I hate my job by Terry Burns

Actually that's not true, I just said that to get your attention.

But it's not entirely false either.

Most of the time I really like working as a literary agent and have helped a goodly number of authors in getting their writing careers off and running. But I often have to devote big blocks of time to working down the submissions in my inbox and that means turning a lot of people down. I hate that, and it kinda depresses me to have to do it.

Oh, I know in advance it has to be done, I get hundreds of them and I couldn't handle that many if I had a dozen people on staff helping me. Not to mention the fact that that's far too many to submit to publishers, they don't have the capacity to do that many books either. But knowing it has to be done and having to do it are two different things.

I am too aware that what I have to evaluate in a short period of time someone may have taken a year or longer to write. It's their baby, and no parent wants to see their baby get turned down. I'm one of the few agents that came from the writing side rather than the publishing side, I've had my babies turned down . . . turned down a lot actually. Maybe that makes me too sensitive to the feelings of the authors sending to me.

Sometimes it gives me the blues.

The best cure for the blues is getting somebody a contract or seeing a clients' new book come out. Or maybe in a situation where I got to help Carrie Stuart Parks hold her baby out to publishers and saw six of them show immediate interest resulting in an auction situation where she got a nice three book deal. That can cure a lot of the blues.

But today I'm working submission, stepping on dreams, and not feeling good about it. I'm sifting through the pile looking at a lot of good books but looking for that jewel that rises above all the other good books. The one I just HAVE to try and help get to market. I have the blues.

If you are one of the wonderful editors that I get to work with to help get these jewels to market, and you just happen to be reading this, today would be a really good day to let me know you want to make an offer to one of my clients . . . how about it?

The Turtle on a Fence Post by Diana Flegal

 “Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.”  Alex Haley

 Alex Haley kept a picture of a turtle on a fence post in his office to remind him he didn't get where he was without some help.

The winners of the Golden Scroll were announced this week as well as the finalists in the ACFW Genesis contest.  Many of the authors on these lists received help along the way at some juncture in their journey.

Let's give a shout out today to those that have been an encouragement and a help. It might be a teacher, a presenter at a writers conference or your mother or dad, great aunt or cousin.  We didn't get where we are by ourselves.

My mentor, boss and friend Joyce Hart's dedication and stick-to-itiveness has inspired me to stay at my desk and continue to do what I can for my authors.  It means a lot to me to know that Joyce and her husband support me in prayer as well as having advised me along the way in my agenting journey. Thank you Joyce!

Who is it that has been a help to you?

Happy Wednesday all,
Diana

More Lyrical Phrases by Andy Scheer

If you want to write powerfully but don't feel up to poetry, draw your inspiration from some well-crafted lyrics.

Last week I wrote how the opening line of W. C. Handy's “St. Louis Blues” made me wish that more writers would craft evocative phrases. But such figures of speech aren't limited to those who sing the blues. Even cowboys can be powerful wordsmiths.

A few years back I heard a concert by music historians Mark Gardner and Rex Rideout of songs that genuine cowboys would have sung in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Among the most memorable was a 1911 song by James Grafton Rogers called “The Santa Fe Trail.”

The singer is searching for a girl he glimpsed on a wagon train. Specifically:

A tow-headed gal on a pony,

A-janglin' for old Santa Fe.

Need more specifics?

I seen her ride down the arroyos,

Way back in the Arkansas sand,
With a smile like an acre of sunflowers ...

And how she did ride:

She straddled the pinto so airy,
And rode like she carried the mail ...

And those eyes:

And her eyes near set fire to the prairie,
'Long side of the Santa Fe Trail.

I hope he found her. But I wish he had written more.

When We Learn From Others by Linda S. Glaz

You know…what started out as what I thought was a good idea to help a bunch of folks getting ready for conference, turned into a lesson for me.

I have ALWAYS hated writing pitches, just ask Terry. No, on second thought, don’t remind him (as if he doesn’t know). So when I offered a contest to look at a few first chapters, I started the blog with writing and rewriting pitches so that the best ten would be the ones I’d look at further. And the fun blog turned into a mini-workshop on writing 25-30 words pitches, and lo and behold, I think I understand pitches better myself.

The more we worked them and broke them into the barest essence, the more it all clicked in the pint-sized brain of mine of what was working well and what wasn’t. The more I looked to help, the more the important information stood out and the innocuous information took second stage.

VOILA! The helper became the student and I’m proud to say was able to offer a hand to a few other folks. What a glorious moment to find that 2+2 really does make 4. And understanding more fully how to get to 4 was an aha-moment.

It’s funny how the we learn from others. Sometimes in choosing to assist another person, you are the one who reaps the rewards. Now, 153 comments and suggestions later, a bunch of us have reduced our pitches to their purist essence.

When you get the opportunity to have fun with a topic and help out a fellow writer, take it, you might find that you, not the other person, will walk away that much more equipped to face the writing industry!

How to Use LinkedIn to Build Your Speaking Platform by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Your Profile Should Showcase Your Speaking Accomplishments

Even though you may primarily be an author, your speaking skills and experience must be prevalent in your LinkedIn profile or people will not take you seriously enough to book you for their event. Keep in mind that you only have 120 characters to use in the initial headline. Then in the Background/Summary section, including a paragraph bio and then list topics or headings of what you speak on.  

People who are looking for speakers browse profiles for an idea on what topics speakers have experience presenting and in what venues their presentations were made. Therefore, use the add video links, images, documents or presentations to your LinkedIn profile. It's easy to include a Youtube link of your most recent speaking engagement or a link to a presentation on SlideShare. These links can be included in the Background/Summary section, as well as in the Experience section with each job listing you have created.

Ask friends and former co-workers to provide a recommendation for you from various work experiences and projects. This will layer your profile with more credibility throughout your background so that it isn't too heavy in one place.

In the Publication section, be sure to include your published books and/or articles with a link to the publication. Include the publisher and publication date. You may also drag and place your publications in order and add additional authors you might have worked with. 

Become a Recognized Name in your Target Market 

Most published authors, whether writing fiction or nonfiction, have carved out a niche in the market on their areas of expertise and genres. Use this to build your speaking platform. Everyone has to start somewhere and this is a great place to start. Promote your writing themes and topics as your speaking themes and topics. Your success as a writer in your area of expertise lends credibility to your knowledge on those subjects.

Determine where your target market gathers and be there--conferences, seminars, trade shows, trainings and retreats. After you have attended some of these events and become familiar with the format and networked with the leaders in charge, submit speaking proposals and follow these events on social media platforms. Engage by posting and sharing their updates. 

Join LinkedIn Speaking Groups
Take a few minutes to join speaker groups and network with others on groups regarding your topics and genres. Discover what they are doing to land speaking gigs. Networking is not only about making connections, but sharing and learning from the best. In spite of this, keep in mind that not every group will be beneficial. Do your homework and make sure you join the right discussion groups that are relevant to you. 

Some of these groups will have rules on NO advertising, so check out these rules before posting anything about what you do or inviting people to upcoming events. Concentrate on posting things that facilitate good discussions and will generate comments. Posts with a higher number of comments will stay at the top and be more visible to the entire group. This increases your exposure to potential prospects.

Create a Professional Speaking Page on LinkedIn
Under the heading Company Page, you can add a speaking page or author page for your business. First, you will need to create an email with your domain.com. LinkedIn will not allow users to create company pages with standard web email addresses through Yahoo, Gmail or other services. Once your company page is created, you will be prompted to add more videos, describe your services, list your workshops and keynotes, sell your books, and add special offers and promo codes.

Are you on LinkedIn? Are you active and taking advantage of LinkedIn? What other ideas and tactics have worked for you?

An unscheduled interview by Terry Burns

I belong to a lot of social media sites, facebook, twitter, writing groups, etc. I don't have time to participate a lot but I watch what is being discussed and who is doing it. Sometimes I see something being discussed that I think maybe I have something I should contribute and I do, but mostly I quickly just keep my finger on it quickly before I delete and get back to work.

I take note when someone without sufficient experience is giving advice I consider not to be solid and when I see that I will watch a bit closer for a bit. Usually a more experienced writer will chime in and I don't have to, but if not I'll speak up. Not that I consider myself an expert on everything, but I attend a lot of conferences, network with a lot of people who are terribly knowledgeable and well, a lot of good information does come my way.

But what's with the title of this blog? What's an unscheduled interview? I keep an eye what I have on my plate, what I have in my inbox to work. If I'm holding some work to evaluate I recognize if I start seeing that name coming through the social media. In a proposal people often tell me what they want me to hear. As part of the evaluation process if I start having some interest I'll probably google them to get a closer look.

But if I see them coming up in social media I may tune in. I get an informal look at who they are, what they think, if we might be a personal match for each other. Snooping? No, it's out there for personal consumption. It's out there because they want others to know them better and that's what I might use it for.

I've said that the process of getting an agent and the process of an agent deciding to represent a client is a lot like dating and it is. First and foremost it is about the writing, pure and simple. I'm looking for well written stuff that I can fall in love with and really want to help get it out on the market. But I also want people that I like and get along well with, people I connect with, people who will fit well in my very tight-knit client group.

Sometimes I can find out a lot about that in an unscheduled interview.

The Road Less Traveled: Why Do You Write? by Diana Flegal

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”                                       Robert Frost

It is important for writers to ask themselves why they are writing, to have a personal mission statement. Going against the established way of doing things can get you labeled as rebellious when in fact your just different. In Christian circles, it can be tough to map out your own path, and walk in your unique giftings.

I have a propensity to think outside the box and therefore am drawn to those that do so as well. As an agent, I tend to like authors that do not write to the market.  Their stories are compelling, interesting and written well. But they are different. 

In a recent post discussing digital changes in the publishing industry  David Stearman wrote in response: "I'll have to admit that I've been exposed to some low quality writing since the advent of the eBook. But I've also been exposed to some really great stuff that might not have made print in the fear (of financial loss) ridden world of traditional publishing. There's more opportunity out there for all levels of authors now, and hopefully, as in the past, the cream will eventually rise to the top of the bucket."

I am grateful for the small presses that have contracted and published these authors. But in todays drenched market, it is challenging for these authors to find their readers and their sales can be discouraging. We repeat our teacher and mentor Michael Hyatt's words: 'writing may be queen, but platform is king'.  (especially true for nonfiction authors) and our efforts intensify to up our social media stats and we find and share articles of those unknown writers who have 'made it big' to encourage one another. Yet low sales numbers have many authors asking if it is time to throw in the towel. 

This is when we need to remember God's mathematics and our mission statement. 

Luke 15:3-7 ESV/ So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 

Luke 15:8-10 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

In God's economy, it is all about the one.

And that one then often multiplies when they tell another.

Ask yourself why you are writing.  For fame? Fortune? Influence?

Or are you writing because you are a writer and that is what you have to do.

Writers write.   


Writers with a smaller platform can still find their readers online. Consider blogging and offering your chapters in downloadable content in installments.  Be willing to start small. Write articles for online magazines. Is there not a magazine in your genre? Start one.


PERSONAL REQUEST: If you have a desire to lead others to Christ (a worthy goal) please write nonfiction or devotionals. Do not weigh your fiction down with preaching. Great fiction is story that takes us on journeys, makes us ponder, celebrate or provides us a great escape. Very few can skillfully write fiction that contains compelling spiritual content.

But write for that ONE. Chances are you'll be read by many more.

Stay encouraged. Hone your skills and write on!

Happy over the hump day!
Diana