Interview with R.C Lewis

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em!

Today's guest for the SAT (Successful Author Talk) is someone who's success is well-earned and quite overdue. And that's not just because she's my crit partner, lets me sleep on her couch, and catches all my comma splices. (I'm sure the copyeditors at HarperCollins would thank her if they only knew). RC Lewis, fellow moderator at AgentQuery Connect, recently sold her debut, STITCHING SNOW to Hyperion/Disney in a two book deal. Expect it Summer, 2014. In fact, if you feel so inclined you can go ahead and add it on Goodreads now.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

Somewhere marvelously in-between. I’m all about balance and following what a specific story needs. I’ll usually jot a note or two before starting. Sometimes just a touch of vocabulary or world-building. Other times it’s more of a rough bullet-points outline. Those notes always get added to as I’m drafting, because my brain tends to move ahead of the writing.

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

There is no “typical” for me, because it depends on a lot of things, like how much time the day-job is taking. Also, the more I let the “planner” side out, the faster it seems to go. I’ve drafted some in 6-8 weeks, and others took 3-4 months.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

When I’m drafting, I usually stay pretty focused on that one, but there have been exceptions.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

Not really, because I had no expectations. I’d been complaining about certain things that bothered me about several books and thought, “Could I do any better?” So I sat down to find out, having no idea what the answer was.

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

I fully queried out two books, plus tried just a few queries on another book in-between those.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

There’s that one I only did some limited queries for. I wouldn’t call it quitting, though. I knew going in that the timing wasn’t right for that particular story, and the query experiment confirmed it.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them? 

My agent extraordinaire is Jennifer Laughran (of Andrea Brown Literary Agency). I sent her a query the week before a multi-blog contest. She ended up lurking the entries and tweeted that she saw a few she’d love to read, but the posts didn’t include author info. I got brave and tweeted back that some might be in her query inbox at that very moment. She went to check and emailed me moments later.

I got several other requests through that contest and the few queries I’d sent. It got a little “Is this seriously happening??” for a while (a short while), but I ended up with Jennifer.

How many queries did you send before landing your agent?

With this particular manuscript, hardly at all. About ten queries right before the contest, several agents involved in the contest directly or lurking ... all told, it was thirteen days from first query emailed to offer accepted.

BUT ... my other two manuscripts combined for over two hundred queries sent, several full requests each, even a revise-and-resubmit, over the course of about two years.

Any advice to aspiring writers out there on conquering query hell?

If you’re intimidated by the idea of condensing  your story to 250 words or less, stop thinking that way. You don’t need to condense the whole thing—you just need to give enough to make some tantalizing bait. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with a query, but it just isn’t working. There’s nothing wrong with starting from scratch again.

I also found it helped to always have something else to work on while queries/submissions were out. Maybe it sounds pessimistic, but I always planned for each project I was querying not to be the one that’d snag an agent ... but the NEXT one would be.

Interview with Kate Karyus Quinn

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em!

Today's guest for the SAT (Successful Author Talk) is a fellow Lucky13, Kate Karyus Quinn. Kate is also a member of the upcoming Class of 2k13, and (of course) I am too! Kate's debut ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE is coming 2013 from Harper Teen:

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I looong to be a planner. Not just in writing but in all areas of my life. But I am not.

Instead, I am one of those people who will put something important in a safe place, and then when I need that something important I will have to spend hours searching my house for the place where I hid it. My writing method is not really all that different from this. I usually start a novel with a character and the seed of an idea. With just that I can usually write a good five thousand words or so without having any idea what that seed will grow into…

At some point though, I hit a wall. That’s when I have to sit down and do some plotting and planning. I ask myself where is this going? And what does the character want? I try to get enough engine into my story so that my character isn’t left stranded in the middle of my novel with nothing to do. But I wouldn’t call what I work from a plan. It is ideas, story beats, and the hope that it will all work out in the end.

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

I am a really slow first drafter. Usually it takes me around a year to finish a first draft. That includes some time when I am not writing at all, but just mulling things over and letting my ideas germinate.

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

Usually, I work on one project at a time. However, recently, I had an idea for a new book and since I was at the time stuck on my current WIP, I decided to start working on it. Since then I have gone back and forth between the two projects and have really enjoyed having the option of working on two different things.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

I have to overcome fear every single time that I sit down to write. I don’t think I have ever just sat down in front of my computer and let the words flow. Usually, I have to give myself this little push to open the Word document and make myself start typing. I think it is a fear that I won’t be able to properly translate all the thoughts, images, and ideas in my head onto the paper.

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

Two. One was a romance novel. It was a really important book because while I had begun many many books, this was the first one that I saw through from saggy middle to triumphant end. Just knowing that I could do it, that I write all the way from beginning to end, and then also go through and edit and revise it – gave me a lot of confidence. And it also showed me there was no magic to writing a book. Just determination and making yourself sit down and write.

My second novel was an urban fantasy. That one taught me a lot about rewriting. I also learned an important plotting lesson. Perhaps the most important plotting lesson of all. And this is: if your central premise is faulty no amount of rewriting will ever be able to fix it.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

I did query agents for both of my trunk novels. I got very few bites with my first book. The second book, actually had two revise and resubmits from an agent, but she ultimately felt that the book did not work. Really, I just knew it was time for both of them, because I was ready to move onto something new.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them?  

My agent is the amazing Alexandra Machinist. I found her the traditional way – sending out query letters and hoping for a full or partial request.

How long did you query before landing your agent?  

I received my first “I’d like to call you” about a month after I’d started sending out queries. I think I sent out about 20 queries?

Any advice to aspiring writers out there on conquering query hell?

I used querytracker.net for querying all three of my novels. That was a huge help as far as finding the best agents to query and also keeping track of who I had emailed, who had responded, and how long I should expect to wait before receiving a response. I also had lots of help from other writers (including those on the querytracker forum) in getting my query letter into fighting shape.

How much input do you have on cover art?

A bit. Before the design began I was asked if I had any thoughts, and if there were any covers out there that I really loved or hated. Then when the cover was done-ish, I was emailed a copy and asked what I thought. Luckily, the HarperTeen designers are really amazing and I am counting down the days until I can reveal my cover!

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

I guess the biggest surprise was how much I truly loved the revision process. I have always found first drafts to be more difficult than edits, but I had no idea how exciting it would be to receive the first revision letter from my editor and then really be able to dig into edits. Having that letter to go back to and use as a touch point just gave me so much confidence in the changes that I was making and this certainty that I was making my novel stronger.

How much of your own marketing do you do?  Do you have a blog / site / Twitter?

I put a website together for myself! That’s been my first big marketing move. You can find it at katekaryusquinn.com

I can also be found at all the other usual places.
@katekaryusquinn for Twitter.
http://pinterest.com/katekquinn/ - Pinterest
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5218360.Kate_Karyus_Quinn - Goodreads
katekaryusquinn.blogspot.com - Blog

When do you build your platform? After an agent? Or should you be working before?

I started my blog in 2008, right around the time I was querying my first novel. I joined Goodreads when I was just a book lover and not an author. It took me awhile to jump on the Twitter bandwagon – I finally took the leap after my novel sold in 2011. My website is the most recent addition to my list of online links.

Building an online presence bit by bit, wasn’t really a plan (I’m not that organized, see the planner/pantser question above) but it has worked out well. I think if I had to come up with a blog and everything else all at once it would be really overwhelming.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

I think anyone pushing social media needs to include the disclaimer: results may vary. Some authors (see: John Green) have used social media incredibly successfully. Others have shot themselves in the foot tweeting something that maybe they should not have.

Right now if I Google my name (Not that I spend a lot of time Googling my name. It’s too much like looking in the mirror. Do it to make sure you’re not walking out the door with spinach between your teeth, but don’t do it so much that you either fall in love with or start hating yourself.) my blog is the top result. My Goodreads page and website is also on the first page. I’m happy with that.

However, if I Google “young adult author”… Urgh. Yeah, I don’t know how many of the 674,00 results I would have to wade through to find my name. I don’t want to know. And honestly I don’t care about that too much right now. I am a debut author, and everyone knows… World domination is best saved for the second book.

Interview with C.J. Flood

I'm lucky (or cunning) enough to have lured yet another successful writer over to my blog for an SAT - Successful Author Talk. SAT authors have conquered the query, slain the synopsis and attained the pinnacle of published. How'd they do it? Let's ask 'em!

Today's guest for the SAT (Successful Author Talk) is fellow Lucky 13er CJ Flood, author of INFINITE SKY, a family story about betrayal and loyalty, and love. When a family of travellers move into Iris Dancy's overgrown paddock overnight, her dad looks set to finally lose it. Gypsies are parasites he says, but Iris is intrigued. As her dad plans to evict the travelling family, Iris makes friends with their teenage son. Trick Deran is a bare knuckle boxer who says he’s done with fighting, but is he telling the truth?

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I am a pantser, with big splashes of planning. I tend to write and write until I get completely stuck/confused/lost and then I start drawing up colourful character arcs and trying to discover that mysterious Big Theme. Doing the character arcs is fun. Each character gets their own colour, and I draw a line with all of the things that happen to them, pyschological and physical, then I try to weave all the character arcs together in interesting/dramatic ways. You should definitely try it!

How long does it typically take you to write a novel, start to finish?

Having only completed one, I will say, with total confidence and no need for maths, it takes three years. But, that was not writing full time. I’m hoping to complete my second book in half that time. (Wish me luck!)

Do you work on one project at a time, or are you a multi tasker?

I have aspirations to be a multi tasker, but I seem to work best on one thing at a time. Certainly one thing is absolutely prioritised anyway. I’m not very good at multi tasking in every day life – I struggle to hold a conversation while cooking for instance – so this might be one dream I never achieve.

Did you have to overcome any fears that first time you sat down to write?

Not really. I have always written so it felt completely natural. Reading my own stuff in public has been the biggest obstacle for me. When I started out I would get such a whack of adrenalin that I couldn’t remember what had happened afterwards, let alone remember to breath and pause in the right places as I read! I am so glad those days are over. It’s actually one of my biggest achievements, that I can stand up in front of people nowadays and talk and read and appear – hopefully – to be a normally socialised human being!

How many trunked books (if any) did you have before you were agented?

I started two books, at least. Plus the Famous Five rip offs I use to write in the school holidays. I finished none though.

Have you ever quit on an ms, and how did you know it was time?

I quit on the ones I mentioned above because they were rubbish! I bored myself! It took me a long time to realise that you need to actually have a story to tell – whether that pivots around a simple change in a person’s outlook or a series of magnificently plotty events doesn’t matter.

Less easy was giving up on my first idea for my second book. When I started writing it (under contract) I did a lot of flailing around. I went a long way with my initial idea before I settled on something quite different. But all of the flailing brought something to the new idea: characters, events, scenes and places. None of it was wasted. (Except about 40,000 words…)

I knew it was time to give up because I didn’t know enough about what I was writing about. I felt lost, and not in that good, half magic way that is key to writing.

Who is your agent and how did you get that "Yes!" out of them? 

My agent is Catherine Clarke at Felicity Bryan Associates. I met her at a meeting organised by my university. (I did an MA at the University of East Anglia, and they have great industry contacts.) She reps some of my favourite authors, including Meg Rosoff and David Almond (though I hadn’t read him back then), and so we had a chat about them. I wasn’t ready to send anything – I couldn’t even talk coherently about my book at that point! – but we stayed in touch, and when my manuscript was ready I sent it to her. She loved it and offered representation, so the agent-hunt was all quite quick for me. There were more complications along the way, and it’s all a bit longwinded, but if you want to know anymore, I wrote this story up in much more detail recently on my blog.

What's something you learned from the process that surprised you?

Publishing takes a loooong time. There’s lots of waiting. Be prepared to work on lots of other things in the gaps between the many stages of getting a book out there.

How much of your own marketing do you? 

I have a blog and I blog as one of the Lucky 13s and I’m on Twittertoo. I also have an author Facebook page! 

Saying all that though, I am not that confident/comfortable with marketing. Like most writers, I dream of the old (no doubt fictional) days when you just tap tap taperood at your desk and the pound coins and acclaim came looking for you. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy meeting all the lovely people I meet social networking (the Lucky 13s have been an absolute godsend).

I think the whole marketing thing will make more sense to me when I actually have a book people can buy.

When do you build your platform? After an agent? Or should you be working before?

Personally, I would say focus on the writing first. If you want to be a good writer, that is.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

I don’t know yet. I suspect not if I am anything to go by, which I have to assume I am. I only follow authors online that I’ve already read. I only really buy books by new authors after I’ve read reviews or interviews or heard a prize shortlist/longlist or because they are referenced in a book or on personal recommendations. I have never yet bought a book after discovering the author via social media. Maybe that’s just because of my expendable income though! I want to buy people’s books all the time!