Interview with Jenn Johansson

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 is Jenn Johansson, author of INSOMNIA, and a fellow Friday the Thirteener. Jenn loves writing, playing board games, and sitting in her hot tub. Her dream is that someday she can do all three at the same time. In INSOMNIA, instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I’m a hybrid. I write a very broad, very general outline to give me a blueprint and then I feel very comfortable veering off of it when it feels right.

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

Straight through drafting without taking time off in the middle…it takes about 6-8 weeks. And then I start editing and revising. 

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

Definitely one project at a time, except if they’re in different phases. I can draft one and edit another, but I really prefer focusing on one and putting the others aside until later.

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

No. I really didn’t even think I was writing a book at the time. I just wanted to get this idea out of my head. It wasn’t leaving me alone. By the time I realized it was a book I was too far in to get suddenly nervous about the whole thing.

How many trunked books did you have before you were agented?

One…but it had been revised/rewritten about seventeen times.

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

Yes. I knew it was time because I was finally so sick and tired of it that I didn’t want to look at it anymore. I also had a new idea that was really starting to pull on me and I didn’t want to make that one wait any longer. So I moved on, and I’m so happy I did.

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

My agent is the amazing Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. I got her through a traditional query slushpile process. She read the first 50 pages of my book and then offered…I told her to finish the book and let me know if she still felt the same. She did. I squealed. We lived happily ever after.

How long did you query before landing your agent? 

My first (trunked) book, I sent over 100 queries and got quite a bit of interest but no offers. With Insomnia, I sent just over 30 before I got my offer. 

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

Most authors I know got their agent through the slush pile. It does work. You just have to keep writing, keep trying and keep improving. There is no shortcut or keyword, it’s all about hard work and perseverance. 

How did it feel the first time you saw your book for sale?

A convoluted mixture of thrilling and terrifying. I’m not sure if it’s ever going to stop feeling this way. 

How much input do you have on cover art?

Very little. They showed me what they liked and I gave a couple of minor suggestions. They took a couple, said no to the rest, and it was done. I love what they did with it. 

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

Nothing smoothes out after you get an agent or a book deal. The roller coaster keeps going and still has just as many violent ups and downs. I think people just get a little better at holding on and enjoying the ride. 

How much of your own marketing do you?  

Quite a bit of it. Flux helps out here and there and opens doors I can’t get through, but I do a lot of it on my own. I'm on Twitter, I blog, have my own site, Tumblr and Facebook. Of course I'm also on Goodreads, as is INSOMNIA. 

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

I think it’s a good idea to start before. It takes years to get people to listen and pay attention to what you have to say. It never hurts to get a jumpstart on that. 

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

Yes! I think there are many people I know through social media who otherwise wouldn’t have heard of me or my book who have ordered it and are excited about it. The internet makes the world even smaller and gives even more weight and power to word of mouth. We should all be trying to take advantage of that whenever possible. 

Interview with Chelsea Pitcher

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 Lucky13 Chelsea Pitcher, author of THE S-WORD. Chelsea is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light. THE S-WORD is available now from Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I have always been a Pantser! I love the thrill of discovering things along with the characters. Recently, though, I attempted to write a synopsis of a book I hadn’t written yet (except for a few sloppily drafted first chapters) and it ended up being eleven single-spaced pages. I couldn’t believe how much of the story I already knew, without having written it.  So now, I wonder… should I continue being a panster, or am I better suited to be a planner? Or is there some perfect balance between them?

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

Oh, man. There is no “typical” about it for me. The novel I wrote before THE S-WORD took several years to finish. THE S-WORD (or, the 50,000-word first draft) took a month. It all depends on how clear the story is in my head, much is going on in my life, and how much the Internet is distracting me!

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

Oh, I miss the days of only working on one project. My brain is so full of projects right now, it’s a wonder I can do regular things like make coffee (sometimes, when I’m really distracted, it does end up spilling everywhere). Right now I’ve got one finished MS, four partials that I keep coming back to, 8 started-and-then-lost-interest-in stories, and several more ideas in my head. That said, one story generally takes precedence, and I’ll work on it as long as I can, until another one takes over and pulls me in a different direction.

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

Oh, no. I started writing long before I knew what good writing looked like! I was just a kid, and I wrote because it was a way to express my thoughts (I was very shy, introverted, the Middle Child—all that). It wasn’t until I started submitting my work that the fear set in. For the longest time, writing had been just for me, and suddenly these other people were going to see it—professionals, who read multiple submissions a day. But even that fear, I pushed through, because I loved writing so much. If I could do something I loved and make a living from it, well…why not try? 

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

Three and a half! I attempted my first novel at sixteen, and only got about a hundred pages in. The story was about a girl who went to hell and became the devil’s mistress. I wanted to do all this stuff about spirituality and religion and the way sex and shame get connected and… the idea just got too big for me. There was no way to pin it down on the page. I wrote three more novels after that, and I queried each of them, but none of them was quite ready, writing-wise (although I thought they were, at the time). Still (and this is so cliché, but very true), if I hadn’t slogged through each of them, and learned how to take criticism, and edit, I never would’ve been able to write a novel that sold. 

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

I don’t know that I’ve ever consciously said: “This is it, novel. I quit you.” “Quit” is a hard word for me. Rather, after some time had passed, another idea would start tugging at me, and I’d think, “I’ll just work on this new idea for a while…I’m still coming back to the old one.” Then, of course, once the new book was written, I’d look back at the old one and go, “Holy crap, this is terrible!” *hurls old MS across the room*

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

My agent for THE S-WORD is Sandy Lu from L. Perkins, and she pulled me out of the slush pile! (I know, I was surprised too.) Going to a conference can be a great experience, but it’s not going to get you any closer to that “Yes” if your writing isn’t ready. Trust me. I speak from experience. 

How long did you query before landing your agent?  

Sandy was one of the first agents to request THE S-WORD, but I ended up querying twenty-seven total while I waited for her, and others, to read. 

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

The hardest part of querying is not knowing why you’re getting rejected: is it YOU, the MS, or the agent? And really, you can only control two of these things. There’s no possible way to make an agent love a MS that simply isn’t for them. So don’t worry about it. Focus on the two other things:

1. Follow the agent’s submission guidelines to a T (otherwise, you might be getting rejected because of you—i.e. your refusal to follow instructions). Don’t respond angrily to agents. Don’t badmouth agents or other authors in public spheres. Publishing is a small world after all.

2. Get that query and sample chapter(s) as sparkly as you can. Get peer critiques (Absolute Write and Critters.org are awesome resources). Use query sites (Evil Editor is my personal fave, and he crits EVERY query he receives). Listen to what other people are saying, especially if they’re saying the same thing. 

And then, after you’ve done all this, remember to trust yourself. Go with your gut. And keep rewriting. A refusal to rewrite is the number one reason writers don’t advance. But don’t worry. I believe in you ☺

How did it feel the first time you saw your book for sale?

Yeah…I might’ve cried, just a bit. The reality of being published is so overwhelming, and I really couldn’t believe it until I saw it for myself. There was this thought in the back of my mind, like maybe this was all a dream, or a joke, or a trick, and until I saw that book out there, I couldn’t fully wrap my head around it. But once I saw, saw that it was really real…Bliss.

How much input do you have on cover art?

My cover creation process was really interesting, because they pretty much nailed it on the first try. I didn’t even know they were working on it, and then my editor emailed me the cover Gallery’s design team had come up with, and we were both like… YES.

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

I think, when I first heard about the book deal, I expected to feel like a little tiny author working with a mega massive publishing house. I had no idea how welcoming and encouraging people would be. They are AMAZING, and they made me feel like part of a team. Go Team Gallery! 

How much of your own marketing do you?  

I’ve kind of done all the marketing I could think of. Facebook, Twitter, a blog, a website, a blog tour, a book trailer…Maybe I went a little marketing crazy, ha. But it’s been great. I love doing giveaways, getting creative with swag, and all that. In the beginning, I thought marketing would be really awkward and scary, but so much of it is just connecting with people and talking about books. I love it!

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

On the one hand, it doesn’t hurt to have a platform before you start querying. At the same time, all the followers in the world won’t take the place of a well-created story and an original premise. Personally, I say focus on the writing. Then, once you’re on submission to editors, you can really delve into the marketing side of things. And, after you’ve made a sale, shift it into hyper-drive!

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

This is a really interesting question. It certainly seems like it would. And again, having lots of people looking at your book tweets and posts isn’t going to hurt you. But so much of building your readership is getting your book into the hands of teens (if you write YA, like I do) and there are plenty of teens who don’t use Twitter or Goodreads. So I do think getting your book into libraries, and getting it into schools is just as important as anything you can do online. Balance is key.

Interview with Sara Raasch

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 Sara Raasch, author of the 2014 title SNOW LIKE ASHES from Balzer & Bray. Sara has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Just FYI, SNOW LIKE ASHES does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

Planner. SUCH a planner. I think my level of planning-ness is borderline unhealthy, but with writing fantasy, planning is kind of necessary. There are so many characters/storylines/world building details to keep track of, I couldn’t imagine Pantsing a fantasy novel. I have detailed story outlines, character progressions, maps, maps for the maps, maps for the story outlines, and on and on. Plus, can I just take a second to bow down to Pinterest? I have no idea how I ever did any world building before Pinterest.

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

This is a very unfair question. I wrote the first draft of SNOW LIKE ASHES when I was twelve, so if you calculate how long it took me to get to this current version…almost twelve years? Yikes. Numbers are evil. There were some detours in that time period, of course – other novels, silly things like college, etc. But if you count only this current draft of SLA, it took about five months. Which is a much less evil number.

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

In every other area of my life, I rock multi-tasking. I can cook dinner, text, IM chat, and play fetch with my cat all at once. But when it comes to writing? One story at a time is all my brain can handle. It goes back to how encompassing fantasy is – I like being able to totally immerse myself in a world, and if I’m trying to be in two worlds at once, it splits my brain in a very unfortunate way.

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

That first time? Try every time I sit down to write. I’m currently working on the sequel to SNOW LIKE ASHES and suffering from major first-draft pains. No matter how many books I write, first drafts are always huge confidence-kills. One of the things that keeps me going through the massive suckage that is drafting is a quote by Jodi Picoult: “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” Which to me means “Put da words on da paper, you crazy obsessive over-analyzer, you.”

How many trunked books did you have before you were agented?

Well, as I said above, SNOW LIKE ASHES was originally written when I was twelve. It took about seven-ish years before I realized that that trilogy just wasn’t doing it for me (at the time, at least), and I shelved it in favor of two other books that eventually bombed out too. Only when I returned to the wonderful world of fantasy did I land that ever-elusive agent, and even then it was another three years, two books, and one more agent before I sold.

Moral of the story? Keep. Moving. Forward. And when you don’t feel like moving forward, watch Meet the Robinsons and cry into a box of truffles. But the moment that movie is over, you best be moving forward. The time will pass anyway, so you might as well be working toward your dream.

(Yes, I AM a treasure trove of inspiring quotes, thank you for noticing.)

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

Let’s tally up the aforementioned trunked books. Including the first draft of SNOW LIKE ASHES (and its two other trilogy books) that twelve-year-old Author-Sara wrote, the total is seven. Seven books that now sit in the abyss of Maybe Someday But Not Now. Seven books that at one point in time I adored, but ultimately didn’t spark the same adoration in agents/editors. Knowing when it was time to move on was never an easy decision, and usually came only after months of rejection and tears. Mostly it had to do with realizing the market just wasn’t right or the story was good but my craft wasn’t quite “there” yet.

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

Good ol’ fashioned querying. My agent is Mackenzie Brady at Sheedy Literary. I actually got her on a different book (a paranormal ghost story that is currently in the abyss of Maybe Someday But Not Now). I could go into a nice long rave about how awesome my agent is, but then I’d get pelted with jealousy-bullets, and I don’t have a lead vest with me.

How long did you query before landing your agent?  

My querying process was excruciatingly ideal when I got Mackenzie. I was only querying for about a month when she offered, and letmetellyou, Younger Author Sara kind of hates That Author Sara for getting it so easy. Mackenzie was my second agent; when I got my first agent back in the day, I queried for months. Months and months. And before I queried that book, I queried every other book I wrote on its own, and nearly lost myself under piles of rejection letters over the course of years. There is a weird kind of thrill to querying though, no matter how sucky it is. The thrill of possibility that just can’t be matched (except maybe with submissions, which is its own kind of suck).

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

I said it before, but I’ll say it again – keep moving forward. You got a rejection? That’s GREAT! It means you tried. You got rejectionS? That’s even MORE awesome, because it means you KEPT trying. This industry rewards those who persevere. If you want this, really want this, then don’t you dare stop. Even if all you want to do is stick a knife through your laptop. First of all, laptops are expensive. Don’t do that. Second of all, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and tell yourself you want this more than the rejection hurts. If you don’t root for yourself, who will?

How did it feel when you saw your sale announcement?

I had a hard time SEEING my book sale because of all the tears. When my agent called with the news, I was able to keep it together pretty well through the phone call, but once I hung up I burst into tears. Ugly tears. Sobbing, coughing, blubbering tears. So when the email with the contract details came through, I could barely form coherent sentences, let alone read words on the computer screen. I have a feeling the same will happen when I first see SLA on a shelf in a bookstore.

How much input do you have on cover art?

I’m still pretty early in the process to be involved with cover art. Not that I haven’t thought about it. My aforementioned Pinterest obsession attests to just how much I’ve thought about it. If any of Balzer + Bray’s cover artists are reading this, I have 400+ pins of ideas I’d like to run past you.

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

Though there are parts that aren’t so much fun, it IS as good as I imagined. Better, even.

How much of your own marketing do you?  

When I finally sold, my inner marketing-nerd went “*cracks knuckles* I got this.” I have a blog and Twitter, and those are really the only marketing venues I use (I have a Facebook fan page, but I’m a recovering Facebook Addict going on four years sober). I recently started a Join the Blizzard campaign in which I give away season-themed goodies the first day of every season now until SLA’s launch next fall. The closer it gets, the more I’ll do, and boy, am I pumped to get to it. I feel like I had my marketing side bottled up all those years of querying/submitting, and now that I have a product to sell, I’m all over it.

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

It’s never too early! I know a lot of people who have HUGE followings already and aren’t agented. The trick is to find the venue that works for you. If you hate Twitter, it’ll show, and people will be less inclined to follow you. Even if you aren’t particularly talented at any certain social media outlet, don’t lose heart – believe it or not, there ARE still quite a few authors who don’t have online presences. It helps, but it’s not necessary.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

Nice segue! I think it can definitely be a beneficial tool, but it isn’t a make-or-break thing – if social media isn’t for you, don’t force it. The biggest thing that builds readership is still and always will be word of mouth. Sure, you can build up a good following on Twitter/Blogger/Goodreads and develop some word of mouth spreadage, but for the most part it happens organically.