I’ve Written a Book, What Do I Do Now?

Since my first novel was published in 2001, many people have asked me that question. Once, many years ago, an author read a news story about one of my books, talked the newspaper into giving him my street address, then came to my home and banged on my door until I answered...begging me to tell him how to get a publishing contract. That was creepy.

Today, of course, times have changed and you no longer need to rely on a publisher to get your book out there. But it is a big ocean full of decisions and it can be daunting and confusing. There are scammers out there filling first-time authors' heads full of fake dollar signs, and then stealing real dollars right out from under them.

And, there is the stigma that indie authors and/or self-published books are awful. This is not true, and the only way to overcome this blemish is to educate new authors in the RIGHT way to produce a quality book: one that's free of grammatical errors, typos, formatting errors, and poor presentation. Anyone who truly wants to be a writer wants that anyway.

At Indies Unlimited, my blog partner, Stephen Hise, and I work hard to get the information out there in a way that will be helpful to authors at all stages of their careers. We've just published a resource page for "newbie" authors in hopes of guiding them through the process to putting out a quality first book.

Please feel free share this resource with anyone asking you for advice on where to go or what to do. It'll be a lot easier on you, and they'll have one convenient place to find everything they need.

I’ve Written a Book, How Do I Publish It?

On Writing Author Interview: Author J. Johnson Higgins

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview. So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Writing gives me a jolt in the same way that caffeine does for most people. Just coming up with something for my story, no matter how small or big, is enough to get me through a day. It’s like a treat.

What is your least favorite part? I’m not a fan of the part where I have to sell my story. I’ve always written for fun and it always feels like a distraction from my writing and a lot of extra stress to try and stand out so someone will read my work. My confession: I wish it was completely someone else’s job so I can go back to writing.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome.   I’ve had to overcome the pressure to write someone else’s book. I think we as writers get a lot of pressure to throw out our original ideas in order to write what experts or the markets say we should write. It was tempting but it was also at the root of most of my writing dilemmas. It can be paralyzing.

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve?  I’m working on transitions and “scene changes.” Many times I’ll write whole blocks of my story and find myself rearranging things because they make better sense told in a different order or from a different point-of-view. Though it usually works out, I’m working on planning that sort of stuff out in advance instead of after the fact.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud?   People say they can “see” my stories in their minds very easily. It’s the one consistent complement I get. That makes me proud of my work. I’m doing something right!

What does your favorite main character have in common with you?   My main character tends to get mixed up in things that are overwhelming and well outside of her comfort zone but she typically finds ways to keep her head on straight. She’s not perfect but she gets through it. We have that in common.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know?   I do a little of both. What I know seems to show up in my stories without even trying but every now and then I’m fascinated by something I really don’t understand and I want it in my story. Interestingly, after doing a ton of research, most of it does not make it into the final version because it’s not relevant and would distract the reader from the point I’m making. In sum, it helps to know how the world works for the sake of the reader that happens to be an expert but I refuse to bore the rest of my readers with esoteric fun facts.

How do you use the internet for your writing?   I use it to examine mannerisms and tones of voice. Unless I’m in a café or somewhere where I can watch people, I like to look at people’s reactions to questions and situations online and do my best to reproduce those in my story when I’m describing a character doing the same thing. My imagination is good but it’s unbelievable all the little things that a person does that imply their state of mind. Online dictionaries are great too for checking confusing words.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had?   No awards. I’d like to say that this has protected me from developing an inflated ego.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with?  Business cards. They’re like bookmarks but I actually carry them everywhere I go and they seem to end up in people’s hands even if I’m not trying to give them out! People seem to want them.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out?   I’ve gotten pretty good at setting aside time most days to write, even if it’s not for very long. Planning and pre-writing is a must for me too.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid?  It’s not a good idea to make writing the very last thing on your agenda on any given day. Trust me, it won’t happen. Every now and then I convince myself that it’s no big deal and every time I’m wrong.

Do you have any strange writing habits?   I write rather short chapters usually but I guess it’s not that strange once you see how short James Patterson’s chapters are.

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what?   I usually choose 19th century novels or modern thrillers. In all honesty, I read more non-fiction like newspapers and journal articles than anything else.  I don’t read my own genre. I’m actually disenchanted with the direction the genre has been going and the lack of innovation. I don’t want it rubbing off on me too much.

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing?   I hope that my writing is fun and interesting to read more than anything else.

ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers?  Just write what you want to write and believe in that story. Only change your creative work if you believe it helps make it clearer but don’t change it for other reasons inconsistent with your core principals as an artist. It is important that the writing means something to you. After all, you’ll be the one with your name associated with it.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published?   There is no one right way to publish your work. For some, this means to publish through a traditional and mainstream publisher; for others it means to publish it yourself or give it out for free. I say do what suits you and your story. The worse outcome is not publishing your work at all, if publishing is a major goal of yours.

Any thoughts on what this author writes? How many books published? Here's a little more information about the author...

How many published books are to your credit?   1

Do you have an agent?   No

Are you self-published?  Yes

How many different companies have you published with?   1

How long have you been writing?   17 years (but more seriously in recent years)

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing?   I don’t write fiction full-time but I do write other things for a living. I’m a policy analyst so I write research papers and ghostwrite statements for people regularly. They are two very different styles of writing but with the same goal making sure the message is communicated to an audience effectively. I usually, write fiction in my free time (or I sneak it between other things when I’m not free).

So, any thoughts? Here's the full scoop:

     J. Johnson Higgins began his writing from a young age. In elementary school he was once asked to write a short myth as an assignment. From that point forward he continued writing short stories about magic and alternate worlds for fun. He continued this process on into his college years.
    His first novel, Legend of the Dark Messiah: The Mask and the Sword, was published in 2007. The novel was largely recognized as a refreshing new take on the Fantasy genre that combines an original modern-feeling world with a page-turning political conspiracy nicely woven into the plot.
    He currently lives in Maryland.
    His book, Legend of the Dark Messiah: The Mask and the Sword, can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million, and iUniverse (eBook and hardcover versions also available here).

THE FUTURE
What are you working on now?  I’m currently preparing the second book in the Legend of the Dark Messiah series for publication. I’m also writing the third installment.

More information on Author J. John Higgins is available on his website at www.authorjjhiggins.com

Is there anything else you'd like to know about this author, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews? Let us know...drop us a comment below.

On Writing Author Interview: Novelist Leonard (Stoney) Compton

To avoid pre-conceived notions which can sometimes be connected with certain genres, the number of books published and/or an author's appearance, none of that information will be revealed until the bottom of the interview.   So pour a cup of coffee, have a seat, and check out this interview - see how much, or how little, you have in common with this published author.

ON WRITING:
What is your favorite part of being a writer? -Creating characters, places, and situations that come across as important and real to the reader.

What is your least favorite part? -Until recently I would have said the process of getting my work in print. But now that I have decided to self-publish I have to say it is the myriad details of getting a project (no longer just a manuscript!) together in a professional manner.

Name one obstacle you’ve had to overcome. –Total lack of understanding grammar!

Is there a specific part of your writing you’re working on to improve? -Grammar, and my tendency to hurry situations.

What part of your writing makes you particularly proud? -People telling me that they like my work.

What does your favorite main character have in common with you? -A yen for adventure mixed with curiosity.

Do you do a lot of research for your projects or do you only write about what you already know? -I love doing research; it assuages part of that curiosity thing. Often I will change the plot of a story when I discover a new fact about whatever it is I’m learning about for the story.

How do you use the internet for your writing? -To a large degree I connect with a lot of my readers on the net. In addition it has become my most valuable research platform. There are still things I have to go to specific libraries to peruse, but for the most part it’s all just a Google away.

If you’ve won any awards for your writing, what impact do you think that has had?  - I took 2nd place in a quarterly contest back in ’93 that not only gave me additional confidence as a writer, I also met people who significantly helped my career over a decade later.

What one marketing tool have you had good success with? -Bookmarks that I hand out to everyone (I even gave one to the cop who stopped me for speeding!). I designed it myself and have sent little packets of them to friends from Alaska to Virginia and many places in between. To be fair – that’s all the marketing I have done so far other than start a Facebook page for my novel.

What good writing habits have you developed that you think would be helpful to someone starting out? -Realizing that writing is like painting with thin layers of oils – one layer on top of another until you have achieved the illusion of depth and space on a two dimensional surface.

Do you have any bad writing habits that you’d advise writers to avoid? -Getting distracted by frivolity. But sometimes you just have to stop writing and throw the ball for your Blue Heeler.

Do you have any strange writing habits? God’s codpiece! What a great straight line!

When you’re not writing, do you read, and if so, what? -I am an inveterate reader. I would describe myself as a bookaholic. I have moved my library from Alaska to Colorado to Washington state to Nevada – and that includes my collection of National Geographic. I read history, archaeology, travel narratives, historical fiction of all sorts, science fiction, speculative fiction, alternative history, adventure, literary fiction, the occasional mystery and western, military fiction (and history), and pretty much anything to do with Alaska fact or fiction (except Sarah Palin).

What are you trying to accomplish with/through your writing? -Enjoy myself, make a living, and hopefully entertain a lot of people along the way.


ADVICE TO OTHER WRITERS
What words of wisdom do you have for young writers? -Write about what fascinates you; if you don’t know much about it – research the subject. Write. Understand that your work is far from perfect and a good critique is like gold – it shows you where the reader lost their way and why. (You know what the story is, but does the reader?) Write. Never confuse criticism about your writing with criticism about you. Write. Believe in yourself; if you don’t neither will anyone else. Keep writing.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get published? -Do it yourself. E-books have increased in sales over 1200% in the past three years. POD formats are getting easier and easier to use. The agent and traditional publisher are pushing what they like and the public just might like what you write despite the 130 rejections you got on that ms.

Any thoughts on what this author writes?  How many books published?  Here's a little more information about the author...
 
How many published books are to your credit? -Two

Do you have an agent? -No

Are you self-published? -Not yet

How many different companies have you published with? -One

How long have you been writing? -26 years

Do you write full-time? If not, what is your other job? And how do you balance work/writing? -No, I don’t write full time, wish I could. I am a visual information specialist (gov-speak for graphic artist) for the USAF at Nellis AFB, NV. I write whenever I can find the time.

So, any thoughts?  Here's the full scoop:
 
      - Leonard (Stoney) Compton is a native of Nebraska, a U.S. Navy vet, and former 31-year resident of Alaska. During those 31 years he wore many hats, did many things, and is now trying to fit them all into his fiction. (Well, almost all!)
      He is married to Colette and they live near Las Vegas, Nevada with their many cats and Blue Heeler, Pullo.
      His alternative history novels, Russian Amerika (April 2007), and its sequel, Alaska Republik (February 2011), were both published by Baen Books and he will be most happy to personalize your copies.
      At the time this was written he was preparing Treadwell, a Novel of Alaska Territory, a historical novel about WWI era Alaska, for publication.
      Stoney is a visual information specialist for the 6th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis AFB. Colette teaches ballet. The cats just mess around and stay weird, and Pullo tries to herd everyone.

THE FUTURE

What are you working on now?  -I am formatting Treadwell, A Novel of Alaska Territory for POD and e-book publication under the Pullo Pup Publications imprint, which I created two months ago. I am also rewriting the first section of Whalesong, a sf novel that grew from my first published novelette in UNIVERSE 1 edited by Robert Silverberg & Karen Haber (1990). I am working with a professional editor on the project who has made some excellent suggestions and pointed out weak plot lines that needed strengthened. And, I am proofing Level Six, a sf novel, before sending it to the editor, am in the process of writing the sequel Return to Kiana, and in my spare time am outlining the third novel in the series, Attack on Kiana. Treadwell will be out just as soon as I receive the rights to use period photographs owned by the University of Washington Libraries.

PARTING WORDS

Anything else about being a writer that you’d like to share? -It’s not nearly as romantic as being a gandy dancer or jet pilot, but it is incredibly rewarding on a personal level and I can’t think of anything I would rather do on a continuous basis. It is truly an adventure!

More information about Stoney is available at http://www.stoneycompton.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/Treadwell.novel.  His titles Russian Amerika and Alaska Republic can be purchased through Amazon.com, Baen Books, and his web site.

Is there anything else you'd like to know about Stoney, or any questions you'd like added to future interviews?  Let us know...drop us a comment below.

Common Synopsis Issues

When soliciting agents or publishers, the synopsis is one of your most important tools. It’s a direct reflection of you, your writing skills, and therefore, your manuscript. Yes, synopses are not easy to write – “if I could have written it in one page, I wouldn’t have written 300...” Just the same, if someone doesn’t want to read 300 – you have but one page in which to inspire them. Sure, I understand, but think of your synopsis as your book’s resume. If the resume stinks, your book won’t get the job.

Here are some of the most common Dos and Don’ts I’ve noticed when it comes to synopses, not in any particular order:

#1 – Being mysterious or cryptic does not draw in the reader, it makes them work harder to try and figure out what’s going on. Never make extra work for an agent or publisher!

#2 – Just because it’s a synopsis doesn’t mean the rules of formatting go out the window. If it’s a paragraph, indent.

#3 – Agents and publishers and readers want to know “who, what, when, where and why.” If your synopsis doesn’t get that across, you have a problem, especially if you’re taking readers to another planet, dimension, or era.

#4 – If it doesn’t impact the story, leave it out. Don’t be wordy and don’t clutter the synopsis with unnecessary details.

#5 – Don’t confuse the reader. I’ve noticed many synopses go in circles, completely disorganized and constantly introducing new characters and details that should have been used to lay things out earlier. See #4.

#6 – Sometimes there’s not enough information. “Joey is under a heinous curse.” Really? What makes it heinous? What is it? Who did it to Joey...and why? Here’s another – “this comic suspense novel” – yet nowhere in the synopsis does it sound remotely humorous. What makes it funny?

#7 – Important characters should be introduced early on. See #3 and #5.

#8 – The “Lost in Space” rule: if you’re writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Paranormal, and you make something up, let’s call it Pishkinata, and you constantly mention it in the synopsis – then explain what it is. It turns out that Pishkinata is a planet filled with cute fluffy white dogs and the main character lives there – well then, we want to know that.

#9 – Ask yourself – does your synopsis make someone want to read the book? Give the synopsis to someone who has NOT read the book and ask them to honestly tell you what the book is about and if they’d be interested in reading it after seeing the synopsis. If they say yes, then ask why. You might be surprised by the answer.

#10 – Ask yourself – does your synopsis accurately reflect your story? Give the synopsis to someone who has read the manuscript and ask them to honestly tell if they think it follows the storyline.

#11 – Tenses: I’ve noticed a lot of people tend to shift back and forth between past and present tense on their synopses. I understand it can be confusing, writing your manuscript in past tense and your synopsis in present tense – but you need to be consistent.

Remember, whoever is reading your synopsis wants to know who the main characters are, what their motivation is, and what the major points of conflict are. If you have an outline for your project, take the key, pivotal points and use those in your synopsis.

Many agents and publishers will have guidelines on their web sites detailing how they want the synopsis – how many pages, etc. Make sure you do as they ask. If you don’t, you’re basically illustrating that you can’t follow instructions and that you’re going to be difficult to deal with. See Item #1. And good luck!

I Wrote a Children's Book - What Do I Do Now?

Question:  I have written a children's book that is being illustrated by a friend.  What do you think is the best way to publish my book?

Answer:  Does your illustrator friend work for a publisher? Be aware - many publishers prefer to use their own illustrators. If your friend has illustrated a couple of books, I would ask her for her contacts. Since you've yet to publish a book, if I were in your shoes, I would utilize her popularity to get your foot in the door. This industry is difficult to enter.
If you do a search online for children's book publishers, there are lots who are clear about what kind of stories they are interested in. You might want to look up books you feel are similar (animal main character, saving the day, etc.) and see who published their books. Each publisher has their own guidelines for submission, so make sure you follow those exactly. (A writer who can't follow submission instructions turns off publishers - they assume the writer will be difficult later.)