Are you working on a memoir or maybe just thinking about it?
Michael is correct – writing a memoir is much like writing fiction or it is if you want it to be interesting 🙂
Michael Mohr has written a helpful post on Joanne Penn’s site that you should check out: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/03/09/fiction-techniques-writing-memoir/comment-page-1/#comment-438767
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Were Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Christopher of the Story Reading Ape has passed along a nice post by Vian De Bod about traditional publishing.
De Bod doesn’t mention a couple very important points with traditional publishing. You still need to work with an editor before you try and sell you manuscript (ms) to an agent or publishing house. As you probably know, there is A LOT of competition out there, so your ms has to be the best it can be before you even think about selling it. That mean hiring an editor (after you’ve had your beta readers have a crack at it, of course.)
And De Bod suggests you need an agent. I agree. It’s really the only way to get your book noticed. But how to find an agent?
That’s not an easy thing. You can get the “Writer’s Marketplace” out of the library and find agents that way (always going to their website to get the latest information on submission requirements). But I have an even better way!
I would suggest finding writer’s conferences in your area that have agents that are taking pitches. Getting to talk to a real agent is the best way to get in the door. Then practice, practice, practice your pitch. I’m sure if you googled “pitching to a book agent” you’ll get lots of advice. And sometimes those writer’s conferences will give you workshops on just that topic. I know my local conference will.
I am speaking at such a confernece – The Wisconsin Writers’ Institute – in April 12-15, Madison, WI.
I’m speaking on two self-publishing panels dealing with self-publishing with three other wonderful self-published authors (Valerie Biel, Kimberli Bindschatel, Ann Voss Peterson). There will be agents at this conference and lots of information about “the Pathway to Publication,” including traditional publishing.
Conferences are also a great way to connect with other authors, maybe even some that already have agents. Ask around. Maybe their agent would be willing to take a look at your ms.
via Things Traditionally Published Authors Should Keep In Mind
Yecheilyah has some sage advice and an extensive list of supporting websites! I’d bookmark this post if I were you.
Thanks Christopher – you’re the best Ape I know 🙂
Hey Guys! Wow. It’s been a long time. I miss you all!
*waves to readers and sits on virtual sofa*
This article started out extremely long but then I realized how necessary it was to keep this short and simple.There is so much information out here for Independent Authors and so many made-up commandments it isn’t funny. Everyone has an opinion on what the new author should and shouldn’t do. Everyone has a piece of advice to give or stones to throw. If you move this way you are doing it wrong and if you move that way you are still doing it wrong. There are more laws for the Self-Publisher than there are in the bible. There is something to say about everything. This is why I humbly advise each person to experience everything for themselves and to do their own research. Sometimes you don’t need to…
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If you are a fantasy or Scifi writer, you’ll want to read this post about the scholarship that George R.R. Martin is offering.
The Game of Thrones author will provide tuition, fees and lodging for one student at an “intensive” six-week workshop at the Clarion West Writers Workshop in Seattle, US.
Go here for more details: https://www.thebookseller.com/news/martin-funds-new-scholarship-sff-and-fantasy-writers-719866
Maybe if you live in the Seattle area and you don’t get the scholarship, you might want to pay to go yourself. If Martin is endorsing the workshop, it probably is a good one.
Thank you Laurence O’Bryan of BooksGoSocial for cluing me into this opportunity. And thank you George! A wonderful author supporting other authors.
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Amazon is cutting it’s editing, design and marketing services.
“After a thorough review of our service offerings, we’ve made the decision to discontinue Createspace’s paid professional editing, design and marketing services,” Amazon said in a statement. “We will work closely with impacted employees through this transition to help them find new roles within the company or assist them with pursuing opportunities outside the company.”
Here is a post by Thad Moore on The Post and Courior.
If you need any kind of editing, design or marketing services, walk, don’t run –
to their site and submit a job listing. You’ll get more responses then you’ll know what to do with. And I may just be one of them 😉 Or just contact me directly at christinekeleny@yahoo.com for a quote.
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
Today is Virginia Woolf’s 136th birthday. I’m sorry to say, for such a known author, I have never read any of her novels. She wrote 9 novels, 6 short story collections and many other works.
She is was born in England in 1882 and died in 1941 at 49 years old by filling a coat she was wearing with rocks and walking into a river near her home. She fought with depression.
Some recommend if you haven’t read Woolf to start with Mrs. Dalloway (published in 1925), so I’ll give it a try. I’ll be sure to write a review.
Good question! I had never heard of it, but it makes sense, even more so with the upcoming generation who are used to multimedia interactions.
So what is it?!
From what I gathered from Tom Denver’s interview with Houston Howard (and I’d encourage any storyteller to read it – not just screenwriters), it’s using different ways – different forms of media – to engage your audience in your story. Some of the engagement is to make money and some is to engage your audience. And which forms of media or interaction you use depends on what works best for the story. The skies the limit!!
Houston Howard
Source: Interview with Houston Howard, Transmedia Instructor at The Los Angeles Film School – The Script Lab
Pushkin Press, a UK publisher, “was founded in 1997, and publishes novels, essays, memoirs, children’s books—everything from timeless classics to the urgent and contemporary.”
One of their “editors-at-large,” Sarah Odedina, is opening up her email for children’s books submissions for one day, Monday, January 8th.
I couldn’t find what they define as “children’s” books but last years pick was a YA novel, so she must be looking for books, including YA. And Sarah’s bio states that one of the types of books she likes to read is board books. So there you have it. Come to your own conclusions.
So pull that synopsis out, your bio, and send your first 10,000 words of your children’s book along to Odedina, like I am!
Best of luck! And let me know how you fair!
CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
In honor of the made up but very important (for screenwriters and movie lovers) #nationalscreenwritersday, here are 10 things to remember when writing your screenplay, or when creating most any story from ScreenwritingU – one of the people who set up this “special” day.
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Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
It probably doesn’t matter to too many people, unless you’re a screenwriter, like I am.
And if you’re a screenwriter you know how hard it is to find authentic screenplays to read. Well ScreenwritingU and Stage 32 are putting together this “National Screenwriters Day” January 5th, to get screenwriters a little notice (and to sell their wares – Yes, everyone is trying to sell something and your email is a big insentive to put this day on, besides saying they want to promote screenwriters.) Do I sound a bit cynical. Yes, I am but that’s okay because we can all help each other in this endeavor.
These guys ask for your email address and request you help them promote screenwriters day (purely voluntary, of course) and you get access to 100 Oscar-nominated screenplays. And they are the real thing. I’ve downloaded a couple already.
That’s a fair shake, I think. Especially since you can unsubscribe any time you like to the list they have just put you on.
Just like writers need to read books, screenwriters need to read screenplays so you might want to consider signing up.
Wishing you all the best in the New Year!
Christine Keleny
CKBook Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality
CKBooks Publishing 