mamculuna | (no subject)

Good friends out there, this is a request for advice. I know some on my flist are professional writers and teachers of writing, and I don't expect you to give out advice for free online--I know that's your profession! This is directly to others who are more closely in my own situation, but maybe know more than I.

I've written my first novel and had some readers who've encouraged me to try publishing. I'm feeling hestitant about the best way to do that. I've gone to the online sites (Mystery Writers of America, etc.) and I've bought and read Writer's Market and Guide to Publishers and Agents, but still feeling a bit unclear.

I read and hear that you should look for agents, but then others say, nah, go straight to the publisher. I read and hear not to send any chapters, etc., with the query letter unless the agent/publisher says that's the way to start, but others say send a few chapters, it won't hurt. I've started my second novel (these would be a series)--is it better to market one or two?

Anybody know anything about this? (and if anyone out there is in a reading mood... but be warn, this is cozy mystery with regional setting, not fantasy...I'd be most grateful)

ETA: Been forgetting to post my version of this:

Hardback or Paperback? Paperback if I have to buy, but prefer hardback. I like that nice weight, and they’re easier to keep open.

Highlight or Underline? Neither. Not in school anymore!

Lewis or Tolkien? Tolkien. Lewis is ok, but he doesn’t have the magic that Tolkien does. Or the languages.

E.B. White or A.A. Milne White, hands down. Milne is fun to read to kids, but I read White to myself. Pooh’s never as complex as Charlotte, though I wouldn’t have missed him. My real answer is both.

T.S. Eliot or e.e. cummings? Sigh. Been thinking about this for 40 years. I admire Eliot, but love cummings.

Stephen King or Dean Koontz? Neither.

Barnes & Noble or Borders? Neither.

Waldenbooks or B. Dalton? Neither. I like little used-book stores with cats that prowl around while you dig in the messy stacks and the owner plays chess.

Fantasy or Science Fiction? Both, if good. Lots of both are not, but when they’re good, they’re great.

Horror or Suspense? Maybe suspense, but not crazy about either. Prefer psychological mysteries.

Bookmark or Dogear? Dogear, unless a very nice book that I own.

Hemingway or Faulkner?. Faulkner. Both are poseurs, I think, but I prefer Faulkner’s pose, and like complicated structures of his novels.

Fitzgerald or Steinbeck? Fitzgerald, though I like Steinbeck’s politics better.

Homer or Plato? Homer. The beauty of the language, the story—I’m not really abstract enough in my thinking to love philosophy. And it probably wouldn’t be Plato if I did.

Geoffrey Chaucer or Edmund Spenser? Oh, Chaucer, no question. What a master of language! And variety, and psychology.

Pen or Pencil? Pencil for crosswords and grocery lists, pen for everything else.

Looseleaf or Notepad? Notepad. Loose leaf gets lost immediately. Actually, computer when at all possible.

Alphabetize: By Author or By Title? Huh? By author, but not my bookshelves. Mine are by subject.

Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off? Keep it on, even when it gets ragged.

Novella or Epic? Epic! With sequels!

John Grisham or Scott Turow? Turow. Forget Grisham. He plots well, but his style and characterizations are cliched.

J.K. Rowling or Lemony Snicket? Should read Snicket, but haven’t yet, so can’t answer.

John Irving or John Updike? OK, has to be Updike, though I get tired of the upper middle class angst. I like Irving’s people and ideas, but Updike is just an excellent writer, no doubt about it.

Fiction or Non-fiction? Fiction. Sucker for a story every time.

Historical Biography or Historical Romance? Romance, but really neither.

A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter? Whatever I have time for, usually before I go to bed or early in the morning.

Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay? Short story.

"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? Both have their charms…

Buy or Borrow? Borrow if possible, buy if not. From the library, that is. I could never afford to buy at the rate I read.

Book Reviews or Word of Mouth? Both. I read things no one I know would like, so have to use reviews, but if someone (like a lot of you folks) tells me a book is good, I go right for it. I trust Alan Cheuse on NPR but sometimes he lets me down, as does Katani. Nevertheless, have to feed the habit continuously, so any source is good.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It would help if I knew the genre (mystery, but what kind?) and if by series you mean "stand-alone novels with continuing characters" or "the first one ends in the middle of the story."

However, I highly recommend searching for an agent first. Agents will get back to you in a few weeks or months. Editors will get back to you in a few months or years. Also, you can send simultaneous queries to agents, and when one asks to see the manuscript, you can give them a month to look at it, then send it to the next one who has asked to see it.

Also, agents can submit to more publishers than you can. My own book sold to a company which I wouldn't have submitted to, because I didn't know (though my agent did) that they were no longer just a sports/self help house, but were about to branch out into literary nonfiction.

Don't send chapters. Send an irresistable query letter, one page only, which conveys some of the flavor of the book itself. If you want a sample, email me (my email is on my user info) and I'll send you the one I used.

Ack, sorry, missed the line with the genre description. But if it doesn't end on a cliffhanger, market the first one first.

Thanks for that. My novels are stand-alone--just characters and setting recur from first to second. And it's open ended, not a planned trilogy, etc.

I think the genre would be considered cozy though I don't love that term. My models are writers like Deborah Crombie and Sharyn McPherson--my heroine's not a policewoman or private eye, and there's not a huge amount of gunplay, etc. Local color is important, and relationships (not just romance).

And thanks. I've had experience publishing without agent and didn't love it--glad to have reassurance that that's the way to go.

I can't help you with any of your questions, but I love cozy mysteries and would be thrilled to read yours!

I'd love to read your book! Is this the one I got a wee sample of? I read lots of mysteries, and enjoy all types. I'm fond of the cozies, too.
I have no clue about publishing. I do have good friends who own a mystery book store here in Vancouver. They know a number of authors, and I'll ask them if they have any advice. Good luck!

This is the first one--same characters but no horses :> I'd love it. I'll send an email to all you truly helpful friends. Indeed, I'd appreciate the help from your friends, too.

You'll hear from me soon by email--thanks.

Thanks hugely! Exactly the reader I need, and a writer I respect (from your poetry, at least). Hope to take you up on that! Let me figure logistics. If there's no contact info on your user page, would you let me know your email at nancykreml@earthlink.net? I'll send hard copy, I think, and will need to get address.

I have a book recommendation for you, its called, "The Forest for the Trees, an Editor's Advice to Authors."

I know there's a million books out there on the subject, but I really enjoyed reading this one. I think it gives insights into what its like sitting on the other side of that desk, so to speak.

I personally am of the "look for an agent" school of thought. Should I ever finish a writing project, I would definitely seek representation to publish it. That's largely a matter of what I know are my own personal strengths and weaknesses, however.

Good luck, and congratulations!

Neat idea! I'll look for that.

On the issue of finishing: I never dreamed I could complete more than a haiku for a long time. Then I did the mandatory academic writing, and then wrote a textbook. Somewhere in there I learned how to finish a book by taking it a little chunk at a time and also by not demanding perfection of myself. And what I have written is truly a long way from perfect, but it is done!

I suspect there are two kinds of novels (like dissertations): good ones and completed ones.

You really need to find out what the particular publishers you are interested in want. Some will only deal through agents. Some accept direct submissions. All of them have their own guidelines of what they would like to see first; chapters, a letter of inquiry or a whole book. The annual book Novel & Short Story Writer's Market can help you sort out those choices.

My own experience with dealing directly with a sci-fi publisher was fine. I sent one a very long novel. They responded quickly, and in a personal manner. I know from the things discussed in the letter that someone at the publisher read the whole thing. They told me what they liked and what they didn't. Since my novel's biggest problem is that it is way too long, I haven't tried too hard to sell it again.

Thanks--I remember your post somewhere about your long novel! And hope it will shrink over time--I suspect it would be great. A friend had a similar experience with romance publishers. I've tried some similar books but will also check the one you mention.

Not a writer, but I do sometime read Terresa Nielsen Hayden's Blog http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight . She is an editor, and she does often write about that job. The comments she gets are also often interesting too.
Here is one essay, that I found searching the site, about rejections for example.
http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html
And at last a link to a link page about publishing and writing
http://stephanieleary.net/article/510#comments

Now, the reply to you! Sorry. Those links look excellent, and I'm definitely going to spend some time with them. Thanks!

~M

I have noticed that various publishing houses have differing guidelines, which might attribute to the differing versions of advice you are getting...I think it would be helpful to have two chapters ready for pblishers who want them...Some of my colleagues and myself had obtained a publisher for a collected work on our own after two agents failed..... Best of luck

~P

Thanks. I've heard that sometimes you should try for yourself after trying agents, if they don't work out--that's good advice.

N.