I enjoyed this so much. My writing career hasn't moved very fast, but it's moving. Slow and steady. I love these peeks into the reality of the publishing industry, how it works for most authors, and how we all can't be the mega-bestsellers.
I found this to be inspiring and it got me amped to write. I've been in a slump for a while, procrastinating, partly because I'm in-between books and stuck on one of the books I'm working on. But this gave me the drive to get back to it. I needed this. Thanks!
I got published when I was still working at the hospital, and I had to have a serious talk with myself. My main goal needed to be working toward my pension, and writing came during my off times. There were so many times I wanted to quit and write full time, but I stuck it out for the next eleven years. I think what kept me focused is I knew later on I would still be able to support myself and writing would never become about chasing the money for me.
Hi Jessica and James! Please bear with me because this is really going to be long, but I'm really curious about something: Let's say that Author mostly writes contemporary fantasy. Suddenly, they had an idea for a romance novel-a genre that they're new at. So Author wrote the romance book, got an agent representation, and then went on submission. While waiting to hear back from editors, Author decided that they want to go back to writing contemporary fantasy again as their next book because that's their first love, genre-wise. They want to go back because they just don't have any more romance story left in them and that romance novel they submitted was just a one-time thing on their part (or a genre that Author was experimenting/dabbling into but things have gone right instead). So my real questions are: How do you proceed if the editor asks the Author if they have another romance up their sleeves, but Author literally has no new romance story to pitch with? Will editor ask them to write more romance books when Author just want to go back to writing Cont Fantasy again?
Hi! This would be something an author should discuss with their agent before they even sign on with an agent. An agent is usually signing on to be a business partner for your entire career, meaning that they should understand your career trajectory. If they sign you thinking you're a romance author, and then you tell them you're actually a fantasy author, they'd probably be caught off guard, and you might find that they don't even have the resources (editor connections, editorial know-how, etc.) to be able to represent you for fantasy. So, assuming that you have already discussed your career goals with your agent when you signed on, and made sure that they are capable of representing both romance and contemp fantasy, they would have probably already discussed career trajectories and author branding with you, and how to navigate making a big jump in genre. In terms of the editors, unless they signed you for 2 romance books, they can ASK if you have another romance book in you, but you're not contractually obligated to work with them on another romance! Most likely, you will have an option clause in your contract saying they have the right of first refusal for your next romance book, but if there is no next romance book, they just won't see it. This is something your agent would help you navigate, though. Hope this helps!
I know that realistically I will need to be working even if I ever make it as an author. I would love to be the next Stephen King but I know that's not reality for everyone. The idea of six figures is amazing but let me tell you I'd be excited by 3 or four! :) My career is for sure in the slow mode but never made it to steady, however I am still working at it. Never give up.
That was an excellent video from you, Jessica and James! I truly learned so much yey again. I may just SAVE it, of I can think properly to do so. You guys once again have an excellent and safe day-oh, soeaking of which: Happy Memorial Day to you guys!! P.S.: Which video features more of the, "Don't Give Up Your Day Job," advice that James named toward the end of the tutorial? What os it entitled?
I wonder, if we're rejected by an agent, and lets say we rework our story, is it okay to re-query the agent, if we let them know we've queried before? Thank you for your time!
Yes, that's totally okay, especially if you have heavily reworked your manuscript! We also recommend heavily reworking the query, since you never know if your query package was rejected initially because of the query or the manuscript
I'm a freelance writer for print lifestyle and travel magazines, and my editors don't verify my sources because they trust me! Although I haven't ventured into writing for online mags, I'm aware editors will verify a link. Who's verifying all of the nonfiction books and even the fiction manuscript I'm currently writing which is full of research I'm conducting and ensuring it's accuracy? Does the editor at the publishing house take the time to check everything? How would that be possible? Is it someone else's job? Do they trust their writers even ones they've never worked with? I know, every so often, there will be a book that doesn't check out, no pun, in what it puts forth! Since I've been working on my current manuscript, I've been wondering how all of this fits together! I realize I've got a lot of questions and thank y'all for y'all's help!📚
The Julia Louis-Dreyfus podcast where they interviewed Isabel Allende is called Wiser Than Me, and the podcast she mentions offhandedly about the importance of quantity for success was The Next Big Idea Daily (specifically an episode about "increasing your luck surface area") 😁
I am not American, if I get a four figure deal in American dollars, that will translate to 6 figures in our currency. More than enough for me. I am not delusional, five or six figures deals I don't dream of. Even a high three figures deal in American dollar is good for me.
