The Value of Reflection

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Some people attribute this quotation to Mark Twain, “Find a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life.” I have found the truth in this statement as a writer and editor. While there are certainly routine and boring aspects of my work (as in every job), overall I love my life in publishing and spend many hours at my keyboard or on the phone with authors and others. My work is something I love and do every day. 

 

Almost like clockwork, my email and interaction with others drops off from Thanksgiving until after New Year's Day. I've called these days the silent days of publishing and written about them in the past. Instead of cutting back like some, I tend to lean into the work. For example, last week before Christmas, I processed a number of submissions to Morgan James Publishing. In this process, I've located some new authors who are passionate about their writing and want to get their book published. To me, this process of discovery is fun and exciting. Will these authors get book contracts from my colleagues? Until I try it, I never know so I'm pushing their material forward through the process. If they get a contract from my colleagues, will they sign the paperwork and move forward? I never know until it happens and I've learned that it is impossible to predict. I'm only responsible for my part of the process and have leave the rest of it up to others. As the book is produced and enters the market, will it catch the attention of readers and sell? I've learned making books is easy and something many companies can do for writers but selling books is another story. Like many aspects of publishing, the selling of books is outside of my control. I've learned to take my own responsibility for my books and leave the rest of it.

 

In the quiet of these days, I find value in taking a few moments for reflection on the past year and my plans for the future. I've written this article to encourage you to  take some time for reflection and planning for your future.

 

As I think about the last year, what worked and what failed? As you consider the days ahead what changes will you make and do differently? For example, I've found I'm not reading some magazines as much as I did in the past. Recently I cancelled a weekly publication which I have been reading for decades. For my situation, it was a wise decision. What changes like those do you need to make for your writing life? Also consider your habits and routines. Which ones will you continue and which ones do you need to modify or eliminate? How can you foster your curiosity about the world around you? What do you want to learn and how can you take those courses and apply them to your writing life?

 

As you can tell from reading these article, I see the world as filled with opportunity. You need to seize the day and pitch to the right person and open those doors in your writing life. I have great expectations about the days ahead.

 

Do you take time for reflection then making some changes to your life? Let me know your process in the comments below.

 

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This prolific editor and author sees value in reflection about what has worked or failed in the past and what adjustments he will make for the days ahead. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

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Information Is Power

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Many years ago, I did my first stint as an acquisitions editor working inside a publisher. It was an eye-opening experience for someone like me who had written numerous books on the outside but never witnessed the various dynamics inside a publishing house. Because of working inside a publisher, I wrote Book Proposals That Sell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. 

 

The publisher announced my new position in the trade magazines and other places. Yet to my surprise months after this announcement and with fairly often consistency, I received submissions addressed to the previous acquisitions editor. I was actively looking for new writers but the submissions addressed to someone else on my desk made the wrong first impression.

 

Now years later, I understand why it happens. The publishing world is constantly shifting. Editors move to a different publishing house. Other editors join a literary agency. Some book publishers close their doors while others open new business. In the magazine area, publications cease publishing while others begin new magazines. These shifts in the publishing world often open new opportunities for writers—at least those who keep up with these changes.

 

How do you keep up with the various shifts and changes? If you have the right information and use it appropriately, information is power. The answer is an annual book which is essential for every Christian writer: The Christian Writers Market Guide 2023 which released last week.  Don’t be fooled into using an old book and the wrong information,

 

Sally E. Stuart was the original creator of this guide, then she passed the responsibility on to New York Times bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins who published it for a few years. Several years ago, literary agent Steve Laube took over the annual guide. Through the years I’ve interviewed each of these leaders. In this article, I include links to those interviews which are filled with insights for every Christian writer. You will gain instant access to the replay interview and each of these leaders have included a unique free ebook that you can download and study.

 

Are you looking for a nearby writers group or planning to attend a writers conference next year? Like other elements in the guide, these elements shift and change from year to year. Or maybe you are looking for a freelance editor to go through your material and polish it before you send it to an agent or an editor? This information is also in this volume.

 

In his foreword, Jerry B. Jenkins says, “Here’s a dirty little secret of the writing life: Veteran editors can tell within two minutes whether they are going to reject your manuscript.” From his experience as an editor and publisher, Jerry gives three common reasons for fiction rejections. I’ll include one of them here: “Too many characters introduced too quickly.” If you get these insights and apply them to your writing, the foreword alone has immense value to you.

 

The Christian Writers Market Guide 2023 contains nearly 1,000 listings including more than 200 book publishers, 130 magazine publishers, 45 speciality markets, 215 writers conferences and writers groups, 45 literary agencies, and 240 freelance editors and designers. Also this volume includes information about legal, accounting, speaking services, podcasts, courses and contests. The information can be powerful and priceless to your writing life—if you use it properly.

 

Whether you want to write for magazines or publish a book or speak at a writer’s conference, you will have to learn to write an eye-catching pitch. From my years in the publishing world, you will always have to pitch to the right person at the right time. A key part of that process of finding the right person is contained in The Christian Writers Market Guide 2023 .

 

How do you use this essential reference guide? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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Within the publishing community, information is power. This prolific editor and author helps you understand this concept and highlights an important tool for every Christian writer. Get the details here. (ClickToTweet)

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Reach the Unreachable

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

One of the consistent challenges in the publishing world is to reach the right person at the right time with the right stuff. I understand a number of “rights” have to line up for this connection to be made.  The publishing world marketplace is full of half-baked ideas and poor submissions. Editors, literary agents and others have seen these submissions and it stirs them to use their delete key and not even respond to it. I’ve seen these poor submissions but I’ve chosen to take a different path.

 

A number of people have told me that I’m one of the most accessible people (reachable) in publishing. A number of people make their email address difficult to find. Instead my personal email is in my Twitter profile. It is also in my LinkedIN contact information. My public LinkedIN profile says I have 500+ connections but I really have over 19,400 connections. I want people to be able to reach me because I understand these connections can lead to other opportunities.

 

Many people are surrounded with gatekeepers or executive assistants or others who screen the email and phone calls before they grant access. These gatekeepers form an important function but how do you break through and get past the gatekeeper? I’m going to give you some ideas in this article. It's like a lock, your task as a writer is to locate the right key which will open the lock.

 

As you reach out to this individual, the first step is to get into their perspective and determine how you can entice them to respond. For example, I’ve interviewed more than 150 bestselling authors and I’ve written magazine articles about these authors for different publications. Often their publisher would connect me to the author for my interview. These publishers wanted the publicity for their book and author. If a magazine has “assigned” you to write an article, then you have greater leverage to connect than if you are writing it on speculation. If you are using this magazine article angle, you need to be prepared for the publicity person to ask you whether you are writing on assignment or speculation.

 

Other times you are reaching out to an editor or a literary agent because you want to pitch them a particular project. Have you met them at some writers conference or another type of event? Even if this meeting was years ago, you can still use this fact as you reach out to this editor or agent.

 

Whether you are trying to reach an editor, an agent or a bestselling author, one of the critical steps is your preparation. It was a lesson I learned as a young journalist. Research the background of these people, what they have written and read their books. If they had a press kit and it was sent to me, I read the press kit. Sometimes a nugget of information in these kits has led to wonderful stories when I asked about it.

 

There are other ways to reach these people such as their website, LinkedIN or another social media website. Also consider if you know someone else in your circle of relationships who has an established relationship with this person. Would your friend introduce you to this person? Often you will not know the answer to this question until you ask it. How do you reach the unreachable? From my decades in publishing, the answer is rooted in several key words: persistence, perserverance and consistency. If one door slams as you try, then use a different door and knock on that one until it opens. Does it always work? No, but I’ve learned often you can reach the unreachable if you continue trying.

 

Do you use other methods to reach the unreachable? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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Many people in the publishing world are difficult to reach such as bestselling authors, editors and literary agents. This prolific author and editor gives details about how to reach the unreachable. (ClickToTweet)

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Just Do It

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

How in the world have I written thousands of book reviews? Like the Nike slogan says, I just do it. My commitment to writing book reviews springs from several motivations.

 

First, I want to support other authors who write good books. Also I want to encourage other writers to write book reviews—selfishly for my own books—but also for books from other writers. Finally I write reviews because good books can change lives. I know this firsthand because years ago reading a book changed the direction of my life.

 

Through the years, I’ve worked out a detailed routine of what I do when I write a book review. First, I create a short link for the book that I store in a text file. Then I download a copy of the cover and upload it to MockUpShots where I quickly create a unique image for the book. I use this image on social media but also on my Amazon review. This different image helps the book standout and get attention from readers.

 

I’ve created my own book review template with my information. Next I pull up this template in Word and add the short link then save the review in a book review folder on my computer. When I write a review, in my mind, I have an idea of the shape of this review. Because I’ve done this mental work, it does not take me long to create my book review.  It begins with an eye-catching title. Then I write a short summary of the book and give some overall impressions. As I read the book, I will often mark a quotation or two in the book. I will quote a brief section in my view which show readers that I actually read the book. I end my review with a simple recommendation for the reader.

 

Because I’ve written my review in Word, I will often print my review, then wait a bit (sometimes even a day). I re-read my review and make any changes or modifications. Then I go to the book page on Amazon and cut and paste my review. Sometimes my review appears right away and other times it will take a day or two for it to appear.

 

Next I go to Goodreads where I have 5,000 friends and have written over 800 reviews. My reviews get a lot of attention on Goodreads. I will cut and paste the same review into Goodreads and post it.

 

If I know the author or publicist for the book, I will create an email with the links to my review on Goodreads and Amazon. Why? Because when the author or publicist receives it, it shows them them what I have done. Then when they have another book, often these authors will reach out to me. It happened a week or so ago with an author who has a new book coming out in a couple of months. Your activity can breed more activity if you communicate about your review work.

 

Finally I promote the book on social media. When I craft my post for social, I look and see if the author has a Twitter account. If they do, I include their twitter name in my post. Why?  It’s another subtle way to get that author's attention that you have reviewed their book. You never know where such attention could lead such as a future opportunity. In January 2014, I reviewed Piers Morgan’s book, Shooting Straight and included his Twitter handle in my social media post. He responded with appreciation through Twitter which showed me that Morgan read it. It’s another little detail that I just do it.

 

Help With Writing Reviews

If you don't know what to write for a review, my friend Sandra Beckwith has created a nonfiction and a fiction template. I have both of these tools and they give wise and experienced guidance.

 

How do I do it over and over? It's simple. I just do it. I tell you about it here because you can do it too. It takes no special creditials. If I do it, you can do it too. Some of the keys to the writing life is consistency, persistence and perserverance. The honest truth is I never get it all done but I continue to take action day after day. Have you created a writing routine which you do over and over? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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Some people wonder how this prolific editor and author gets it done. He gives a detailed example of how to just do it. (ClickToTweet)

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