Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“I’m so angry / disheartened / fed up with the publishing industry.”
Publishing is a tough business for everyone involved, not just writers. It’s tough going at times but there’s nothing for it but to keep a professional attitude and keep your spirits up so you can keep on writing.
Know what you are getting into. Do whatever it takes to develop the resilience you’ll need to thrive in this always competitive environment. Don’t speak or act inappropriately. Keep your emotional reactions for family and friends.
But most of all, keep writing. It will take you where you need to go.
Writing is not publishing; and being published is not what makes you a writer. But if being published is what you want, then there’s nothing for it but to work on. Despite how it appears, agents and editors are desperate for good ideas and stories, elegantly expressed.
Keep on improving and sooner or later, you will find somebody who wants to put you into print.
Showing posts with label how not to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how not to. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Friday, 30 January 2009
How not to #10
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“You turned this down some time ago but I’ve done a lot of work on it since. Would you look at it again?”
If your work has been considered and rejected, then that decision is final — even if you significantly improve the work subsequently. This is why it is so important not to submit too soon.
Most writers do. It’s understandable. The amount of work it takes to complete even a passable first draft is herculean and at that point, we think we’re finished. We’re not.
Hold off submitting until you have had chance to leave the work aside for a while, and get an evaluation of it elsewhere. Then be prepared to go back in and edit.
Repeat as necessary.
And again.
Only submit when you are sure you cannot do another THING to it.
Then, if you receive a no, repeat as above when you get it back — especially if you get any feedback. Once you’re happy, try it out there again — but not with anyone who has seen its earlier incarnations.
“You turned this down some time ago but I’ve done a lot of work on it since. Would you look at it again?”
If your work has been considered and rejected, then that decision is final — even if you significantly improve the work subsequently. This is why it is so important not to submit too soon.
Most writers do. It’s understandable. The amount of work it takes to complete even a passable first draft is herculean and at that point, we think we’re finished. We’re not.
Hold off submitting until you have had chance to leave the work aside for a while, and get an evaluation of it elsewhere. Then be prepared to go back in and edit.
Repeat as necessary.
And again.
Only submit when you are sure you cannot do another THING to it.
Then, if you receive a no, repeat as above when you get it back — especially if you get any feedback. Once you’re happy, try it out there again — but not with anyone who has seen its earlier incarnations.
Monday, 29 December 2008
How not to #10
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“Dear Agent or Dear Editor…”
If you’re asking somebody to represent or publish your work, you’ve done your research. So therefore you know who they are, and why they would have an interest in books in your genre/category. So therefore you know their name and you wouldn’t send them something that feels like a form letter, right?
Right.
“Dear Agent or Dear Editor…”
If you’re asking somebody to represent or publish your work, you’ve done your research. So therefore you know who they are, and why they would have an interest in books in your genre/category. So therefore you know their name and you wouldn’t send them something that feels like a form letter, right?
Right.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
How not to #9
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“I need a six-figure deal if I’m to keep on writing and I’m available for radio and TV.”
Agents and editors like ambition; they fear arrogance. The arrogant writer lacks self-awareness.
Publication is a privilege, in most cases earned by those who have worked long and hard. If you think you are the next Dan Brown or Margaret Atwood, you just might be right. Or you might be suffering delusions of grandeur.
How to know? Are you able to take constructive criticism, willing to learn, anxious to improve? “Writers who think they’re undiscovered John Grishams generally resist professional advice,” says Elizabeth Pomada, of Larson-Pomada Agency in San Francisco. “They think they can get their work right (and right for the market) without help.”
Professional publishing folk – including published authors - know otherwise.
“I need a six-figure deal if I’m to keep on writing and I’m available for radio and TV.”
Agents and editors like ambition; they fear arrogance. The arrogant writer lacks self-awareness.
Publication is a privilege, in most cases earned by those who have worked long and hard. If you think you are the next Dan Brown or Margaret Atwood, you just might be right. Or you might be suffering delusions of grandeur.
How to know? Are you able to take constructive criticism, willing to learn, anxious to improve? “Writers who think they’re undiscovered John Grishams generally resist professional advice,” says Elizabeth Pomada, of Larson-Pomada Agency in San Francisco. “They think they can get their work right (and right for the market) without help.”
Professional publishing folk – including published authors - know otherwise.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
How not to #8
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“Hi, me again! Did you not get my other five messages?”
It’s a tough road that we travel as writers, especially starting out. Putting words to paper every day and wondering if anybody will ever care. It’s also tough work at the front line of publishing. So… agents and publishing houses have a system. A submissions procedure and a follow-up procedure, usually clearly laid out on their website or in listings or directories.
It really does make it easier for everyone if writers understand why this is necessary and cooperate. Repeated “checking” communications can quickly feel like badgering and don’t help your manuscript along. They may even - human nature being what it is - cause it to be set aside. Like everyone else, agents and editors prefer to work with those who are easy going and understanding.
So check the guidelines before you submit. And then, try to be patient — even if it all takes what feels like an unfeasibly long time.
“Hi, me again! Did you not get my other five messages?”
It’s a tough road that we travel as writers, especially starting out. Putting words to paper every day and wondering if anybody will ever care. It’s also tough work at the front line of publishing. So… agents and publishing houses have a system. A submissions procedure and a follow-up procedure, usually clearly laid out on their website or in listings or directories.
It really does make it easier for everyone if writers understand why this is necessary and cooperate. Repeated “checking” communications can quickly feel like badgering and don’t help your manuscript along. They may even - human nature being what it is - cause it to be set aside. Like everyone else, agents and editors prefer to work with those who are easy going and understanding.
So check the guidelines before you submit. And then, try to be patient — even if it all takes what feels like an unfeasibly long time.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
How not to #7
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
"Hey, I just checked out your site and it looks pretty cool - wanna represent my brilliant book?…. Call me! Ted :-)”
The tone of your initial query e-mail to an agent or editor is all important. The trick is to be friendly but professional.
There’s no need to be stuffy, or to use big words in an effort to impress (used inappropriately, they don’t!). No jargon either, please. Just the facts. What you’re writing, how it compares to what else is out there, what you are asking of this particular person and why.
Editors and agents are human. (Yes, they are.) They understand what you are essentially seeking but if you want them to take your work seriously, your query needs to possess the polished nature of someone who knows the business -- even if you are just starting out.
Don’t adopt a pleading or a desperate tone. Don’t boast or tell them that you’re the next big thing. The best queries are those that convey - and therefore instil - a quiet confidence. You’re a writer – make your query the best piece of writing you’ve ever done.
"Hey, I just checked out your site and it looks pretty cool - wanna represent my brilliant book?…. Call me! Ted :-)”
The tone of your initial query e-mail to an agent or editor is all important. The trick is to be friendly but professional.
There’s no need to be stuffy, or to use big words in an effort to impress (used inappropriately, they don’t!). No jargon either, please. Just the facts. What you’re writing, how it compares to what else is out there, what you are asking of this particular person and why.
Editors and agents are human. (Yes, they are.) They understand what you are essentially seeking but if you want them to take your work seriously, your query needs to possess the polished nature of someone who knows the business -- even if you are just starting out.
Don’t adopt a pleading or a desperate tone. Don’t boast or tell them that you’re the next big thing. The best queries are those that convey - and therefore instil - a quiet confidence. You’re a writer – make your query the best piece of writing you’ve ever done.
Monday, 3 November 2008
How not to #6
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“This is the first of a trilogy.”
Writers often don’t realise it but when you submit work to an agent or editor , what you are essentially asking is for them to invest their money in you. Even if they love your work and can see financial potential in it, they know from long experience all the many things that can go wrong. Publishing is a tough game for everybody involved and many a sure thing has failed to deliver.
As a first author, you are a risky prospect. Asking them to take three times the risk only makes them three times more likely to say no.
Submit one (truly great and irresistible) book at a time.
“This is the first of a trilogy.”
Writers often don’t realise it but when you submit work to an agent or editor , what you are essentially asking is for them to invest their money in you. Even if they love your work and can see financial potential in it, they know from long experience all the many things that can go wrong. Publishing is a tough game for everybody involved and many a sure thing has failed to deliver.
As a first author, you are a risky prospect. Asking them to take three times the risk only makes them three times more likely to say no.
Submit one (truly great and irresistible) book at a time.
Friday, 31 October 2008
How not to #5
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“Do you represent/publish sci-fi?”
It might sound demanding but literary agents and commissioning editors expect you to know what categories or genres of writing they represent/publish. All agents and publishers are not the same and it wastes everybody’s time when writers submit work that is inappropriate.
So before sending off a query or submission, do your homework. Check out your chosen agent or publisher’s website, catalogue, brochure or directory listing.
You only get one shot so don’t submit to anybody until you know for sure what categories and genres they handle.
“Do you represent/publish sci-fi?”
It might sound demanding but literary agents and commissioning editors expect you to know what categories or genres of writing they represent/publish. All agents and publishers are not the same and it wastes everybody’s time when writers submit work that is inappropriate.
So before sending off a query or submission, do your homework. Check out your chosen agent or publisher’s website, catalogue, brochure or directory listing.
You only get one shot so don’t submit to anybody until you know for sure what categories and genres they handle.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
How not to #4
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“I’m not going to write another book until I know this one is being published.”
Writers think in terms of books. Agents and publishers think in terms of careers. They know that most first books fail to get attention and that a second, or often a third title, is necessary before a writer begins to break through into the consciousness of booksellers and readers.
Many now famous authors would be still unknown if they had waited for outer approval to take their writing seriously. The best thing you can do, while you work steadily and consistently towards getting one book published, is to get started on another.
“I’m not going to write another book until I know this one is being published.”
Writers think in terms of books. Agents and publishers think in terms of careers. They know that most first books fail to get attention and that a second, or often a third title, is necessary before a writer begins to break through into the consciousness of booksellers and readers.
Many now famous authors would be still unknown if they had waited for outer approval to take their writing seriously. The best thing you can do, while you work steadily and consistently towards getting one book published, is to get started on another.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
How not to - #3
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, Stu from Tonto Books explains how not to approach publishers:
Firstly – and the most obvious one – if you don't know how to approach a publisher... ask them! Ask who you should send to, ask if they are currently taking submissions, ask everything you need to in order to know what you are doing. Hang on a sec – this is how to, rather than how not to.
Ok, don't just send them material. Ask if they'd be interested in reading it and then send it. Don't just send it to 'submissions' either – find out who to send to. And you'll already have researched the publisher and their output anyway, right? At Tonto Books, we've had some pretty bizarre submissions in our three years of publishing.
It's always a difficulty when you are an indie with a relatively open door policy. There was one poet who put us on his mailing list for some reason and kept sending us dozens of poems, asking us if we were interested. Each time we rejected them (as we don't publish poetry) and every couple of weeks we'd get bombarded by more. At first we even offered advice but he never took it and never responded. When we asked to be removed from his list and told him we were not interested for the last time, he turned nasty and verbally abused us. One of his tirades even said he 'didn't want to be published by a couple of smug Geordie tw*ts anyway'. I was in hysterics – best complement I'd ever had. I even blogged about the whole saga until he emailed to apologise. We get poetry submissions quite often. One was addressed to 'the poetry editor' who doesn't exist, one poet came to the office in person to have us publish their work and another even phoned to ask us to go to his house to read and then publish his poems, getting annoyed when we declined.
So, if a publisher offers advice – take it. They don't always have the time. If they don't respond after sending the same material several times – they're not interested. And they aren't being rude by not replying, it's just because they are busy/probably haven't had time to read it. So don't email them and be rude, it was unintentional! Even independent publishers have a slush pile.
Firstly – and the most obvious one – if you don't know how to approach a publisher... ask them! Ask who you should send to, ask if they are currently taking submissions, ask everything you need to in order to know what you are doing. Hang on a sec – this is how to, rather than how not to.
Ok, don't just send them material. Ask if they'd be interested in reading it and then send it. Don't just send it to 'submissions' either – find out who to send to. And you'll already have researched the publisher and their output anyway, right? At Tonto Books, we've had some pretty bizarre submissions in our three years of publishing.
It's always a difficulty when you are an indie with a relatively open door policy. There was one poet who put us on his mailing list for some reason and kept sending us dozens of poems, asking us if we were interested. Each time we rejected them (as we don't publish poetry) and every couple of weeks we'd get bombarded by more. At first we even offered advice but he never took it and never responded. When we asked to be removed from his list and told him we were not interested for the last time, he turned nasty and verbally abused us. One of his tirades even said he 'didn't want to be published by a couple of smug Geordie tw*ts anyway'. I was in hysterics – best complement I'd ever had. I even blogged about the whole saga until he emailed to apologise. We get poetry submissions quite often. One was addressed to 'the poetry editor' who doesn't exist, one poet came to the office in person to have us publish their work and another even phoned to ask us to go to his house to read and then publish his poems, getting annoyed when we declined.
So, if a publisher offers advice – take it. They don't always have the time. If they don't respond after sending the same material several times – they're not interested. And they aren't being rude by not replying, it's just because they are busy/probably haven't had time to read it. So don't email them and be rude, it was unintentional! Even independent publishers have a slush pile.
Monday, 20 October 2008
How not to - #2
Continuing with our 'How not to' guest blogs, bestselling author and former literary agent Orna Ross explains what NOT to say to an Agent or Editor:
“Please read the attached and give me feedback.”
Writers want feedback. It’s understandable but think about it: if an agency or editor were to read and feedback to everybody who wanted it, they wouldn’t have time to represent that writing to publishers or sales teams. Or to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom … By asking for feedback, you show that you have no understanding of, or empathy for, the realities of the business you want to enter. The realities of the pressures besetting those with whom you seek to work.
If you really need feedback, the best option is to pay for a manuscript critique from a professional. If you’re not willing or able to make that financial commitment to your writing, you will have to resort to a friend or family member whom you can trust to tell you the truth and give you objective, constructive advice.
Approach a publisher or agent only when you have something to offer. Something you know to be truly great, truly publishable material.
“Please read the attached and give me feedback.”
Writers want feedback. It’s understandable but think about it: if an agency or editor were to read and feedback to everybody who wanted it, they wouldn’t have time to represent that writing to publishers or sales teams. Or to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom … By asking for feedback, you show that you have no understanding of, or empathy for, the realities of the business you want to enter. The realities of the pressures besetting those with whom you seek to work.
If you really need feedback, the best option is to pay for a manuscript critique from a professional. If you’re not willing or able to make that financial commitment to your writing, you will have to resort to a friend or family member whom you can trust to tell you the truth and give you objective, constructive advice.
Approach a publisher or agent only when you have something to offer. Something you know to be truly great, truly publishable material.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
How not to - #1
Over the last few years bluechrome have received all sorts of strange submissions. I presume we aren't the only ones and that it isn't personal in most cases, but the one that has stayed with me was actually a resubmission. Initially, all went well, a letter nicely typed, a double-spaced manuscript and return postage to Sunderland. The submission, I have to say, wasn't very good and I wrote my own letter and sent it back, apologising for the fact that it wasn't for us, but best of luck elsewhere. Without getting too 'Readers Digest', imagine my surprise when the gentleman in question decided to resubmit the very same manuscript, as he didn't believe that we could have read it and not seen it's potential for mass market domination. This time though he decided to get it delivered not through the post, but instead by hitchhiking from Sunderland to Bristol before nailing it to the front door of of my house with a nail gun. Well, former house, luckily I'd moved in the interim.
(guest blogger: Anthony at bluechrome)
(guest blogger: Anthony at bluechrome)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
