**************************************CONTEST*******************************************
Make sure you enter the contest (free books!) in celebration of the release of my first novel, Life, Liberty, and Pursuit! Contest open until Friday!
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When I first got serious about my writing, I decided to write a middle grade science fiction novel for publication. Sure, I had written a couple novels before, but this time I was serious. I was writing with the intent of publication.
Some things don’t work out the way you plan.
I was well into revisions on my middle grade novel and had even drafted half of another novel (young adult), when life threw me a half-gainer twist: I received an invitation to submit to a publisher I had never heard of.
Of course, I was immediately suspicious. The writing world is filled with scammers – I had read the blogs and joined SCBWI and read Writer’s Beware. I knew as much as I could know about the publishing industry from the outside, as an unpublished writer. I knew enough to be wary.
But when I checked out Omnific Publishing, I found a brand-new company that had been launched by people that I knew and respected. People that were professionals and – more importantly for running a small business – entrepreneurs with a proven track record of success. The kind of forward-thinking, seize-the-moment people I respected. And wanted to be associated with.
And they were inviting me to submit to them, because they had seen my writing before (online).
A quick perusal of their submissions policy (romance) and my WIPs (MG and YA), and there was one story that was a perfect fit: Life, Liberty, Pursuit, a young adult love story. But, see, I had never intended to publish that story. It didn’t fit with The Plan. And yet opportunity was knocking, and LLP was the right MS at the right time.
Just one problem: it was nowhere near publishable.
I loved (LOVED!) the story, but it would take massive revisions to get LLP in shape for submitting. Did I want to take time away from my WIPs to spend a lot of time revising a story I had never intended to publish? Did I want to take my chances with a brand-spanking-new publishing company, in a world where publishing was a tricky business under the best of circumstances?
Luckily, I had just written a Mission Statement for my writing. This Mission Statement helped me define why I was in the business of writing. It was meant to serve as a guide for navigating the tricky waters of the publishing world when I was hip deep in rejections and feeling the despair. I had no idea how quickly I would need it. There was one essential line that jumped out at me:
To create a body of work … that reaches a large number of young readers, to provide the greatest impact on young lives.
In writing the Mission Statement, I had solidified something I’d known all along: I’m not in this to make money, or become a famous best-seller, or win a literary award. I’m in this to change lives.
For the record, I consider this a very ambitious goal.
Looking at that sentence, it became clear to me: taking a risk with a small publisher was no risk at all. It was an opportunity to get my story out – quickly – to readers who otherwise would never see it. Readers that might love it as I did. And I have to admit to the allure of riding the wave of e-publishing as the world was changing under our feet.
So I went into a hole and set about madly revising. Sleep? Optional. Caffeine? Necessary. Children? Would it really hurt them to subsist on mac-n-cheese and Apple Jacks for a month? Um, hope not. I revised, rewrote, shaped up and slimmed down (the MS, not me, sadly). When the first three chapters were presentable, I sent the partial off to my acquisitions editor, thinking this would buy me some time.
Lesson #1: Never submit a MS unless it is polished and ready.
If you think this rule is in place because agents/editors are persnickety, or just demanding, you are wrong. This is for your own good. My editor quickly turned around and asked for the full MS. I didn’t have the full MS ready! More caffeine. More madness. An endless loop of The All American Rejects on my iPod and a blessedly helpful critique partner who took my chapters at every hour of the day and night … and I was done. I sent the full MS off. And waited.
Lesson #2: ALWAYS have another project to work on.
They would rip right through that full MS and let me know, right? RIGHT? Um, no. Weeks went by. I waited some more. Thankfully, I was behind on my other WIPs, so I busied myself with those and tried not to be too obsessive about checking my inbox.
Finally … an email saying my MS was “engaging and captivating” and Omnific wanted to offer me a contract. I was beyond excited, as you might imagine. I still have this email taped to the side of my workstation. A contract soon followed.
Lesson #3: Know your contract language, or consult an attorney.
I was lucky: I know how to read contracts and am often mistaken for an attorney by people that have to deal with me and contracts (I’m not sure that’s a flattering thing). Still, I was shaking in my booties while negotiating this contract. (This is, IMHO, where agents earn their keep.) In the end, I was happy with the contract, and we all signed. Wine was drunk by all (well, at least by me).
And then the real work began.
With the release yesterday of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit, I have to say I couldn’t be happier with my decision to take a chance and publish with a new small press. Contract-to-release was a lightning-quick four months. Small presses are nimble and at the forefront of e-publishing and e-marketing. They have to be – they are small, entreprenurial operations, willing, ready and able to try new things. And you get personal attention: I felt like an integral part of the process, every step of the way (see this great post about another author’s positive experience with a small press).
I’m proud to be riding the wave of the future with Omnific publishing!
Here’s where I open the floor to questions, and I’ll do my best to answer, within the limits of the non-disclosure agreement in my contract.
Tomorrow: Adventures in Publishing: Edits, Covers, and Websites
Lesson #2's a hard one for me. Writing makes me grumpy, sometimes very grumpy. Once I'm finished, though, it's like I've entered the eye of the hurricane. Just want to sit in the calm for a bit (revising, of course — but I like revision).
Anyway, I think it's impressive they contacted you. Gives the nice, warm tingly feeling, I imagine (right before panic sets in :).
@Bane L#2 is easiest for me. Look a shiny penny! I'm distractable, and always falling in love with a new project. If I wasn't so stubborn, I probably would have a hard time finishing things. Sitting. Being calm. <–that's what I need to practice! LOL
That's awesome! Congrats! I'll go check it out!
@Laura Thanks!!
I like this. Writers need to know of the many options available to publication and it's not just getanagentandahugeadvance.
@KarenG Exactly! Everyone's path will be different. ๐
What an insightful and exciting piece. I loved the part about your mission statement. That's something that never crossed my mind to do, but could have been used at times over the last few years.
As you say, every experience is different but it is still really interesting to hear about the process from other authors. Thanks for sharing.
@caroloates Writing things down has always helped me sort them out, so for me, the mission statement really helped. Thanks for stopping by!
This post got me seriously thinking about a mission statement. I will ponder one and probably post some thoughts on my blog. Thanks for this nudge. And now I'll check out your link of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit. I love the YA genre; my favorite next to memoir.
@Ann I'm so glad to help with the thinking – my fellow bloggers get me thinking all the time! ๐ Let me know when you post, so I can be sure to stop by. ๐
Congratulations, Susan! I need to go click on the link to your book now.
@Myrna Thanks so much!!
Great post, Susan. The mission statement is a great idea. I've had my kids keep goal journals and write a statement for each of the activities they're involved in. Why didn't I think of it for writing. Brilliant!!
@Sheri I'm glad you like it and hope it helps! Shortly after I wrote mine, I attended a class full of aspiring writers and told the (short version) of that story. Everyone had their own ideas about why they were writing, but many hadn't really thought to write it down. "But we're writers!" I said. They laughed. ๐
What a great story! And it's a great reminder of why we write…to reach readers. I wish you much luck with the book!
@Julie I think everyone has their reasons for writing – making sure we keep true to them is the key to being happy with the outcome. Thanks for stopping by!
I love hearing everyone's journey to publication. They're a lot like birth stories, don't you think? In the end the book is published / baby is born but the path there is highly individualized, and I can't read enough!
@Vicki Yes! Every one is unique. Not quite as painful as childbirth, but it lasts a lot longer. ๐
I love reading this process. Small presses aren't on the radar for me at the moment, not because I don't like them or anything but I'm still aiming big. So it's very cool to see your reasons and joys of going with a small press.
And for the record, I would LOVE to subsist on Mac'n'Cheese and Apple Jacks. Sounds like Heaven.
How lucky are you to have a publishing company asking you to submit to them! Holy smokes! That's like every writer's impossible dream!
@Adam This is why I think it's SO important to know why you're in the game FIRST. And I think the right publisher can vary depending on the MS. For my middle grade novel, I'll be going the traditional route – agent, big 6 publisher – because that's how you reach middle grade readers. They're not (yet) online, and there aren't (yet) a lot of small MG e-presses. If I am successful (*crosses fingers*) in breaking into the big publishing realm, it will be interesting to see what the differences are. And I feel better prepared, having gone through the process already, which was one of the reasons to go for the small press experience.
The Apple Jacks was just a bonus. ๐
@Sherrie I know! I felt guilty for being suspicious when I realized the true situation. Sad that the world is filled with so many people trying to take advantage of writers, that my first reaction wasn't "WOW!"
That was my second reaction. ๐
Very, very, very cool, Susan! Yay! I love your mission statement!
Btw, do you have an author page at Goodreads just yet? I would highly recommend this!
@Cynthia Thanks!! The "approval" for my change to author status on Goodreads just came through, so I need to get that all prettied up. One of the more awesome moments of this journey was typing in my name to Goodreads and having it bring up my book and ask, "Are you the author?" I said, "Why yes! Yes, I am. Thank you for asking." ๐
Hi Susan,
Congratulations! I'm working on #2 now (well, if I can just get off the internet!), and know how important it is to be actively working on the next novel. (I'm grumpy when I'm NOT writing!)
Now that the book is released, how do you arrange readings at book stores? Just walk in to the local BN and say, "Hey, I live around here. May I do a reading?" : )
(I'm trying to figure this out myself…)
Awesome story and lessons! Here via Sherrie Petersen's blog, and I totally feel you. I had a similar thing happen (worked on a project for fun, came across an opportunity that would be perfect for it, but did I want to spend time on that or on my "real" WIP?) and I'm still in the middle of the process, so I don't know how it will turn out, but it's nice to see that it worked out for you!
@Lori Ann I'm still trying to figure this out myself! I think indie bookstores are more open to that than B&N, but it also probably depends on the store – and if they know you. Be a presence at your B&N before walking in. Also: Author signings are a tricky business, and I'm not sure they are the best way to book sales. No one wants to sit at a 2 hour signing with no one coming in – you or the book store!
@Kristan Thanks for stopping by, and good luck on your submission! You never know, especially in this business, until you try … ๐
Lesson #3 is common sense, but you'd be surprised how many aspiring authors fail to research that part. Nice reminder. Thanks for sharing it with us.