Another Read for Book Authors

Unfortunately, I came across an amusing concept in a Guardian blog this morning after my post for the day had already gone out, or I'd have combined these two. A novelist decided to bring in some extra cash by selling shares in his future US royalties. Though, on reflection, perhaps amusing isn't the right word. There is something sad about having to trade on your future potential because you can't get enough money to undertake your profession based on what you've already done. But there is something intriguing about the publicity possibilities in such a move. Sadly, once done, I think it would be tough to get attention a second time. All you have to do is come up with the next outrageous gimmick to get media attention on your book, which is really where you want it.

Editor Pat Strachan on Her Career and the Business

Poets and Writers magazine has an interview with Pat Strachan. Aside from the general interest for people in the business, there are some practical nuggets of advice you can mine. For example, she mentions the "stopper" - a term from her New Yorker days meaning some image "that causes the reader to stop and read in a daze over the next pages." So you don't want to follow something like that with a section that is critical to the book, because people will miss it. Or there's the most common problem with first fiction books:

They can be too controlled. I find a lot of first novels too careful and too polite. I mean, let’s face it, Housekeeping is a wild book. I don’t think Marilynne had ever published anything before, even short pieces. She was doing what came from her mind and her experience. Larry Heinemann’s book is another example, a graphic war novel, but just gorgeous. Sometimes others can be a little tight and a little fearful of being messy.

Certainly not something I would have known. Also, she generally knows within ten pages whether she'll like a book. It's definitely worth a read.

The Evil Editor and Other Useful Web Sites

I happened upon one web site useful to writers the other day, which made me think about putting together a list of some that can offer helpful tips and backstage glimpses that can help you better understand publishing and how to navigate the business:

• Evil Editor: Why you don't get published is a hoot. Yes, you can laugh at unfortunates, if you are so inclined, but this is also a useful site. Aside from the mocking for amusement, the owners claims to be a publishing industry pro, and the reactions are telling, offering good clues on what not to write in a query. The brave can also submit their own queries and book openings for critique.


• Pub Rants is less snarky (a position that Miss Snark took with her when she stopped new blog entries) and is by a literary agent in Denver. She still rants - politely - and in some of her material there is useful information, such as this entry about mentioning a book by an agent's client in your query letter.


• Lyons Literary has a blog explaining terms, some book publishing contract basics, and some of the dos and don'ts that make agents either more or less disposed to considering you and your work.


• If you are concerned about possible scams - a reasonable attitude for writers - you might check Writer Beware Blogs! by A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss, who hunt down scams and their perpetrators.


• If you like to hear the story behind books, Backstory has them. By e-publishing pioneer M.J. Rose and Jessica Keener, fiction editor at Agni Magazine, it seems like light lifting - authors send in the back stories to their books. But who cares? It's an interesting concept.


• Shrinking Violet Promotions is worth a stop just because the name is so apt for the concept. However, if you consider yourself an introvert (or not), you might find some useful information about promotion here.