Author Shelly Goodman Wright

Tips and Tricks

Thanks Shelly for inviting me to your blog. I’m honored to be guest and get a chance to meet your readers.

Shelly asked me to write a little something giving advice to up and coming authors. I’m still learning the ranks myself, but I know what it’s like to wait patiently for an email or phone call which will let you know your “baby” will finally be in print or Ebook.

Although I haven’t figured everything out I do have a few tidbits, and I hope they inspire you to keep plugging along, even when the path gets rocky.

Writing

The best piece of advice I can give about the writing process is to keep your perspective. Sometimes when we are trying to get published, we look at our writing and decide it’s all wrong before giving it the chance to bloom into something beautiful. You have to remind yourself why you started writing in the first place. Maybe you were just writing to entertain your friends and family, or maybe the process is cathartic for you. The point is you need to revisit this reason often, and use it to stay motivated. If you are writing for any reason other than the pure joy of it, you may find yourself despising the end product. No one can live up to expectations, which only exist in our own minds.

Critiquing

Up until about nine months ago I had never had a real critique done on my work. I sent it to friends and family who enjoyed reading, but the only feedback I ever got was - this is great! Before you send your writing to a publisher do yourself a huge favor and find a critique partner. Not your best friend or Mom (no matter how brutally honest your mom can be), but a writer who has experienced the entire process and knows what editors look for and what makes a good book. Then steel yourself for the truth. This is one of the best things I ever did for my writing. When I got the document back, it looked like someone had committed a heinous crime on top of it. There was red ink everywhere.

However, the comments were insightful, pertinent, and accurate. I use the information I learned during that first critiquing session, every day. It can be hard to let go of our work, and let someone else thrash. However, you want to put your work before someone who will be like the worst of the readers out there. Once you’ve gained their approval, the rest is easy. Always use critique partners.

Finding a Publisher

The world of publishing is changing every day. There are many options for people to get their work in front of the millions of readers who are waiting for it. Check out all your options before you decide which way you want to go. We’d all love for Random House to call and offer us six figure contracts, but waiting for that is like waiting to win the lottery. You have to be proactive in your search for a home for your brainchild.

You may have decided that only an agent and a large publishing house will do. That’s great, do the research and put yourself out. However, keep in mind that larger houses have more control over content and marketing. Your input may be minimal at this level. For some, that is exactly what they are looking for, and a great place to start.

Indie and small publishing house will offer contracts to publish Ebooks and print, most of the time. At this level, the author is, in general, highly involved in the process of picking a cover, content edits, and marketing. However, you still have the power of a marketing department and professional editors, cover artists, and proofreaders behind you.

Maybe you will decide to self-publish and have total control over every aspect of your career. For some authors, this has been a very lucrative choice. Just understand that the work will all fall on you. If you are a go-getter – this may be the right fit!

No matter what you do, the idea is to keep your head focused on your goal. Set small goals and when you achieve those goals set new ones. For instance, my book The Keepers made it to #3 on Amazon’s teen list. I’m still striving to get it to hit the #1 mark. It may never hit that mark, but this small goal keeps me focused on getting my name out to readers.

I hope you enjoyed the information, and I’d love to have you stop over at my Facebook Pages and website. All my addresses are below. Also, give the keepers a look at any retailers or www.astraeapress.com. I will have several new releases coming out over the next year or so. Keep an eye out for those!

Thanks again Shelly for your hospitality!!

Cheers.

Monique O’Connor James

Monique O'Connor James

Author of: "The Keepers"

From www.AstraeaPress.com

Twitter: mjames13

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