Two Critical Author Actions

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Every day thousands of new books pour into the market. How can you standout and sell books? Are you depending on someone else to sell your books? Maybe you have a traditional publisher or have hired a publicist or marketing person. As the author, you have the greatest passion and investment in your book. I continue to encourage you to take 100% responsibility for your own success and selling your book. If you aren’t taking consistent action, then you aren't reaching new readers and telling them about the benefits of your book. It’s why last week I recorded another podcast about publishing expectations and told listeners about 10 Publishing Myths. Follow the link to get it, read it and take action.

Today, I’m giving you the stories about two critical actions that every author needs to take to sell books: positioning and follow-up.

First, position your book for readers to know about it and easily purchase your book. Several years ago right before the pandemic, I made a large investment in 10 Publishing Myths. With eight other authors I took three days away from home to attend a book funnel book bootcamp. The hours and work at this camp were long and intense. We brainstormed about each other’s work, learned how to use new tools and launched this effort. In the years since, several of my fellow participants have removed their book funnel and given up on these tools. I have continued to promote it and use it which is one of the keys for me. If you give up and quit, the effort stops.

In addition to this website, I have continued promotion and used PodMatch to book or record over 70 podcasts. I do not have a podcast but have been guesting and promoting the podcasts of others. Before each podcast (whether it is live or recorded), I review my talking points or stories that I want to make sure I tell during these sessions. I can only control my part of the process but I can thoughtfully take that control. I purchased a website Publishing Offer.com. On this website, I forward to my book funnel site. The words are clear and easy for every listener to recall and use. People listen to podcasts when exercising or driving in their car or any number of other places away from a computer. I consider my listeners and want to make it easy for them to get to my website.

I’m telling you these specific actions so you can apply them to your own books and your readers. How you position your book and continue to promote it is an important aspect of this work. 

Last Saturday, I spent three hours listening to about 15 pitches online from different writers. Over the last several years, as an acquisitions editor, I’ve participated in this conference. I have a track record of results from these pitches because Morgan James Publishing has published several books from these authors.

The leaders of this conference understand that I’m eager to get the email addresses and contact information from these various authors who pitched their books. During a five or ten minute author pitch, I did not gather or exchange any contact information with these authors. It is the second action, I want to write about in this article: followup. Without follow-up the chain of commuication is broken. Unless I communicate, they don't how how to reach me and likely will not submit their manuscript to me. This communication gap is necessary to fill or I will miss an opportunity. I emailed the leaders and requested the information (even though they told me orally that they were going to send it). When I received the information, I carefully entered their names, emails and phone numbers into my address book. Then early last week or a few days after our meeting, I sent each one an email asking for their submission. This follow-up step is critical for every author. These authors may send their submission in months or even next year. The timing is unimportant but the followup is critical.

For a moment, let’s return to book positioning. In my email signature, I include several links and the first one says:

Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 at:

http://publishingoffer.com/ 

One of those authors who pitched bought my book. When I mailed the printed book, I made a point to personalize the book (sign and date it on the title page) and include my business cards which have additional links and information.

I’m writing about these details because every author (including you) can take these types of actions. It involves thoughtful preparation, continued effort and action. It is through these actions you seize opportunities for your book.

One final idea for you: below this article, each week I create a ClickToTweet. I take this simple action to encourage you to easily pass this information to others. Can you please pass on this information?

What actions are you taking to reach new readers? How are you positioning your book? What followup steps are you taking to knock on doors and open opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

This prolific author and editor details two critical actions that every author can take. Read the stories here.  (ClickToTweet)

For many years, I have spoken with individuals who want to publish a book. I’ve listened to their plans and found many of them have an unrealistic idea about the details of publishing. To sell books and succeed, these details are important. 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS is a practical easy reading book to help you. Get my decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of

bonuses. 

Every author needs a better submission for editors or literary agents. I’m teaching a free Live Webinar on Tuesday, April 21st at 6 pm Eastern. Register and details at: https://bit.ly/4lIx91y

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

It Only Takes One

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As an author, on the surface some of my actions look like failures. Then I have to recall that it only takes one new connection to make a difference. Like the image I have for this article with the highlighted puzzle piece. Without this final piece, the puzzle does not work or look whole.

A couple of months ago, I spoke at a Publicity Club meeting. Before the meeting, I promoted it on social media to my various connections. Also I added it to these articles in The Writing Life which each week reaches several hundred people on their email. When the event happened, a small audience of  six people attended. 

As a speaker, I’ve had this experience in the past. For example, at a large conference where each workshop is recorded, I’ve spoken in a packed room where they are dragging in chairs from another room. At this same event and on other years, I’ve spoken with one or two people for my audience. No matter how many people, each time I speak with enthusiasm and insight. You never know what can happen with those people in front of you.

Let’s go back to the publicity club event with a small crowd. During the event, I gave them my Morgan James Publishing contact information and encouraged their submission. It’s something I do often in these meetings. When I receive an email submission, I like to process it as soon as possible but that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes that submission gets stuck in the draft folder of my work email.

On a regular basis, people read about my special offer on 10 Publishing Myths where they can get my printed book for only $10 including the shipping along with over $200 of free bonuses. Like some of you, occasionally I have some technical issue that prevents me from mailing the book right away. During one of my tech challenge periods, an attendee from the Publicity Club ordered my book. After it didn’t come for several weeks, she followed up and asked about her printed book and mentioned she had a young adult novel. 

I looked through my records, found the missing entry, packed a book for her and put it into the mail. Also I followed up about the young adult novel and asked her to send it to me. That same day she responded that a month or two earlier she had already sent me her submission. When I searched for it, her submission was stuck in my draft folder. I moved the submission forward through the process.

Speaking with this author, I learned this submission was the second book in a trilogy of novels. The author had self-published the first and third novel in the series. She sold a substantial number herself but taken these novels out of print. Other in the publishing community had told her that no publisher would be interested in re-releasing these self-published books. That information about publishing wasn’t true. 

Also I learned this author had extensive writing and publishing experience. Publishers including editors like me are actively looking for these types of authors. I encouraged this author to send me the details I needed to champion her book to my publishing colleagues. I wanted to try and get a book contract for the first novel in the trilogy.

Last week I learned my colleagues agreed and wanted to offer this author a contract for her young adult novel. Nothing has been finalized with this situation and the contract hasn’t been signed. I understand authors have many publishing options. I believe Morgan James Publishing offers the best path. Not everyone agrees with me and that is OK too.

I’ve written a number of details in this story for several reasons. For every author (even the unpublished or traditional published), there are insights:

1. It only takes one person in the room to respond to your teaching for it to be worthwhile. When you teach, you don’t know who will be that person.

2. No one can know the needs or intention of another person unless you talk and listen to them then follow through with action.

3. Every author has to explore many different options to find the right path for their book and readers. You have to learn the information, then actively use that information. It’s worthless to have results if you don’t do something proactive.

4. On a consistent basis, keep making new connections and offering to help others. You never know where those connections will lead or when one of them will become significant. Use LinkedIN or online groups or in person meetings to expand your connections to the world.

5. When you submit and do not hear any response, use the gentle follow-up with that professional. Did they receive your submission? Do you need to resend it? Unless you ask, you have no idea what that other person is going through. A simple question could lead you to a remarkable opportunity.

6. Persistence and consistency pays off. Whatever you are writing, take the long view. At first, it may look like nothing is happening but keep at it and if you don’t give up, you will find the right open door.

Where are you getting silence or rejection? How are you expanding and using your connections to reach more people? Let me know in the comments below. Remember: it only takes one.

Tweetable:

It takes action for authors to reach new readers. Sometimes a small crowd appears like a failure. According to this prolific author and editor, it only takes one. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

My Writing In Other Places:

With these articles, I encourage you to publish your work beyond your blog in other places. Below are three articles which were published in other online locations than this blog.

Each month I guest blog on Writers on the Move. This month I wrote about how new habits and experimentation can increase the productivity of your writing life. You can read this article at: https://bit.ly/4rvr8GN  

Also each month I guest blog on the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference blog. I wrote about the importance of boundaries in your writing life at: https://bit.ly/4t1eD7i 

Finally once a month I guest blog about book proposal creation on Almost An Author. This month I answered the question, How Many Pages in a Book Proposal? at:  https://bit.ly/41whrgH 

During my decades in publishing, I’ve co-authored over a dozen books and reviewed thousands of submissions (no exaggeration). As a part of the process of working with these authors, I speak with them about their dreams and plans. Many of these authors have  unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their published book. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Do you need a better submission? I’m teaching a free Live Webinar on Tuesday, April 21st at 6 pm Eastern. I’m an acquisitions editor at my third publisher and have reviewed thousands of submissions. Register and details at: https://bit.ly/4lIx91y

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,800 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

You Need a Valuable Bonus

    

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Through the years, I’ve purchased a number of products online. Many of them include a bonus or several  bonuses as an incentive to buy the product. From my experience, often these bonus items are disappointing and not useful to me. In this article, I want to emphasize how I took a different path with a bonus and why you need to get this book--and the bonus.

In early 2020, right before the pandemic, I was one of a small group of authors who took a three-day book funnel bootcamp in Boulder, Colorado. At that time I lived in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, but during the bootcamp I stayed in a hotel in Boulder. Before arriving at the event, I filled out a detailed questionnaire or advanced homework to make sure I brought what I needed to the bootcamp.

 At this practical bootcamp, we learned how to create an attractive offer for our book along with adding bonuses to the offer. As a group, we worked long hours to get feedback and refine our offer. 

Throughout the bootcamp there was a great deal of learning to use new tools, short lectures from the leaders then practical application of the instruction to your own book funnel. The book funnel involved signing up and using some behind-the-scenes tools to process the book sale. While I’ve seen several of the participants drop the product they produced, I’m still working and promoting my product. Throughout the process, I gathered a large folder of questions that I answered and tools that I can use when I create my next funnel (which has not happened). 

As I brainstormed my bonuses for the book funnel, I recalled interviewing one of my author friends who has sold thousands of his self-published books to public libraries. There are over 9,000 libraries who have budgets to buy books for their patrons. Online this author located a public list of the contact information for libraries. Taking several hours each day, my friend spent several hours a day calling the library and connecting with the reference librarian on the phone. Then he pitched the benefits of his book with some persuasive bullet points. As he closed his oral presentation, he asked the librarian for the sale and got the information he needed for his invoice. Each day, he would fill out the invoices, package his books and take them to his post office. Throughout my interview, this writer gave me the specifics of what he did to sell thousands of his books to libraries. These details are included in the audio bonus from my book funnel. It is a valuable bonus because any author (no matter how they publish) can use this system to sell their book to libraries.

As you read these details of selling books to libraries, you may be thinking: making all those phone calls and selling my book is a lot of work. From my experience there is no simple way to sell books that does not involve a lot of hard work. To achieve these sales, you will have to step out of your comfort zone, develop an oral presentation about the benefits of your book and sell it to the reference librarian. Your persistent and consistent effort will pay off and sell thousands of books. 

It’s another reason for you to order my 10 Publishing Myths book directly from me for only $10 including the shipping along with over $200 in free bonuses (including this audio about how to sell to libraries). 

Through the years, I’ve written a number of articles about libraries and the importance for authors. Check out these articles: Get Your Book into Libraries or Learn How to Reach the Library Market. I encourage you to follow these links to the article but also to the additional information and lnks in each article. It is not easy or simple for any author but the opportunity and the possibility is there for you--if you do the work.

How do you determine the free bonuses that you offer with your products? Do you brainstorm them with other writers or do it on your own? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:

When you create a product, you need a valuable bonus. This prolific author and editor gives an example and the details here.  (ClickToTweet)

My Writing In Other Places:

With these articles, I encourage you to publish your work beyond your blog in other places. Below are two articles which were published in other online locations than this blog. 

Once a month, I guest blog for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference blog. This month I wrote about A Critical Element of Publishing at: https://bit.ly/4lTPV5H

Also once a month I blog for Writers on the Move. This month I wrote about The Hidden Costs of Publishing. Read the details here: https://bit.ly/40ghu05 

In addition, once a month I blog about book proposal creation for Almost An Author. This month I asked, Trying to Get A Literary Agent? here: https://bit.ly/4f8e3Pb

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week another podcast recording launched: 

CJ Johnson (@cj_moneyway) and I spoke about Publishing Success Starts Here: Terry Whalin on the 10 Myths Every Aspiring Author Must Break on The CJ Moneyway Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4fc2nev 

A great deal of the publishing process is outside of our control as writers. When I speak with authors, I find many of these authors have unrealistic expectations. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses.

Subscribe to Terry’s Newsletter:

During the last year, once a week I’ve been sending a short free newsletter. Just follow this link to subscribe. When you are added to the newsletter, you will receive a FREE 87-page Ebook which is packed with insights for every writer.

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

Take Control of Your Interview

 

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Whenever you are interviewed, the questions and shape of the conversation is mostly outside of your control. You can only control your answers and the stories you will tell during that conversation. In the business, this interview control is called media training.

I enjoy watching an author get interviewed on The Today Show or Good Morning America or some other program. As I watch it, I’m listening carefully to see if the author answers the questions. I notice that sometimes they do and sometimes they do not. Also I want to see how they weave the name of their book into their answer. Some authors do it too much and it becomes annoying while other authors don’t even include the name of their book. How you answer the question, what stories you tell and how you include your information is something you can control (if you think about it and take action).

Some media experts will charge large amounts of money to train an author for a six to eight minute interview on a national program. During this training, they will role play with the author, ask questions and coach them on how to talk aboutd their book and weave that information into the stories they tell. The information should look like a natural part of the answer and not something contrived. To do this process successfully takes forethought and planning for the author.

Also I’ve watched this interview process go in the wrong direction for the author and her book. Years ago on a short deadline, I wrote Vonetta Flowers’ book, Running on Ice. She and her partner, Jill Bakken, won the gold medal in the bobsled during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah. 

Four years later, Vonetta and Jill defended their title in Turin, Italy during the 2006 Winter Games. Katie Couric interviewed Vonetta on The Today Show. While the interview was interesting and well-done, I was yelling at my television because Vonetta made no mention of her book, Running On Ice. It was a missed opportunity when she appeared before millions of potential readers. 

To be honest, it was a failure that the publisher didn’t invest in any media training for Vonetta to help her. The author can’t weave the name of her book and availability of it into the conversation without media training. 

As I’ve mentioned in these articles, someone has to hear about the benefits of your book and the name at least a dozen times before they will decide to purchase the book. 

As authors, we need to seize each of these opportunities and take control of which stories you tell and how you answer the various questions.

Here’s some additional action steps:

1. Before you are interviewed, take a few moments to review your talking points or the specific stories and information you want to give during the interview. This review will put the action firmly in your mind and action plans.

2. Take the time to review whatever you can find about the person who is going to be interviewing you.What is the purpose of their program? Take a guess at some of their agenda in interviewing you. Then use this information to merge it with your talking points and the information you want to convey during the conversation.

3. During the interview, you take control of your answers and no matter what is asked, make sure you include your key points. 

As I’ve written in these articles, during the last six months, I’ve been using PodMatch to book conversations with different podcasters. In fact, I’ve recorded or booked over 50 interviews. In this process, I provide a list of quesions and an introduction (what I can control). The focus of each podcast host is different and nothing that I can control. 

During the podcast recording (some are live and some are recorded), I make sure my agenda is achieved. I want to tell people about my social offer where they can go to Publishing Offer and get a printed copy 10 Publishing Myths including the shipping along with over $20 of valuable bonuses. Besides this special offer, I also mention the missing 11th Myth which a listener can get for free at terrylinks.com/11thmyth. This second offer is a free way the listener can get on my email list and I can continue to build a relationship with that person. 

I want to finish this article with several resources:

1. Be aware of your control and responsibility during the interview.

2. Get Brad Phillips book, The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely, Positively Need To Know Before Your Next Interview. Read this book and apply the information to your interviews. 

3. Several years ago, I interviewed media expert Gayl Murphy. Listen to this free webinar and get her free ebook, Interview Tactics Special Report.

When you are interviewed, are you taking control? Do you know of some other resources in this media training area? I look forward to reading your comments.

Tweetable:

As an author, when you are interviewed, do you take control of your interview and make sure you include your talking points? Get some action steps and resources from this prolific author and editor.  (ClickToTweet)

New Podcasts:

In these articles, I’ve encouraged you to use PodMatch or some similar tool to book and record podcasts. Last week two more podcast recordings launched.

Linda Goldfarb (@Lindagoldfarb) and I spoke about Publishing Myths That Ruin the Success of Writers on the Your Best Writing Life Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3EETRXi 

Nathan Bollman (@nathan_bollman) and I debunked publishing myths on the Just A Dude Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/4cNghCC

Ana del Valle and I spoke about Hybrid Publishing Exposed: What No One Tells Writers… on The Novelist Studio Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/3RsAaFa 

Dr. Doug Gulbrandsen (@DougGulbrandsen) and I spoke about busting publishing myths on the Inspire Vision Podcast. Listen at: https://bit.ly/44ytNaY 

Currently I’m working with my third publisher as an acquisitions editor. During these years, I’ve spoken with many authors about their expectations, dreams and desires for their books. I find many unrealistic expectations. Many aspects of the publishing process are outside of anything an author can control. I wrote 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS to give authors practical help. You can get decades of insights in 10 PUBLISHING MYTHS for only $10, free shipping and over $200 of bonuses. 

Get these articles on your email: 

Since 2004, I have blogged about The Writing Life over 1,700 entries and one of the top 27 content writers. With this simple form, each week you can get my new articles, encouragement and insights at: https://t.co/W6uU64u6aA

The Important Search Tool

     

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Several times a week, writers will ask a question about something related to writing and I turn to an important search tool. It’s right in plain sight but I suspect few people know about it or use it. In this article, I want to call attention to this important search tool which is on my blog.

To locate this too, you have to go to my blog on The Writing Life then scroll down to find the tool. Here's what you are looking for:

After you find it, change the search button from web to my blog. Then type in your specific word or phrase to locate entries which have this information.

Since 2008, I’ve been writing each week about publishing and the writing life. I’ve covered many different topics from my perspective as a working writer and an acquisitions editor at three different publishers.  Often throughout my week, I will be talking with writers about publishing. I will use this search tool to find specific articles which I email to them.

Over the years, I’ve written about different attributes of writers like consistency and persistence. Also I’ve covered writing for magazines, devotional writing, book publishing, proposals, query letters, work made for hire, contracts, marketing, social media and much more. You can use this search tool to look for these articles and learn for your own writing life. 

No single person has all of the answers to your various questions but I believe we can learn (and continue to learn) from each other. Through the years, I have written about my various editorial and publishing experiences in these entries. I encourage you to tap into this search tool as another consistent source and tool to gain publishing insights and wisdom.

Do you have a search tool on your blog? Why or why not? I encourage you to add it and make it easy for others to search your blog. It is simple HTML which I added to my blog years ago and continue to use often. Let me know what you think about this search tool and how you can use it on your website or blog in the comments below.

Now that you know about this hidden gem, you can use it too.

 

Tweetable:

If you need writing and publishing information, use this important search tool. This prolific writer and editor has created a blog with over 1600 entries and often uses it himself. Get the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

Help Me Reach This Milestone

   

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

There is an ancient Bible verse that says you have not because you ask not (James 4:3). A more modern translation would be “don’t ask, don’t get.” It’s one of the favorite expressions of David Hancock, the founder of Morgan James Publishing. 

Recently I noticed that I have 44 book reviews for 10 Publishing Myths. A new friend from a writers conference purchased my book and then added a new review. I specifically asked this writer if he would add a review and he followed through and did it. His five star review was my first new review in over a year. Why? Because I haven't been asking people to post reviews.

I’m writing this article to ask for your help to reach the milestone of 50 reviews for 10 Publishing Myths. If you have read my 10 Publishing Myths book, will you post a review? If you have bought the book on Amazon, then that would be a “verified purchase” review (which are nice but not essential in my view). I’ve written Amazon reviews on books that I have purchased other places and books that I’ve checked out of my local library. My local library has three copies of the book. If you live near me, you can check it out or if not, you can order it through interlibrary loan. 

If you haven’t read it, why not? I make it inexpensive for you to get this important book. In fact, several years ago (before the pandemic), I spent several days taking a $5,000 book bootcamp where I set up this site to sell this book for only $10 including the shipping postage. It comes with over $200 of bonus gifts. If you haven’t gotten this book, I encourage you to check out this resource and opportunity.

I wrote 10 Publishing Myths for several reasons. First, I meet many authors who have unrealistic expectations about what will happen with their book such as “my book is going to be a bestseller” or “my book will make a lot of money.” While they say these statements, they have no action plans for those statements to come true. 

There is a second critical reason I wrote this book. From my decades in publishing, I have seen many of my own book plans and dreams crash and not happen. It’s because much of the publishing process is outside of what the author can control. In each chapter of 10 Publishing Myths, I include a practical MBA or Myth Busting Action which every author can take achieve--even if you self-publish. 

You don’t have to get the book directly from me. It is broadly available in any bookstore whether online or brick and mortar. 

Even if you don’t get my book, I encourage you to look at this page I created to promote my book. It includes sample social media posts, links to a book review template and other tools for you to help me spread the word about my need for some more book reviews. Or you can use the ClickToTweet at the bottom of this article to spread the news. 

I hope this article will also give you some ideas about action steps you can take to tell others about your book. If you find a good idea here, please take it and use it for your book. 

One final time, I’m encouraging you to get 10 Publishing Myths, read it, then write a couple of sentences of review. Here’s hoping you will take action. Will you help me reach this milestone with my book? What insights did you learn for your own books? Let me know in the comments below. 

Tweetable:

This prolific writer and editor is asking for your help to reach a milestone for his book, 10 Publishing Myths. Also you will gain insights for your own books. Get the details in this article. (ClickToTweet)

Much of the publishing process is outside of the writer’s control. 10 Publishing Myths helps writers have a realistic perspective and take action. Get 10 Publishing Myths for only $10 +FREE shipping + over $200 of free bonuses.

The Easy Answer You Don't Want to Hear

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

I love a good story and getting lost in the pages of a great read. Also for years I enjoy telling stories and putting my fingers on the keyboard and writing it. As I shape a story, hopefully I have a plan where this story will be published. Some people are inspirational writers and only write when the spirit moves them. Others (like me) are writers whether inspired or not to meet a deadline and finish a work. Where do you fall into these two extremes?

 

After you have written your manuscript or book proposal or query, then you need the courage to get it into the world. As writers we have to pitch or submit our material to a literary agent or an editor. One of my authors let me know he had received a contract offer from another publisher. Then he pushed to get a response from my colleagues. They stepped up the process and ultimately offered him a contract—but he decided to go with the other publisher. Writers have choices and from my experience the selection of a publisher is a critical juncture which can make or break a particular book.

 

When you are going to push a literary agent or an editor for a decision, you want to be careful. The easiest answer for this agent or editor is the one you don't want: “No thank you” or “Not a good fit for us” or “Going to pass on this opportunity.” The easiest answer is often one you don't want to hear.

 

A yes or acceptance takes time, patience and persistence. Many of us are short on patience and persistence—yet it is an important quality for every writer. If you are going to push for a decision, I encourage you to pull back and wait or push in a non-threatening fashion—such as doublechecking to make sure they got your submission in the first place and it has not gotten lost. Thousands of submissions are in process. Last week a writer approached me asking if I got her submission. To my chagrin when I checked I had received it but had not moved it into the process and through the system. I apologized for the delay, then moved it forward. 

Within the publishing process, a number of elements are outside of our control as writers. Of course, if you self-publish, you can control everything as far as the appearance of your book but the average self-published book sells less than 100 copies during the lifetime of the book. You risk such an experience when you make this choice.

 

If you haven't read my 10 Publishing Myths, I encourage you to read it. In this book, I focused on the false expectations from writers but also gave practical steps every writer can do to succeed with their book. If you don't have my book, I encourage you to get the 11th Publishing Myth (free). While I'd love each of you to purchase 10 Publishing Myths, here is another idea: check it out from your local library. My local library has three copies of the book--and you can get the book through inter-library loan and read it. There are many different ways to get a book. Don't limit yourself or your readers.

 

Your persistent and consistent action as a writer is a critical part of the process. Keep going in spite of whatever is happening in your life. Have you pushed an editor or agent for a decision and heard the answer you didn't want? Let me know in the comments below. 

 

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Three Reasons to Use Gentle Follow-up

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

As a writer, I participate in a couple of online groups. Several of these groups, I have been an active participant for decades. I hope you are active in some of these online activities for your own growth as a writer and the opportunity serve and help others. In one of these groups, members can ask questions and get help. Recently an author asked about what to do with a submission to an agent. This author followed the agent's submission guidelines and sent his material. The guidelines gave an estimated time for a response but this writer hadn't received a response and the time had been about three times past the estimated timeframe. What should he do?

 

I understand this situation from two perspectives. First, as a writer, I know the pain and frustration of waiting with no response or even finally getting a form rejection letter. Many publishers and agents never even bother to respond to the submission because of the large volume they receive. 

 

As an editor, I know the challenges of responding to authors and while I try to be prompt and in touch, I'm imperfect and know I have a number of submissions that I still need to press forward for my publisher. The work is never done and there is always more to do, another book manuscript and another author to process. Each of us have the same time limitations and over the years I've tried to give myself (and others) some measure of grace in how we communicate. 

Each publisher, editor and literary agent has their own system and method of responding and keeping up with their authors and relationships. The easiest answer for an editor or agent to give is one the author doesn't want to hear: “no thank you” or “not the right fit” or “going to pass.” That's why in the title of this article I include the adjective “gentle.” You want to be careful how you reach out to this decisionmaker/ gatekeeper to foster and build your relationship with them. While they may reject your current idea, they may be attracted to your next idea. There is truth in the old saying, “Never Burn A Bridge.”

 

In the remainder of this article, I want to give you three submission ideas for your writing:

 

1. Simultaneously submit. You should not wait around for a single editor or agent to respond to you because for reasons outside of your knowledge or control, they may never respond or respond months down the road. Waiting is hard for everyone. Your best action as a writer it so submit to multiple places at the same time. The key if you use this strategy is to explicitly say so in your cover letter and/or proposal. Then a second critical step is when you sell the project or sign with a literary agent or something happens, you need to notify everyone else who has not responded. This step keeps the lines of communication clear, transparent and professional. 

 

2. Keep track of the timeframe. How long has your submission been out? After a few weeks, it is often time to send a gentle follow-up—which I will explain in the next point.

 

3. Use The Gentle Follow-up. A gentle follow-up reaches out to ask if they received it. Maybe it got lost or arrived when they were out of their office. Or any number of other things could have happened to yur submission. It's a reasonable question to ask if they received it. If they have acknowledged their receipt (as we do at Morgan James), then follow-up asking if they need any additional information. This request is not pushing but gentle and reasonable and simple to answer. 

 

The reality is weird things happen in the publishing world. Many of those strange things are outside of your personal control. For example, I've written about 2,000 reviews on a large bookseller's website (not going to say the specific name). During an afternoon last week, about 800 of my posted reviews disappeared.  I have no recourse or anyone to ask about the reason. My response is to keep pressing forward and writing more reviews.

 

If you haven't read my 10 Publishing Myths book, I encourage you to take advantage of my special offer, get this book and read it. Of my goals with this book was to explain that much of the publishing process is outside of our control as writers. I balance this fact with a series of pro-active actions every author can take to get the word out on their book which will translate into sales. As you read this book and apply it to your life, you will be able to take advantage of my decades of experiences in the publishing world.

 

As writers, we need to use the gentle follow-up with our submissions. What experiences have you had in this area? Let me know in the comments below.

 

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