You are here: Home / Archives for Publishers

Top 7 Query Letter Mistakes Makes Writers Minds Explode

July 22, 2011 By 4 Comments
letter Q

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Dear Authors and Writers,

Are you in violation of making the top 7 query letter mistakes? If you are, don’t worry about it. We’ve all made these mistakes. Remember, you can’t change what you don’t know. The good news is outlined below are the top seven query letter mistakes you can avoid.

Top 7 Query Letter Mistakes

1. Addressing to a ‘phantom’ instead of real person. If you’ve addressed your query letter with Dear Sir, Dear Madam, To Whom It May Concern, or Dear Gentlemen, you committed violation #1. Most of the time, publications will list the names of editors, assistant editors, associate editors, and so on. If you don’t have a name, pick up the phone (I know) and call. Don’t worry, the phone is your friend.

2. Improper format. Do you use a ‘funky font’ instead of Arial, Times New Roman, or some other acceptable font? Do you use 14 pitch instead of 10 or 12? Alas, you may appreciate an off-beat font and large type but editors don’t. Use an acceptable font the next time you write a query letter.

3.  Improper margins. If you’re sending a query via snail mail or email (file), use 1″ margins. Sometimes, publications prefer you to copy and paste your query letter directly into the email which means you don’t have to use 1″ margins. However, if you’re allowed to send attachments, use 1″ margins.

4. Improper file extension. Believe it or not, sending a .docx file isn’t acceptable for all publications. Some still prefer .doc or .txt (text files). Read all of the guidelines before you submit a query letter with the incorrect file extension.

5. More than one page. A two-page query letter is usually frowned upon. Keep query letters to one page. Read and reread your query letter and edit.

6. Spelling mistakes and other errors. Proofread your query letter before you send it. Remember, spell check doesn’t catch all errors. Read sentences to make sure they make sense; correct punctuation You may consider having someone else proofread your query letter. Two pairs of eyes can be better than one!

7. Thanking the editor. Believe it or not, a “Thank You” goes a long way. Thank the editor for their time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Rebecca

P.S.

I know I addressed this blog post in a ‘generic or phantom manner,’ but I don’t know all of your names!

Bonus!

*Insulting the editor and publication. Don’t insult the editor and publication. This will guarantee your query letter will be filed — in the trash!

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Authors, Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Don’t Kill Your Novel Idea: Even John Grisham Was Rejected

July 13, 2011 By 1 Comment
“]Cover of "A Time to Kill [Blu-ray]"

Cover of A Time to Kill [Blu-ray

The July 10, 2011 issue of Parade Magazine featured an interview with John Grisham. His first novel, A Time to Kill was turned down and rejected 30 times; he still has the files. According to John, “I saved all of that stuff.” It makes you wonder if those in the publishing world really know a good thing when they read and see it. Not only is A Time to Kill a wonderful book, it’s a thought provoking movie. Matthew McConaughey’s performance as young lawyer Jake Tyler Brigance shines through at the end when he delivers his closing statement before the jury. I won’t give away the ending in case you haven’t read the book or seen the movie.

Reading that famous author John Grisham was rejected will put you at ease. John eventually was published and has experienced major success since the publication of A Time to Kill. It makes you wonder about the publishers and or literary agents who rejected John’s novel. Are they still in publishing? Are they kicking themselves in the behind? Do they have publishing remorse? How could they not see what a great book A Time to Kill was? Let’s face it; John’s books make great movies. More importantly, they make a lot of money for the arts and entertainment and publishing industries respectively.

John Grisham’s story will inspire you to keep writing every day. Forget about the naysayers because it’s obvious they don’t know what they’re talking about! Whenever you receive a rejection letter from an agent or publisher say the following, “Thank you for rejecting my novel or non-fiction book. I’ll find another literary agent or publisher. No biggie. After all, look at the success of John Grisham. He was rejected 30 times!” Now, go forth and write your novel and know that it will be published.

Rebecca

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Screenwriting Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Self-Publishes through CreateSpace

June 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
New Orleans mayor C. Ray Nagin

Image via Wikipedia

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin published his book Katrina’s Secrets; Storms After the Storm, Vol. 1 through CreateSpace. Why would he do this? It’s obvious he wouldn’t have a problem obtaining a literary agent and publisher to publish his memoir. Mr. Nagin appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and said, “The literary agent and publisher wanted me to change things. I would not have been able to have said what I wanted. That’s why I self-published my book.” Even former mayors of major metropolitan cities see the value of self-publishing and so can you.

If you’re still undecided about self-publishing, allow Mr. Nagin to put your fears to rest. He probably had many publishers to select from, but he decided to publish his book on his own. This gives him more control over the content and how to market his book. He also doesn’t have to pay a literary agent and publisher. Mr. Nagin has the potential to earn more money from self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

The value of self-publishing

1. You don’t have to pay a literary agent and publisher.

2. You decide what you want to write — how deep you want to go.

3. You decide how your book is marketed.

4. You decide the amount of book signings you want to do.

5. You decide how long you want to do a book tour.

6. You decide who’ll design your book cover (interior and exterior).

7. You decide if you want to produce a book trailer.

8. You decide how many chapters/pages your book will be.

9. You decide how many radio/TV appearances you’ll do to promote your book.

10. You decide when and where you’ll speak about your book.

11. You decide if you want to write a second book.

If you’ve been skeptical of self-publishing your book, you may want to reconsider it. Mr. Nagin is proof that self-publishing works. Yes, he’s a famous mayor. But, he still has to market and promote his book like every other author on the planet. Mr. Nagin saw the value of the self-publishing platform. He didn’t want to make changes to his book. He wanted to write and publish it the way he wanted to. He deserves credit for that. Most ‘celebrities or well known people’ would have caved and listened to the literary agent. They would have gone along with the plan to publish a ho-hum or so-so book. Mr. Nagin had the courage to do his own thing. He deserves respect for standing up for his book.

Rebecca

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why You Want to Read Your Book Out Loud

June 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Austrian writer Anna Kim reading from her book...

Image via Wikipedia

Read your book out loud before you query literary agents and publishers. This is a good way to ‘hear’ if your book is ready for publishing. In fact, you may want to give your book to a trusted confidant and have them read your book out loud. Ask them for feedback such as:

1. Does my writing make sense?
2. How did my book ‘sound’ to you?
3. What can I do to improve the quality of my writing
4. Did you receive the message loud and clear?
5. How does my story flow?
6. What could make it stronger?

Answering these and other questions will ensure your book is spot on before it reaches the desk of agents and publishers.

Reading your book aloud is a great way to gain confidence to speak in public. If you’re terrified of speaking in public, reading your book aloud in front of the mirror or a small group will help you squash your fear. It’s a fantastic way to count the number of times you say words like “um and ah.” It’s all right to have a few “ums” (makes you more approachable) but don’t overdo it. Also, you’ll be able to hear and adjust for pauses within your writing.

Many children’s authors sometimes read a few pages from their books to children. To be 100% confident children will understand the flow of your story and characters, read it out loud to the kids in your life or volunteer to read to kids at the library. Reading your book aloud will help you make necessary changes to ensure your target audience gets the message loud and clear.

As a writer, you’ve worked countless hours on your book and have been stuck in your head. Reading your book aloud is a great way to get out of your head and into your body. If your writing is a work of fiction, you can connect with your characters by lending them your voice. Read dialogue and scenes and ask yourself, “Would he/she say that?” Perhaps character traits, dialogue, and scenes require fine tuning.

Don’t be afraid to read your book out loud. If you don’t belong to a writing group, join one and read your book. Ask for constructive feedback on character and scene development, dialogue, grammar and punctuation, and flow of the story. Whether or not you use the feedback is up to you. However, reading your book aloud to your target audience is a good way to know if your story will sell. Remember, publishing is a business. Agents and publishers want stories that sell. Reading your book out loud will help you determine if your story is ready.

Happy reading!

Rebecca

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Tips to Writing Your Non-Fiction Book in 90 Days

June 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A typical Barnes & Noble Booksellers at Waterf...

Image via Wikipedia

Last week I listened and viewed a webinar from Steve Harrison and Ann McIndoo on how to write your non-fiction book in 90 days or less. Ann has worked with well known authors such as Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor, Louise Hay, and many others. Her proven technique helped these authors sell millions of books and gain millions of readership, and it can work for you too.

Writing a non-fiction book in 90 days may sound like an awesome feat, but it can be done if you’re committed to your book. Make sure you’ve narrowed down your topic and want to write about it. If you’re not thrilled with the topic, writing your book could take more than 90 days. However, if you’re excited about your book  and can’t wait to see it in print then follow the steps below to get it written now.

Tips to writing your non-fiction book in 90 days

1. Set a deadline. Like it or not, you need to commit to a deadline. Write it down on a calendar and post it all over your home office, refrigerator, and bathroom mirror. This way you won’t forget it.

Declare it to yourself and the universe you’ll write and publish your book. Create an inviting writing space that is free of distractions. Take action every night and write for 30 minutes or more. Or, write on the weekends for five or more hours. Do whatever it takes to complete your manuscript.

Imagine seeing your book published and arriving in bookstores. See yourself at book signings happily signing your name in the books of your adoring readers. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. You must believe it!

2. What is the structure of the book? How many chapters is your book? What are you writing about? What’s the order of your subjects? What are you going to say about topics? Create an outline because it can help you stay on track. If you’re unsure of how to structure your book, go to the bookstore and peruse the pages of your favorite authors. How many chapters are their books? How are they structured? What are the components? Also, write down three sections of the bookstore your books should be in, and visualize your book on the shelf. Mentally make space for your book.

3. Use a proven process that garners success. How did Tony Robbins and other well known non-fiction authors write their books quickly? What did they do? Dig into their bios and find out all you can about them. Who did they work with? What systems did they use? If you do this, you’ll be able to unearth their secrets to success and recreate it for yourself.

4. Author care and support group. Writing your book can be a solitary experience but don’t go it alone. Working on your own may discourage you. If you don’t have a winning plan, your book will never get finished. If you slack off, you won’t have anyone to hold you accountable. You may feel guilty about it but that’s it. Without support and feedback, your aspirations of publishing a book will die.

5. Special time: writing appointments. Create, set, and maintain writing appointments. Unless there’s an emergency, don’t skip your appointments. As always, make sure your writing environment is one you actually want to write in.

Bonus: 3Ds of writing

1. Discipline

2. Dedication

3. Determination

If you want your book written and published then be persistent, take action, and get out of your way.

Rebecca

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
Next Page »