Posts tagged ‘writing-tips’
THE PROLIFERATION OF SELF-PUBLISHING
THE PROLIFERATION OF SELF-PUBLISHING
I have been writing prose for 25 years now, and before that poetry beginning when I was in high school. So, my time spent writing has been approximately 60 years. And having begun writing long before the computer and internet come on the scene I have seen massive changes in that pursuit.
Back when I began I used a typewriter, along with carbon paper to make copies and white-out to correct mistakes. To approach publishers my work went by mail along with the required SASE, self-addressed stamped envelope.
Then came along the computer and later the internet and radical change occurred in the writing experience. Another recent ‘advancement’ AI is reading my mind and supplying suggestions of words and phrased and it is usually right.
In conjunction with the above advances writing programs were developed making the writing experience much easier than it was in the past. I use Microsoft Word which provides a relatively worry-free writing experience when it comes to spelling and punctuation. There are other writing programs out there which may be better or worse than what I am used to but I advantages I discuss will be the results of using Microsoft Word.
I feel that replacing the typewriter with the computer has opened the floodgates increasing the number of writers now in existence for better or, in my opinion, worse.
No more white-out needed to correct mistakes. The mistakes are easily corrected with a couple of keystrokes. The ability to cut and paste or delete entire sections of unwanted work is a great benefit making the process of editing so much easier than in the past.
With the printer you can produce as many copies of your work as you need relegating the SASE a thing of the past and something many current writers have never needed to use or even know of its existence. You now also bypass the expense of postage. Another advantage of the ability to make multiple copies with ease is that many publishers allow simultaneous submissions – submissions, at the same time, to more than one publisher. But I don’t know if this advantage exists in the self-publishing industry. But the above advances have been a boom to the self-publishing industry in the volume of work which can easily be produced. Of course, the one thing all these technical advances can not provide is skill which comes in handy when you want to get your work published.
In my personal writing major benefits of the word process program is spellcheck and the automatic correction suggested in my punctuation. My knowledge of the correct use of punctuation is nearly nonexistent so the vast amount of the correct punctuation the use is in the hands of the writing program. When it comes to spelling my ability has rapidly gone downhill, not that it was ever great. To give you an idea of how deficient my spelling ability is there have been times when I have been trying to spell a word and the program has no idea what the word I am trying to spell is.
So, there you have the advances in writing which have made the ability to produce a work so much easier than it was in the past. And these advances have resulted in a huge increase in work being produced and submitted to self-publishing presses which results in an incredible number of books being published every year. Books, if feel, would never see the light of day if the typewriter was the only means available to produce the work.
LITERARY AGENCY QUERY REQUEST FORM
LITERARY AGENCY QUERY REQUEST FORM
Here is a query form from a literary agency. The information required is typical of forms found from other agencies.
Top of Form
Step 1. Tell us about the author
Fill in these author-related fields.
First Name: (required)
Last Name: (required)
E-Mail Address: (required)
Biography:Tell us a little about yourself and any writing credentials you may have.
Website Address: (if you have one)
Have you previously published other books? Yes No
Have you ever been represented by a literary agent before? Yes No
If you previously self-published a book, about how many copies were sold in the first year?
If this query is a referral, who referred you?
Step 2. Tell us about the book
Fill in these book-related fields.
Title: (required)
Genre: (required) select your book’s genre Action/Adventure Chick Lit Childrens Commercial Contemporary Crime/Detective/Police Erotica Family Saga Fantasy Fantasy: Magical Realism Fantasy: Urban Graphic Novel Historical Horror Humor/Satire Inspirational LGBTQ+ Literary Multicultural Mystery New Adult Offbeat/Quirky Romance Romance: Category Romance: Contemporary Romance: Historical Romance: Paranormal Romance: Thriller/Suspense Romantasy / Romantic Fantasy Science Fiction Short Stories Suspense Thriller Upmarket Western Women’s Fiction Young Adult Young Adult: Contemporary Young Adult: Fantasy Young Adult: Historical Young Adult: Literary Young Adult: Mystery Young Adult: Paranormal Young Adult: Paranormal Romance Young Adult: Romance Art Cookbook Cultural/Social Issues Finance Food Gardening Health & Fitness History Home Decorating & Design LGBTQ+ Lifestyle Memoir Narrative Parenting Politics Psychology Relationship & Dating Religion Self-Help Spirituality Travel True Crime Women’s Issues This agent only represents the genres shown in this list. Selecting an inaccurate genre will result in a rejection. If your book’s genre is not shown here, please go to QueryTracker for a list of agents who do represent your genre.
Word Count: (required)Enter the approximate WORD count of your book. Enter numbers only. Do not include any letters or special characters.
Is this book currently published or has it ever been published before? Yes No
Query Letter:Tips for formatting and pasting text
BoldItalicUnderlineAlign
- Align Left
- Align Center
- Align Right
- Align Justify
Clear FormattingUndoRedo
Ctrl+V or Right Click to Paste (Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.)
Enter your query letter for this book. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.
Pro Tip: Make your query letter shine, get it critiqued for free at qtCritique.com
The First 10 Pages of Your Book (or full book proposal if non-fiction):
(If your book is shorter than this (such as a picture book) please include the entire text.)Tips for formatting and pasting text
BoldItalicUnderlineAlign
- Align Left
- Align Center
- Align Right
- Align Justify
Clear FormattingUndoRedo
Ctrl+V or Right Click to Paste (Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.)
Paste in the first 10 pages of your book, or your full book proposal if your book is non-fiction. (Tips for formatting and pasting text) Do NOT paste images into this field. Pasting large blocks of text can take several minutes. Please be patient.
Optional: Sign into QueryTracker
A QueryTracker account is NOT required to send a query. If you are not a member of QueryTracker, you can skip this section.
Or join QueryTracker, a free service that helps authors find agents and keep track of queries.
Signing into QueryTracker will link this query to your QueryTracker account, allowing it to be automatically tracked and displayed in QueryTracker.
Your QueryTracker Username or Email Address:Your QueryTracker Password:Sign In
Forget your credentials? Recover them at QueryTracker.
Not a QueryTracker member? Join here (Free)
Learn more about auto-tracking queries.
Final Step: Submit Your Query
Submit Query
Important: After submitting your query, you will receive a personalized link to a special page that you can visit any time to check your query’s status.
If the recipient of your query would like to read more, they will contact you through that page as well as through email.
Bottom of Form
This form is powered by Query Manager, a service of Query Tracker. If you have any questions about this service, please Contact Us.
QueryTracker is a free service for authors to help them find literary agents and organize query letters. Learn more.
Having the information on the above form should help you in quite a few queries.
LITERARY AGENTS
MY QUEST FOR A LITERARY AGENT
I have a novel, The Beast Awaits, for which I am seeking a publisher. I have used Duotrope to compile a list of publishers but so far I have found none that I deem satisfactory. Therefore, I am now looking for a literary agent for which Duotrope also provides a listing.
For many publishers having an agent is the only way your work can be reviewed. The fact that you have an agent encourages publishers to look at your work for they know that the only way a REPUTIBLE agent makes a penny is if they sell your work.
I filled out a Duotrope questionnaire for agents and received a list of 124 agents. Daunting. But through my use of another website, I was able to reduce this to a list of seventeen agents I feel secure in pursuing.
In a future post will describe how I accomplished this.
EMMET ROBINSON
ANNOUNCES
THE BEAST AWAITS
Here is a newsletter published by a writer friend, Emmet Robinson, mentioning my upcoming novel, The Beast Awaits.
I am currently looking for an agent so hope to soon change upcoming to soon to be published.
Scribbles
By Emmet Robinson
Writer and Editor
Helping You Express Yourself More Effectively
610-647-4341
What’s New?
Science Fiction
Current editing assignments include a new novel by Walt Trizna. Walt’s wildly creative imagination makes him a treat to work with – every chapter is another surprise. The general theme of The Beast Awaits leads one to consider a real possibility as to the end of human society. Scary? Yup! Gross in spots, too! A great read!
In working with other writers’ creative efforts, the original work is carefully preserved, uncut. Suggestions are provided separately. Also carefully preserved are both the author’s original intent and voice.
Double the Fun
Jim McCusker’s newest novel, The Edge, is now published and available in hard copy and on line. At over 400 pages, it took me a while to go through it, adding my suggestions to each chapter as I received it. It was a special treat to receive an autographed copy with my name listed as editor.
When Jim decided to create the audiobook version, he was able to record the narrative on his own, then asked me to provide four different character voices. That put me back in the studio again as a voice actor, something I greatly enjoy.
His previous novel, New Jersey Nights, first appeared in print, then was recorded here as an audiobook where I provided all of the voices. The hardest part was keeping track of what voice went with which character. Fortunately, being a story about organized crime, there were frequent murders. Whenever a character was killed off, I could recycle the voice by using it with a new character in following chapters.
Endless Variety
In addition to my own creative efforts*, I enjoy helping other writers with theirs.
Over the years, the range of assignments has provided a broad variety of work that keeps my days interesting. From business cards and newsletters for area businesses to full-length novels and literally everything in between.
What are you working on now that could use a professional review?
Reach me at www.emmetsemail@aol.com.
Emmet Robinson
(See next page)
* Useful Articles: https://emmetrobinson.com/Reading-Room/
Books
Non-fiction
How to Prosper in Business Regardless of the Economy
Coping with Competition: How to Tilt the Playing Field in Your Favor
Little Boy Found: One Man’s Search for Lost Self-Esteem
Fiction – For publication this fall
The Adventures of Dave and Dani: A personal trainer and a florist find success and true love.
WRITER’S FORUM: MAUSCRIPT FORMATING-WRITING PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
WRITER’S FORUM
MANUSCRIPTE FORMATING – WRITING PICTURE BOOKS
FOR CHILDREN
The owner of this blog teaches creative writing for adults at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Boston.
Subjects covered by the blog include Types of Picture Books, Manuscript Formatting, Cover Letters and Agents.
Concerning agents, you are told what I have emphasized in the past. Never send money to any agent. If an agent asks for money they are not reputable.
The website is free.
Manuscript formatting – Writing Picture Books for Children
WARNING
As I’m sure you know in our current society very little is free. When you use a site indicating that it is free your email address or telephone number is probably being added to a list which will be sold. So when using any website consider the value of the site to you and if it is worth the occasion annoying ad.
WRITER’S FORUM: LITERARY AGENTS
WRITER’S FORUM
LITERARY AGENTS
ASSOCIATION OF WRITER’S REPRESENTATIVES
For a writer there is no certain way which will enable you to find a valid publisher for your work. But there is one avenue which will help a great deal: Obtaining a literary agent.
The ability in obtaining a literary agent depends on the quality of your work. A reputable agent will not take you on as a client unless they feel that your work is publishable. The fact that you have an agent will gain you access to publishers you would otherwise not be able to approach. You see, an agent, a reputable agent, does not make a dime unless they can find a publisher for you. Of course, publishers know this so the fact that you have an agent tells them that perhaps they should take a look at your work.
The purpose of this post is to provide a word of caution and how to protect you from dishonest actors. Yes, as in all professions, there is a sleaze element.
A valid agent should not charge you anything to take you on as a client. Even if the agent appears to be honest, there is another scam. The agent will say they will take you on as a client, but your work needs editing. That’s when the money starts flowing out of your pocket. Run, don’t walk away from this agent.
I also want to mention that if you find a publisher for your book on your own you should not have to pay them anything to publish your work.
Back to literary agents.
There is a highly respected organization, Association of Writer’s Representatives, made up of reputable and honest literary agents. To become a member of this organization they must agree not to charge the writer and only earn their commission from the sale of your book. This database has a huge number of agents which can be searched according to the genre of your work.
And it is free.
USA Literary Agent Directory and Database 2023-24 – Free Access (literary-agents.com)
Walttriznastories's Blog 