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I'd Rather Be Thin and Famous
Because then it's not too hard to get your work published. But if you're like me, then it's a lot of work!
(Disclaimer: this photo may have been stretched lengthwise to make Lisa appear thinner than she really is)
by Lisa Saunders
Writer's blog with links: http://authorlisasaunders.blogspot.com/
Writers Groups/Web sites
http://www.mlavoraperry.com/writers.htm How to promote work
Your own Web site: You can create a free Web site to showcase your work by following the advice of my friend Mary: "you can just search on "google page creator" and it will bring it up for you... just click on it... you have to create a login... once you do that, and it does whatever it does, it gives assigns you an e-mail
(which I ignore) and allows you to create up to 4 webpages under the acronym "pagename.googlepage.com" The first page name is named after the login ID you set up (to match your password name), but once logged into the page creator, you can assign up to 4 main pages...
Writer's groups and networking:
Searches:
http://www.dogpile.com/
search news: www.worldpress.com
Search and receive alerts www.google.com/alerts
Blogs:
www.blogger.com
www.blog.com
www.livejournal.com
Social Network sites:
www.facebook.com
www.MySpace.com
www.LinkedIn.com
www.Wink.com searches the above.
www.PeekYou.com is similar to Wink
Search the deep Web:
www.Pipl.com
People search sites:
www.zabasearch.com
www.Infospace.com
Local Writing Groups:
Check you local library and bookstore. They often host writer's groups. Try googling for writer's groups in your area. If there are no writers' groups in your area, start one. I have learned more from other writers than anything else. Visit your local library and bookstore. You will want to see their latest version of the Writers Market--a fat book that tells you how to write a query letter as well as listing publishers and agents.Your library may not store it on their regular bookshelf--ask the reference desk. There are also plenty of other books on how to write and promote your work to the appropriate publisher. The real problem, however, is that major publishers rarely look at unsolicited book manuscripts anymore. You must go through an agent. There are also books on how to secure the right kind of agent for your work (see the Literary Market Place at your library). The internet is also full of free advice on how to secure a publisher, find a writers’group, enter writing contests, etc. Learn how to use your search engine--just type in the kind of publishers (like Christian or picture book publishers) you are looking for, and you'll find their Web sites.
Good Information:
www.writersdigest.com
Syracuse University Press gives great advice on how to ready a manuscript before sending it off to a publisher:
http://sumweb.syr.edu/su_press/manSG.htm
Gregg Wilhem, once an editor of mine, gave me a concise definition of an effective query leter:
"A one page proposal -- what's the book about, who is the audience, and who are you (expertise, writing credits, knowledge of the situation, networks or associations).
A good article about how to get your query letter noticed:
http://www.underdown.org/slush.htm
Literary agents
http://www.querytracker.net (it helps you search for an agent then keep track of what you sent them)
http://agentquery.com (has great links like listing large and small publishers)
For a list of agents, check out: http://www.aar-online.org/
Sally Stuart's annual publication, The Christian Writers’ Market Guide (Harold Shaw) provides a list of literary agents who work with Christian publishers.
Publishers:
Children's Publishers: http://www.cbcbooks.org/about/cbc_members_printable.html
Local history or genealogy, then check out: http://www.heritagebooks.com/publishing.htm
If you write books relating to disabilities, then consider the publishers on this website:
http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/bibliog/bib5txt.htm#publishers
http://www.disabilityculture.org/course/books.htm.
http://www.rnceus.com/fam3/sidebar.htm
An excellant resource for writers and published authors:
http://www.writing-world.com/links/promotion.shtml
http://writingcorner.com/resources/magazines.htm
If you write non-fiction, you will have an easier time securing a publisher—especially if it’s a how-to book or a local history book. If you still can’t get a publisher, then self-publish. There are also books on how to do that (like Dan Poynter's THE SELF-PUBLISHING MANUAL, or Tom & Marilyn Ross's THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING). If you are successful in marketing your self-published book, a traditional publisher may become interested in you—because you already have an audience, a fan base.
Another way to go is to seek out special interest groups with funds for publishing. They are always looking for work that promotes their cause.
Writer's Magazines and E-Zines
For the top 101 websites for writers, visit:
http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites/categorysearch.asp?year_101=2004
Self-publishers:
www.lulu.com
http://www.PublishYourOwnEbooks.com
BookSurge, part of the Amazon group of companies Acquired by Amazon.com in April 2005, BookSurge is a brand of On-Demand Publishing LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc. Learn more. ... www.booksurge.com
Information for writers
If you sell your book to customers within your own state, you must collect and pay sales tax. If you live in New York, to register to collect sales tax visit: http://www.tax.state.ny.us/nyshome/stidx.htm Another site to visit when starting up a business in New York is: www.nys-OPAL.com
To sell your books with www.amazon.com, visit: http://www.amazon.com/advantage
Your books must be registered with Books In Print® to be considered for store placement with Barnes & Noble. Please click here Barnes & Noble Acceptance Criteria.
Use the BowkerLink Publisher Access System
BowkerLink is a FREE online access system that provides you with an automated tool to add titles to Books In Print® as well as update any records that are already listed. Please use BowkerLink to submit forthcoming title information to Books In Print® 180 days before publication and inform us of updates as soon as they occur. Listings are free.
1. GO TO: www.bowkerlink.com. Click on "FOR Books In Print and Publishers Authority Database".
Printers:
I have been told the following printer is good for those who choose to publish their work themselves:
http://www.tristatelitho.com/
http://www.booksbybookends.com/
Press Release Tips
http://www.publicityhound.com/
http://www.publicityinsider.com/release.asp
http://www.publicityhound.com/Ebook--TheBestof2007TipsofWeek.pdf
If you have any websites that you feel will help other writers, please email them to me at saundersbooks@aol.com
Good luck!
Chapter One
Will I ever be discovered?
"Is this Lisa Saunders?" the caller asked.
"Yes," I said, irritated, sure it was a telemarketer interrupting me in the middle of writing a story featuring myself as the heroine. Recently recovered from years of writer’s block, I was on a roll and didn’t want to stop—despite the fact that I couldn’t get an editor to adore me—or even to look at me.
Several months earlier I had sent my first story to Snooty Home magazine (name changed in case I ever work for them), thinking they’d be thrilled to get the first crack at my work—a humorous piece about what a slob I am and what it takes to prepare for a guest. But instead of sending me an offer to be their next great columnist, I received a “Thanks, but no thanks,” form letter. I’ll show them! One of their major competitors will snatch me up. I’ll become a household name! As quickly as I could address the envelopes, I sent my stories to other popular magazines. Still no nibbles. Although the wind was leaving my sails, I pressed on, now querying magazines that nobody's ever heard of.
The caller, sensing I was annoyed at the intrusion, continued, “Mrs. Saunders, I’m sorry to bother you. I’m from Nice Home magazine (name changed so they won't know I lumped them in the “nobody’s heard of them” category). We really enjoyed your “Oh No, Camping” and “My Apple Obsession” stories. Do we have your permission to publish them? We’d like to run the camping one in September and the apple one in October, but we can only pay you in three complimentary magazines. Is that okay?”
Somebody finally liked me! So what if I wasn’t going to be paid and I didn’t know anyone who read the magazine--now I’d have samples of my published work to show editors. Hanging up, I called everyone I knew along the Eastern Seaboard, “I have been discovered and am on my way!”
It was more than 10 years earlier, during my brief stint as a high school newspaper columnist, that I first thought of becoming a famous author. So I read books on how to write, scrolled a sheet of paper down into my father’s old typewriter, placed my fingers on the keys and waited. I couldn’t think of a thing to say! And that was it. I went off to Cornell University, majored in business, found a husband, worked in accounting, and had a daughter.
Writing never crossed my mind again—until the birth of my second daughter, Elizabeth. Born with a severely damaged brain as a result of a virus—cytomegalovirus (CMV)--doctors told me that she would never walk, talk, or even feed herself. Suddenly, I had a lot to say! As a way to deal with my grief, I began writing letters to friends and family to express my feelings about her prognosis and our future. Eventually, I no longer focused on what we didn’t have, but on what we did have, and the letters began regaling fun family adventures. Writing soothed my soul--perhaps getting my stories published would soothe it even more! I bought the Writer's Market, a fat book full of publishers and directions on how to submit your work. How hard could it be?
My September issue of Nice Home magazine finally arrived in the mail. I couldn’t wait to show it off! I pulled the magazine from the mailbox and stood on the porch, opening it to the table of contents. Wait a minute. I don’t see my byline. I flipped through the rest of it. My camping story was nowhere to be found! I called the magazine.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Saunders, we ran out of space,” the editor explained. “We found a humorous piece about laundry that fit better with this month’s theme.”
Devastated, I read the article that ousted mine. I had to admit, it was pretty funny. But I had funny laundry too. Why didn’t I think to write about what a riot doing my laundry was?
When October came, so did another issue of Nice Home magazine. I was scared to pull it out of my mailbox. Was more humiliation in store? But there it was—“My Apple Obsession.”
“Not your best piece,” was my husband Jim’s first comment after reading it. On second reading, I kind of agreed—I doubt I had made Snooty Home sorry they hadn’t grabbed me first. But I didn’t care--I was finally a published author!
(If you would like to read more of my work, or learn about what caused Elizabeth's birth defects (CMV) and how you can help prevent it, please visit my Web site home page at www.authorlisasaunders.com or email me at saundersbooks@aol)
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