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Continue Reading "A Mixed Bag"A Mixed Bag
A mixed bag of questions today. Donna sent this to me recently: "Nonfiction seems to be struggling in bookstores, but fiction has been on a growth track. I heard you say one time that this disparity is due to the growth of the internet. Can you explain that to me?"
Okay, let's call this The MacGregor Theory of Non-Fiction Struggles. First, the core of nonfiction is what we call "problem/solution" writing (or sometimes question/answer writing). A person comes into a bookstore with a problem ("I need to lower my cholesterol" or "I don't get along with my teenage daughter"), and wants a book that offers a solution to the problem ("Lower Your Cholesterol in 30 Days" or "How to Talk so your Daughter will LIsten"). They walk in with a problem, and they look for a book that offers a solution. Or they walk in with a question, and they look for a book that offers an answer. That's the focus of most nonfiction. (There ARE alternatives: history books tend to educate instead of answer, craft books offer an idea without necessarily being a "solution"). Fiction, on the other hand, is usually written to entertain, occasionally to inspire or educate. And during the current economic times, people are turning to fiction because it is basically a cheap, satisfying, and long-lasting entertainment option. (There's plenty of evidence to suggest fiction reading goes up as the economy goes down.) Anyway, with the advent of the web, people aren't buying as many nonfiction books because they tend to look to the web for a solution. (Think about it… the last time you needed to know how to make Yorkshire Pudding, did you dig through a cookbook or look it up online?) I'm not declaring the death of all non-fiction — I'm just explaining why it's struggling, while fiction is growing.
Andrew wrote and said, "I couldn't help but read that letter you received the other
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Continue Reading "A Mixed Bag"
A Mixed Bag
A mixed bag of questions today. Donna sent this to me recently: "Nonfiction seems to be struggling in bookstores, but fiction has been on a growth track. I heard you say one time that this disparity is due to the growth of the internet. Can you explain that to me?"
Okay, let's call this The MacGregor Theory of Non-Fiction Struggles. First, the core of nonfiction is what we call "problem/solution" writing (or sometimes question/answer writing). A person comes into a bookstore with a problem ("I need to lower my cholesterol" or "I don't get along with my teenage daughter"), and wants a book that offers a solution to the problem ("Lower Your Cholesterol in 30 Days" or "How to Talk so your Daughter will LIsten"). They walk in with a problem, and they look for a book that offers a solution. Or they walk in with a question, and they look for a book that offers an answer. That's the focus of most nonfiction. (There ARE alternatives: history books tend to educate instead of answer, craft books offer an idea without necessarily being a "solution"). Fiction, on the other hand, is usually written to entertain, occasionally to inspire or educate. And during the current economic times, people are turning to fiction because it is basically a cheap, satisfying, and long-lasting entertainment option. (There's plenty of evidence to suggest fiction reading goes up as the economy goes down.) Anyway, with the advent of the web, people aren't buying as many nonfiction books because they tend to look to the web for a solution. (Think about it… the last time you needed to know how to make Yorkshire Pudding, did you dig through a cookbook or look it up online?) I'm not declaring the death of all non-fiction — I'm just explaining why it's struggling, while fiction is growing.
Andrew wrote and said, "I couldn't help but read that letter you received the other
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Continue Reading ""
If you think of it, please pray for Claire, the infant daughter of authors Chris Coppernoll and Christa Parish. She's in Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, and needs heart surgery asap. Thanks.
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Continue Reading "12 Deep Thoughts from my Mailbox"
12 Deep Thoughts from my Mailbox
So I went to check my mailbox today. In it was….
1. A proposal with a cover letter that starts with the words, "Firstly and most importantly…"
2. An incoherent sci-fi book proposal (even though it says clearly on my website that I don't do sci-fi) that was something about children, dogs, demons, and a white vase. No idea what the story was, although I'm sure it had deep meaning.
3. A proposal from a guy whose mailing address is a correctional facility.
4. Two action-adventure novels, neither any good, and both sent to me by people who haven't spent five minutes on my website to figure out who I am or what I'm looking for. One began with the words, "Dear Agent." The other had my name, and began with the words, "You probably won't like this, but…"
5. A nonfiction book by a guy who claims that to become a Jesuit priest you have to murder a protestant (um… I'm not making that up).
6. One very nice card from an author.
7. Random business crap (apparently every bank on earth wants to offer me a credit card).
8. A letter from the AARP. NO KIDDING. THE AAR-frickin'-P! Like they think I'm old or something.
9. Two new books I represented — Lisa Samson's wonderful new novel RESURRECTION IN MAY, and Chad Gibbs' hilarious look at the role of faith and fanaticism in SEC football, entitled GOD AND FOOTBALL.
10. And a letter from a woman who sent me an unsolicited proposal for a book about her abortion. I sent back a short note saying that the book she's created won't sell, that there's no market for the book she is proposing. Her response was to send me this note:
Hatcheting? Demolishing slowly? Destruction? Is that not your very identity? Your cruelty oozes. Do you perpetrate this innate meanness onto other writers? You haven't so much as
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Continue Reading "Metaphors, Collaborations…and a Story"
Metaphors, Collaborations…and a Story
Daniel asked, “Is the ability to craft great similes and metaphors a gift, or can it be learned?”
My guess is that it's a gift. I've watched some people in the industry and been amazed at their ability to "see" the link between one action and another. I wish I could do that.
And his follow up question: “What are some good learning tips for creating great metaphors?”
Beats me. I've never been good at metaphors. (Or, in metaphor, "When it comes to creating metaphors, I'm a lawn chair." See? Awful. I hate coming up with good metaphors.) Maybe you could just learn to steal the good ones.
Lynn asked, “I've been asked to collaborate on a book with someone — what are some of the legal necessities I need to keep in mind?"
It’s a random list, depending on the topic of the book, the audience, the authors… but here are a handful of suggestions:
1. What's the subject of the book?
2. How long will it be?
3. How many words/chapters are each person's responsibility?
4. What are the due dates for each?
5. Who gets to pitch the idea? (me? the partner?)
6. What's the split of the money? (50/50? 60/40? 70/30? In whose favor?)
7. Are both names on the cover, the title page, the copyright?
8. Who owns the finished product?
9. Who has to get permissions?
10. Who pays for permissions?
11. Will each writer warranty their work?
12. Will we promise each other not to create competing works?
13. Who takes the lead with the publisher on things like title, subtitle, cover, art, etc?
14. Is there a kill fee if the book is cancelled?
15. If killed, who owns the work that's been done?
16. Can either party withdraw? If so, how?
17. Worst case #1: does moral turpitude effect this?
18. Worst case #2: upon death, what happens to the
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Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Okay, so it's nearly Wednesday. We brought our new puppy (as opposed to "old puppy?") home today, so I've been writing this between other things as well as helping with trips to the appointed piddle spot and throwing treat parties when Digby succeeds doing his business.
(Digby's the cute one on the far left.)
IN OTHER (far more relevant) NEWS:
In case you haven't heard, we've added a new agent to our rolls here at MacGregor Literary. Amanda Luedeke made her conference debut this past week with us here at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference. All signs are pointing to her potentially having signed her first author already!
Our fabulous friend and local author Hillary Manton Lodge simply couldn't take it anymore. While at the conference last week she took professional quality photos and headshots for all of us – keep your eye out soon for new photos of us all — even if I am doing "that funny thing with my head" I'm sure our new pics will help us all appear far more professional.
LIST AND REVIEW NEWS:
Gina Holmes' CROSSING OCEANS, her novel published by Tyndale, is on the August CBA bestseller list.
John Wilson, the editor of Books & Culture magazine (an online
publication of Christianity Today) gave J. Mark Bertrand's BACK ON
MURDER high marks.
http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/webexclusives/2010/august/wilson081010.htmlUPCOMING RELEASES:
Susan Meissner's next novel, LADY IN WAITING, is releasing this week
with Waterbrook. It weaves the story of a contemporary couple with that
of Lady Jane Grey, and has been very much anticipated by those who
enjoyed THE SHAPE OF MERCY and WHITE PICKET FENCES.Chad Gibbs' GOD AND FOOTBALL is releasing this week from Zondervan.
It's his look at the both faith and fanaticism with people who follow
SEC football.Keep an eye out for Serena Miller's historical Amish tale, LOVE FINDS YOU IN SUGARCREEK, OHIO.
Julie Cannon is busy
at work on her next -
Continue Reading "Making Yourself Comfortable"
Making Yourself Comfortable
Dana asked an interesting question: "What kinds of physical challenges have you faced in the daunting regimen of writing, and how have you compensated?"
I don’t know that I’ve found the writing and agenting life to be all that daunting, but I can share with you Ten Tips I’ve discovered…
1. Start an exercise program. Years ago, I simply went out and spent $200 on a Nordictrac, and I used it about 5 or 6 times per week for years. I hated it, but I felt better, had more energy, and it kept my heart pumping. Then I started running, and I still run most days. The fact is, writing and editing (and agenting) is a lot of sitting on your butt. Getting up gets your heart pumping, helps you handle stress better, and gives you more mental acuity.
2. Use an ergonomic keyboard. It's much easier on the hands, and it'll only take you two days to get used to. (An added benefit: you'll never again hit the the letters "n", "h", or "y" by accident with your left index finger!)
3. Buy a good office chair. One that doesn't cut of circulation to your legs, that supports your lower back, that allows your feet to touch the floor (yeah, I'm short), and maybe even that leans you forward a bit. Then ask your spouse or co-worker to nag you about sitting up straight.
4. Spend ten bucks on a document holder. Some of the best money you'll ever spend.
5. Spend twenty bucks on a headset for your phone. I resisted this for years…now I LOVE my headset.
6. Learn to take breaks every hour. At those breaks, stand up and move around, and stretch out your hands.
7. Face your screen sideways to the window, not in front of it or beside it. That way your eyes aren’t fighting light from the window with light from the
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Continue Reading "Sex and Language in Religious Books?"
Sex and Language in Religious Books?
Elizabeth asked this: "With the rules relaxing on language in many general market books, it seems the rules have also relaxed as far as portraying sexuality in Christian books. I know you don't just represent religious books, but can you tell if this is the trend? How much is too much? How much can you reveal in romantic scenes?"
When it comes to both language and sexualty, I think two questions must be kept in mind:
1. Who is your audience?
2. What is your message?
If you're writing a romance novel for a CBA audience, any sort of foul language or explicit sexual description is simply going to torpedo your book. The gatekeepers of CBA are largely middle-aged, white, ultra-conservative types. (That's NOT a criticism, mind you, that's a description.) So any sort of over-the-line language will get you bumped, if not banned. (I know of an example where a CBA house rejected a manuscript because the author referred to a character's "silk underwear." Really! Apparently Christianity is a cotton-only kingdom.) Using curse words or describing any sort of sexual activity is not going to work in CBA.
If you're writing for a more general audience (and I say that because I do a lot of Christian books, and some people sort of expect me to have religious overtones in a lot of the things I represent), I don't think readers expect religious behavior from unreligous people. You have more latitude because of your audience and the message you're trying to send. I'm assuming that, even with some rough language or descriptions of bodies/actions, you're still seeking some sort of redemptive message to your readership. (If you see me at a writer's conference this year, make sure to ask me about the British actor who survived cancer and his postmodern response to God. Very funny story that, if I told it here, would bring me grief and 300
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Continue Reading "How to Study the Market"
How to Study the Market
Clovis asked, "If you are seeking a market for a particular idea, how do you study the market? What steps are critical in matching the work to the right publisher? How much do you rely on the guidelines, samples, catalogs, etc.? And what other sources are helpful?"
My answer: If you want to take steps like this , get to know the industry. I can think of a number of things that would help a writer do that…
1. Read frequently.
2. Read outside your genre (for example, if you’re a CBA person, read books outside of CBA).
3. Study the bestseller lists (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, your local newspaper — all have them). Spend time on Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com to see what's selling.
4. Note who publishes the books you read and the books on the bestseller lists. (In case you haven't figured it out, not all publishing houses were created equal.)
5. Take a look at trade journals to find what's hot/what's not/what's happening. These journals would include Publishers Weekly, the email version of Publishers Daily, maybe Library Journal, or Christian Retailing, or Writers Digest, possibly Bookstore Journal. You may also glean some good information in some entertainment journals.
6. Keeps tabs on the economic climate of publishing and bookselling. Right now everybody is talking about what bad shape the industry is in… but this year there will probably be more book pages published and sold than ever before in history.
7. It's important that you study a publisher before sending anything to them. Harvest House may be the right place for your gift book, but it's the wrong place for your commentary on Habakkuk. So go to web sites and read catalogues to figure out who publishes what. If you research the house and its list, you'll be better able to target the right publisher.
8. Check out market resources like the Writer's
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Continue Reading "NEWSDAY TUESDAY …"
NEWSDAY TUESDAY …
Recently a friend said to me "it must be so cool to get paid to read
manuscripts for a living." I knew then that he really had no idea what
my job entailed. Reading manuscripts and reviewing proposals is an
important part of what I do, of course. But, honestly, it's just the
beginning of what can be a long process.For me, sometimes reading manuscripts is soothing. It reminds me that
there is always the possibility of finding something fresh, or a
potential perfect fit for an editor, or simply a gem I want to
seriously consider. Other times it's stressful because I wonder how
I'll ever find time to help with another project. But, it ebbs and
flows, and all works out in the process. Publishing is a lot of things,
but one thing it most certainly is is a process.Sometimes I think writers forget this.
For example, right now I'm working on submitting a project I've been helping an
author shape since January 2009. Yep, you read that right. 18 months of
work. Admittedly the author is a busy mom and works full-time, so it's
been a bit of an off and on process for her. But, I believe in her work
and her message, and I know when the time is right, we'll be ready. For
some authors I represent, patience (on both our parts) is the primary
speed. For others, sometimes, we have to hasten things a bit.I'd love to hear from some of you who are willing to share how long it
took you to get published. I mean from first submission to book on the
shelf. Just to give some perspective. Anyone willing?While we wait for your responses, here's a smattering of NEWS for you:
A COUPLE NEWISH BLOGS by a couple editor friends of ours we thought you'd like to check out:
Nick Harrison – Harvest House Publishers Nick