I loved this BuzzFeed list (by Curtis Sittenfeld) so much that I had to include it here, along with my thoughts. 1. When it comes to fellow writers, don’t buy into the narcissism of small differences. In all their neurotic, competitive, smart, funny glory, other writers are your friends. <— It’s really true. Writers get — Read More
Category: Publishing
The pressures of fame (yes, this is a Harper Lee post)
It’s been impossible to ignore all the hype about Harper Lee’s follow-up to To Kill a Mockingbird. Even if you’re not a reader, you’ve heard about it. And, if you are a reader (or a writer), you’re probably foaming at the mouth to get your hands on it. I haven’t said much on the subject — Read More
Publishing Journey: Royalties
In a book contract, the royalties section comes right after the advance section. They go hand in hand. The advance is the money you get in advance of the book being published. Royalties are monies you get after the book is published. The advance is paid “against your earnings,” meaning you don’t start getting royalty payments until — Read More
Publishing Journey: The Advance (aka Keeping My Day Job)
Before I got a book deal, the word “advance” was so magical to me. And mysterious, too. What, exactly, is it? And, more importantly, when do I get rich? Ok, so what is it? Well, put simply, it’s a signing bonus. For first-time fiction writers, it’s paid when a publisher reads the full manuscript and wants to — Read More
Publishing Journey: The Contract (aka Why Writers Need Agents)
When my agent told me we made a deal with St. Martin’s Press, I thought the contract would be signed the next day and I’d be on my way. Um, no. Turns out the wheels turn kind of slowly. I got my book deal in early November and I just signed the contract this month. — Read More
On “following your passion” (or not)
This post may sound contradictory to my last “push through rejection and keep writing” post, but I don’t see it that way. It could be a footnote to that post, or a part 2. If part 1 was “keep going,” part 2 is, “but don’t quit your day job.” When I was in my early twenties, I — Read More
On rejection
If someone told me they wanted to be a writer, I would say, “Ok, I hope you’re good with rejection.” It’s funny how writers are some of the most sensitive people and publishing is such a harsh, brutally blunt industry. Some fun facts: Robert M. Pirsig received 121 rejections of his book Zen and the Art — Read More
Resolutions.
Yesterday, I went to a yoga class and the owner of the studio asked if I had any resolutions for 2015. I was stumped. I don’t really do resolutions. I kind of just tackle new goals as they come up. Maybe this relates to me having a hard time seeing the big picture, the proverbial forest — Read More
Big news: I got a book deal!
It’s an almost-Christmas miracle, everyone! Actually, I’ve had the news for a while, but I was expecting someone important (my agent, my editor, my publishing house, God) to say, “JUST KIDDING, SUCKER!” That has not happened, yet, so I’m pretty sure this is real. How it all happened is both a short and long story. — Read More
Firsts
**BOOK UPDATE** Well, it’s a developing story. And an exciting one at that. I will share details when I can. How’s that for leaving you hanging? On another note… what do all these books have in common? They’re all great, yes. But, besides that, they have something else in common. They’re all debuts, first (published) — Read More