, unbiased eyes to look it over. Again, this generally means a friend who will be honest with you. (Is that an oxymoron? Will they remain a friend? Can you pay them to tell you nice things?) Maybe you can get attached with a writer’s group in your area and have another author or six read your work. No, they won’t laugh at you.
Then listen to what they say. After you dry your eyes, put the hankie down and get tough with yourself. What exactly did your reviewers say about your work? How might their comments be applied into your pages? DON’T do this quickly. Sit back and carefully read their reviews; quietly re read your work to see the tough points; red pencil your ideas into the pages; make notes copiously. Then, put it aside for a couple of days and let everything gel before you get back and look at it again.
Finally, consider making a copy of your original manuscript (remember, you have it in the computer so changes can be made in a nanosecond without fear?) and begin a complete re write. I know—more screams of anguish. But, do you want to get into print?
I’m still in the process of learning this whole book writing and publishing business and am not the expert on anything to do with the process. I am learning, though, and so will (must) you. There are probably reams more information I could put down on paper about this subject. But it will all come to you as you work through this process. Learn from it, and keep on. As we all begin the process of writing and publishing our “baby”, there are just so many things we have no idea of that are now going to jump up and bite us—and we never know they are coming until they are there. However, DO NOT LET THAT STOP YOU.
Inside many of us is a story that is crying to be delivered. There are many people who will give you many reasons why you should NOT consider this venture. However, there ARE many people out there who are waiting for your story—looking forward to it. Whether you make money on it, or thrill your family and friends with your story, or just feel the satisfaction within yourself when you finally say, “I did it,” you need to write that story. There will be naysayers—turn your back on them. There will be scoffers—smile and keep typing. There will be Rejection letters—read them, file them, and send out more proposals.
Consider this saying in relation to the effort you will be expending to make your dream come true:
Some goals are so worthy that even to fail is glorious.
I wish you every blessing as you move through this effort of writing and publishing your dream. I would love to hear from you to share joys, questions, even tears.
Hang in there, and WRITE IT.
Jim
Care to comment? Write to me at JimMagwood@aol.com.
And visit the website at http://www.JimMagwood.com.
Also, drop in to The Author’s Inn, a site designed to showcase author’s works and connect them with readers. http://www.the authors inn.com.
Author Resource:
Jim Magwood is the author of the international mystery novel, SANCTION. Visit him and SANCTION at his website, http://www.JimMagwood.com . Jim is also the webmaster of the site, The Author’s Inn, dedicated to showcasing author’s works. Visit The Author's Inn at http://www.the-authors-inn.com .
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