December 29, 2010

5 Things I Learned about Publishing by Author Maryann Reid

5 Things I Learned About Publishing 

Almost 10 years and 7 books later, I learned that nothing is what it seems.  

My books have been published by St. Martins Press, Penguin/Putnam, and my writing has appeared in hi profile magazines like Newsweek, Glamour, and more.  No matter the recession, a good idea still sells.  True, the industry has changed and downsized but authors are getting signed everyday, and why not you.  The self publishing route is always there, but it takes time and money.  Getting published by a major will always be attractive to those who want to write and collect checks.  If you want to publish successfully, well, there are some things you should know.  Here’s what I learned:

1--A Good Idea Sells--Take time to develop your idea.  If you think it’s great and you can’t sleep at night thinking about it, I can find at least one person you thinks it is not.  You want an idea that people “get” right away.  The industry and its editors have very little patience for rambling explanations and long queries.  Make it good.  Make it quick.  Make it happen.

2--Agents Do Call Back--I can’t tell you how many times I hear people make excuses for agents like it’s dating.   “The agent didn’t call back.  He must be really busy.”  “The agent hasn’t emailed me back yet, they must be out of the office for the holidays.”  Believe this: If an agent is interested, they will call and email you back asap.  I’ve seen responses in as little as 3 minutes.  They know you are querying more than one agent.  They want you and you will know it.  When an agent’s really interested, there’s no guess work.

3--Editors Are Not Your Friends--When the deadweight needs to be cut at the publishing house, Editor Suzie has to do her job.  She has to say bye-bye.  No more lunches.  Emails.  Long talks over the phone about the ending of your book.  Just business.  Never take it personal.

4--Trailers, Blogs, Oh My--You need them.  Long gone are the days when the website and a press release is sufficient for promo.  Get creative.  With Flipvideo and Youtube anything can be put on the screen.  Blogs are living words, not static ones like a website.  You will attract new readers, and maybe get someone to pitch you for a change.

5--Be Prolific-- If you have an idea that you’ve exhausted and evaluated many times, think of another one.  Sometimes you have to let certain ideas die, to get new ones.  Pretty hard, but even flowers do it.  That is what all the famous authors--Kings, Rowlings, Clancys, Collins, etc do.  They have a slew of ideas and they go through them one by one.  Get one, start another.  If you become a bestseller, your editor will want to publish them all.  No editor wants someone who is a one-hit wonder.

Maryann Reid is an award winning author and runs the popular  online Write Book Get Paid Bootcamp.  Next online cycle starts in January 2011 www.writebookgetpaid.com.

December 19, 2010

Book to Screen 1: Some Basic To-Haves & To-Dos



Becoming a Lifelong Learner of the Craft of Writing


By author, editor, educator Shonell Bacon aka ChickLitGurrl™




The Write Life for You is a series of articles on the writing craft. Past articles have focused on building character, developing a solid plot, and editing a screenplay.

In the last article of 2010, I kickstart a new series on turning your book into a screenplay. I know there are many of you out there who have written books that you see across your mind's screen and you know, just know that it would make for a great movie. Well, this 5-part series will offer information and advice for you to roll up your sleeves and transform that book into a screenplay.


Head to APOOO Bookclub to read my latest article in The Write Life for You series, "Book to Screen 1: Some Basic To-Haves & To-Dos"!

December 1, 2010

A Murder & Mayhem Christmas ~ DDIW Style

Have Yourself a Murder & Mayhem Christmas


with Shonell Bacon's Death at the Double Inkwell






You know what makes for a merry Christmas? A little murder and mayhem! If you haven't picked up your copy of the mystery Death at the Double Inkwell, I won't hold it against you--for now. Like RIGHT now. You owe yourself the purchase so that you can meet mystery novelists and twins, Jovan Parham-Anderson and Cheyenne Parham and get pulled into their world of lies, betrayal, and a little murder or two.




She watched him leave then looked down. Spots of blood dotted the otherwise snow-white sheet.




At my official website, there is a page totally dedicated to the novel, and one section of the page focuses on PODCASTS. Head to the [site] now, and you can hear me read excepts from DDIW and you can learn about the journey to creating the novel, getting an agent for the novel, and finally getting to the land of Publishdom.




“I have to play the loving wife tonight,” Jovan reminded herself. “I can hate him later.”




More podcasts will be coming the week or so leading up to Christmas, so you'll want to stay tuned! But for now, head over to the site and check out my podcasts. If you already trust me and the five-star reviews Death at the Double Inkwell have received thus far, then mosey to your nearest online bookstore and GET THE BOOK! You won't be sorry you did so!