Q: My editor made some suggestions that I don’t agree with. But my book is under contract, and I feel like I have to do what she says. She feels really strongly. A: Are we talking about small-scale line edits? You don’t have to make these, but if your editor feels strongly, it’s worth considering… Read more »
advice to new authors
FAQ Soundbite #1: Contracts
Q: I recently sold my book to COOL PUBLISHING HOUSE! I have accepted their offer based on a deal memo, but haven’t seen a contract yet. The book is practically ready for copy editing….Still, no contract. It’s been months, and I’m getting nervous. A: Congratulations! Keep revising. Your contract is coming. Q: But it’s been… Read more »
FAQ Soundbites
Well, blogging has not proven to be the best medium for me. I post so rarely. I think I try to make my posts too long and they become intimidating…like writing an article! So I’m going to try a new strategy. I’ve had a lot of the same conversations over and over with new authors,… Read more »
Tough Love for Writers
Rachel Thompson’s recent article on the Huffington Post blog, while unpleasantly titled and designed to smack her fellow authors around a bit, offers a pretty comprehensive and useful list of self-promotional things authors can and should try. Feel like you’ve tried everything? Rachel guarantees you haven’t. I make no such guarantees, but since this blog… Read more »
While I Have You…. (Crafting Your Elevator Pitch)
I once met Toni Morrison in an elevator. This happened during ALA in Washington, DC, in 2010. It was late in the evening. I was exhausted. She was probably exhausted. We were staying in the same hotel, apparently, and we were both on our way back to our rooms. She stepped into the elevator behind me, along… Read more »
Launch Your Book In Style
The Rock and the River launch party, January 2009 I’ve attended a lot of book launch parties in my day. It’s pretty exciting when anyone you know has a new book out, but nothing tops celebrating your own debut. There’s a lot to consider, but if you take a little time to think it through,… Read more »
Five Levels of Self-Promotion
I love self-promotion. Cheesy though it may be, nothing makes me happier than handing someone a copy of a freshly-minted postcard emblazoned with my book cover. Unfortunately, what should be a sweet moment of pride for me is often discolored by tiny twinges of anxiety, wondering: Is it really appropriate to ramble on about my book and… Read more »
Brilliant Advice, Untaken
I have to admit that one of my struggles as a new author was parsing the various and abundant recommendations, comments, suggestions and plans that other authors shared with me. Suggestions came from people within the industry (agents, editors) too, and of course from well-meaning family and friends who really had no idea what a… Read more »
The Author’s Life Cycle
For a conference last year I developed a presentation about my experience as a debut author. I call it “My Journey with The Rock and the River,” and it’s all about the phenomenon I’ve dubbed The Author’s Life Cycle. The evolution of this presentation was pretty unusual, because the topic they had asked me to present on was “My… Read more »