Comment

Comment by Andrea Heiberg on March 6, 2012 at 1:12pm

@Judith, yes! What a great saying! So many people here think it’s all about getting published but you’re so right. It is definitely also about marketing. In fact when you’re published it’s all about good reviews in the right places and that’s marketing rule number one. I guess that Meg can explain rule number two much better than I can. Thanks Judith, this is the best comment I ever saw on She Writes. You’d rather write 50 books!

Comment by Susan Helene Gottfried on March 6, 2012 at 12:54pm

Judith, sometimes, having a long backlist is marketing of itself...

Comment by Judith Marshall on March 6, 2012 at 12:42pm

If you think this is bad, just wait until you get to the marketing part. Sorry, but I had to say it.  I rather write 50 books than market one.

Comment by Jeannine Bergers Everett on March 6, 2012 at 12:05pm

Thank you Susan, Judith and Andrea for the inspiration and advice.  I just need to keep plugging along and not get discouraged. The writing part is amazing.  The business part is painful.  Ironic, since that's the element I'm best trained to manage.

Comment by Andrea Heiberg on March 6, 2012 at 11:09am

@Jeannine, 

I can recommend Gotham’s. I joined a “how to create a query letter” course there two years ago and it was great. Our instructor worked in an Agency in New York and his responses to our query letters were great and he sent out some valuable up to date links.  And most of all it wasn’t expensive.

Here’s a link: http://www.writingclasses.com/mailing.php?id=2654&utm_source=Go...

Good luck!

Comment by Susan Helene Gottfried on March 6, 2012 at 10:45am

Jeannine -- you don't include your resume. You just make sure the book is as professional as you can make it. Revise until you think you've got it perfect. Then bring in beta readers, brutal souls who'll tear your words apart until you want to (or do) cry -- until the wisdom of their words sets in. Hire an editor, who'll do the same thing only not so brutally (hopefully -- be sure to get a sample of the editor's work so you know if your styles mesh).

Once you do all that -- and yes, it'll take awhile -- you won't come off as a novice anymore. Because... you won't be one. You'll be a pro.

Comment by Jeannine Bergers Everett on March 6, 2012 at 10:29am

Hi Judith - My novel is written and I'm working on revisions.   It's figuring out where to go from here.  How do I query with a resume that screams "novice?"

Comment by Judith Marshall on March 6, 2012 at 9:38am

Hi Jeannine, Sounds like you're letting advice from others get in your way of writing your story.  If you're creating a first draft, don't listen to anyone.  Just sit down and write.  When you're finished, there will be plenty of time to make changes, but you have to have something to revise, to start.

Comment by Jeannine Bergers Everett on March 6, 2012 at 5:46am

As an unpublished author, how do you get past the wall of information and intimidation?  Build a platform, epublish, navigate social media, comments like "make your protagonist one of the undead"...  I'm trying to make a roadmap, but the destination keeps shifting.  What's really important, and what only manages to keep you busy?

Comment by Laura Brennan on March 5, 2012 at 2:43pm

@Vanessa: I really like your blog!  For those who want to check out her thoughts on what is YA, here's her url: http://vanessagrassi.com/  Vanessa, how often do you post?

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