Everyone Wants To Be An Author

So, after reading my last post, especially the part where it took me 30 years to get "Bridgetown High" published, do you still want to be an author?

It ain't easy, but as you write, if you truly want to be published, it becomes a passion that you just can't get over. While most people don't have it so rough as me, I write this to encourage you, my faithful followers, to not give up, not matter how difficult it seems. I mean, if I can do this, you can too.

I was fortunate, after several years of working on it, to finally find a critique group on line that helped me greatly. Over those years, I couldn't decide on a title. I started with "Mark and Genie's story," went on with "The Bridge Beckons," even tried "Bridgetown High," but tossed them all. Did I say, tossed them all? Even "Bridgetown High?" Yup. But as I kept trying different titles, "Bridgetown High" kept resonating with me. I asked my critique group their opinion and they liked it too. Well, I told myself, I'll go with it, knowing a publisher would change it any way.

So, began the arduous task of sending out query letters to agents. I tried to send out at least 5 queries a week, but rarely did that many. Years passed -- only got rejections. I don't have an actual count, probably sent out more than 200, maybe more than 300 query letters. Most agents never responded. Those that did, just said things like, "Not for me."

I considered self publishing it, but that idea scared me. Maybe it won't scare you, but I knew I didn't have the money for professional editing, cover design, and time to market it.

Then a high school friend of mine read some of my Facebook musings and gave me a referral to a published friend of hers, Theresa Messenger (don't know if I spelled that right or not). I contacted her and found out she is published through Limitless Publishing and agreed to let me use her name in contacting her publisher about my book. It was a long shot at best, but you know the adage, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

They accepted it!!! And they kept my title!

I was shocked. A real publisher accepted it. They even did the necessary editing and made up the cover design. So, after signing the contracts, they even did a lot of the first blush marketing for me. That was great. I still have to do a lot, if not most, of the marketing, but I'm learning how and that's becoming a big help.

More later.

P.S. Please don't forget to "Like" and "Share" this post to all your "Friends" in Facebook, and "Re-Tweet" it to your friends in Twitter too.

BTW, don't miss future posts. Let me email them directly to your email. Add you email address to the "Subscribe" box on the side bar.

Thanks.

Hi everyone.


I just got notified that my novel's cover has been nominated for 2015 Best Young Adult General Cover by New LDS Fiction. You can see the posting here: http://www.newldsfiction.com/2015-ya-general/


I won't know if I won for a few days, but it's exciting to just to be nominated. I think someone upstairs is watching over me and my novel.


For many of you who are new to my ramblings, I've found a lot of people on Facebook who are from the towns and area, including John Swett High, where my novel is set. I welcome you, and everyone else I've "Friended" over the past few weeks and months. It's so nice to connect with all of you. I hope you will post your email on the side-bar so you won't miss all the excitement I'm sharing as I go through the writing, querying, publishing, and marketing struggles. It's really been a "trip," as Gary, one of the main characters in my novel Bridgetown High, would say.


Since I mentioned him, maybe I'll to ahead and introduce him to you. Gary Johnson is Mark Wilkerson's brother. Mark it the main character in the book. Gary is a bit unconventional -- a hippy if you will. I love his speech patterns, but his use of the word "like" in a lot of his sentences does get a bit tiring. But. that's Gary. He has a mind of his own and is extremely loyal to Mark, even if they do have their differences at times. In addition to being a hippy, he is also a member of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). You can look that up in your Funk & Wagnall. Near the beginning of the story, Gary is asked to the "Vice-Versa" dance by a nerdy girl named Kathy Kelly (unique, I know). Thus starts a platonic love affair that just keeps going throughout the story.

I won't tell you any more. Sorry. You'll just have to meet Gary for yourself as you read Bridgetown High. But, I will say this, he plays an integral role in the climax of the story.

If you don't already have a copy of my novel, get one. Each of the characters has their own story. You won't be disappointed. Go to here http://www.amazon.com/dp/1680583093/ref=cm_sw_su_dp to read the reviews.

Also, don't forget to "Share" and "Like" this post. Thanks. The more everyone does that, the more people will get excited and want to read my book.

Thanks

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Well, it's been about two weeks now and no word from my (hopeful) publisher. For my faithful followers (all 1 or 2 of you), I say hang in there. The Submissions say to give them four weeks.

OK, in the meantime, I'm not letting grass grow under my feet. I've sent out 5 or 6 query letters to agents, and looking into all the latest marketing methods to sell my novel (BRIDGETOWN HIGH) when it ever gets published.

Wow, there are a ton of methods. Some carry a minimal cost, but most are free, just take up some time and imagination. I think I have a good plan (and this blog is part of that plan). I just need a published novel.

I know. Some of you are going to say, "why don't you self publish?"

I've considered that, but for a first novel, I don't see that as a viable alternative.

Just wish me luck, or better pray for me.

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I think there must be a purpose to editors and publishers taking so long to get back with you. I think it's either to overcome our hyperventilation, or to die from a lack of oxygen while waiting.

In other words, no word yet on the status of "Limitless Publishing," though this waiting period is giving me more time to prepare for the marketing efforts to come. I'm learning that blogging is one of the best marketing tools available. So, I guess I should write more here on my personal blog. Only problem is, how do I get this blog read? How do people, all 1 or 2 of you potential readers, even know I have this blog? Once in a great while someone will stumble on it, but that's not nearly good enough if I expect to attract readers, and ultimately buyers of my novel.

Anyone know how this works?

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Is it time to get excited yet? Just got this email from my potential publisher:

"Paul,

"Limitless Publishing would like to request the full manuscript for Bridgetown High. Please send at your earliest convenience.

"Thank you,"

Not holding my breath just yet, but it's getting difficult to not hyperventilate.

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As part of my new marketing effort, I've gained a few more followers to my Facebook page. One of my new friends is an old friend from high school. She is friends with a published author and gave me the author's name and Facebook address.

I contacted this author and after reviewing my novel she referred me to her publisher, Limitless Publishing. I sent them a query letter, along with the first 4 chapters. They wrote back the next day, telling me she would send my novel up the line to the submissions team.

So, should I get excited yet? I need all your opinions (all 1 or 2 of you). As of two weeks ago, the publisher hasn't rejected me - at least not yet and promised to get back to me. What do y'all think?

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I've been sending out tons of query letters, re-written query letters, and re-re-written, etc. query letters all to no avail. It seems most literary agents prefer to represent fantasy and science fiction rather than a more serious novel set in the mid-1960s. I can understand that. There probably isn't a lot of demand for such novels, yet. But I've seen some best-selling, award winning young adult novels set in the 1950s.

I think a lot of agents' reluctance is that they don't think there's a market for my novel. Thus, I'm starting an undertaking of a new tact. Even though my novel isn't published (it could be if I wanted to self-publish it) I need to start marketing it throughout the literary world. Therefore, this post to my blog will be the beginning of my new marketing effort. I need to make my presence known to as many people, including writers, readers, literary agents, publishers, etc., as I can.


So, how am I doing? Are you (all 1 or 2 of you) actually reading this? What do you think of my plan? Do you have any suggestions?

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OK, so, I've sent out 11 query letters so far. I hope all of you (all 1 or 2 of you) are still with me. It's gonna happen!!! This time I'm going to get some requests for partials and even fulls. Then someone will offer me a contract for representation and that person will find a publisher who will relish the idea of representing me and will turn my novel into a big-screen movie and I'll make millions of dollars.

Wish!

Hope!

Dream!

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I'm now working with a new and revised query letter. My sweet daughter reviewed it and made some great suggestions. Now, I've sent it out to three agents, so hang in there (all 1 or 2 of you). Maybe one of them will respond??? LOL, not really likely, but wishful thinking. I don't intend to stop there with just 3 query letters sent out. There are something like 400 agents handling young adult novels. Not all of them will be interested, however, since they mostly rep fantasy/sci fi. Wish me luck in finding that one agent that will love my novel.

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Got an interesting rejection:

"Thanks for your interest in our agency.  Unfortunately you've caught me at a time when the demands of my current clients leave me with very little time to devote to exploring new talent and unfortunately in this case I have to pass on the opportunity to pursue this.  I am being extremely picky so please seek many opinions since my decision may have little to do with the salability of your work."

I appreciate his sending me a rejection note. Many won't even do that much.

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After my last post, it occurred to me that some of you (all 1 or 2 of you) might not get what I was talking (writing) about. They didn't get that I was talking about publishing my novel, that I still prefer to have a traditional publisher publish my novel.

A lot of writers are self-publishing lately, but when I consider the quality of self-published books, there's a much greater chance the book will not be a quality work. Publishers (at least most of them) know and only accept quality work to publish. With self-publishing there's no guarantee.

Sure, some self-published work is great, well done. But I tend to think most are trashy with little or no editing. Let's face it. Hiring an professional editor is expensive. I can't afford it. And that's a huge reason I need to go traditional.

On another subject, sort of. I've sent out nearly 20 query letters so far in the past month. Here's to not holding my breath. I intend to send out more. I've heard back from 3 or 4 of them, all negative with no helpful notes, but I ain't given' up.

Wish me luck.

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I agree with the old school thinking about finding an agent/editor. It goes: "If it's not good enough for a traditional publisher, it's probably not good enough."

I just can't get over that idea. I know a lot of people will disagree with me, and some of them are actually selling a lot of books, but I think they are the exception, not the rule, and probably could do even better with a major publishing house.

Hang in there you faithful followers (all 1 or 2 of you). I ain't giving up. It's gonna sell!!!

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To all of you (all 1 or 2 of you) who are following my rantings here, I hope you'll hang in there with me. Knowing you are with me gives me hope.

I got 5 rejections so far. Most won't let me know, however, so I should probably log all of them as rejections. j/k. Still, who knows. Maybe one will eventually prove positive. I've thought about self-publishing but I just can't bring myself to go that route.

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Hi gang - all 1 or 2 of you.

Sorry for abandoning you. I've been gone and when I was here, I was too busy to get onto this blog site.

So, what have I been up to? Lots. I've reworked my query letter - again, and my synopsis. You know, it's really tough boiling a 83,000 word novel down to 3 or 4 sentences, but I think I've done it - I hope. We'll see when the rejections come through - hahaha.

If it doesn't work this time,  I'm seriously considering going the self-published route. I don't like doing it that way, however. I feel "if it ain't good enough for a traditional publishing house, it probably ain't good enough."

Hang in there, fans (all 1 or 2 of you). The bumpy ride isn't done yet. So, if you enjoy hearing about my agony, keep tuned. I need y'all to be there when I finally publish my novel - and purchase it, hehehe.

BTW, you do remember the title don't you? Vengeance or Vindication?

Thanks y'all,
Paul

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Yesterday, during my lunch break at work, I started to resume sending out query letters. I think my latest query revision is good, thanks to the help of a couple of my former critique partners coming to my rescue.

Then, I realized I also need to revise my synopsis. So, here's to more work. But it shouldn't take long to tweak it to fit my novel's revision.

Hang in there, all 1 or 2 of you. I'll get this project off the ground yet.

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Reworking my query - again. I hate writing query letters, but I guess they're a necessary evil if you ever want to be published.

Because of the rewrite of my novel, a new query is needed. I think what I have could work, but I'm still open to comments and critiquing. I've posted it at a couple of sites that do query reviews. I'm hoping they will help me get to a quality query.

Wish me luck, all 1 or 2 of you.

Thanks

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Finally finished the rewrite of my novel I'm calling "Vengeance and Vindication" (V&V) for now. It's about 490 pages, 85,000 words. It's about a young man who loses his family in a fiery automobile accident on the Carquinez Bridge and struggles to be accepted at a new high school in the shadow of the bridge where his family died, while trying to discover who caused the accident.

I think I'm ready to resume sending out query letters now. Wish me luck, all 1 or 2 of you.

If any of you (1 or 2 of you) would like to review it for me, I'd be open to that, but I need an honest critique and I can't pay anything. However, I would be open to paying a percentage of the advance and royalties, assuming there are any.

Any takers?

You can contact me at paulwwest@q.com.

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I think I posted about a company, that will remain nameless, that wanted $700 to market my novel to agents and publishers. As I'm going through my novel, making major and minor changes, I'm realizing more and more that this company is a scam. They claimed to have read my novel and made some comments (that I agree helped a little). But as I'm going through my novel, I'm becoming more and more aware that they couldn't have read the entire thing. In their comments, they totally missed the meaning of the novel. I really think all they wanted was my money, regardless whether or not the book is publishable.

Fat chance!!!

Keep following (all 1 or 2 of you). I'm sure I'll have many more exciting adventures along the publishing trail as time goes by.

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Hi Fans (all 1 or 2 of you),

This week I don't have much to comment on. I've been too busy to do much of my writing, just the writing I need to do for my "real" job.

I have, however, found a few minutes here and there and I'm still working on the revision of my novel. I think this revision is going great! I can feel it coming on the way it was meant when I first started to write this so many years ago.

I can't wait to finish it so I can, once again, start marketing it.

Then, I'm anxious to resume work on GERTA! and Johnny Sweeting's Story.

More about them later. Keep with me. It's got to get better.

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I'm so glad I have so many followers (all 1 or 2 of you), ha, ha, ha.

Oh, well. Keep posted and I'll let you know about the progress I'm making with my first novel, Bridge to Destiny. Yesterday, I decided to change the title to something more catching. I'm not calling it "Retribution and Vindication." You'll have to read the book to discover why the name change. Frankly, it fits the story better, but I may change it again.

Following the advice of that group that wants to charge me $700 to market my book to agents or publishing houses, I am revising the story. I've completely done away with the first chapter where I described in some detail the accident that started the ball (story) rolling. Now, Mark, the MC, starts by describing his sadness over losing most of his family but he doesn't remember any of it, even though he was there. Eventually, he will start remembering, but the whole accident won't be revealed to him until the climax of the book.

I won't bore you with those details, ha, ha, ha. But reading it earlier today, I still find it very suspenseful and even frightening.

Wish me luck as I revise the entire novel.

And in the meantime, my two other novels are sitting on the proverbial shelf.

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