Attention Debut Authors! Breaking the Debut Author Stigma

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Considering the wild state the traditional book publishing industry is in these days, it may feel hopeless to try and publish a book, especially as a debut author publishing a book for the first time. I have heard many writers worry about being a debut author, thinking that their lack of publishing experience will hold them back. But as a developmental editor who works with authors both new and established, I can confidently say that debut authors do have a chance in the current publishing marketplace! In this video, I break the debut author stigma by going over some of the pros and cons of being a debut author and being at this exciting stage in your writing career.
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GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING/PUBLISHING:
Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer / amzn.to/3VE8dtt
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody / amzn.to/3Vyk2Bn
Before and After the Book Deal by Courtney Maum / amzn.to/3Z4at03
SOME OF MY FAVORITE NOVELS:
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones / amzn.to/3vvWItt
Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips / amzn.to/3CFz4Pt
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid / amzn.to/3CjFFi5
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MORE BOOK PUBLISHING ADVICE:
The Art of the Book Deal (& How Much Money You Can Expect): • The Art of the Book De...
Biggest Mistakes First-Time Novelists Make: • Biggest Mistakes First...
5 Things to Stop Worrying About After You Finish Your Novel: • 5 Things to Stop Worry...
DEBUT AUTHOR PROS AND CONS:
01:38 - Are debut authors getting published?
03:34 - Pro: No benchmark for prior sales
04:31 - Pro: Eligibility for special awards
05:20 - Pro: Career potential
06:38 - Con: Lack of name recognition
07:16 - Con: Publishing learning curve
08:43 - Con: Pressure to prove yourself
ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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Smith The Mister bit.ly/Smith-The-Mister-YT
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Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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13 авг 2022

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Комментарии : 126

@cjpreach Год назад

DEBUT BOOKS: Uncle Tom's Cabin. Gone With the Wind. To Kill a Mockingbird. The Help. Ready Player One. Great material is great material, regardless of the author's publishing history (or lack thereof).

@squizzums Год назад

You're right. Publishing loves novels about downtrodden black folks written by white folks. *Kudos for editing in Ready Player One at the end of that list. **Catcher in the Rye was also a debut novel. As was Catch-22.

@VinnyTheory 17 дней назад

So you’re just gonna casually not mention Harry Potter and Twilight?

@cjpreach 17 дней назад

@@VinnyTheory Never read either. Maybe someday.

@cynthiaking5308 Год назад

I am a debut author, and i can only liken this industry to nursing (my old profession.) lots of nurses at the bottom. As you go up in education/pay increase, there are a lot less positions, and it get smaller and smaller til you reach the top. It looks like a pyramid. Same as publishing. Lots of writers on the bottom. Lots. As you go up the ranks to agents, there are only so many ms they can realistically represent. Now all the consolidation with the publishing houses, there are fewer spots, much like a pyramid. So yes, you can query your little fingers off and someone may decide to take a chance on you. But like you said, it’s a long process. I just keep signing up for workshops and continue to hone my craft and hope for the best.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Great analogy!

@spuddy4845 Год назад

lee child got his first book accepted within an hour of emailing, they had only browsed one chapter

@keriant Год назад

I asked an established literary agent on Twitter (during a Q&A session) how many new clients he took per year versus how many queries he received. He said he would take on no more than 2-4 new clients per year and would receive around 4,000 queries per year. This is a 0.1% chance of getting signed by him if you query him. Even if you assume that some queries are in the wrong genre or for unfinished manuscripts, or have other significant issues like crazy word counts or riddled with spelling mistakes and typos, it's still an extremely slim chance of getting an agent as a debut author. Even if there are agents out there who sign in more clients, chances are they also get queried more as well... I think the industry should be honest about just how hard it is to get an agent. It's not the top 1%, it's the top 0.1%.

@emm6724 Год назад

I see what you mean but it’s still higher than 0.1% since like you said many people probably have sub par manuscripts, and one should query many agents so that would increase the chance of being signed too. I’m going to query 100 agents with my first book while I work on my second. If no one wants to partner with me then I have no problems self publishing the two books myself. I agree there should be more transparency.

@bernicevenable8885 Год назад

I, too, am a debut author. Oh yes, the future looks so daunting. However, you spell out everything for all of us to listen and take note. Indeed, I appreciate your helpful, insightful tips. Thank you!

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

You can do it!

@blt2421 Год назад

I feel like we should be arranging a big thank you party for Alyssa. Always look forward to these videos. Thank you!

@DaCheeseblarg Год назад

My debut novel (which is the 3rd I've written) should be going on submission in the Fall. I am super excited to see how it does.

@adriang6259 Год назад

Hey, well done. Congrats.

@childesinthev.761 Год назад

My impression, at least as a speculative fiction reader, is that the industry is forever hungry for 'debuts' to tout and make everyone feel like they're those very bleeding edge and daring readers discovering and "making" new authors (and when you think of it, the term and the mystique around it are pretty unique to trad pub, because of course it's usually considered a lot less special if the only person who had to push the buttons on getting a book out was the author themselves). But it is much less patient than it used to be for mid-listers and other authors with objective qualities and some sort of audience but who, you know, don't rake in ALL THE MONEY with consistent best-sellers. Very "throw plenty of stuff at the wall and see what sticks, discard very quickly if it doesn't stick hard enough" approach.

@thatguyfromcetialphaV Год назад

Debut author here. I have written four full length manuscripts, all several drafts in. I have three other manuscripts in various stages of completion. I will approach agents. Do it. They can only say no. The series is about a special intelligence unit attached to the RAF that investigate and fight against bad guys who threaten Britain from the air. The first book is a murder mystery action thriller with a hint of romance. The second is a motor racing themed adventure, the third is about a prototype fighter jet and tge fourth is a prequel about how the unit was formed and how the characters met. Lots of car chases, shootouts, jokes and explosions ensue.

@joefischer7462 Год назад

I'm a debut author working on my second novel. I write mostly fantasy. My first book was a young adult fantasy called The Occupied which I ended up publishing on Amazon for fun and it did a lot better than I expected! My next book is a middle-grade fantasy about a boy who goes on a journey to deliver a dragon egg to a nest so he can save his summer. The two books are very distinct from each other, and I'm glad I gave myself the challenge of writing books that have their own unique identities because, while my first book was more grounded in reality with fantastical elements, this second one really pushes the fantasy side of things. I'm planning to go the traditional publishing route with this next one, and this video has allayed many of the reservations I've had. Thanks for sharing your insights! 😊

@pjalexander_author Год назад

Thanks Alyssa! You are always so encouraging 😊

@BreeKatt Год назад

Any tips on proper formatting in today's day and age? It seems more often than not, agents nowadays are requesting query letters, sample pages, book synopses, and full manuscripts pasted directly into the body of an email or third party program instead of printed and sent via snail mail or as email attachments. It's well known that copy and pasting (even directly from notepad) can make the format go wonky, so are there any tips to properly format after pasting? Should you still center chapter headers, and still keep an eye on the spacing? Et cetera? Thanks! :]

@billsugg9564 Год назад

Thank you, Alyssa, for your help, encouragement, and insights.

@cassiopiakelly5255 Год назад

I love your channel and signed up with your newsletter about 4 days ago and have not got the assessment yet

@drholtauthor Год назад

Thanks Alyssa, I've been waiting for a video like this. Debut author right here (2nd written book). Sending my manuscript out to the developmental editor very soon! I plan to query my work but not over and over for years on end, realistically I'm expecting to self publish. I really want to get the book out there. That's the main thing. Anything else is a bonus. Thanks again for all your videos. I sent you a DM with a specific writing question btw on Twitter if you have time to have a look. Many thanks.

@laoaganlester1728 Год назад

I am a debut writer from the Philippines. I wrote the story about my brother who has a non-verbal autism. My writing journey is quiet a bumpty road. The arts or those involved in the arts (painters, singers, writers, actors and etc.) especially here in the Cordillera Region always struggles. People are more focused on earning a living for the basic needs. As a result, I did not have any support and finding a book editor is very difficult. People around me did not take me seriously and does not consider writing as a serious career move. Having a profession or business or source of living is the correct move. My manuscript was grabbed by a Romanian-based publisher without official literary againt and editor. I am waiting for its official release this month of August. Thank you.

@ladydi1079 Год назад

Congratulations!

@laoaganlester1728 Год назад

@@ladydi1079 Thank you very much.

@phanapoonsuradetcurry Год назад

omg i am in the philippines too and will soon submit manuscript to literary agents in US. hope we can have a contact. wish to meet more filipinos aiming for arts

@sarpedon2002 Год назад

Really great videos. Thank you so much for them ❤

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Glad you like them!

@jamiedamato8220 Год назад

Thanks so much for your channel and expertise as always! I just got an offer call from an amazing literary agent today and can't wait to get started!

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉

@zanemarion7211 Год назад

I'm working on getting published myself snd while I am doing so I'm building a fan base. This helps the publisher know you pushing things yourself and helps you get a contract. There is do much to getting noticed and getting published. Thanks for the videos. They so helpful.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Best of luck with the process!

@rameshnyberg3818 Год назад

Your channel is terrific and I think I speak for all writers (especially new ones breaking into the biz) when I say we appreciate your insight so much. I'm a debut author, having just finished my memoir about my career as a homicide investigator in Miami- I have an agent and we are sending out the first submission THIS WEEK. So I'm pretty jacked up about that, and also quite cool-headed; as you say, I should have no specific expectations- only hope.

@terrycassis1864 Год назад

I am a debut author too! Just starting to query a humorous fantasy novel about a dark elf entering the surface world, and his adventures with an oddball group of mercenaries as they attempt to save their country from an eldritch invasion. These were good tips Alyssa! Thank you!

@chadarnold2608 Год назад

I hope to be a debut author soon! I’m currently writing my query letter and I must admit. It seems difficult in understanding where to begin. These videos are very helpful!

@truthfinderswithlisarobbin4176 Год назад

Thank you!

@clintoreilly Год назад

You have a beautiful heart, Alyssa. I'm busy wrapping up the 2nd draft of my first book-what a journey :) Thanks & keep well.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

You got this!

@clintoreilly Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic I so needed to hear that. Thanks

@meianxblade77 Год назад

I'm debut author and I plan on submitting my first queries in February. So this has been a great help!

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Best of luck with querying!

@cjpreach Год назад

I am a debut author (working on my 3rd novel). This is the one for which I expect to seek agent representation. My current plan is to submit Draft #12 to an agent. I'm on Draft #2 right now.

@WaelAli-sd8sw 7 месяцев назад

I am a debut author and have been trying to find an agent for years but no one is accepting me. There is two sides too this. The first side is that both my manuscript concept, covering letter and synopsis wasn't ready. However, the second side is that the publishing industry is a business. Hence, they take the authors with the biggest reputations thus guaranteeing the safest routes which will generate them revenue and profit.

@alancook9102 Год назад

Thank you for your professionally based encouragement. It can be so lonely out there. You can feel strung up between dream and despair. In my non writing time I keep looking at current publishing trends. One I've recently come across is Dark Academia. Eg Olivie Blake. Do you have vids on these kinds of trends? They seem to be the way things are going - BookTok etc. Your orientation would be much appreciated. They're kind of exciting and worrying simultaneously. I ask you because I trust your judgment. Thanks again, Alyssa. We need you.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

I did a video earlier this year on some publishing trends I found!: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YfMgXoBLEog.html

@alancook9102 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic Thanks Alyssa for that tip. I've just watched your vid on pub trends and it was pertinent to me. I watch your vids regularly and find them really helpful. Problem is I'm writing for a YA (female) FANTASY genre which isn't your main interest area if I understand you aright. Pity because so much is going on there these days and since you yourself are in my age and gender bracket there's so much I'd have liked to discuss. I'm getting nearer to Agent seeking and I'll tell you one I might approach because you might know her - Elizabeth Bewley from NY. Seems classy agency. Any comments are of course v welcome but you're a busy lady! Thanks for friendly input. Take care.

@shaniazimmerman3922 Год назад

I am a debut author and this video really helped so thank you! Also this is very off-topic but damn what is your skin care routine because it’s literally flawless

@laurennapa9548 Год назад

I am an avid reader. Many times, I peruse eBooks by debut authors that are absolutely wondrous, beautifully written. I marvel at their talent. Honestly, I cannot help but compare some books that have been traditionally published, and I scratch my head. Do agents ever peruse the self-published arena for new talent?

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Occasionally--especially if they end up being viral hits!

@russellmarvin1163 Год назад

I'm a new author. I'm writing a science fiction/religion book. I've found that no one has written a book like this. I do read a lot of science fiction books. I also know the problems some TV series have had with this question. I'm trying to put a different spin on it.

@andyclark3530 Год назад

Alyssa, thank you for another encouraging and informative show. This is a bit of a sensitive question, but does a debut author's age make a difference,? In my case, I'd be in my mid-60s with my first book, and I can imagine a potential agent or publishing house having concerns about my future productivity. I can imagine an author at the other end of the age spectrum having concerns as well.

@Pau1980Pau Год назад

Hi Alyssa, my question is what if you are not only a debut author but do not have a MFA and are over the age of 40? Are these hurdles to getting published? If so, how would you overcome them? Thanks for the helpful information and the ray of hope! Your videos and website are a great resource for writers.

@rdrydnghdwolfe1396 Год назад

I'm not sure how Alyssa will answer this, but I would say that neither the lack of an advanced degree nor age is a hurdle. If you have a great idea and put in the work to make it fresh and readable (taking care not to let it accidentally sound too dated *or* overly trendy in language, to compensate for your age), and the agent--or editor--keeps turning the pages, that's what they care about.

@samp4050 11 месяцев назад

I've watched many of your interesting videos and have learnt a lot, thanks Alyssa. I'm a South African debut author and have written a historical romance fiction novel - would that be a problem when quering agents in the United States etc? Thanks. ❤

@jennifirehere1413 Год назад

I'm writing a debut trilogy in the Contemporary Women's Lit genre. There are elements of romance and a decent amount of shall we say, graphic intimacy. I'm getting hung up on who will want to represent it. I know there's a large market for this kind of writing but wonder if an agent will even give it a chance. It's turning into a big mental hang-up for me. Currently querying but considering self-pub as an option too.

@BrandonNinja Год назад

It depends on the genre too.

@lewis7315 Год назад

Only famous people or people with the right connections can expect to have their books published... Its the famous name that gets books bought and read...

@joshuafurtado2299 Год назад

So, I am writing my first novel. I'm about 2/3 the way through my 1st rough draft. I'm going slow because I'm a full-time teacher, and don't get much time to write. Anyway, my partner said to just write, edit it multiple times and then just put it on Amazon Kindle Unlimited myself after doing all the work of formatting and such, and then just leave it at that. It'll be cheaper and easier, but I don't want to publish this way. I may go self-publishing, but I don't know if this is the best way to do it. I want experts to read and critique my book, and not end up as an author who has only had about 20 people read my book after 5 years (I've seen it, and the books were pretty bad.). So, I'm going through options. Try to get it published traditionally, or if I go self-publish route, create a Kickstarter to help. So, still deciding how I want to proceed with my debut novel.

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

I definitely see where your partner is coming from, but also agree that you should follow what your gut is telling you to in regards to the publishing path you take! I'd recommend trying to find a beta reader or two before you hard commit to a process--that way you can get some extra feedback on your manuscript. Best of luck!

@joshuafurtado2299 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic Thank you so much for the advice. I have 5 beta readers waiting in the wings for my book. I'm excited about having others read it after about a dozen drafts, hehe.

@Corlwow Год назад

Does the free story self checker take a while to appear through email? It hasn’t shown up yet?

@omen25901 Год назад

Been kind of weary about questions such as how to get published, how to query an agent. I know the landscape of publishing is constantly changing, but is it better to start of with contests, or short story submissions for online collections,then work your way up to novels? I know two writers are never the same, but I keep thinking about what George R.R. Martin said about climbing Everest for your first ever climb (and yes, I know the irony when it comes to Martin), but what do ya’ll think?

@soundgreyhound Год назад

Do you have any sort of advice for those of us who are trying to get published, but not in the field of novels?

@PetProjects2011 Год назад

My book is an adventure sci-fi story centered around cryptids. Still querying for an agent. I feel my book may be too short though. It's only 42,000 words.

@sherly7000 Год назад

Would I still be a considered a debut author if I have published some of my works online, though never in a paper back or anything ?

@tatjanakuljaca1708 Год назад

Hi Alyssa, I found your channel recently, and I would like to thank you for great advices you share here! I am published author in Montenegro and my middle-grade fantasy novel (the first out of three books in series) is translating on English. Are publishing houses in USA and UK interested at all to work with published authors from different countries? The first book will be ready for querying on November :) So, I am not a debut author in Montenegro, but I will be in a world, at least I hope so!

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Thanks for your kind comment! I have a video on publishing internationally here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K2U3KFXTkFk.html

@tatjanakuljaca1708 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic thank you so much for your response! Great video, it's good to know that the big five publishing houses are open for other nationalities and countries :)

@oldsachem Год назад

Wooligaga (2021) by Luke DaLang, 70,000-word meta-novel, gain-of-fiction mockdown, magical realism satire, action-adventure-romance: Logline: Kol Helekh, Logan Nephthalim, and the Princess Jingji wander a wilderness in a drought, when they discover tyrant Wooliguns have been hoarding ice in Silver Snow. Xingyu Kangjin, the dictator of Guo Gon Rong, dispatches a guozuotuan task force to kidnap the princess and strike terror in Snowland. After the battle between the Khovars, the Wooliguns, and the Rongrenmen, the ice melts, and Kol and Jingji escape on a rainbow.

@azia3337 Год назад

I am debut author I written 7 books a lot of rejections but I am continuing writing any tips

@psychocuda Год назад

If a person has self-published before but is looking to attempt a deal with a publisher or literary agent, are they considered "debut?"

@nextinstitute7824 Год назад

Hi Alyssa, perhaps you could address this question in a next video: how to write dialogues when some of the characters have limited English language skills? My novel is set in South East Asia, in the 1990s. Few people outside the major cities spoke fluent English in those days. It's a historical novel, so I want to be as accurate as possible, but it seems that it is not appreciated when a character speaks broken English. So how should I tackle this?

@jasonuerkvitz3756 Год назад

I recommend you check out Iain M. Banks and see how he handles phonetics in his novels. Two for example are _The Bridge_ and _Feersum Endjinn_. Don't worry about offending anyone. Write from your heart and tell it how you want it to sound when its read.

@nextinstitute7824 Год назад

@@jasonuerkvitz3756 Thank you! I will check it out. For me, by the way, it is straightforward. At the time, I made ad verbatim notes of day to day communications and I'd like to use those (and with respect). But I've heard it's rather sensitive now in the States due to racist attacks on Asians. Anyway, thanks again, I'll read Banks!

@jasonuerkvitz3756 Год назад

@@nextinstitute7824 An author has to be brave, braver than most others. Again, write the way you want to tell it. Write it as if it's going to be read aloud and don't worry about sensationalized news stories that are distant memories for the majority of people. If you have any Asian friends, sit down for a chat with them and go over some of your drafted dialog to see how it works. Certainly consider picking up some work by Asian Americans. The author of _The Joy Luck Club_ , Amy Tan, might have some insight on this. You aren't mocking anyone. Your book, if written honestly and passionately, will need verisimilitude in order to resonate with people. If you're shopping it and it bears great quality, your agent, editor, and publisher will help you navigate anything that might run into trouble. In the current ridiculous world we live in with people on Twitter raging at every silly thing, anyone looking to publish something with you will avoid controversy and smooth out anything that might get misinterpreted. Writing is so insanely difficult that these small little psychological barriers and fears are unnecessary mires that slow an already difficult and grueling process. You need to complete the manuscript first, navigate these sorts of things later. If you have a compelling plot, tell it beautifully with sharp, flowing prose, have dialog that captures strong, interesting characters, allowing for them to live and breathe on your pages, your phonetic and accurate dialog will work in your favor.

@nextinstitute7824 Год назад

@@jasonuerkvitz3756 Thank you, that is so very sweet that you took the time for this passionate advice. I think it is very good advice, too. Indeed, none of my Asian friends would mind (but then again, they're friends 😉). I am honoring them, in a way, with my book. So thank you, really, you are very kind.

@davidmackie3497 Год назад

I'm not published, and your question is 8 months old so maybe you've figured out your problem already, but my advice would be to have dialogue BETWEEN the characters with limited English skills, but have them speaking fluently in THEIR language (except of course that you write it as English for the reader). This shows that the SE Asian characters are plenty smart -- you're NOT trying to paint SE Asians as dumb by having them speak broken English. There's no shame in it; that's just how people speak a second language if they're not fluent. Another thing you could do is have English-speaking characters try to speak Thai/Lao/Vietnamese/etc. (but of course you write it as English for the reader) and make their attempts at SE Asian language-speaking on a par with historical norms. This would show that the language barrier went both ways. I wouldn't do either of these things a LOT, because that would be tiresome. However, doing it here and there would (I think) disarm any claims that you're being racist. (I am presuming that you aren't being racist, or this wouldn't even be a concern to you.) p.s. Perhaps use a different font or italics, when you are translating for the reader???

@tamarleahh.2150 Год назад

Do publishers check the social media accounts of the authors querying them?

@jaymatthews3433 Год назад

how much is your fee to write a query letter? I am a marketing consultant of a Publishing company.

@Corlwow Год назад

My free story checker hasn’t come thru X(

@AceYaaya Год назад

What do you offer in your editing/revision service for my novel draft

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Check out my list of offered services here!: www.alyssamatesic.com/professional-book-editing-services

@rowan7929 Год назад

I'm still glad agents wont look down on you only because you have bad sales when being an indie author. So glad I have quit this field. Now is just hoping on getting an agent soon.

@angelamerici7757 Год назад

I don't know whether I can call myself a debut author but I'm currently writing my first book and aim to publish it traditionally. The main problem is that my book theme is not welcome or should I say forbidden in my country so I think to publish it in America. May I know if this is possible? Thank you 🙇 🙇 🙇

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

I have a video on publishing internationally here!: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-K2U3KFXTkFk.html

@angelamerici7757 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic I thank you very much🙏😊

@paulakaye2108 Год назад

I’ve been told, (by a “self-publishing” service), that Literary Agents look for authors who have 100,000 followers on social media. Is this true?

@Sandy-ge6wo Год назад

From what I've heard social media following is more relevant for non-fiction, because it tends to be a bigger part of their marketing strategy, and can make a big difference in a publisher's willingness to buy your book knowing you come with an in-built niche audience. For fiction writers however it's not as much of a factor because a large following won't necessarily ensure large sales- the interest that a novel will generate, unlike a non-fiction topic, is less predictable. Plenty of contemporary novelists don't use social media.

@justinswingle4714 Год назад

become a member of the AUTHORS GUILD which offers numerous benefits

@mrplatink Год назад

Would it be an instant query rejection if I did my summary in 2nd person?

@sapphyreviolet Год назад

I have seen query letters in first person that have gotten an agent, so it's not impossible. Marketing is weird like that, sometimes you can break all of the rules and it will still work.

@mrplatink Год назад

@@sapphyreviolet Thank you! It's a "crass" query, but one that is so obviously absurd as to give the agent, and eventually the potential reader, a giggle.

@spuddy4845 Год назад

lee child sent his first book off by email to an agent who replied immediately within the hour with a yes

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

Some people are really lucky!

@spuddy4845 Год назад

@@AlyssaMatesic I don't think it was luck. Listening to his interviews over the years I think he wrote what he knew they wanted, fast pace thrillers, they are always the best sellers and now he's the number one thriller writer. I guess you need to scout out a publisher first and write to suit them.

@adriang6259 Год назад

I'm a debut Author and my book is great, I think..... I just don't know who to see. Is it hard to find agents? I mean is there a website or a list of agents in the world with an asterisk on the most likely agent to like my book? The book is a fantasy with a main female protagonist who has to get herself out of trouble but makes an interesting discovery in the process.

@jaymatthews3433 Год назад

I can help you. I work in a publishing industry. Let us know if you are interested.

@adriang6259 Год назад

@@jaymatthews3433 I'm interested. Thanks very much.. Don't mean to be rude but I'm off to bed. Glad to listen

@jaymatthews3433 Год назад

@@adriang6259 Are you within US? Please provide email or phone no so we can reach you out.

@melvindodson6827 Год назад

I am in love with you

@ClassicCase Год назад

@1:36 "A word of reassurance, beginner gamblers ARE winning the lottery. One of the most common misconceptions about beginner gamblers is that it's impossible or very rare for them to win the lottery. Beginner gamblers seem to think that lotteries are not interested in them winning and are going to focus on professional gamblers who place bigger bets and play more frequently. This is simply not true...]" Weak argumentation at the beginning there. "Book deals were being made with both debut authors AND established authors." -> frequency? Ratio? This could literally mean 2 debut authors against 1000 established authors. Your chances as a debut are still anecdotal evidence and cherry-picked. This could literally be the only debuts out of thousands of book deals.

@tt7932 Год назад

So a debut author is a person who wrote there first book?

@AlyssaMatesic Год назад

To be even more specific, a debut author is someone who is publishing their first book!

@duke_of_lilywhite4829 Год назад

Yo, Alyssa. You didn't qualify your proclamation that a debut author has a shot at one of the four big publishing houses. Have you ever heard of Brian Stelter? How about Jim Acosta? Are you familiar with Hunter Biden? All three of these individuals have published their debut tome within the last couple of years. However, Stelter, Biden, and Acosta are well-known individuals. Two are from the TV news industry, and the third is the prodigal son of the current POTUS. And none of them are known for book writing. With that said, if Stelter, Acosta, and especially Biden we're total randos, who walk in off the street, do you genuinely believe that any of them could get a big publishing deal? Someone smarter than me once said, "if you want to get anywhere in Hollywood, it's not what you know; it's who you know." And that applies to the entire entertainment industry, including the book business. And in the case of those three guys, they know people who know people in that world. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

@HenryStradford Год назад

A 'debut' author is a person who has just published their first book...

@pbnartemarciales7838 Год назад

I have seen book deals two books for 10,000 dollars and you editors cost way too much Most people dont even have editors when they publish

@brianshaughnessy4020 Год назад

The latest Chicago Manual of Style is about $85.00 and contains nearly everything a writer needs to effectively self-edit, at least for copy editing. It's dry and boring but full of invaluable information for any writer. Reedsy editors in particular are very pricey.

@pbnartemarciales7838 Год назад

I can only read one author and he is not traditional published. others suck too many fillers example author talked about his soda for one page filler.

@brianshaughnessy4020 Год назад

Yes, fillers and using inconsistent tenses are the two biggest signs of amateur writers to me.

@margaret4641 Год назад

Hi Alyssa, I just finished the first draft of my first book this week (super excited!!), and plan on trying to publish in the future after editing. Though I don’t want to disclose my age for safety reasons, I am a high school student. Will my young age affect my ability to be published? My book is a queer, young adult fantasy, but does deal with heavy themes and violence. I’m worried that an agent wouldn’t take me or my book seriously.

@markbeyerauthor 4 месяца назад

Alyssa, I've been an editor and writer for 30 years, and all that you say here is only pap, which helps to make you money through YT, but does almost nothing for these young writers. Your advice is obvious, if only entirely outdated, and only encourages not-very-good authors to waste their time. Meanwhile, you also play at being an expert at book endings, or book beginnings; and how to write the perfect first 10 pages, and etc-etc-etc. When, in fact and in practice, no editor, publisher, nor agent, knows what makes saleable writing sell (much less what is a good book); this is because none of those people have a clue as to what people want to read at any given time. In other words, editors-publishers-agents are scared out of their minds for their jobs because they haven't a clue as to what will sell: good book, bad book, or the greatest book EVER; or an absolute crap story. If anyone (or you, Alyssa) doubts what I have to say, just ask yourself, "Why is Alyssa running this YT channel rather than making millions-billions as an editor-publisher-agent?" Yes, your answer will lead ALL THESE YOUNG WRITERS to the truth: just write; make your characters believable; make your story readable. That's all. And, and, and ... if you get lucky enough to find a publisher, you might get lucky enough to sell books to all the very few readers who are yet out there looking for their next good book to read.

@LondonPride08 Год назад

Probably not if he isn't "diverse".

@ovidbowie3929 Год назад

Yeah there was a big conversation about this in Alyssa’s last video. I see how it isn’t something she can encourage debut authors about considering it is so blatant on many agent’s sites that authors need to be of specific group identities to even be considered.

@sonic31century1 Год назад

In today's world, being a diverse debut author can not hurt you getting published. Being a member of some minority group makes it easier to market your book. There is an audience that looks for books by underrepresented people. Straight white men and women are just so 20th century. No one wants to read their books, so the myth goes. I hate how a writer's surface characteristics determine what is published.

@LondonPride08 Год назад

@@ovidbowie3929 Having scanned literary agent websites, 90% or more agents are women and 90% say they are looking for "diverse" first time authors. I.e. don't bother if you are not a woman or "diverse". George Eliot would have to change her name to get published these days 🙃

@sonic31century1 Год назад

@@LondonPride08 Thank you for looking up this fact about literary agent websites. I wonder why they have to specifically point out that they want diverse authors. I can't imagine an agent today not accepting a minority's manuscript. A popular book from a minority makes his agent money. A popular book from a straight white man makes his agent money.

@rdrydnghdwolfe1396 Год назад

@@LondonPride08 I don't think that means at all that those are the *only* writers those agents are looking for. They are all looking for books they would be proud to represent that will sell, and if you can capture their attention (or their reader's attention) in the first few pages, they will keep reading. Things change. (And more power to diverse first-time writers, by the way.)