Sane people are not writing novels. They are spending their
free time taking dance lessons, going to barbecues, learning how to golf, and
having drinks or coffee with friends after work. But you're only marginally
sane, and you decide to write a novel.
Step One. Decide what type of novel you want to
write. This part is easy. What kinds of novels do you read? If you’re drawn to
romance or chick lit, perhaps that’s in your wheelhouse. Do you love danger and
carry a gun? You should write a mystery. For years writers have heard “write
what you know,” but good writing is also about finding what you don't know. A
well crafted novel combines both.
Step Two) Write a draft of say 55,000 words. This
could take as little as a month (see nanowrimo.org) or several years. In any
case, it’s not a bad start, but you know it’s not ready for publication. You just
don't know why.
Step Three: Show it to someone. You have several
options here. A) Take a writing workshop where you attend a First Pages session.
The instructor asks for copies of participants’ first pages. (This is after he
has just demonstrated how the first page should snare the reader, identify the
protagonist, and reveal conflict. (For more on this read Hooked.
http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-all-articles/hooked.) The
workshop leader projects these pages anonymously on a giant screen, where he
deconstructs yours. Words you thought looked good on your laptop screen reveal
too much back story, show no hint of conflict, and vaguely give the reader a
picture of who your protagonist is.
Revert back to Step Two. Call this 2 A)You write
two more drafts, where you restructure the story, refine characters, and flesh
out details; the manuscript grows to 70,000 words.
Step Three B) Take another workshop with a Famous Bestselling
Writer (FBW), whose work you admired. FBW treats you and your work as if it
were stinking up the room. You stash the manuscript inside a suitcase and leave
it there. Maybe writing isn't your forte. Several months later, you clean out a
closet and find the albatross, and decide it’s not horrible. You make a few
changes, and C) choose a writer friend who will provide honest feedback without
shredding your ego. Keep writing. Why else can you do? Writing the novel was
the easy part, but you don't know that yet.
Step Four: Hire an editor. Whether you self- publish
or seek a traditional publisher, this step is critical, particularly if like me,
‘typo’ is your middle name. This editor will point out where you spelled a character’s
name two different ways, repeated dialogue and actions, forgot names of minor
characters, and used the verb ‘smirk’ too many times to count.
Step Five: Title it. The title is more than just a
name. A book’s title gives the reader a hint of what lies inside. A book called
Love’s Eternal Promise is clearly a romance. Kafka on the Shore
begs for a reader who has read Kafka. In Game of Thrones you know kings
and queens are involved.
I like a title that isn't too obvious, yet also not obscure.
(Poets can get by with obscure titles, but fiction readers like the book
slightly unmasked.) Shadow of the Wind conveys mystery, On the Road,
and Gulliver’s Travels let you know the characters are not sitting still
for long, Pride and Prejudice provides hints to the book’s major
themes, and The Last Song emits clues this book will be sad. Catcher
in the Rye is a weird title, and though you don't learn two thirds through the
book why it’s called that, the phrase rolls off the tongue. Salinger could have
called it Holden’s Weird Adventure in Dropping Out, but that reveals too
much plot, and somehow weakens the book.
My novel takes place during summer, and the eighteen year
old protagonist has a car he calls the Blue Whale, and I considered calling it
Summer of the Blue Whale, but that sounded too juvenile and chirpy. (My snarky
editor friend suggested I call it A Whole Lot of Smirking Going on).
My working title was Pagoda because initially my boy
has a fake ID that names him Michael Pagoda. Later this is changed to Michael
Neruda after the word ‘pagoda’ did not make sense to the plot or character. After
many sleepless nights, I decided on Breakfast with Neruda. Why? You’ll
have to read the book for the answer….
Now that you have named your masterpiece, you move on to Step
Six: publication. (Success at self-publishing requires aggressive marketing
skills, and since you’d rather write, we will stick with traditional
publishing.) This step involves A) researching agents in Writer’s Market, or other
online sources. Make a list of agents, and B) start sending out queries. Almost
every novelist I know hates this part of the writing saga. I’d rather write
another novel. Or get a root canal.
What is a query? It’s where you shrink that 70,000 plus word
manuscript to no more than two paragraphs, share your publishing history or related
qualifications, and hint your “brand.” You need to appear friendly without being
obsequious, confident without being haughty. Most importantly, your words
reveal you can write well.
http://laura-moe.blogspot.com/2013/07/query-letters-how-to-get-and-agent-to.html
Six C): Many agents require a synopsis along with
query. Take your 250-500 page manuscript and shrink it to two to ten pages,
depending on each agent’s preferences.
Six D) Agents and editors
claim they want
something new and unique, but if you scan the shelves in the bookstore or
library in the fiction section, most of what is published is derivative of what
has previously sold. Or we’ve just published a book with a similar theme, or a
similar setting, etc. I read a great piece today that addresses this issue.
http://lithub.com/we-need-diverse-diverse-books/
Step Seven. A) You will get rejected, possibly more
than 100 times. Most will either send you a generic rejection, or not even
respond. The best rejections will tell you specific reasons why they said no.
some will even supply you with names of agents they know who might like your
work. These are rare, but golden people who have nice notes and smiley faces next
to their names in my database. Rejections can help you make improvement
Seven B) Prepare to get weird feedback. I attended a
conference in Seattle on marketing your work that included “pitch sessions. .
http://laura-moe.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-pitches-at-pnwa-2013.html A couple of agents asked to see my manuscript. Neither represented me,) one agent
I pitched to told me, “If you rewrite it and give him a superpower I’ll take a
look at it.”
Step Eight. After about a hundred "thank you for submitting, but not for us," start
doubting yourself, and think maybe FBW was right; you suck. Your friends and
family think you’re brilliant, so they have to say nice things about your work.
But you want strangers to be honest. You reread the good rejections and confirm
your work has merit; it just wasn't something they felt passionate about. Submitting
work is like dating; agents and editors have to fall in love. Even though your
submission package is dressed to the nines, your hair is freshly cut and you’re
wearing your best cologne, if the chemistry isn’t there, he or she will not
call you. You rename your email inbox the Daily Rejection.
Step Nine At this point you have two options: quit
writing and be normal, or keep trying. But seriously, can a trapezoid like you
squash yourself inside a square box?
You have exhausted the list of agents out there who are
looking for your type of work. One day you’re reading an online trade journal
and come across an article about a publishing house looking for contemporary realistic
YA that describes your tale. This house also accepts un-agented materials. You
sigh, and think, well why not? You send them a query along with the first 25
pages and a two page synopsis.
Step Ten: The acquisitions editor likes your
manuscript, but asks you to rewrite two chapters before she will consider it. You
suspected there was a flaw in your book, and this editor nailed he problem. You
rewrite and resubmit a couple of weeks later, and a short time later an offer
is made. Your work is done, right?
Ha! Writing the novel was the easy part. The work is just
beginning.
Happy Writing.