I had no idea this was a thing. We all know what traditional publishing is: query an agent, sign with agent, agent sells book to publisher, book gets published. And lose all your rights. We also know it’s not as easy as listing the steps. We all know what self publishing is: upload your manuscript to createspace, design a cover, sell your books. Keep … Continue reading Partnership Publishing?
My last bite from a publisher ended up with a recommendation for a rewrite and then resubmit in a year. Today, another publisher contacted me saying they believe they could sell my products. Asked me when would be a good time talk on the phone. Maybe this one is “the call.” I know it’s going to happen, just don’t know when. Continue reading Another Bite from a Publisher
A couple of posts ago, I said, “Tuesday is the day.” That Tuesday was yesterday. A publisher had contacted me and said he was meeting with his partners to discuss my novel, Native Moments. I didn’t hear from him yesterday and thought, I guess no news is bad news. That’s how it works in publishing. However, this morning, I got a call. The publisher said they … Continue reading Update from the Publisher’s Meeting
Came across the following while looking at a literary agent’s submission guidelines: “We appreciate all queries. But please note that most publishers today are highly selective about what they publish, and often decline to consider works by unknown or uncredentialed writers. We do our best to overcome these strictures for our clients, but they are powerful obstacles.” Basically, if you aren’t a published writer with … Continue reading Moments of Discouragement
I’ve been away for a while. Because, to paraphrase Hemingway, if you talk about it you can lose it. But I’m not superstitious. That’s what I tell myself anyway. But for the past couple of weeks I’ve been talking to a publisher of a small independent press. He is very optimistic about my novel. His editor said he can work with it, which is a … Continue reading Tuesday is the Day
I haven’t written much about my novel except about queries and rejections. It’s a surf/travel adventure. I’m doing something different with this story though. It isn’t Point Break or North Shore. In fact, the only thing similar to those movies is that there is surfing in Native Moments. It seems as surfing stories very rarely get taken serious. I’m hoping to change that. This is the … Continue reading Native Moments, a novel
In my case, the second and third are also shit. By the fourth, I had a story. After the fifth, I began sending off query letters. After 47 query letters, I looked back at my novel. And now I hate the first chapter. Time for another rewrite? Is it just self-doubt? Continue reading My writing is shit
Finally got a rejection where it sounded as if the agent actually read my work. He mentioned the title and spelled my name correctly. Funny how a rejection can be inspiring. But this is the most confident I’ve felt since beginning this endeavor that Native Moments will get published. I like the font I chose for the title, but I’m fully aware that it may … Continue reading First personalized rejection
In the month of September I have sent 36 queries for my novel Native Moments. I’ve received 5 rejections in return. All forms. The most straight forward was one that said, “not for me.” No capitalization, no punctuation, no gesture of gratitude. I guess it just wasn’t for her. I may tweak my query letter yet again. At least I haven’t received one like Gertrude … Continue reading September Submissions, updated.
Received my second rejection letter today. Still have 16 floating around out there. And I’ll keep sending more out until I get that one that responds how I want them to respond. The latest rejection came from an agent named Dan Lazar, so I looked him up and researched him a bit more than I did when I inquired with him. Found a few interviews … Continue reading 2 down, 16 still out
Nic Schuck 