Caitlin Sangster With Four Tips For Querying

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 Caitlin Sangster, author of LAST STAR BURNING. Caitlin  grew up in the back woods of California and would rather go hiking, running, swimming, or general outdoorsing than just about anything else. She always thought of writing as a silly sort of compulsive habit until she realized that people like reading stories and she liked writing them and there wasn’t much silly about that.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

When I started I was a Panster, but now I’m a mix. I’d say there are fixed points I have planned and I pants it in between.

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

If I’m really focused, then about six months. When I first started writing it took longer because when I was straight up pantsing, going back to make sure everything fit made for a lot of rewriting.

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

I think if I had more time I’d multi-task. In an ideal world, I’d be revising one manuscript and drafting another one, but at the moment, I only have time for one or the other. I don’t think I could draft two at once though, because of voice and the momentum that comes from a first draft. Switching off would probably break my brain.

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

Oh my goodness, yes. I was mostly afraid of what people would think of me if they ever read what I wrote. Writing YA novels is so much fun, but I sort of assumed anyone who read it would think I was writing my own personality and take on the world rather than my characters. I also worried that I didn’t know enough about what I was writing and that it would be a wasted effort. But then I started having fun and didn’t care so much.

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

I was lucky enough to get an agent with my first book. Seriously. Lucky.

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

I’ve only really quit on one manuscript. Mostly because it was just not good enough. I might go back to the concept and start over, but the work I did put into it wasn’t holding my attention. Usually I think abandoning a project is poor form because writing is hard and of course there are moments when you want to quit. This particular project was my first (and only) attempt at NaNoWriMo, which is a great thing for some writers, but not me. Every word I wrote, I knew I was going to have to go back and fix because I was going too fast for my writing process. Whenever I went back to reread what I had, I just didn’t like it.

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

My agent is Victoria Wells-Arms, and she is so awesome! (I’m singing that in my head, Jack Black style. Which is weird. But she really is great to work with.) I sent her a traditional query right when she first opened her agency after leaving Bloomsbury.

How long did you query before landing your agent? 

I’d been querying for about ten months. 

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

First: Remember that it is subjective. I know everyone says that--even the awful canned rejections they send you say that--but it’s true. Just because someone isn’t madly in love with your book doesn’t mean it’s bad. Agents only take things on if they Love them with a capital L, and you can’t expect everyone to be that passionate about your book. Don’t take it personally.

Second: Look at your results. If your query isn’t getting any bites, change it. If it’s your partial or full MS that’s getting rejected, send it to more readers and revise. If you get feedback from more than one agent that says something in your book isn’t working, listen. Revise. Keep trying.

Third: Write something else. Get excited about a new project. Not the sequel to the project you’re querying, either. Something new.

Fourth: While you are querying, have something else in your life that you don’t have to depend on anyone else to succeed in. I trained for a half marathon while I was querying, and it saved my sanity. I could decide how far I was going to go and how fast, and a specific goal to accomplish: thirteen miles by the time my race date came around. With querying, it’s a rollercoaster and you don’t have much control, so having something else that is positive and goal oriented that you can progress in without regard to anyone else is helpful.

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

My book is up for pre-order now, does that count? It’s sort of surreal, actually. My book will be out there for anyone to read! Sort of scary, but also makes me want to jump up and down with excitement.

How much input do you have on cover art?

Conceptually I didn’t have any input. They did, however, check in with me to make sure they got things right. There’s this really awesome arch on my cover that is very important to the story, and they wanted to make sure it looked the way it was supposed to.

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

For some reason I was surprised by just how many people were involved. So many people got to mark up that manuscript, including on the very last pass when somehow ALL OF US had missed that I’d accidentally said a statue was “in a pose of mediation” rather than “meditation”. Also, I was surprised by both how slowly and quickly it moves at the same time. There were months at a time where nothing seems to be happening, and then suddenly I’d have copy edits to go through or something cool like my jacket proof would come in the mail.

How much of your own marketing do you?

I’m not quite to that part of things yet. I set up my own launch and a blog tour and stuff, but that’s because I’m antsy and wanted to make sure those things happened the way I wanted them to.  My website was super fun to make: caitlinsangster.com and you can find me on Twitter @caitsangster

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

A platform is always a positive thing, so if you’ve got the time an means to start, awesome. I wouldn’t say it’s essential before going after an agent, though.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

Honestly, most of the people I network with on social media are adults. It’s great for meeting other writers and finding fun opportunities in the writing community, but I don’t know about building readership among actual teenagers. The few I have met who are librarians or teachers might help getting my book into teenage hands, but aside from that, I feel like social media mostly helps me keep up with other writers, editors, etc., rather than connecting me directly to my target audience. I’m not that great at social media though, so it might just be me!

Kim Ventrella On Waiting To Query Until You've Got Something Good

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 or the SAT (Successful Author Talk) is Kimberly Ventrella, author of THE SKELETON TREE. Kimberly believes that fiction is more true than true, and so she write worlds she wants to live in. Worlds where bad things happen, but also worlds where magic lives and people always find the courage to overcome.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

Currently, I’d say I’m a Planner with the soul of a Pantser. Now that I have to turn in proposals before getting started on a longer project, I’m learning to love the art of outlining, but at heart I think I prefer discovery writing.

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

If we’re talking first drafts, then I have to write those fast, before the idea gets stale. So, anywhere from 10 days to a month on average; Skeleton Tree took two weeks. I usually don’t start a first draft, though, until I’ve already gone through a string of failed ideas. After I finish the draft, the self-editing and official editing process usually takes about a year.

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

I tend to start a bunch of projects that I scrap before I get to one I really like. I wish I had a more straightforward process, but I’ve had to accept that this is just how I write.

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

Novels always seemed like these magical, completely inexplicable creations that I could in no way conceptualize or hope to create. Then, the longer I was writing, the more I began to see how you could put one together piece by piece. It was a long process, though, in terms of demystifying the novel. And, of course, I still pick up books all the time and think, okay, I have no idea how this author did what they did and I could never hope to achieve it. I think that’s good, because it challenges us as writers to be constantly honing and improving our craft.

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

Only before I was agented, ha! How many zeroes are in a trillion? No, for reals, I would say about six or seven. Since then, I probably have another four or five.

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

Ha, another funny question! Have I ever quit on a manuscript? Let me see, yes! In fact, certain people (i.e. my agent) might say I quit way too easily. It goes back to my trial and error method of writing books. If one story isn’t working, I’m more than happy to move on to the next one, and the next one and the one after that. I’m sure (read: hopeful) that this will evolve as I grow and change as a writer, but it’s worked for me so far.

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

My agent is the indomitable Brianne Johnson of Writers House. I read in her Publishers Marketplace listing that she loves Roald Dahl and other creepy, dark middle grade novels, and I was hooked. I’d say my secret to landing my agent was to keep writing. I first queried a novel called QUIMBY. She said it was actually too creepy for her, ☺, but asked if I had anything else. Thankfully, I did!

How long did you query before landing your agent?  

My process was pretty short, but only because I basically didn’t query for the first ten years I was writing. I sent three queries for QUIMBY. Brianne asked me to revise and resubmit, or send her something else I’d written. I sent her SKELETON TREE, and the rest is history.

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

I would say don’t submit until you’ve written what you feel in your heart is a good book. I think, most of the time, you as the writer know in your gut whether or not you’ve achieved what you set out to achieve. If it’s not quite good enough, try again. If it’s the best possible way to tell the story, and you’ve done it to the best of your ability, then find an agent that’s a good match. If they get your writing, if they connect with it emotionally and stylistically, then it’s likely you’ll make an awesome team.

How much input do you have on cover art?

I loved Scholastic’s choice of artist for SKELETON TREE, and I was definitely given the opportunity to respond with my ideas for the cover. It was a big learning experience for me, because the Sales team brought up factors that I would have never considered, and they helped me appreciate and understand the choices that were made. In the end, Lisa Perrin created a beautiful cover, and I’m so happy that I discovered her as an artist (I’ve already ordered some of her other artwork for my apartment).

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

Early on in the design discussions, I had suggested making SKELETON TREE into a flipbook (i.e. when you flip the corner, you see a moving picture). My editor, Mallory Kass, actually made that happen! Now, when you flip the pages of the finished version, you will see a skeleton walking by and waving at you. I was so happy and surprised by Mallory’s persistence and belief in my idea.

How much of your own marketing do you?  

Scholastic is amazing at reaching the school and library markets, and I really couldn’t ask for more in terms of marketing. You can find me online on my site, Twitter, and Instagram.

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

I think the most important thing is to write a compelling book that readers will connect with emotionally. I also heard some awesome advice from author Ally Carter at a recent conference. She said the single best thing you can do to promote your first book is to write your second. I totally agree!

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

For middle grade authors, I think social media is especially great for connecting with librarians and educators.

Emily Arsenault On How Writing Can Be A Comfort... It's Publishing That's Stressful

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 Emily Arsenault, author of the upcoming novel THE LEAF READER, which released June 13 from Soho Teen. Emily studied philosophy in college, and worked as an editorial assistant at Merriam-Webster from 1998-2002, helping write definitions for their dictionaries. She has served in the Peace Corps, working in rural South Africa.

Are you a Planner or Pantster?

I’m more of a pantser but I always come up with a vague plan (describing the ending and the most important reveals or secrets) to help me get through. Sometimes I’m just telling myself I have a plan to work up the confidence to drive toward the middle and ending of the book. Often I change the ending and must go back and revise everything. But telling myself I know where I’m going (even if I’m lying to myself) always helps to motivate me and get a lot of good character information and scenes down on paper before having to go back and reconsider plot points.

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

It depends, but on average it usually takes about nine or ten months for me to write a first draft. Then I usually revise for a couple of months.

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

I used to always write only one project at a time, when I was doing adult books exclusively. Now I’m trying to switch back and forth between adult and young adult. I can’t really draft two projects at once. I can revise one while drafting another. Or start brainstorming for the next book while finishing up the last. But I can’t imagine being right in the messy middle of two books at once.

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

Not really. I started writing when I was about ten. At the time, I always found it much less scary than, say, speaking in public or social situations. Writing is very comforting to me. It’s the publishing part that gets a little scary. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, haunted by ill-advised sentences or plot points that are now published and I can’t take back.

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

I have one trunked manuscript. I really should burn it because I don’t want anyone to find it and read it. It’s a YA book I wrote about fourteen years ago. After realizing that book was not publishable, I started The Broken Teaglass, which was (eventually—about four years later) my first published novel. Now, five books and more than a decade later, I’ve finally come out with my first YA—The Leaf Reader. I always knew I’d come back around to YA eventually.

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

My agent is Laura Langlie. She was one of the first agents to whom I sent a query letter. She asked for the manuscript almost immediately, and I sent it. Then I got a bunch of rejections from other agents and, based on some of their feedback, started a major revision of the book, changing the ending and some other fundamental things. Then this one Big Shot Agent (someone who had been in the industry a very long time, edited and agented all kinds of NYTimes Bestselling authors, etc.) called me and said she’d loved my first three chapters and wanted me to send the rest of the manuscript right away. I had to tell her I was in the middle of revising it. But, pumped by her interest, I amped up my revision and did it in three sleepless and caffeine-fueled weeks. 

While I was waiting for her response, I noticed Laura was still on my list as having the old manuscript. Going against advice I had read online, I wrote her asking if she wanted to see my new manuscript. She said yes. About a month later, Big Shot Agent sent me back my manuscript cover letter with “Not for me” scribbled on it, and I sank into a bit of a depression, telling my husband I wasn’t sure if I could handle this process anymore and wasn’t sure I had any more revisions in me. I stopped querying and decided to take a break from the whole process. A few weeks later Laura (who was one of two agents who still had the manuscript) called me and offered representation. Then she got an offer on the book practically the day she sent it out. I sometimes hesitate to tell this story because it is not really one of grit and endurance, and I’m not sure what aspiring writers can learn from it except that things can change quickly.

How long did you query before landing your agent?

I think it took about nine months. But I wasn’t querying straight through. I stopped occasionally to do revisions and adjustments—as I described above. I think sent about thirty queries in all. Mostly snail mail queries.

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

Something that worked for me was to query in small batches. That way, if you get any decent feedback, you can apply it to your next batch. Also, even if you don’t get much feedback, it gives you time to go back and reconsider things (like the wording of you query, or the pacing of your opening chapters) if it appears something isn’t working when you start getting responses. It gives you time to learn from the process and still have agents left to query.

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

I’m going to be honest. It felt very weird. I always feel sort of exposed, when a book goes on sale. Don’t get me wrong—I was ecstatic when my first book sold to a publisher, and still feel very, very lucky. But when a book comes out there is always this feeling that a little piece of your heart is up for sale on Amazon. Since my first book, I’ve tried to be more professional and less emotional about it, but I still have moments when I feel this way.

How much input do you have on cover art?

My adult publisher (William Morrow) is always great about asking me what I would like to see on the cover—and Soho Teen was as well for The Leaf Reader. Usually what they come up with is different from what I suggested but much cooler than anything I could’ve conceived of in my head. I’ve always been really happy with my covers even though they are often quite different from what I expected.

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

I think it might be that I almost always end up feeling grateful for things that initially look like setbacks. For example, one time my publisher was not satisfied with my title, and we were brainstorming for a new one. I was getting really frustrated and there was even talk of bumping the book to another season unless we came up with something decent soon. On a day when I thought there were not possible ideas left, I looked back at my list of ideas and quotes and something jumped out at me that I hadn’t considered before. (This was for my adult book What Strange Creatures.) I loved that title, and ended up being grateful that the publisher kept pushing until a better title emerged. I have a ton of examples like this, when something about the process felt crazy-making at first, but ended up being for the better.

How much of your own marketing do you?   

I always feel like I could do more marketing stuff, but sometimes I’m still not sure what is the best use of time and energy. I have a website, a Facebook page, and an e-mail newsletter. I do I try to do the occasional conference (especially when asked) but it can be difficult to budget for that. I do events at bookstores and libraries, and guest blog posts for various sites.

Do you think social media helps build your readership?

I think it can, if you’re willing to invest time in it and be yourself there. I don’t think I’ve taken full advantage of social media opportunities. But I feel like if I threw myself into Facebook and Twitter, I wouldn’t have much left for the actual writing. I admire and envy writers who can do both well on a regular basis.