I went back and read other postings. Man, you guys are good! The pressure is on. I know this post must be fun, witty and/or inspiring. Why would someone who has never blogged get sucked into -- I mean, agree to be a guest blogger?
A) Peer pressure
B) I sold a book, so I'm supposed to be a "real" writer now
C) I ate beans for dinner
D) All of the above
(My apologies to Danita for shamelessly stealing her multiple choice format, but it worked so well!)
I've already shared my news that Awe-Struck E-books bought one of my manuscripts. It felt really good to know that a publisher saw something marketable in what I had written. The support of my fellow chapter members also felt good. Thank you for your congratulations and kind words.
Now I not only have stories to finish, but I'm stepping into the business side of writing. Selling has given me a kick in the motivation to submit a second manuscript and finish the third of these connected stories. However, in many ways, the business side comes easier for me. It's what I've done in other jobs for many years. The Web site I drafted months ago can go live with good reason. I can add "coming in 2008..." to my signature block.
And as I'm penciling a production schedule on my calendar, I remember what Chris Young mentioned at one of our chapter meetings: authors with e-publishing companies have much more involvement in the production of their book than authors with traditional print publishers. I like that involvement, but it means more time spent on the business side of writing.
Awe-Struck has a nice list of steps leading up to publication that appeals to my detail-oriented personality. (Yes, the same anal-retentive quality that enjoys plotting a book using a descriptive form for each scene, then providing a visual by tacking easel-sized pieces of paper around my office with color-coded sticky notes for each character and plot point.) I'm going to share some of those steps in hopes it will help you look ahead -- and so you can offer me suggestions on how to best deal with this process!
If you're doing your own cover as I am, Awe-Struck needs that cover six months before publication. I'll send it in early since this is my first time working with them. I've been looking closely at a lot of covers, analyzing what I like or don't like about them. I have a draft of my own cover done that I'm still tweaking, and I've asked another graphic designer friend to give me her impressions before I send it off.
Filling out an author information questionnaire is another step. The name, Web site, e-mail address are easy. My bio will take some finessing. What if I say something that offends my family? What if I sound dorky? Or flippant? Yeah, I'll be asking for feedback from all of you! And if you have suggestions on what to put in and what to leave out, please let me know.
I get to choose a cover quote and excerpt from my book. I like being able to do this, but do I have to choose only ONE part?
Books queries are sent to reviewers about four months before release. I can really relate to what Paty and Chris have shared recently on the loop about reviews. There's an uncertainty about sharing your "baby" with strangers. You can bet I'll be sending positive energy to all those reviewers.
Proofreading and final edits aren't worrisome, as I seem to have come to an agreement with commas early in my life. However, I need to watch those exclamation marks and dashes, as well as remember to schedule a block of time to get these done and not be working on a dozen other deadlines at the same time.
Online promotion by the publisher -- and by me! This is another area that I'm looking forward to. I took an awesome career planning workshop online last year taught by another detail-oriented person (are you seeing a pattern here?). So I'll dust off those notes and put some of her suggestions into action. I've been collecting ideas from other authors for years, and you can bet that I'm paying very close attention to every promo item I see. Not spending more money on promotion than I receive from royalties may be my biggest challenge!
Once the book is uploaded for sale, it's time to pop the cork on sparkling cider! I hope you will all join me!
But for now, butt in chair, hands on keyboard. It's time to write!
9 comments:
Can I comment on my own post? Here it is laaaate Sunday night -- almost midnight, November 12, yet my post showed up as November 11 when I drafted it. Obviously I don't have the hang of this blogging yet! Can someone help me change the date?
Sorry!
-Genene
I changed the date to today :-)
Wow, you are a busy woman! If Awe-Struck allows and you're comfortable with it, you should post your cover sometime. And you could talk about what you considered when designing it. I think people are always curious about that.
Congrats again on the sale. :)
Reading your post and listening to Paty and Karen this weekend talk about promoting their ebooks reinforced to me how much is left on the author's shoulder. I'm wishing you the best, Genene. It's very exciting.
Genene--epublishing is perfect for you! The details, the control, they all seem like things you are happy embracing and I KNOW you will do a good job with them all. By the time you're finished with this process, think of all the stuff you will have learned! And with Chris and Paty ready to help, you'll have expert advice if any problems arise.
I don't think it would come as a surprise to any of the people who know me to hear me say that I would mess this kind of thing up so famously it would never come out right! But I love hearing how things work, and so I hope you will keep us informed as you go through the process. Like Lisa said, even if you can't show the cover, perhaps just discuss what you've learned and deduced.
Your fist blog was interesting, fun, informative and promised treats for the future! Good job (and I agree with your editing criteria--do away with the exclamation points, but spare a dash or two per book!)
Plus, I tried to post mine for the next day and ended up having it posted on the day before and I have to say, so what? It's new material, we'll all figure out that this is Monday's post, so not to worry. Now if I can just figure out when I'm supposed to write again....
Alice
Me again. I can see that I didn't understand your concern about your post, Genene, so disregard my last paragraph.
You said in your blog that you get to choose a cover quote and an excerpt from your book and asked about it coming from one part. I believe the answer to that is no. The quote needs to be an actual quote, I imagine, as that's the point of the " marks, but are you saying the excerpt comes straight from your book, as well, as opposed to a teaser which is original material that entices the reader inside. Like "He's an ex-army Ranger in love with T-bone steaks, she's a raging pacifist and card carrying member of PETA. Can two such disparate people find ever lasting love?" as opposed to an excerpt from your original text? Is this "blurb" used for covers or on the net or what?
ALice
The date the post shows doesn't matter, Genene. One of the quirks of the beast, I'm afraid.
How does it feel to have your blog cherry popped? Don't worry, like sex, it feels better with time. Ha.
Watching you on your publication journey will be interesting. I'm proud of you. You truly deserve this.
Thanks for taking the plunge into our world of blog.
Oh, and C, Genene. I pick C. Beans for dinner last night.
Ha ha.
Great post, Genene!
Being a newly pubbed author as well, I find it awesome, humbling, and frightening all at the same time. Sorry Becky, had to use the "ing". :)
You have what I wish I had, the business sense. I can create things to entice and make people happy to purchase my books, but I don't know the first thing about getting it out beyond my little neck of the woods, but I'm working on it. I hope all the small press authors in our chapter can band together and find a way to get our work out to the masses.
And I'd love to hear the process of your cover.
As for the qoute - should be from an author who has read your book. (Chris) and the excerpt is usually a snippet from a scene that will entice the reader to want to read the whole book.
Congratulations on the contract and your first blog!
Yes, I'm just now getting back to the comments. I'll get the hang of this, honest I will! Just not on a regular basis right now, in spite of Becky's very generous offer.
Thanks, Lisa, for changing the date. Thanks also to everyone for your kind words and support -- as always -- and clarification on quotes and excerpts.
I will update you on the cover process. I'm simply approaching it as another graphic design project. We'll see what surprises I run into.
Paty, I love the idea of small press authors (and anyone else who wants to) banding together to get our books out to the masses. Would this be appropriate for a meeting topic?
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