I'm creating a 6-week INTRO TO PUBLISHING course. What would you want to know? Who would you like to hear from? What are your burning questions about publishing?
Hi Christine - I would love to know anything that would help a new writer. I've been writing for some years, but only managed to get published in a couple of Medium publications. All of my other attempts in traditional lit mags were rejected, but with feedback that let me know I should keep writing, which was nice, but frustrating. I currently have a Substack for professional posts (I'm a therapist) and recently returned to working on my memoir after being away for a couple of years. I'm so happy to be back working on it, but have great trepidation about moving forward with the editing and the agent and the possible publishing. It all feels very sort of mysterious and like you have to be connected to succeed. So maybe you could pull back the curtain a bit and provide some solid information about the process and how to approach it. Thank you for all you do for writers :)
Sounds like you’ve had some wonderful feedback (and some VERY important stories to share). I really appreciate these comments and questions. I promise to incorporate them into my course…. THANK YOU, Vanessa.
Hi, Christine. Looking at your outline, and given where I am in the process of seeking representation for my memoir--I'm thinking the *Agent* process and the *Editor* process are two separate things in traditional publishing. Query-book proposal (incl. sample chapters) gets one signed with an agent; then the agent tries to get foot in the door with a publisher via an acquisitions editor. For author, agent, and editor, each process involves a different level and focus of editing and effort. So that's not a question--more of a reaction to the outline. The course looks amazing, especially for MA/MFA/PhD students who rarely get exposed to that information in the regular curriculum.
Q: Do agents (once they sign an author) re-work the author's proposal and customize it for each acquisitions editor they contact? Or do they customize only their own query/invitation to editors and use the same agency-branded proposal for all editors they contact?
Each literary agent will have a unique approach. Some are too busy to mess with a proposal -- they'll take it and run with it, hoping for a hit. The agents with integrity spend time with your proposal (and your manuscript) and offer helpful feedback that might increase your chance of getting noticed by an acquisitions editor and/or publisher. That's how my literary agent worked. Even though I'd worked with an editor on my ms, my agent took the time to point out a few things that clarified and improved on an already "polished" ms. That's the ideal situation -- getting someone who goes deep. That said, so many agents are drowning in half-baked propsals and manuscripts that they don't even have time to use the loo, let alone respond to an email or spiff up your work. And so, it's on the authors to spit shine as much as possible (shout out to my fellow developmental editors and coaches standing by to offer guidance, encouragement, and most of all TOUGH LOVE).
Oh, no, Greg! Difficult news. Consider putting a few more details into the conversation, like what you write, your publishing history, what kind of writing gigs you're looking for, and how much time you can devote to paying assignments.
Hi Christine - I would love to know anything that would help a new writer. I've been writing for some years, but only managed to get published in a couple of Medium publications. All of my other attempts in traditional lit mags were rejected, but with feedback that let me know I should keep writing, which was nice, but frustrating. I currently have a Substack for professional posts (I'm a therapist) and recently returned to working on my memoir after being away for a couple of years. I'm so happy to be back working on it, but have great trepidation about moving forward with the editing and the agent and the possible publishing. It all feels very sort of mysterious and like you have to be connected to succeed. So maybe you could pull back the curtain a bit and provide some solid information about the process and how to approach it. Thank you for all you do for writers :)
Sounds like you’ve had some wonderful feedback (and some VERY important stories to share). I really appreciate these comments and questions. I promise to incorporate them into my course…. THANK YOU, Vanessa.
Also, please reach out at www.christinewolf.com/contact. I’d love to hear more about your memoir and offer help if needed.
Hi, Christine. Looking at your outline, and given where I am in the process of seeking representation for my memoir--I'm thinking the *Agent* process and the *Editor* process are two separate things in traditional publishing. Query-book proposal (incl. sample chapters) gets one signed with an agent; then the agent tries to get foot in the door with a publisher via an acquisitions editor. For author, agent, and editor, each process involves a different level and focus of editing and effort. So that's not a question--more of a reaction to the outline. The course looks amazing, especially for MA/MFA/PhD students who rarely get exposed to that information in the regular curriculum.
Q: Do agents (once they sign an author) re-work the author's proposal and customize it for each acquisitions editor they contact? Or do they customize only their own query/invitation to editors and use the same agency-branded proposal for all editors they contact?
GREAT feedback -- and an awesome question, Andi.
Each literary agent will have a unique approach. Some are too busy to mess with a proposal -- they'll take it and run with it, hoping for a hit. The agents with integrity spend time with your proposal (and your manuscript) and offer helpful feedback that might increase your chance of getting noticed by an acquisitions editor and/or publisher. That's how my literary agent worked. Even though I'd worked with an editor on my ms, my agent took the time to point out a few things that clarified and improved on an already "polished" ms. That's the ideal situation -- getting someone who goes deep. That said, so many agents are drowning in half-baked propsals and manuscripts that they don't even have time to use the loo, let alone respond to an email or spiff up your work. And so, it's on the authors to spit shine as much as possible (shout out to my fellow developmental editors and coaches standing by to offer guidance, encouragement, and most of all TOUGH LOVE).
Hope that helps?
Oh, no, Greg! Difficult news. Consider putting a few more details into the conversation, like what you write, your publishing history, what kind of writing gigs you're looking for, and how much time you can devote to paying assignments.
Ugh. Thank you for sharing, Greg. I'm so sorry to hear that news. You're unfortunately in very good company with so many. Don't even get me started.