There's also the mistake of not even reading that much at all. I once read a quote from an editor who said she suspects most of the books she rejects are by authors who don’t read enough. There’s so much you can learn about how to be a good writer just from reading.
So true. My HS AP English teacher had each student write an essay on the first day of class. She spent a couple of days on a refresher course in sentence diagramming. We spent the entire semester reading; 1 book per week. At the end of the semester, we wrote another essay and compared the grades. Huge difference.
It’s incredible, isn’t it, how many wannabe authors don’t read? Like skipping every practice and just showing up to game day, lol. My older brother was convinced his book was going to become an NYT bestseller, though I had warned him that great writers need to begin as great readers. He ignored me, like always, and I don’t know that he sold a single copy. He gave a copy to everyone for Christmas that year, with a special handwritten note inside for everyone. He was worked up as only the delusional can be. I read the entire thing in one hour. It was terribly written, childish in its simplicity, and after reading it, my opinion of him went down, lol. There just wasn’t anything to it. He augmented the page count by including some poetry and short stories he’d written in high school. They weren’t bad, but neither were they great. But he had promise. Too bad it was squandered. “Meat,” by Mark Kilgore, is every bit as uninspiring as its title.
@briankilgore8808 Reminds me of my friend who self-published a couple of books, but it's so hard for us to break it to her just how terrible her books are. 😬
@@TheEccentricRaven oh, man. That’s rough. I, however, felt no such qualms regarding his book. For the longest time, I refrained, but after years of listening to him quoting from his own book to lend weight to his arguments, I had enough. You’re a good friend. I don’t know how to break it to your friend. I wouldn’t do it directly, as I did with my villainous older brother, but sometimes the best evidence for your case is time. When Mark wrote “Meat,” back in 1999, (I think it was ‘99, anyways), he spoke of his vision of it being on the NYT bestseller list. After 20+ years of disappointment, and considering that I’d written something with a little bit more substance, I was finally well placed to launch a counter assault. I haven’t told him that I am getting published. If all goes well, he’ll find out on his own. If not, then I won’t have to listen to his bad attitude. There is no greater disability in life than a bad attitude, friend. Good luck with your writing.
@briankilgore8808 Thank you, that's very nice of you. I wish you luck, too. I believe the best goal a writer can focus on is good quality writing. It's easy to dream of being a bestseller, and I secretly wish to be one. I also know that most writers don't become best sellers. So my goal is to write a good high-quality book. I'll be happy enough with getting that published even if I don't become a best seller.
Have you guys done it yet? :D I can say it feels good, really good. Expecting my second books author copies to arrive in the post in less than 24 hours 😊
@@geraltofbolivia9428 don't make the mistake I made that me from publishing for 18 months 😆 don't procrastinate. Do a little bit each day, like, the smallest possible amount add one photo and nothing else. Write/edit only a single paragraph. Trust, it'll give you a book an a month ;)
My story will be published one day. Not because of connections. Not because of random luck. But because I believe in the story. I'm not glazing myself, but truly, the story is so good that I can't wait for people to read it.
A great list, Alyssa! WHY MOST ASPIRING AUTHORS FAIL: 02:46 - Their goal is undefined 05:10 - They don’t read widely in their genre 06:54 - Their manuscript isn’t ready 08:43 - They don’t know how to pitch the book 10:04 - They don’t realize how random publishing is
I self-published my first book. It didn't sell well. I am on my second book and it's a lot better than the first. I haven't given up on the first. It needs a new cover and some restructuring. But my second is undergoing its editing phase and will go on for copy editing soon. I am investing in the second book. and intend to write more. I write middle grade and in some ways, it's a difficult market because you can't market directly to your target audience. I am determined not to give up. The ideas keep coming and when I retire which is less than two years, I will have the time to go full-time.. Onwards and upwards.
It sounds like you have a good plan! I don't write middle grade books, so I have no idea how that part of the publishing world works. I wish you good luck with it!
Thank you. I am an older first time author. I've written the book, it's in Beta Reader's hands now. One of my Beta readers has edited a work of fiction. Another is a retired FBI agent who has helped me with many quesitons. It's a crime genre book. I am a complete novice when it comes to query letters etc.
I'm just dipping my toes into the querying process and it's honestly terrifying. I love my novel. But will anybody else? More importantly, will it make any money? I really appreciate what you said about reading in your genre. Not only is reading fun, but it's crucial to see what trad publishers are looking for in terms of style, pacing, etc. I have no delusions of grandeur concerning my novel, but I feel like I owe it to myself - all the hard work I put into writing, re-writing/editing, finding decent critique partners, etc. - to put it out there and see how far it can go. If it fails, it fails. I can try again.
Thank you for the tough love! I have edited my manuscript down to 120k (Adult Fantasy debut) updated my query, synopsis, pitch, and comps, and I am NOT giving up!
My first book was a selfpublishing project that didnt sell really good cause tbh I didn't know what I could or should do in order to make it successful. My second book was published by a small publisher and it went really well given the fact that no one knew me. The third one will also be published there in September as well as another book in 2024 while my debut will be re-released this time by a small publisher (as well as the two following books in that series). I might not be the most successful new author, but I'll work towards my goal while honing my skills and that's what the whole thing is about for me. 🥰 learning and trusting the process
I read voraciously but not as consciously as I should. Your video served as a wake-up call. I looked up the GoodReads list and have already started reading one. It's inspired me AND given me a lead for an agent when I'm ready to start submitting for my WIP. Thanks for all you do
I'm on submission for the first time with the third novel I've written- a political thriller. We're getting a lot of comments about how much the editors love my writing and the book personally, but they don't want to be associated with it/know how to sell it/etc. (so far). I'm terrified that it will die on submission, after putting three years into revising it, but I have other books and hopefully, if it does die this time, it will be more palatable down the line, since a lot of it is based on current events (in a fictional way). It's encouraging that many of them are asking to see my other work, but I really wanted this one out in the world because it is different than anything else out there (told from the POV of disabled people as an OWN VOICE story). If you could talk sometime about what happens to books after they die on submission, that would be really helpful.
Thank you so much❤. I just got an idea to make my novel first pages more intriguing. I will definitely listen to your tips and workshop my book after finishing my 2nd revision ❤️🎉📖.
Hello Ms. Matesic and Happy 2024! I enjoyed this video as I do all of your videos. I have a 69,800-word lighthearted fiction thriller with around ninety outstanding queries from late November 2023 to present. I have also received eighteen rejects thus far. This is the second attempt for my manuscript as I sent it out in late 2017 but with only 58k words. I enjoy doing the research for my characters regarding either their profession or their circumstance. I have learned much about birds, indigenous mysticism, and several different states which I've never visited. My reason for undertaking storytelling is to provide a modest supplement to my retirement income. My question to you is "Will an agent be curious enough to request my manuscript because the word count is within the range for publishers even if the novel is only mediocre?" I ask because I have watched many, many movies on cable TV and wonder how they ever got funding because they were so bad. Same with book publishing. I think that the same is true with book publishers in that they must turn out a certain number of pulp-fiction, if for no other reason, then to show the stockholders that they are working hard to get a BEST seller. Alrighty then, keep up the good Write!
I published a short story collection. The results in terms of sales and finding an audience were dismal. I thought of giving up, but then rescinded this course of action. Why? Well, I had this nugget of a story that kept on bouncing in my mind. So, I looked into why I failed and how could I make things work for me. Currently my WIP is a horror novel in the style of 80s horror movies, the nugget of a story. I don't have any high expectations, but then again I try to be as professional as I can be. I'm sure I will learn some stuff from this experience to improve my future work.
I completely understand why some authors revise their work multiple times because I’m the exact same way. I have at least 5 different drafts of the current novel I’m writing, which coincidentally is my first book I plan to finish soon. With that being said, I really appreciate all of the tips in your videos. So far, it’s helped me to realize I am on the right track of where I envision myself as an author. They have also helped me to see where I need work. Thank you very much!
I have even planned my various drafts 😁 Each focussing on a different developmental edit once the first draft (which I like to call the sandbox version) is finished.
I wrote several books but didn't make much money from them. I still work at the 330 to 12 midnight shift and listen to positive books on TH-cam about aspiring authors and not to give up. I will keep pushing for the moment, but eventually I will give it up and stop writing and then I feel something will happen. I have to let it go to show I love it.
I have a book coming out from a small press. I'm super excited to have bridged that gap and want to go further into the big houses. These videos are awesome.
So much valuable info I replay your videos often. I finished my first novel and continue to query while working on my second. Love the process. You ha❤ve been my coach and inspiration and saved me lots of research time trying to figure out things. Thanks again, Susan
2 recommend requests & 2 deeper Qs 1. Do you have a book recommendation for utopian* future fiction that’s firmly rooted on earth (though looking toward the stars)? Even more narrowly in a democratic socialist direction? I’m probably missing something obvious. 2. Do you have a book recommendation for storytelling that gives narratively-unrelated-but-systemically-related chronological vignettes progressing toward a greater end? 3. I’m currently an unemployed architect that has a vision for the future. I have a lot of non-fiction material in mind (if not all on paper) amounting to a handbook for a path forward for the world. I also have never authored a book, but I know that reaching people in their hearts requires stories. I’m a good storyteller, and am totally willing to go for writing the novel myself, but I’ve never really been tested in storytelling. Should I consider working with a proven fiction writer, and how is that possible without having a book deal? Would it be better to try to find such a person in advance of a query letter? 4. Have you ever heard of anyone successfully* using ChatGPT as a ghost writer helping explore directions for the story? Thanks in advance.
This is REALLY helpful!! I have "finished" one of books, and have several people reading it. You are a most excellent instructor. I realize I have a VERY long ways to go but that's part of the FUN and challenge of it!! Thank you Alyssa!!!
Thank you for your insights! It is truly helpful :) I am currently writing a high fantasy book series. Yes, it is indeed a series and I am aware there are risks involved with that, but I'm taking the plunge :D Technically it's my first real book, but I've writing for as long as I can remember, with a break of several years as a teen because I didn't like the way we were forced to write stories/essays at high school :D In essence I've now (well, October last year) started the third version of my series. The first is the one where I wrote myself into a horrible corner out of which no matter the amount of paint I couldn't paint myself a way out anymore. The second is where I got stuck answering one very important question for my main character. As it turned out I needed some personal guidance before I could go on with my story. The third version is what I'm writing now. It originally started as a relationship background story for two character who would have an established relationship in original beginning of the series. As it now turns out this is the beginning I needed for my series. It is an important part of the foundation for my whole series :D I'm currently working on writing the outline (keyphrases and key words, maybe a few sentence summary, but I'm not one for detailed outlines :D ) for the whole series (which I originally hadn't done) in which I'll include (and possibly adjust) everything I have already written in the background story and the previous version. Once that is done (or when I'm tired of not writing my novel) I'll get back to writing. I have set up a "schedule" of drafts for myself, all focussing on one particular developmental aspect of the series, like story flow, character development, etc. (I guess that's more the developmental side?). Only once I'm satisfied with the story and the characters will I really pay attention to spelling, grammar, and things like that. All that can wait until my story is finished IMHO. Additionally, I decided to first write the complete series as a "first" draft before I start revising and working on the developmental drafts. I know myself and things in later books might be so important that they'll need foreshadowing in earlier books, etc. And I feel that I will only be able to make my series really good if I can still properly adjust the beginning if that is needed for the end to work. I'm lucky enough to have sparring/critique partners whom I found through NaNoWriMo write-ins and the camps. They are truly essential partners to have in this process. They have really helped me better develop concepts in my world, my story, my characters, etc. I'm feel I'm very lucky to have that wonderful community :) I hope that my experiences of the last several years will help me getting my series finished and one way or the other getting my series published. My publishing goal is to bring the joy and wonder of my world (Tergaenae, in case you were wondering :D ) and my characters to fantasy readers who love dragons (and whole lot of other fantasy creatures, some of which are not known yet in the fantasy world), mages and dragon companions. (and strong female characters or female characters who will grow strong throughout the series ) It would be awesome if one of the "big 5" publishers would want to publish my series (Tor from MacMillan possibly?), but if that isn't feasible then perhaps a smaller traditional publisher? I first want to try traditional publishing. If that really doesn't work out, I'll go for indie/self publishing. Well, those were my (rather long :D ) two cents about my writing journey and my fantasy series :D Thank you again for sharing your insights into the publishing industry! I like how you keep things realistic!
I think many fail because they are writing in a genre that is way over saturated. This is particularly true of fantasy or romance or fantasy/romance. Witches and vampires are in most new books I see. The competition is fierce. You can write well and be completely lost in the flood and not even be seen.
100% agree with these points, Alyssa, and love how you list them in chronological order. Manuscript not being ready is critical. I actually consider a draft to be starting over with a blank page--edits are simply revisions to me, not a new draft--and have found when I write two or three drafts, throwing out 25% to 50% of the original manuscript, the quality makes big leaps. That doesn't happen if I edit an original draft. Superficial stuff gets fixed, but the deeper flaws will remain.
Nice pep talk Alyssa. I've gotten as far as sending out queries. My problem is that The book is primarily hard SiFi but it is not the typical space opera with battling factions and sinister individuals trying to undermine the good guys. It's a straight forward story of a geneticist and astronautic engineer trying to save humanity. The story is how they meet the goal and how it effects and changes them on the way. So the question is, should I also be pitching this as speculative fiction? It takes place in the 24th century but reads more like maybe a novel set in the present where the goal might be to find a cure for a rare disease.
As much as I'd like to see my stories turn into movies and a blimp in pop culture, I realize the odds are so not in my favor. So, I'd like to tell my stories, and hopefully get to as many readers as possible. Not so much for commercial success, more because they have important messages behind them told in an entertaining way. I'm sure they can hold their own, and it's my way of leaving my legacy and what Ive learned throughout my somewhat short, but rather eventful life.
Not to be pedantic, but it's a little conflicting to hear, "Read what's selling/read successful query letters/familiarize yourself with your contemporaries' works...but sell an agent on what sets you apart." I would genuinely like to understand if the underlying message is that uniqueness is punished (empirically true in nature), or that qualified uniqueness can be advantageous. I guess a simple analogy would be from my life as a jazz musician: all original improvisation comes from being very well versed in the rules and knowing when exactly and how to break them.
I have talked to first time novel writers who literally thought that their book would be ready to (self) publish a few weeks after they finished their first draft. They were like, 'That'll give me time to go through it a couple times...' I find I do my best editing after I've gone through my manuscript probably a dozen times. That's because by then, I'm absolutely sick of it. At that point, any stray sentence, any paragraph that lags even a little gets the chop. If it's boring me, it'll bore the reader. I also do this when editing videos. I watch what I consider to be the end product many many times. Then I watch some netflix- something I really enjoy- and then watch my video again. Every time I find myself wanting to manually click to a more interesting part of the video, I know that needs to be cut. Editing and revising is where the real work is, and it's just getting started about the time you think you've about got it wrapped up.
Well, I'm feeling better about doing two drafts and six revision passes on my current novel! I've got one novel that I'm sending to a few agents every month and I've started planning the sequel. I also write short stories, typically one a month, mainly to develop as a writer. You recommend spending time reading, and that would have to come out of writing time. Do you have any recommendations for how I would strike the balance there?
Set goals. It very important. Set a very long term goal such as hit number one bestselling author but also make sure setting goals to get there. You don't want to set yourself up for total failure.
I''m currently in the process of trying to promote my book and it is the only part that I have not been able to tackle on my own. I don't have a platform or money for advertising so most of what I can do right now is local grassroots or hitting up the communities for Fantasy and romance online.
Just because it didnt sell well doesnt mean its not a good book! With self publishing you need to be good a marketing which is the pot hole I've fallen down as I work full time I struggle finding the time to write and market my books. I've self published about six books so far and non of them have sold well so I'm aiming to go down the traditional publishing route this time.
This was helpful! I want to be a full time author and I'd like to go the traditional publishing route. I'm writing a book about superpowers and a space war. I'd love to make a whole series because I have too many ideas for one plot.
Good list. Like many, I have to wonder where on this I will fall. I've put a full year into my first novel, an unapologetic fantasy story and the first of three planned novels, and am currently going through my third major revision. I hope to have it finished in the next three months and be looking for an agent. My current plan is to keep writing and if I hav little success with the traditional agent/publisher to go ahead and self publish. I'm early retired so have the time and some, not a lot, but some financial security to keep going. So... Can a future be both bright and scary at th same time?
As for your last question: MOST definitely! I'm currently still writing my first series. But, I'm finding myself having to find another job because due to Long-COVID I probably won't be able to fully return in my old job. And even though the expectation from many is that I can (easily?) find another job, and another job would be a lot better, at least physical wise so that I can have a better recovery, the prospect of getting another job that might be a far better fit for me is at the same time quite scary 😁
Okay. Wow. I tried to read through all of these comments so as not to duplicate one already addressed. I may have missed it, and if so, please excuse my bad manners, but the sales pitch. I didn’t see any questions pertaining to that topic, but it is mine. I am currently in the second phase of getting traditionally published, awaiting my publication date of June 23, 2026, and am wanting to know how best to “pitch” my book to the world at large. I understand that’s a big question, but my mind is on fire for the book, and I most eager to aid it in any way that I can. I am limited by fiduciary factors, but have considered purchasing business cards and passing them out at B&N, or something. Radio interviews. My agent does televisions interviews wearing a hockey mask for his books, lol. Boastfulness is bad, so I’m trying to be careful with my phraseology. My publisher is small, so their advertising will be minimal, but that’s not what I’m relying on. The story itself is strong enough to overcome all obstacles, but I’m nervous. If you or anyone has any suggestions, I’d like to hear them. Thank you.
I think the business part of publishing a book will prevent me from ever doing it. I just read whatever catches my eye, and not fast enough to keep with the market. With writing, work and my other hobbies I wonder where I would get the time. Not that I am disagreeing with the need of it, if you want to sell something best to know who to sell it and what they want. It’s business in the end, and that is how it works. When I approach an agent to get my work published, I should show I am able and ready to do my part. And it’s not just writing the product. All in all, just completing a first draft and then tinker on it to make it all nice and pretty sound a whole lot easier than publishing it. And getting a book ready is already hard.
I enjoy your videos and the useful information that you provide. I like researching topics I am interested in. I stared many years ago to write a book but did get to far writing it. I am working on another one just to see if I can get it done. I have learned from my past mistakes ( like trying to write a finish book from beginning to end in one go lol) I learned that editing comes later. The main problem I have is this story is very long, so more then one book. It covers a long timeline so then, where to start the reader off, where to begin.
I know that publishing doesn't always work out. Trad publishing doesn't guarantee your book is selected for a deal or even seen in the light of day. In self-publishing you're doing a lot of it alone. It's guaranteed to print. It's up to you to get it seen, making it more difficult. Either route takes a lot more from you aside from just writing. It's actually going to be the most difficult part for me to pitch the book. End up reading a ton of books after they've been out for years. Getting to a book last minute as getting new books is rare.
Great video, per usual. Keep it up. I want to push back though, on the notion of being widely read in recent authors who published in your genre. Commercial fiction aside, reading for the sake of understanding the market, I believe, is the wrong reason to read and can hamstring the artistic vision. Are you suggesting that for the given genre, the manuscript's tone, structure, themes should be influenced by recent publications? That its style should mimic, mirror, or respond to a recent debut? As a reader, consideration of a book's fit with the market of its time is never something I've considered. Thoughts?
Current books are the best indicator of the contemporaneous literary landscape. Think of it as a map, and reading a map will help you reach your destination. If that is your desire. Certainly, there’s more than one road that leads to Rome.
I have a very early work in progress but am an overthinker lol. Right now I’m trying to overcome a lot of mental hurdles due to PTSD, so for me, just finishing it to a satisfactory completion is my goal. But I would love to write for a living, when all is said and done.
I have self published 11 books, 9 are fiction novels. I'm hoping to run into a vid of yours that addresses querying for self published works. If it deters publishing houses etc. Facts are, I'm one of those who wants to get my books into as many hands as possible, and yes, I'm looking for a partnership to help make that happen, keeping hope alive is far better than quitting and living in despair over "what might have been" (if I'd only tried one more time). :D
Hi Alyssa, thanks great video. I decided to try and write a book about a year ago and I'm nearing the end of my first draft. You mentioned a minimum of 4 kinds of drafts (ouch) and I was wondering if we could have more information about the different kinds of drafts?
I know it's quite late, but here's what I do (and I'm in no way experienced!). These are the developmental drafts I have planned: 0: Sandbox version (just throw in all the story elements and characters) 1: Story flow. Check how the story is going 2. Worldbuilding version 1: Fix the glaring worldbuilding errors you have no doubt found by now. 3: Timeline: Can characters, creatures, items, etc be where they are supposed to be in your timeline? 4: Characters. Are the characters developing the way you had in mind or which is good for them? 5. Worldbuilding version 2 : Last check for worldbuilding details Once that's all finished I move onto spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. All that can wait until the story is truly finished.
I have a WIP. I don't really know where it fits, genre-wise, so I don't know what genre to read widely. It's sort of an outlier sci-fi with dark stuff. I'm planning on indie publishing. I'm writing book 2, putting off edits on book 1 until I finish book 2 to give myself some space from book 1. I don't expect it to do really well due to it's dark nature. My main concern is finding a target audience. That's where I'm at in this moment. All of the above apply to me. I haven't set goals yet. I don't know what books to read to see what's out there. The manuscript is not ready for prime time. And I struggle with blurbs and pitches. My elevator pitch always crashes before it takes off. I do realize how random publishing is. I've read some great stuff from unpublished authors, and some trash from published authors. I just found this channel and subscribed, so hopefully, I can get some nice pointers for the future. 🤗
Can you do the developmental editing in the outline phase, or should it be done after the first draft? I like to write out important scenes on note cards then look at how to reach point b from point a, or whether point c should come before b.
Hi! What you're describing is outlining. You can rework an outline, and even hammer out a highly detailed one that's been revised several times, but that's still outlining. Developmental editing is specifically done to a completed draft, and it involves evaluating the overall flow, structure, character arcs, relationships, etc, then making changes accordingly (adding/deleting scenes or chapters, moving scenes around, stuff like that). Because no matter how thorough an outline, an actual draft is a much different beast to work with and impossible to fully predict--you will almost always need to rearrange or add/subtract *something.*
That’s an interesting question that I’d like to try my hand at answering. The outline is the bone structure of the story, whereas the first draft is Frankenstein’s monster. If an archaeologist discovers a set of bones, they may reconstruct them incorrectly, whereas working with a full body makes it a lot easier. An editor really needs the full body to be able to dissect the story successfully. Working with bare bones alone doesn’t give them enough material to provide meaningful feedback. I know it’s hard, and I know that as authors we need reassurances, but the outline is too soon. Put some meat on those bones, add the organs and bring it to life. Only then, can the surgeon operate. A surgeon can’t do anything for a skeleton.
What would you suggest if I dislike the vast majority of current literature. I can't get through current contemporary literature without getting a migraine
Write for yourself, for your own pleasure. Don't expect encouragement, praise, kudos, guts or glory. Nobody cares. Literally. Nobody. So, my advice is don't do it ... unless you must. Then when you do, pour it on.
Actor Harrison Ford said his favorite movies came from a book where he couldn't tell you why that script grabbed him, and he has to play characters he likes and understands, good authors do that. A character struggling with their own problems while handling an important job the fan can relate to and maybe learn from.
I just want to get my first book published, get it out there for people to read it and then go back to writing a new novel. I'm ready to self publish it. I just need to do a few extra tweaks so that it's perfect for the it goes out.
They haven't read widely: Wouldn't a book reflecting the author's unique passion be more succesful than a copy of the current "landscape"? I just want to write the tales of my world throughout its history. Sharing it with friends is enough.
@@Man-ej6uv Unless you can write interestingly about something that doesn't motivate you, the writing and the process will suffer. My book and the immense worldbuilding that goes with it is primarily for me.
@@Man-ej6uv sure, sure. But it shouldn’t be a consideration to a true artist. Market viability is something corporate sharks worry about. Artists are free-spirits. I read there are one million books published each year, and that number is going up. It’s going to be really hard to write a memorable book if your heart isn’t in it.
Working on a novel and stuck on a slow section of it. It a part I'm not enjoying much cause it isn't fast paced action scenes but it has to be included to help the story go forward. Two chapters of this with a little foreshadowing mixed into the chapters. It s pain but writing is work.
I have several traditional published books, some with medium-size and some with university presses. I had NYC agents before. I received numerous awards yet agents and publishers keep sending me form rejections lately. Any ideas? Thank you.
if you are writing a novel for money, you are going to be disappointed. Simple truth. If you have it in you to write many novels (over ten), then you can begin to see some financial return. So, best be writing because you love it. For me, I write the novels I want to read. Then comes getting it out to the world. I have found that this is far harder than writing the book. If you self-publish, you will face many challenges and may only get a bit of traction early in your writing journey. Hence, write for yourself. If others find your book and enjoy reading it, that is gravy. Hopefully, if you write enough, you can build a following, but that will likely take years.
I have published 4 books that haven't done anything and I have put money in Traditional publishers that contacted me that they wanted to publish "Living the Life of God". However, it seems all three publishers just wanted more money and then things went flat when I refused to give them more money. Its a racket I think.
I think of writing as being similar to sculpting. The first draft only gets you a rough form that vaguely resembles your subject. It's editing that takes that rough form and turns it into a David. This is my biggest beef with those get rich quick schemes encouraging people to flood the market with 100% AI generated garbage. It makes it hard for actual authors to find an audience, and it's going to sour the entire book market as readers won't enjoy reading that trash. Don't get me wrong. I'm pro-AI, and even pro-AI in writing, but you can't let it do all the work. It's just a tool to help you.
Book covers are important, despite the old saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” It’s human nature to be attracted to what draws our eye. There are sales figures that I’ve heard about this very topic, but I don’t recollect the specifics. All I can say is that I remember the outcome. When an author tries to design their own cover, it usually sucks. Just because we’re artists doesn’t translate to being great at every art. Seek a professional. They’re not that expensive. Mine was $75, I think, and I am glad I did it, but it doesn’t come out for a couple of years, yet. Still, after seeing the different options, I am relieved to have gotten professional assistance.
Do you think that writing what you're passionate about is enough? Without "targeting" a set group that's popular? I like writing about taboo things such as suicide, abortion, and prison. I feel like my writing is more about passion writing than marketing.
Because we query like fifty agents max and they need to respond in some way shape or form to hundreds (if not thousands) of queries while also doing the rest of their job.
It certainly is depressing getting constant rejections from agents. Now if I get a response from one, I know already it's a rejection before I even read it. And it's a normal genetic response with no details as to why it got rejected. But, I keep on writing a new story, even when I rather continue writing the series but no point doing so if no one can represent your work.
Experiences like this make me want to explore the hard road of self publishing much more than the traditional path. Unless you are the only person like you in the universe, it stands to reason there are others out there that may enjoy your work, no matter how unusual it is for the mass market. Hope you find an audience no matter how long that takes.
@@Wavinator I no longer return to self publishing. Lost so much money I could travel first class to Europe. Spend it all on marketing, ads, courses, promotions. All for noting. Released four books and lucky enough to get a sale maybe once a month. I make more money now by not selling books, than when I tried to get sales. Also, me living in Australia, there is the exchange rate I need to consider as well.
@@rowan7929I admire your persistence, but if you are not succeeding, instead of just rushing to write another book, perhaps ask yourself why the books are not selling like you wish? “Try again,” is incomplete advice. Reconnoiter first, then try again. Good luck.
Hi Alyssa, I have written a book in Australia June 2022 . It sold in multiple Countries,received 3 awards and as yet not received a dime.an input would be very much appreciated .
So is the best attitude to have, just write a book because you want to write it and then worry about what the audience for this book looks like, if there even is one?
A lot of people need to realize that just cuz he write a book doesn't mean you're going to get rich and make a lot of money or even selling me I mean how many times have you seen books at the store on just picked it up and walk right by it or gone to the library and check it out? But if you love doing it then keep writing! Who knows what might happen
If you want an honest view of your work, smoke a few hits of weed (assuming you aren't a regular smoker) and go over your manuscript. You will be so damn honest with yourself. I don't get the pleasure of this anymore because I smoke daily, but you can really see your life and things around you, as if you are viewing them with fresh eyes. Hard to describe to squares.
I'd be satisfied with an unsuccessful quiet debut. I know I don't write blockbuster content and never will. Just getting it through the gates and to a niche audience is my only real goal.
If you want to be published, read widely in your genre is the LAMEST advice there is. It's basically saying "be the same as everyone else just to satisfy your shallow narcissism of being able to say you're a 'writer'". It is advice that just creates an industry of readers who read to be writers in a huge circle jerk. Same as "do a creative writing masters" - it will also allow you to get your book published but no-one will read it apart from other creative writing masters students or other such readers who just want to be writers. This is why literature is dead. This and the fact that the vast majority of literary agents are like this woman - white, middle-class women who did Eng Lit at uni and gatekeep the industry to suit their own limited demographic.
Wtf is this? Racist demagoguery in the guise of snobbish “helpfulness?” There is no disability greater than a bad attitude, as you demonstrate. It’s funny to me how critical people are of those with talent. As if an absence of talent were somehow a strength, while possession a weakness. Gtfoh with your unhelpful critique. Those with nothing to contribute are the harshest critics.
Okay............ I cannot take it anymore. I am begging you please get and post an extreme close-up image of your left Iris. I can't tell if it is a scar, an Iris flaw, or something rare in nature, but it distracts me to no end. Please and thank you.
There's no way this girl is an editor. She takes 1,000 words to say a simple sentence. I'm not sure I want to take advice from someone who can't edit the fat out of their own videos.
“Don’t be coy or stupid, Persian.” Different people have different communication styles. Just because brevity is the soul of wit doesn’t mean that fewer words is always better. When lighting a room, you don’t use a single flame. You want a light bulb, and not just any light bulb. Alyssa guides us down a dark and winding path. By all means, feel free to wander off it and go your own way. I’m sure such knowledgeable and experienced writers like yourself will be just fine. Good luck.
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There's also the mistake of not even reading that much at all. I once read a quote from an editor who said she suspects most of the books she rejects are by authors who don’t read enough. There’s so much you can learn about how to be a good writer just from reading.
So true. My HS AP English teacher had each student write an essay on the first day of class. She spent a couple of days on a refresher course in sentence diagramming. We spent the entire semester reading; 1 book per week. At the end of the semester, we wrote another essay and compared the grades. Huge difference.
It’s incredible, isn’t it, how many wannabe authors don’t read? Like skipping every practice and just showing up to game day, lol. My older brother was convinced his book was going to become an NYT bestseller, though I had warned him that great writers need to begin as great readers. He ignored me, like always, and I don’t know that he sold a single copy. He gave a copy to everyone for Christmas that year, with a special handwritten note inside for everyone. He was worked up as only the delusional can be. I read the entire thing in one hour. It was terribly written, childish in its simplicity, and after reading it, my opinion of him went down, lol. There just wasn’t anything to it. He augmented the page count by including some poetry and short stories he’d written in high school. They weren’t bad, but neither were they great. But he had promise. Too bad it was squandered. “Meat,” by Mark Kilgore, is every bit as uninspiring as its title.
@briankilgore8808 Reminds me of my friend who self-published a couple of books, but it's so hard for us to break it to her just how terrible her books are. 😬
@@TheEccentricRaven oh, man. That’s rough. I, however, felt no such qualms regarding his book. For the longest time, I refrained, but after years of listening to him quoting from his own book to lend weight to his arguments, I had enough.
You’re a good friend. I don’t know how to break it to your friend. I wouldn’t do it directly, as I did with my villainous older brother, but sometimes the best evidence for your case is time. When Mark wrote “Meat,” back in 1999, (I think it was ‘99, anyways), he spoke of his vision of it being on the NYT bestseller list. After 20+ years of disappointment, and considering that I’d written something with a little bit more substance, I was finally well placed to launch a counter assault. I haven’t told him that I am getting published. If all goes well, he’ll find out on his own. If not, then I won’t have to listen to his bad attitude. There is no greater disability in life than a bad attitude, friend. Good luck with your writing.
@briankilgore8808 Thank you, that's very nice of you. I wish you luck, too. I believe the best goal a writer can focus on is good quality writing. It's easy to dream of being a bestseller, and I secretly wish to be one. I also know that most writers don't become best sellers. So my goal is to write a good high-quality book. I'll be happy enough with getting that published even if I don't become a best seller.
I honestly just want to write a book to say that I DID IT. The self satisfaction of actually accomplishing that goal is worth more than gold to me.
Same.
Have you guys done it yet? :D
I can say it feels good, really good.
Expecting my second books author copies to arrive in the post in less than 24 hours 😊
@@1newberrys I haven’t yet unfortunately. It’s rough😭
@@geraltofbolivia9428 don't make the mistake I made that me from publishing for 18 months 😆 don't procrastinate. Do a little bit each day, like, the smallest possible amount add one photo and nothing else. Write/edit only a single paragraph.
Trust, it'll give you a book an a month ;)
Even though my dad's been dead since 2009, I want to get published to prove him wrong. He said I was "stupid" for wanting my book published.
My story will be published one day. Not because of connections. Not because of random luck. But because I believe in the story. I'm not glazing myself, but truly, the story is so good that I can't wait for people to read it.
I hope we both reach our goals
Salud!
A great list, Alyssa!
WHY MOST ASPIRING AUTHORS FAIL:
02:46 - Their goal is undefined
05:10 - They don’t read widely in their genre
06:54 - Their manuscript isn’t ready
08:43 - They don’t know how to pitch the book
10:04 - They don’t realize how random publishing is
thanks
Despite being based on a dream I had, I still read 6 books for research.
One thing I want to add is that many people quit when they get one rejection. In reality a person will be rejected many times before they get one yes
I self-published my first book. It didn't sell well. I am on my second book and it's a lot better than the first. I haven't given up on the first. It needs a new cover and some restructuring. But my second is undergoing its editing phase and will go on for copy editing soon. I am investing in the second book. and intend to write more. I write middle grade and in some ways, it's a difficult market because you can't market directly to your target audience. I am determined not to give up. The ideas keep coming and when I retire which is less than two years, I will have the time to go full-time.. Onwards and upwards.
It sounds like you have a good plan! I don't write middle grade books, so I have no idea how that part of the publishing world works. I wish you good luck with it!
Thank you. I am an older first time author. I've written the book, it's in Beta Reader's hands now. One of my Beta readers has edited a work of fiction. Another is a retired FBI agent who has helped me with many quesitons. It's a crime genre book. I am a complete novice when it comes to query letters etc.
I'm just dipping my toes into the querying process and it's honestly terrifying. I love my novel. But will anybody else? More importantly, will it make any money? I really appreciate what you said about reading in your genre. Not only is reading fun, but it's crucial to see what trad publishers are looking for in terms of style, pacing, etc.
I have no delusions of grandeur concerning my novel, but I feel like I owe it to myself - all the hard work I put into writing, re-writing/editing, finding decent critique partners, etc. - to put it out there and see how far it can go. If it fails, it fails. I can try again.
Your videos are like weekly B12 shots, boosting my enthusiasm and confidence in writing.
Thank you for the tough love! I have edited my manuscript down to 120k (Adult Fantasy debut) updated my query, synopsis, pitch, and comps, and I am NOT giving up!
My first book was a selfpublishing project that didnt sell really good cause tbh I didn't know what I could or should do in order to make it successful. My second book was published by a small publisher and it went really well given the fact that no one knew me. The third one will also be published there in September as well as another book in 2024 while my debut will be re-released this time by a small publisher (as well as the two following books in that series). I might not be the most successful new author, but I'll work towards my goal while honing my skills and that's what the whole thing is about for me. 🥰 learning and trusting the process
Seen it, done it, conquered it! 😊
40k words into my work in progress 🎉 Looking foreward to self publishing in the myth retelling niche.
@@breathovermatter5870 what’s the name of your book? I’d like to buy a copy.
I read voraciously but not as consciously as I should. Your video served as a wake-up call. I looked up the GoodReads list and have already started reading one. It's inspired me AND given me a lead for an agent when I'm ready to start submitting for my WIP. Thanks for all you do
I'm on submission for the first time with the third novel I've written- a political thriller. We're getting a lot of comments about how much the editors love my writing and the book personally, but they don't want to be associated with it/know how to sell it/etc. (so far). I'm terrified that it will die on submission, after putting three years into revising it, but I have other books and hopefully, if it does die this time, it will be more palatable down the line, since a lot of it is based on current events (in a fictional way). It's encouraging that many of them are asking to see my other work, but I really wanted this one out in the world because it is different than anything else out there (told from the POV of disabled people as an OWN VOICE story).
If you could talk sometime about what happens to books after they die on submission, that would be really helpful.
Thank you so much❤. I just got an idea to make my novel first pages more intriguing. I will definitely listen to your tips and workshop my book after finishing my 2nd revision ❤️🎉📖.
Hello Ms. Matesic and Happy 2024! I enjoyed this video as I do all of your videos. I have a 69,800-word lighthearted fiction thriller with around ninety outstanding queries from late November 2023 to present. I have also received eighteen rejects thus far. This is the second attempt for my manuscript as I sent it out in late 2017 but with only 58k words. I enjoy doing the research for my characters regarding either their profession or their circumstance. I have learned much about birds, indigenous mysticism, and several different states which I've never visited. My reason for undertaking storytelling is to provide a modest supplement to my retirement income. My question to you is "Will an agent be curious enough to request my manuscript because the word count is within the range for publishers even if the novel is only mediocre?" I ask because I have watched many, many movies on cable TV and wonder how they ever got funding because they were so bad. Same with book publishing. I think that the same is true with book publishers in that they must turn out a certain number of pulp-fiction, if for no other reason, then to show the stockholders that they are working hard to get a BEST seller.
Alrighty then, keep up the good Write!
Success or failure is defined by the author. Of course, we all have hope but we should all be realistic about our expectations.
I published a short story collection. The results in terms of sales and finding an audience were dismal. I thought of giving up, but then rescinded this course of action. Why? Well, I had this nugget of a story that kept on bouncing in my mind. So, I looked into why I failed and how could I make things work for me. Currently my WIP is a horror novel in the style of 80s horror movies, the nugget of a story. I don't have any high expectations, but then again I try to be as professional as I can be. I'm sure I will learn some stuff from this experience to improve my future work.
You’re in a good spot. The 80’s were horror at its peak.
I completely understand why some authors revise their work multiple times because I’m the exact same way. I have at least 5 different drafts of the current novel I’m writing, which coincidentally is my first book I plan to finish soon. With that being said, I really appreciate all of the tips in your videos. So far, it’s helped me to realize I am on the right track of where I envision myself as an author. They have also helped me to see where I need work. Thank you very much!
I have even planned my various drafts 😁 Each focussing on a different developmental edit once the first draft (which I like to call the sandbox version) is finished.
I wrote several books but didn't make much money from them. I still work at the 330 to 12 midnight shift and listen to positive books on TH-cam about aspiring authors and not to give up. I will keep pushing for the moment, but eventually I will give it up and stop writing and then I feel something will happen. I have to let it go to show I love it.
I have a book coming out from a small press. I'm super excited to have bridged that gap and want to go further into the big houses. These videos are awesome.
So much valuable info I replay your videos often. I finished my first novel and continue to query while working on my second. Love the process. You ha❤ve been my coach and inspiration and saved me lots of research time trying to figure out things. Thanks again, Susan
Thank you for clarifying the fears. It's easier to conquer what you can see clearly.
2 recommend requests & 2 deeper Qs
1. Do you have a book recommendation for utopian* future fiction that’s firmly rooted on earth (though looking toward the stars)? Even more narrowly in a democratic socialist direction?
I’m probably missing something obvious.
2. Do you have a book recommendation for storytelling that gives narratively-unrelated-but-systemically-related chronological vignettes progressing toward a greater end?
3. I’m currently an unemployed architect that has a vision for the future. I have a lot of non-fiction material in mind (if not all on paper) amounting to a handbook for a path forward for the world. I also have never authored a book, but I know that reaching people in their hearts requires stories. I’m a good storyteller, and am totally willing to go for writing the novel myself, but I’ve never really been tested in storytelling.
Should I consider working with a proven fiction writer, and how is that possible without having a book deal? Would it be better to try to find such a person in advance of a query letter?
4. Have you ever heard of anyone successfully* using ChatGPT as a ghost writer helping explore directions for the story?
Thanks in advance.
Just the motivation I needed. Thanks.
This is REALLY helpful!! I have "finished" one of books, and have several people reading it. You are a most excellent instructor. I realize I have a VERY long ways to go but that's part of the FUN and challenge of it!! Thank you Alyssa!!!
Starting to query my vampire thriller this week.. wish me luck!
Sounds exciting! Good luck!
So are you querying it as horror or as thriller? :)
@@Redskirt thriller because there are some scary scenes but I wouldn’t call it horror
Even if I don't end up being highly successful, I feel I need to publish a book. I don't want that regret on my last day
Great advice. Going to pause and look at Goodreads Choice awards for my genre
For me , writing is a labour of love , that's why I write.
Thank you for your insights! It is truly helpful :)
I am currently writing a high fantasy book series. Yes, it is indeed a series and I am aware there are risks involved with that, but I'm taking the plunge :D
Technically it's my first real book, but I've writing for as long as I can remember, with a break of several years as a teen because I didn't like the way we were forced to write stories/essays at high school :D
In essence I've now (well, October last year) started the third version of my series. The first is the one where I wrote myself into a horrible corner out of which no matter the amount of paint I couldn't paint myself a way out anymore.
The second is where I got stuck answering one very important question for my main character. As it turned out I needed some personal guidance before I could go on with my story.
The third version is what I'm writing now. It originally started as a relationship background story for two character who would have an established relationship in original beginning of the series. As it now turns out this is the beginning I needed for my series. It is an important part of the foundation for my whole series :D
I'm currently working on writing the outline (keyphrases and key words, maybe a few sentence summary, but I'm not one for detailed outlines :D ) for the whole series (which I originally hadn't done) in which I'll include (and possibly adjust) everything I have already written in the background story and the previous version. Once that is done (or when I'm tired of not writing my novel) I'll get back to writing.
I have set up a "schedule" of drafts for myself, all focussing on one particular developmental aspect of the series, like story flow, character development, etc. (I guess that's more the developmental side?). Only once I'm satisfied with the story and the characters will I really pay attention to spelling, grammar, and things like that. All that can wait until my story is finished IMHO.
Additionally, I decided to first write the complete series as a "first" draft before I start revising and working on the developmental drafts. I know myself and things in later books might be so important that they'll need foreshadowing in earlier books, etc. And I feel that I will only be able to make my series really good if I can still properly adjust the beginning if that is needed for the end to work.
I'm lucky enough to have sparring/critique partners whom I found through NaNoWriMo write-ins and the camps. They are truly essential partners to have in this process. They have really helped me better develop concepts in my world, my story, my characters, etc. I'm feel I'm very lucky to have that wonderful community :)
I hope that my experiences of the last several years will help me getting my series finished and one way or the other getting my series published.
My publishing goal is to bring the joy and wonder of my world (Tergaenae, in case you were wondering :D ) and my characters to fantasy readers who love dragons (and whole lot of other fantasy creatures, some of which are not known yet in the fantasy world), mages and dragon companions. (and strong female characters or female characters who will grow strong throughout the series )
It would be awesome if one of the "big 5" publishers would want to publish my series (Tor from MacMillan possibly?), but if that isn't feasible then perhaps a smaller traditional publisher?
I first want to try traditional publishing. If that really doesn't work out, I'll go for indie/self publishing.
Well, those were my (rather long :D ) two cents about my writing journey and my fantasy series :D
Thank you again for sharing your insights into the publishing industry! I like how you keep things realistic!
I think many fail because they are writing in a genre that is way over saturated. This is particularly true of fantasy or romance or fantasy/romance. Witches and vampires are in most new books I see. The competition is fierce. You can write well and be completely lost in the flood and not even be seen.
A million books get published every year. In such a deluge, how can one stand out? The masses yearn for great literature. Give it to them.
100% agree with these points, Alyssa, and love how you list them in chronological order. Manuscript not being ready is critical. I actually consider a draft to be starting over with a blank page--edits are simply revisions to me, not a new draft--and have found when I write two or three drafts, throwing out 25% to 50% of the original manuscript, the quality makes big leaps. That doesn't happen if I edit an original draft. Superficial stuff gets fixed, but the deeper flaws will remain.
Nice pep talk Alyssa. I've gotten as far as sending out queries. My problem is that The book is primarily hard SiFi but it is not the typical space opera with battling factions and sinister individuals trying to undermine the good guys. It's a straight forward story of a geneticist and astronautic engineer trying to save humanity. The story is how they meet the goal and how it effects and changes them on the way.
So the question is, should I also be pitching this as speculative fiction? It takes place in the 24th century but reads more like maybe a novel set in the present where the goal might be to find a cure for a rare disease.
This sounds cool! We need more hard SciFi.
I love your content! :) It is so helpful and engaging. Just wanted to say thank you :)
As much as I'd like to see my stories turn into movies and a blimp in pop culture, I realize the odds are so not in my favor. So, I'd like to tell my stories, and hopefully get to as many readers as possible. Not so much for commercial success, more because they have important messages behind them told in an entertaining way. I'm sure they can hold their own, and it's my way of leaving my legacy and what Ive learned throughout my somewhat short, but rather eventful life.
Not to be pedantic, but it's a little conflicting to hear, "Read what's selling/read successful query letters/familiarize yourself with your contemporaries' works...but sell an agent on what sets you apart." I would genuinely like to understand if the underlying message is that uniqueness is punished (empirically true in nature), or that qualified uniqueness can be advantageous. I guess a simple analogy would be from my life as a jazz musician: all original improvisation comes from being very well versed in the rules and knowing when exactly and how to break them.
This was very helpful
I'm so glad! Thanks for commenting :)
I have talked to first time novel writers who literally thought that their book would be ready to (self) publish a few weeks after they finished their first draft. They were like, 'That'll give me time to go through it a couple times...' I find I do my best editing after I've gone through my manuscript probably a dozen times. That's because by then, I'm absolutely sick of it. At that point, any stray sentence, any paragraph that lags even a little gets the chop. If it's boring me, it'll bore the reader. I also do this when editing videos. I watch what I consider to be the end product many many times. Then I watch some netflix- something I really enjoy- and then watch my video again. Every time I find myself wanting to manually click to a more interesting part of the video, I know that needs to be cut.
Editing and revising is where the real work is, and it's just getting started about the time you think you've about got it wrapped up.
Well, I'm feeling better about doing two drafts and six revision passes on my current novel! I've got one novel that I'm sending to a few agents every month and I've started planning the sequel. I also write short stories, typically one a month, mainly to develop as a writer. You recommend spending time reading, and that would have to come out of writing time. Do you have any recommendations for how I would strike the balance there?
Set goals. It very important. Set a very long term goal such as hit number one bestselling author but also make sure setting goals to get there. You don't want to set yourself up for total failure.
I''m currently in the process of trying to promote my book and it is the only part that I have not been able to tackle on my own. I don't have a platform or money for advertising so most of what I can do right now is local grassroots or hitting up the communities for Fantasy and romance online.
Just because it didnt sell well doesnt mean its not a good book! With self publishing you need to be good a marketing which is the pot hole I've fallen down as I work full time I struggle finding the time to write and market my books. I've self published about six books so far and non of them have sold well so I'm aiming to go down the traditional publishing route this time.
This was helpful! I want to be a full time author and I'd like to go the traditional publishing route. I'm writing a book about superpowers and a space war. I'd love to make a whole series because I have too many ideas for one plot.
Good list. Like many, I have to wonder where on this I will fall. I've put a full year into my first novel, an unapologetic fantasy story and the first of three planned novels, and am currently going through my third major revision. I hope to have it finished in the next three months and be looking for an agent. My current plan is to keep writing and if I hav little success with the traditional agent/publisher to go ahead and self publish.
I'm early retired so have the time and some, not a lot, but some financial security to keep going.
So...
Can a future be both bright and scary at th same time?
As for your last question: MOST definitely!
I'm currently still writing my first series.
But, I'm finding myself having to find another job because due to Long-COVID I probably won't be able to fully return in my old job. And even though the expectation from many is that I can (easily?) find another job, and another job would be a lot better, at least physical wise so that I can have a better recovery, the prospect of getting another job that might be a far better fit for me is at the same time quite scary 😁
Okay. Wow. I tried to read through all of these comments so as not to duplicate one already addressed. I may have missed it, and if so, please excuse my bad manners, but the sales pitch. I didn’t see any questions pertaining to that topic, but it is mine. I am currently in the second phase of getting traditionally published, awaiting my publication date of June 23, 2026, and am wanting to know how best to “pitch” my book to the world at large. I understand that’s a big question, but my mind is on fire for the book, and I most eager to aid it in any way that I can. I am limited by fiduciary factors, but have considered purchasing business cards and passing them out at B&N, or something. Radio interviews. My agent does televisions interviews wearing a hockey mask for his books, lol. Boastfulness is bad, so I’m trying to be careful with my phraseology. My publisher is small, so their advertising will be minimal, but that’s not what I’m relying on. The story itself is strong enough to overcome all obstacles, but I’m nervous. If you or anyone has any suggestions, I’d like to hear them. Thank you.
Always hope for the best but plan for the worse
I think the business part of publishing a book will prevent me from ever doing it. I just read whatever catches my eye, and not fast enough to keep with the market. With writing, work and my other hobbies I wonder where I would get the time.
Not that I am disagreeing with the need of it, if you want to sell something best to know who to sell it and what they want. It’s business in the end, and that is how it works.
When I approach an agent to get my work published, I should show I am able and ready to do my part. And it’s not just writing the product.
All in all, just completing a first draft and then tinker on it to make it all nice and pretty sound a whole lot easier than publishing it. And getting a book ready is already hard.
I enjoy your videos and the useful information that you provide. I like researching topics I am interested in. I stared many years ago to write a book but did get to far writing it. I am working on another one just to see if I can get it done. I have learned from my past mistakes ( like trying to write a finish book from beginning to end in one go lol) I learned that editing comes later. The main problem I have is this story is very long, so more then one book. It covers a long timeline so then, where to start the reader off, where to begin.
Wow have a great day
I know that publishing doesn't always work out. Trad publishing doesn't guarantee your book is selected for a deal or even seen in the light of day. In self-publishing you're doing a lot of it alone. It's guaranteed to print. It's up to you to get it seen, making it more difficult. Either route takes a lot more from you aside from just writing.
It's actually going to be the most difficult part for me to pitch the book.
End up reading a ton of books after they've been out for years. Getting to a book last minute as getting new books is rare.
I will need to do some research.
Great video, per usual. Keep it up. I want to push back though, on the notion of being widely read in recent authors who published in your genre. Commercial fiction aside, reading for the sake of understanding the market, I believe, is the wrong reason to read and can hamstring the artistic vision. Are you suggesting that for the given genre, the manuscript's tone, structure, themes should be influenced by recent publications? That its style should mimic, mirror, or respond to a recent debut? As a reader, consideration of a book's fit with the market of its time is never something I've considered. Thoughts?
Current books are the best indicator of the contemporaneous literary landscape. Think of it as a map, and reading a map will help you reach your destination. If that is your desire. Certainly, there’s more than one road that leads to Rome.
I have a very early work in progress but am an overthinker lol. Right now I’m trying to overcome a lot of mental hurdles due to PTSD, so for me, just finishing it to a satisfactory completion is my goal. But I would love to write for a living, when all is said and done.
I have self published 11 books, 9 are fiction novels. I'm hoping to run into a vid of yours that addresses querying for self published works. If it deters publishing houses etc. Facts are, I'm one of those who wants to get my books into as many hands as possible, and yes, I'm looking for a partnership to help make that happen, keeping hope alive is far better than quitting and living in despair over "what might have been" (if I'd only tried one more time). :D
Hi Alyssa, thanks great video. I decided to try and write a book about a year ago and I'm nearing the end of my first draft. You mentioned a minimum of 4 kinds of drafts (ouch) and I was wondering if we could have more information about the different kinds of drafts?
I know it's quite late, but here's what I do (and I'm in no way experienced!). These are the developmental drafts I have planned:
0: Sandbox version (just throw in all the story elements and characters)
1: Story flow. Check how the story is going
2. Worldbuilding version 1: Fix the glaring worldbuilding errors you have no doubt found by now.
3: Timeline: Can characters, creatures, items, etc be where they are supposed to be in your timeline?
4: Characters. Are the characters developing the way you had in mind or which is good for them?
5. Worldbuilding version 2 : Last check for worldbuilding details
Once that's all finished I move onto spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. All that can wait until the story is truly finished.
I have a WIP. I don't really know where it fits, genre-wise, so I don't know what genre to read widely. It's sort of an outlier sci-fi with dark stuff. I'm planning on indie publishing. I'm writing book 2, putting off edits on book 1 until I finish book 2 to give myself some space from book 1. I don't expect it to do really well due to it's dark nature. My main concern is finding a target audience.
That's where I'm at in this moment. All of the above apply to me. I haven't set goals yet. I don't know what books to read to see what's out there. The manuscript is not ready for prime time. And I struggle with blurbs and pitches. My elevator pitch always crashes before it takes off. I do realize how random publishing is. I've read some great stuff from unpublished authors, and some trash from published authors.
I just found this channel and subscribed, so hopefully, I can get some nice pointers for the future. 🤗
Can you do the developmental editing in the outline phase, or should it be done after the first draft? I like to write out important scenes on note cards then look at how to reach point b from point a, or whether point c should come before b.
Hi! What you're describing is outlining. You can rework an outline, and even hammer out a highly detailed one that's been revised several times, but that's still outlining. Developmental editing is specifically done to a completed draft, and it involves evaluating the overall flow, structure, character arcs, relationships, etc, then making changes accordingly (adding/deleting scenes or chapters, moving scenes around, stuff like that). Because no matter how thorough an outline, an actual draft is a much different beast to work with and impossible to fully predict--you will almost always need to rearrange or add/subtract *something.*
That’s an interesting question that I’d like to try my hand at answering. The outline is the bone structure of the story, whereas the first draft is Frankenstein’s monster. If an archaeologist discovers a set of bones, they may reconstruct them incorrectly, whereas working with a full body makes it a lot easier. An editor really needs the full body to be able to dissect the story successfully. Working with bare bones alone doesn’t give them enough material to provide meaningful feedback. I know it’s hard, and I know that as authors we need reassurances, but the outline is too soon. Put some meat on those bones, add the organs and bring it to life. Only then, can the surgeon operate. A surgeon can’t do anything for a skeleton.
Checking out goodreads memoirs winners, thx for advice
Great video!
What would you suggest if I dislike the vast majority of current literature. I can't get through current contemporary literature without getting a migraine
Read, “The Golden Ass,” by Apuleius.
I wrote a 390,000 word trilogy. Each book 300 pages each. But idk if its going to get published.
Holy crap! I am astonished at your dedication to the craft. Well done, and good luck.
Write for yourself, for your own pleasure. Don't expect encouragement, praise, kudos, guts or glory. Nobody cares. Literally. Nobody. So, my advice is don't do it ... unless you must. Then when you do, pour it on.
Actor Harrison Ford said his favorite movies came from a book where he couldn't tell you why that script grabbed him, and he has to play characters he likes and understands, good authors do that. A character struggling with their own problems while handling an important job the fan can relate to and maybe learn from.
I just want to get my first book published, get it out there for people to read it and then go back to writing a new novel. I'm ready to self publish it. I just need to do a few extra tweaks so that it's perfect for the it goes out.
I can't tell if you're using a filter or if your skin is just *that* perfect
Look at her older videos then.
They haven't read widely: Wouldn't a book reflecting the author's unique passion be more succesful than a copy of the current "landscape"?
I just want to write the tales of my world throughout its history. Sharing it with friends is enough.
I agree. If you’re passionate about your idea, press on with it. Go against the grain.
that's your choice, but if you want to be a professional knowing the market is important. this is a business of selling books, at the end of the day.
@@Man-ej6uv Unless you can write interestingly about something that doesn't motivate you, the writing and the process will suffer.
My book and the immense worldbuilding that goes with it is primarily for me.
@@Man-ej6uv sure, sure. But it shouldn’t be a consideration to a true artist. Market viability is something corporate sharks worry about. Artists are free-spirits. I read there are one million books published each year, and that number is going up. It’s going to be really hard to write a memorable book if your heart isn’t in it.
@@Senovitj Alyssa said that we should write for ourselves, so you’re on the right track.
Alyssa, what your thoughts about KDP publishing?
I’ve heard it referred to as the death of publishing. 🤷♂️
Working on a novel and stuck on a slow section of it. It a part I'm not enjoying much cause it isn't fast paced action scenes but it has to be included to help the story go forward. Two chapters of this with a little foreshadowing mixed into the chapters. It s pain but writing is work.
I have several traditional published books, some with medium-size and some with university presses. I had NYC agents before. I received numerous awards yet agents and publishers keep sending me form rejections lately. Any ideas? Thank you.
if you are writing a novel for money, you are going to be disappointed. Simple truth. If you have it in you to write many novels (over ten), then you can begin to see some financial return. So, best be writing because you love it. For me, I write the novels I want to read. Then comes getting it out to the world. I have found that this is far harder than writing the book. If you self-publish, you will face many challenges and may only get a bit of traction early in your writing journey. Hence, write for yourself. If others find your book and enjoy reading it, that is gravy. Hopefully, if you write enough, you can build a following, but that will likely take years.
I have published 4 books that haven't done anything and I have put money in Traditional publishers that contacted me that they wanted to publish "Living the Life of God". However, it seems all three publishers just wanted more money and then things went flat when I refused to give them more money. Its a racket I think.
I think of writing as being similar to sculpting. The first draft only gets you a rough form that vaguely resembles your subject. It's editing that takes that rough form and turns it into a David. This is my biggest beef with those get rich quick schemes encouraging people to flood the market with 100% AI generated garbage. It makes it hard for actual authors to find an audience, and it's going to sour the entire book market as readers won't enjoy reading that trash. Don't get me wrong. I'm pro-AI, and even pro-AI in writing, but you can't let it do all the work. It's just a tool to help you.
To me, reading other authors, can end up being a little overwhelming. If only for story inspiration and guidance. Tha's just me.
lol. I've written seven novels. Gotten legit organic 5-star reviews. Still waiting for the break out. Soon would be nice.
Who comes up with the book cover, myself or the publisher? Please respond 🙏
Book covers are important, despite the old saying, “Never judge a book by its cover.” It’s human nature to be attracted to what draws our eye. There are sales figures that I’ve heard about this very topic, but I don’t recollect the specifics. All I can say is that I remember the outcome. When an author tries to design their own cover, it usually sucks. Just because we’re artists doesn’t translate to being great at every art. Seek a professional. They’re not that expensive. Mine was $75, I think, and I am glad I did it, but it doesn’t come out for a couple of years, yet. Still, after seeing the different options, I am relieved to have gotten professional assistance.
Do you think that writing what you're passionate about is enough? Without "targeting" a set group that's popular? I like writing about taboo things such as suicide, abortion, and prison. I feel like my writing is more about passion writing than marketing.
Tough question: why are literary agents allowed to send us copy and pasted rejection letters but we have to send personalized query letters?
Because we query like fifty agents max and they need to respond in some way shape or form to hundreds (if not thousands) of queries while also doing the rest of their job.
And just as I started sending out query letters...
It certainly is depressing getting constant rejections from agents. Now if I get a response from one, I know already it's a rejection before I even read it. And it's a normal genetic response with no details as to why it got rejected.
But, I keep on writing a new story, even when I rather continue writing the series but no point doing so if no one can represent your work.
Experiences like this make me want to explore the hard road of self publishing much more than the traditional path. Unless you are the only person like you in the universe, it stands to reason there are others out there that may enjoy your work, no matter how unusual it is for the mass market. Hope you find an audience no matter how long that takes.
@@Wavinator I no longer return to self publishing. Lost so much money I could travel first class to Europe. Spend it all on marketing, ads, courses, promotions. All for noting. Released four books and lucky enough to get a sale maybe once a month. I make more money now by not selling books, than when I tried to get sales.
Also, me living in Australia, there is the exchange rate I need to consider as well.
That's why I only write as hobby not job...
@@Chivalrytotem I do enjoy writing, but I like it to be my job. I hate my retail job.
@@rowan7929I admire your persistence, but if you are not succeeding, instead of just rushing to write another book, perhaps ask yourself why the books are not selling like you wish? “Try again,” is incomplete advice. Reconnoiter first, then try again. Good luck.
I have a work in progress it’s about a girl with bipolar disorder and I’m afraid that it won’t reach the intended audience.
I have a question, will the book publisher still want to accept my book even if it’s a little violent
Hi Alyssa,
I have written a book in Australia June 2022 . It sold in multiple Countries,received 3 awards and as yet not received a dime.an input would be very much appreciated .
So is the best attitude to have, just write a book because you want to write it and then worry about what the audience for this book looks like, if there even is one?
A lot of people need to realize that just cuz he write a book doesn't mean you're going to get rich and make a lot of money or even selling me I mean how many times have you seen books at the store on just picked it up and walk right by it or gone to the library and check it out? But if you love doing it then keep writing! Who knows what might happen
That's what she said.
Finishing my book will feel like wasted effort if it can't be published.
Is it a good idea to query two agents on two different genre novels at the same time?
If you want an honest view of your work, smoke a few hits of weed (assuming you aren't a regular smoker) and go over your manuscript. You will be so damn honest with yourself. I don't get the pleasure of this anymore because I smoke daily, but you can really see your life and things around you, as if you are viewing them with fresh eyes. Hard to describe to squares.
How many pages should a chapter typically be?
Depends on the genre, but there's also a lot of merit in Neil Gaiman's answer, which is "however long it needs to be."
❤
If what I say goes, start banning AI. Use it only for administrative purposes with robust limitations.
I'd be satisfied with an unsuccessful quiet debut. I know I don't write blockbuster content and never will. Just getting it through the gates and to a niche audience is my only real goal.
I'm slogging but I'm just so slow. And dangit I overwrite. But someday you will know my name. Or at least my pen name
If you want to be published, read widely in your genre is the LAMEST advice there is. It's basically saying "be the same as everyone else just to satisfy your shallow narcissism of being able to say you're a 'writer'". It is advice that just creates an industry of readers who read to be writers in a huge circle jerk. Same as "do a creative writing masters" - it will also allow you to get your book published but no-one will read it apart from other creative writing masters students or other such readers who just want to be writers. This is why literature is dead. This and the fact that the vast majority of literary agents are like this woman - white, middle-class women who did Eng Lit at uni and gatekeep the industry to suit their own limited demographic.
Wtf is this? Racist demagoguery in the guise of snobbish “helpfulness?” There is no disability greater than a bad attitude, as you demonstrate. It’s funny to me how critical people are of those with talent. As if an absence of talent were somehow a strength, while possession a weakness. Gtfoh with your unhelpful critique. Those with nothing to contribute are the harshest critics.
You’re only a failure if you give up
I don't enjoy or revel in anything
Okay............ I cannot take it anymore. I am begging you please get and post an extreme close-up image of your left Iris.
I can't tell if it is a scar, an Iris flaw, or something rare in nature, but it distracts me to no end. Please and thank you.
There's no way this girl is an editor. She takes 1,000 words to say a simple sentence. I'm not sure I want to take advice from someone who can't edit the fat out of their own videos.
She is certainly verbose!
😂😂
“Don’t be coy or stupid, Persian.” Different people have different communication styles. Just because brevity is the soul of wit doesn’t mean that fewer words is always better. When lighting a room, you don’t use a single flame. You want a light bulb, and not just any light bulb. Alyssa guides us down a dark and winding path. By all means, feel free to wander off it and go your own way. I’m sure such knowledgeable and experienced writers like yourself will be just fine. Good luck.