What Are You Reading?

It’s a familiar routine. I’m on the way to another conference as I write these words on an airplane. Airports have always been a fascinating opportunity to see what people are reading. Or I observe if they are reading at all. A cross section of the population travels on a regular basis. Some people use the travel time to catch up on their sleep. Others use the time to talk with a seatmate and other people read.

The gentleman in the next seat is working his way through his second newspaper. He’s already breezed through the local Arizona Republic and now he’s studying the pages of USA Today. I’ve seen other people carry a novel to read while others are reading and marking up a nonfiction book. What is on your reading schedule and are you making consistent time in your day to read?

I’m on the way to the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference where I will be meeting one on one with writers and also teaching a couple of workshops. I’m always interested to listen to a would-be author’s pitch then to ask a few questions. Often my questions will turn toward reading.

If you want to write romance, then you should be reading in the genre. If thrillers are your forte, then you should have some favorite thriller writers that you love their prose.

Recently I’ve discovered Daniel Silva. I’m not alone since his books regularly land on the bestseller list. This former journalist turned novelist has successfully turned out some riveting general market prose. In recent months, I’ve read eight of his nine books with the lead character of Gabriel Allon, who is a trained Israeli assassin who loves art and is an art restorer of paintings from The Masters. Yet I do not exclusively read fiction. I’m reading nonfiction—Christian and general market books. I read newspapers and magazines and of course I read the materials that I’m working on each day as a book publisher at Intermedia.

Reading plays a key role in my everyday life. This reading works into my perspective of the world, my knowledge about the world and my work with authors.

(Just to add to the confusion. I'm posting this after the conference but I wrote it on the way to the conference. My schedule was too intense to even get to a computer but now I'm getting it out to you.)

Back to my original question: What are you reading and are you making devoted time in your daily life to read? It will play into your writing life.

Always Cover The Basics

Last week, I received a U.S. priority mail package sent to my old agency mailing address. My literary agency ended a year ago when I became a publisher at Intermedia Publishing Group. Check out this free teleseminar if you want to know more details about Intermedia and the distinct role we play in the marketplace. According to Sally Stuart, more than 90% of the entries in her market guide change each year. The address should have been my first clue to what was inside but it gets worse.

The author failed to include a cover letter with his contact information--phone, mailing address and email address. The package contained a synopsis of his novel and then a 53-page sample of his writing. The result was about a two-minute reading experience (or less) and it was tossed into the trash. I'm certain the author hoped for much more in going to the trouble and expense of sending this priority mail package. He failed to include any information about himself. Why did he write this novel and what level of presence does he have in the marketplace to sell his novel? Pick up this free ebook to learn more about how to develop your platform or presence in the marketplace.

As an author, you have seconds to grab the attention of an editor or literary agent. I mean seconds. When I interviewed acquisitions editor, Andy McGuire, he was acquiring mostly fiction. I asked how he handled submissions. His answer is revealing and from my experience typical how all of us handle these submissions. He explained, "I read the first sentence and if it is a good sentence, then I read the second sentence. If the first paragraph is a good paragraph, then I read the second paragraph."

First impressions count. A complete submission counts and would-be authors (whether it is your first submission or 1,000th submission) need to make sure they always cover the basics. The basics would include a cover letter which grabs the editor or agent and doesn't let go. You also need a brief biography to explain who you are (yes tell about your day job if you haven't been published) and why you are going to be a dynamic author for their publishing house. Every submission needs a marketing plan to show you are sensitive and in tune with selling your book.

I've got much more information for any writer built into the pages of Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. Here's one of the reviews for this book.

More than anything, don't waste your time and energy on submissions which don't cover the basics. Beyond the basics, do much more and your submission will be read and seriously considered.

Are You Determined To Get Published?

One of the common failures among writers is their lack of determination to get published. Many would-be authors are rejected a few times and give up on their manuscript instead of continuing to look for the right place.

Tap into the wisdom in James Scott Bell's article, Rejecting Rejection. It will lift your spirits and give you renewed determination.

This weekend, I was reading Entertainment Weekly. This story from Kate Ward about Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help caught my attention:

"Nearly 60 agents turned down Kathryn Stockett's debut novel before publisher Amy Einhorn picked it up in 2007. 'Those rejections lit a fire under my rear end,' says Stockett. 'I would say, "I've got to make it better.' Now those agents must be feeling some serious regret. Published in February, The Help, about a '60s-era Mississippian who's writing a book about African-American maids, now has 789,000 copies in print. Its steady word-of-mouth sales have kept it on the New York Times best-seller list longer than any other hardcover novel this year. Not bad for a novel whose first printing was just 57,300."

While I have not read The Help, I've heard plenty about it when my wife read it for her book club. Imagine the disappointed feelings that Kathryn Stockett must have felt when she received the different rejections from literary agents. Yet she was determined to get her novel into print. For a first-time novelist, Stockett has had a remarkable experience.

Almost two years ago at the Florida Writers Association, I met Roxanna P. Platt, a physician. Roxanna had written a romance called Intimately Betrayed. The book was excellent and I loved it and even represented it when I had my literary agency. When I joined Intermedia Publishing Group about a year ago, I closed my agency and became a publisher. Intimately Betrayed has just released in hardcover. I admire Roxanna's determination to get this book published and her enthusiasm to market and tell others about the book.

Writers conferences are a great place to meet editors and literary agents. This week I will be teaching at the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference then in a few weeks, I'll be teaching a full day workshop in Denver. Here's the link to my speaking schedule. I hope to see some of you at these conferences. Years ago, I learned the truth behind the statement: it is who you know as much as what you know. Relationships are important in publishing like any other business. You can build those relationships during a writers conference.

Have you been kicked around and rejected a few times on your book project? What active steps are you taking today to change that situation and renew your own determination to get your manuscript into the hands of the right editor or literary agent?

Catch This Golden Opportunity

Last week I spotted several neighborhoods that are stringing their lights for Christmas. Yes, it is only mid-October but we're moving closer to the Christmas season. Last week, something that came across my computer screen was counting down the days saying only 72 more shopping days (it is even closer today).

Each holiday season brings new personal experiences in your life. Maybe you will be at a holiday gathering and see a new drink or desert. Or from reading the Scripture you will gain a new personal insight. Are you aware of those new ideas? Are you making the effort to write them down then craft them into magazine articles? Whether it is a how-to article about effective Christmas lights or a new way you have personally experienced the holidays, I encourage you to capture this golden opportunity.

Magazine editors actively look for seasonal material. Typically these magazines are working three or four months ahead of the current calendar. I'm encouraging you to look at this seasonal material from at least two perspectives. First, celebrate the current holiday such as Thanksgiving yet be actively looking for experiences that you can write about this holiday, then publish next year. Second, pull out your calendar and look about four or five months ahead. Then query or pitch full article ideas to magazine editors for these holidays. In November, you should be pitching editors on Easter experiences or ideas.

Years ago when I was working as an editor at Decision magazine, I recall our struggle to find enough quality articles about love for the February issue (Valentine's Day). We couldn't locate the articles from the unsolicited manuscripts. Instead we reached out to different published authors and asked them to write what we needed. I had the same experience for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

If you propose these seasonal articles, then deliver a quality, well-written article to the editor, you will build your relationship with the editor and get published.

These magazine articles can be recycled as reprints to non-competitive publications. After your article is published, you can market it to another magazine as a reprint. Some of these seasonal articles have years of use because they contain universal truth.

I meet many writers who are only focused on getting their book ideas published. Their work has never appeared in print yet they ignore the magazine market. When you write for magazines, you gain several important skills which will help your dreams of getting books published:

1. You gain publishing experience which your book editor will recognize and appreciate.

2. You gain exposure to readers and increase your name recognition in the marketplace.

3. You are building relationships with new editors which may become lifelong friends. Editors move from one magazine to another or from a magazine to a book publisher. If you have built a good relationship, then your relationship continues in the new position.

Seasonal magazine articles are an often overlooked golden opportunity. Your writing can meet this key need.

Find Your Open Door

It's one of the most common failures for people who want to get their book published. They give up too quickly and lack the perseverance to keep looking for the open door.

Yes, rejection is difficult. With the information, skill and training that you have, you have poured creativity into your words. Yet when you send them out to an agent or editor, it's returned to you. There is great wisdom in this article from James Scott Bell, Rejecting Rejection. If you are struggling with rejection, I encourage you to read this article from time to time. One of the keys from my perspective is to continue looking for the open door and not give up on your dreams. Each writer is looking for the right opportunity at the right time and the right place with the right publishing house. Yes, my last sentence contains many "rights." Don't give up your search.

There are many examples of persistence throughout the writer community. I want to tell you about one of Intermedia's authors, Dr. Richard C. Harris. His book, One Nation Under Curse, has a startling cover with a hanging figure and KKK symbols. Thirty years ago, Richard was the Grand Dragon of the northernmost chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.

Why are individuals drawn into the world of the KKK? What happens in their secret meetings?

Racism is a growing force in our society and the KKK is growing in unprecedented numbers according to Dr. Harris. With page-turning true details, Richard Harris invites us into his world and reveals the details about how he was drawn into the KKK then quickly rose through their ranks to become the Grand Dragon of the Northern Indiana chapter.

The writing is engaging and the personal drama is spell-binding. This book is difficult to stop reading until you reach the final page. You will learn information which has never appeared in print before about the KKK. As you read it, you will increase your understanding of a curse which continues to hang over America and how you can break that curse in your own life and in the lives of your children. This book is ideal for small groups or individuals. The Reading Discussion Guide provides thought-provoking questions for any group to learn from this fascinating book.

Earlier this year, when I was at a writer's conference, a former acquisitions editor from Thomas Nelson saw Richard's book and exclaimed, "I pitched this book to the publication board over ten years ago and unfortunately it was rejected." She was thrilled to see that Richard persisted and it finally appeared in print.

When I spoke with Richard about this incident, he told me that he has a large file of rejections from submitting his book to different places. Also I learned that his book has changed and improved throughout those years of attempting to get it published.

On Monday, October 19th at 3 p.m. EST, Dr. Harris will be live on Janet Parshall's America. I encourage you to listen to his fascinating story--and get his book. Notice how Richard continually searched for his open door to get his book published and found it through Intermedia Publishing Group. I've heard similar stories from many other authors.

If you have been searching for the open door to get your work published, here are several ideas:

1. Join a writer's group and get to a writer's conference. I'm going to be speaking in Indianapolis on November 6th and 7th and then leading a one-day Intermedia seminar in Denver on November 21st.

2. Read good books about writing and find practical ideas that you can apply to improve your own work and try different opportunities. I continue to receive great feedback (check this link) from Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams.

3. To learn the difference between traditional publishing and Independent publishing, catch this free teleseminar.

4. If you are trying to get a traditional publisher, learn what captured an editor or agent's attention at SecretsAboutproposals.

5. You can also learn from my free ebook about book proposals.

There are many different paths to achieve your dreams. Don't give up and keep looking for the open door.

The Engineered Bestseller

Gather a group of experienced writers and often the conversation drifts toward the elusive dream: the bestselling book. How do you write and achieve a bestseller? What is the definition of a bestseller?

In my many years in publishing, I've heard and read many different perspectives on these questions. The answer is complex and not something learned in a single place or book from my view. Bestselling books occur in many different ways.

Recently I read a resource that provides insight into these questions and is well worth reading. Eric Kampmann has written The Book Publisher's Handbook. From over 35 years in publishing, Eric Kampmann tackles this question of creating a successful bestselling book with remarkable candor and detail. For the uninitiated, publishing is a mystery and Kampmann breaks down the various ingredients into seven keys: 1) Editorial--an edited manuscript is critical 2) Design & Format: the appearance of your book inside and out 3) Printing: covers the key basics 4) Pricing: covers the pitfalls 5) Sales and Distribution: Explains the players and how to use them 6) Book Marketing & Publicity: Wise counsel in this section 7) The Publisher is You: he encourages every author to take the reins of responsibility.

This book contains six unique case studies and gives the inside story behind some bestsellers including ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, RICH DAD, POOR DAD and much more. These case studies show the necessity of every author being in the right place at the right time with the right publisher and lend reality to the detailed keys in the first portion of the book.

Whether you are working with a traditional royalty publisher or you have decided to self-publish your book, you can profit from the wealth of experience and detail in Kampmann's title. It is loaded with gems of information and I recommend you get this book.

Which Emotion Drives Your Decisions

Before I turn on the news or read the newspaper or a news magazine, I almost have to recite a key principle: do I want to live in fear or faith? Which emotion will drive my decisions and reaction to the news around me?

You don't have to go far to find the dismal news. Last week I learned one news source that a projected 400 bookstores will close this year which is a 500% increase over the numbers from 2008. As much as I love bookstores, this statistic bothers me. Yet, I also understand that over 60% of books are sold outside of the bookstore.

Yes, listening to the world, it is easy to live in paralyzing fear and not the life of faith. My friend Max Lucado has recently released a new book with the simple title, Fearless. In the chapter called, "I'm sinking fast," Max writes, "Courage is always a possibility. C. S. Lewis wrote a great paragraph on this thought:

"Faith . . . is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes. I know that by experience. Now that I am a Christian I do have moods in which the whole thing looks very improbable: but when I was an atheist I had moods in which Christianity looked terribly probable. . . . That is why Faith is such a necessary virtue: unless you teach your moods “where they get off,” you can never be either a sound Christian or even a sound atheist, but just a creature dithering to and fro, with its beliefs really dependent on the weather and the state of its digestion."

"Feed your fears, and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will." (page 73-74).

Each day we face challenges with our writing and our work in publishing. I've got my share of these daily challenges and you do as well to get your work into the marketplace and reach the greatest number of people with those words.

What steps are you taking to feed your faith and starve your fears? If you haven't read Fearless, I highly recommend the book. It's straightforward reading that will touch your heart and give you hope.