Writer's Market 2016 - The Ultimate Guide to Publication!

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Hi peeps! Yesterday, I bought my first Writer's Market, deluxe edition! I am super excited for the amazing information within its pages. I intend to read it front to back and take in all the great resources and advice I can find. Anyone serious about publishing their work, be it articles for trade magazines, poetry, children's books, graphic novels, short story anthologies, nonfiction and fiction works alike, the Writer's Market has it all! There is even a nifty section with fresh listings on contests and awards of which you can enter.

The book begins with a letter from the editor, Robert Lee Brewer, and some very interesting and useful guidelines on how to properly use the Writer's Market. I suggest reading this before diving in. After that, you can thumb through at your leisure and see what catches your fancy, from literary agents looking for new talent to publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts. I must say I have sold myself short over the years not looking into this golden gem sooner. 

The 2016 Writer's Market is in stores now at fine retailers like Barnes and Noble where I picked mine up. It can be pre-ordered for possibly less online as well (but beware of those tacked on shipping fees). With tax it ran me about $53 but the investment was well worth it. I intend on using every available resource this puppy has to offer. With this year's edition, you also get access for a whole year to their frequently updated database at writersmarket.com. You might also want to check out the Writer's Market Guide to Getting Published which serves as an additional companion to the official Writer's Market.

I am very much looking forward to sharing some exciting new news with you soon as I embark on my journey to publication!

Till next time. 

How Long is Too Long to be Working on Your Novel?

You're writing a novel. You've had the idea for some time now, maybe even let it stew for a little while before finally putting pen to paper. But now that you've started, it's taking you far longer than you planned. Does this sound like you? If so, you are not alone. At some point, I'm sure we've all wondered how long it should take a writer to finish a novel. I have heard that on average, the typical first time novelist takes anywhere from 2-5 years to complete a full length book. Of course there's going to be some give or take here.

So how long is too long?

I have been asked in the past how long it takes to write a novel and while I am a writer I cannot answer that fairly yet because I am still working on my first novel! A brief bit about my own experience...my story idea came to me in 2002. I worked on it part-time for 3 years, stopped completely for 3 more years and then picked it back up for another year, only to change the entire concept.

Fast forward 4 more years and a college degree later, my writing style had changed so much, I decided to start the entire project over. Today, I'm 3/4 of the way done and steadily moving. If you count the restart, I'd say I'm right around the 2 year mark. Will this be typical? I hope not! Did this help you in anyway to better understand your own writing timeline? Doubtful! This goes to show that everyone's pace is different. While there really is no definitive timeframe out there for completing a novel, fortunately there are ways to keep yourself moving at all times, instead of wondering why you are stuck in second gear!

Choose a Target Size for Your Novel

Many of us may not know how long our novel is going to be but the sooner you get an idea of it, the easier it will be to realistically pace yourself! In my case I knew my story was going to be epically long. Knowing this early on has helped me get a better handle on what to expect.

Novels typically range from between 50,000 and 100,000 words, dependent upon a whole plethora of variables (like genre, typesetting, book type, etc.). For mass-market paperbacks, 50,000 words will land you at about 200 pages, while 75,000 words are at about 300 pages. And we've all seen those massive door-stopper books that double as lovely paperweights. :)

Stay Focused

It sounds like a no-brainer but let me tell you, it is anything but! There are too many other elements in life that want to get in the way and destroy your pacing plan! Online, there are a dime a dozen of "quick writing courses" and "draft helper" tools designed to get you writing your full length novel in as little as 30 days. I say don't worry so much about being prolific to start--worry about writing, period.

Pace Yourself...Realistically

Only YOU know what will work best for you and the only way to discover this is to pace yourself realistically. If you are busy and can only drill out work for 30 minutes a day, do it. Work on it every day and devote a space of time only for your writing. Make it a habit and stick to it. Do what works and is attainable. Nothing will stop you quicker than setting a goal that you cannot keep up with.

Understand that "Prep and Pause" is Okay!

Writing a book entails a lot and there is far more to it than just writing the words! What about brainstorming, plot development and planning, character fleshing, and downright research? All that takes time and you know what? It's totally okay. I like to call these things "prep and pause" moments: Moments when I STOP writing and focus on what makes the writing work in the first place. These things are important and should be given time just like your actual writing. (And don't get me started on editing).

Even if you are staring at the wall, thinking about how to best kill off that final main villain, you are working. It's part of your creative process and it should not be cut out or rushed along. Prized bestselling author of The Hunger Games novels, Suzanne Collins once said: "Some days all I do is stare at the wall. That can be productive, too, if you’re working out character and plot problems."

The Takeaway

Whether you write 10 minutes a day or 8 hours a day, write slow and steadily or fast and furiously, keep chipping away at it. Keep moving and stay mindful of your progress. Eventually, you will have perfectly sculptured masterpiece you so desire.

5 Types of Writers. Which are You?

It's one thing to tell a person that you are a writer. But what about the kind of writer you are? I decided to do a little digging around and see what types of writers I could find out there. I've come up with the following five categories below. Most of the writers I came across seemed to fit into one of these categories or a combination of two or more. Here's a fun list of what I found out:

Type #1: The Literary Devotee:

This type of writer is the closest thing to a "born writer," leaving their mark as the most quintessential of writers. These folks tend to be very creative and imaginative, blending art and literature into one. These types of writers tend to primarily gravitate toward fiction writing. They are able to build worlds in their mind and an uncanny talent to breathe life into their characters with relative ease. They often work alone and are very possessive of their work. 

Type #2: The Entrepreneur:

This type of writer is extremely business minded. In fact, they view writing, all the way down to the physical act, as a necessary means to a greater end. These individuals tend to be very driven and straightforward, and analytical, often gravitating toward PR or Marketing with their savvy communication know-how. They also tend to be good critics and may be more prolific then their Literary Devotee counterpart. They are easily fascinated and have an innate desire to achieve. Writing is seen as a useful tool in the creation of projects--which Entrepreneurs do very well.

Type #3: The Eccentric:

These types of writers tend to be solitary and produce that more cutting edge, outside-the-box type works. They tend to be deep thinkers and have a unique and often memorable style that sets them apart from others and they tend to make a significant impact on others with their writing. These individuals tend to gravitate toward and epic stories, memoirs, or poetry, sharing their profound insights that challenge and stimulate readers.

Type #4: The Avenger:

Messages for the masses and delivering the truth to the people—that is the main objective of the avenger. Whether its an advocacy campaign, a call to action or an exposé, these writers are reporters of the trade. They tend to be opinionated and passionate, yet concise. These types of writes tend to gravitate toward journalism and newsworthy content. They thrive on energy and are often driven to share their reach out to people.

Type #5: The Optimist:

This type of writer is the one who has the gift of gab. They can word things just right and have a sort of "writing charisma" about them. These types of writers tend to gravitate toward non-fiction, educational content, or inspirational pieces designed to engage the reader. Their ability to pursue an audience is similar to the Entrepreneur and their message resonates well with the masses. These writers make great public speakers, social net-workers or life coaches.

Most days, I would consider myself a Literary Devotee because I am very creative and imaginative. Other days I feel more like an Eccentric, seeking to share my wisdom with others in an ekphrastic way. With writing, there are definitely plenty of avenues to travel down!

Which road(s) are yours?

Previously Published Work: What’s the Deal?

If you are like me, you see publications of your work in the near future. But publishing work that has been worked on for some time (enough that you might have shared it online as you've written it) might cause issues for you down the road when you're finally ready to publish. Often times, literary agents and journals will reject a piece of writing if it has been previously published. With the internet taking over in the writing world, this topic has suddenly become more relevant than we may realize. So naturally, you may have questions that deserve answers, like:

• What is considered previously published work?
• Why won't literary agents consider previously published work?
• When CAN you successfully submit previously published work?

Defining Previously Published Work

Previously published work used to be a cut and dry term that simply referenced any type of written work that you may have innocently shared for that purpose alone. In the past if your work, i.e. poetry, short stories, long stories or even essays appeared in a journal, anthology, newsletter, newspaper, magazine, book, textbook, or any other publication---it was considered published. Period. Nowadays, it's a little more complicated.

Today, if your work appeared just about anywhere, including online in a blog, digital lit journal, social media or otherwise, literary journals and editors don't want it. Why? Because they want to make sure that their work is new, engaging, fresh and unique. If it's been out there already (no matter how innocent the sharing was) it's out of the question. They also want to steer clear of any rights violations or issues as well that can now arise with previously published work. So if I post on a blog, share a snippet on an online journal, or even cough up a brilliant comment on social media, THAT'S considered previously published material?

You bet. 

To many that is considered previously published work.

But what about private forums that required a secured login? Surely those can't be pinned as previously published work, right? Here, you've got some leg room. If you unveil an amazing piece of work on a forum or web board, most editors and literary agents will consider it for publication because those areas of the internet are private and intended for community use and feedback. Still, web-crawlers and caches can still have it pop up online and you may want to remove so that it doesn't cause conflict later on.

Quite a hairy dilemma right? I will admit I have done my fair share of online posting and work sharing. I've signed up for forums and support boards such as "Writer's Cafe" and "We-Book" and I never thought twice about it, until I tried to publish a short piece and was told it was previously online, thus it's "integrity" had been compromised!

Larger Writing Projects

Now, if you are working on a much larger scale future publication such as an anthology, memoir or full length novel (like me), then perhaps you can get away with posting just an excerpt. In most cases, that is considered acceptable but within reason. Publishing full chapters or serializing your story in continued posts is a big no-no. You may as well upload the entire book and label it:"free e-book for all and no I don't plan on publishing this same thing later on down the road for actual money, by the way."

A word to the wise. Know your limitations. Literary agents seek out potential talent for a living. They have a keen eye for the business and they are virtually marketing experts when ti comes to representation and lucrative investment in a new author. If they comb the net and find you (and 9 out of 10 times they will), they will see it as unappealing and even irresponsible. Let's not forget previously published work that is completely intentional such as self-publishing may put off an agent because you have been receiving income on the work already, without their help.

Technology is still light years ahead of the publishing industry in the way of trends, laws and rights. There is no doubt that these things are rapidly changing as we speak. As a general rule, it is best to remain on the side of caution and refrain from blasting the internet with your prized literary works of art. Take the proper steps and go the safe route. Seek an agent BEFORE you post work and save yourself the headache of previously published work issues.

Carolyn