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Friday, January 9, 2009

Publishing Myths: True or False? Five to Start

Some of the publishing myths circulating scare authors enough that they are unwilling to try to have their work published. Some of the myths have a little truth mixed with the fallacy; others have a large amount of truth; and the rest are completely false. Lets examine five of those myths and see what is true and what isnt.

Myth 1. A writer has to know someone in New York City to get published.

First of all, not all publishers are located in New York City any more. Every state has small or university publishers. California, Texas, and Utah have some rather influential publishers now. They may not be one of the giant four, but they are gaining in stature.

Secondly, the idea of only celebrities being sought by publishers isnt exactly true. Of course a major publisher may better promote a celebritys book or even read a manuscript by one first, but the work still needs to be well-written most of the time.

However, the idea that an author must have a personal connection to a publisher, if he isnt found on Entertainment Tonight, isnt so. Yes, having a next-door-neighbor who is the aunt of an editor with Doubleday may get a manuscript read sooner, but that doesnt mean anything else. If the writing is poorly done, it will be just as rejected as something off the slush pile which wasnt good. Nancy Kress, in Writers Digest June 2001, says, Connections will not close the sale if the manuscript is no good.

Myth 2. An author needs to be represented by a mega-superstar agent.

A good agent can help writers make their way through the legal mazes, presenting material to publishers, finding the solution for different aspects of the publishing field. That doesnt mean that a writer should either get the best-named agent in the world or not try to get an agent.

The key to finding an agent is to find one who knows the business, who is interested in promoting his/her clients, and who wants what is best for the client. That doesnt always mean the top agents in the field, who have many clients and obligations.

Now in the days of instant communication, excellent agents can be found everywhere, but California has become second in importance to New York. The main thing to look for is experience, other clients, successes in author clients. Finding whether the agent is a member of the ethical organization, AAR, is one step to discovering a competent, honest agent. Finding an agent who works well with the client helps for a successful partnership.

Remember, though, a bad agent is worse than no agent. And, an agent isnt always necessary, but thats an entirely different subject, maybe to be covered another time.

Myth 3. Writers must start small and write what they know.

Lets break this down into two parts. First, writers must start small: No, they should start with the best they have to write. Sometimes, an author can take a short story and expand it into a book, but that doesnt mean that all writers have to write flash fiction and short stories to start. If a book is what a writer has inside, then a book should be written.

Yes, at times a non-fiction writers does better submitting to local and regional magazines and newspapers, but not always. If a topic works for a major newspaper or magazine, a writer should submit a proposal to that paper or magazine. The only real limits on an author are the ones talent, lack of effort, or fear create.

The second part of this myth is writing what a person knows. Actually, according to Daniel Lazar, an agent from Writers House agency, says, Writing what you know should actually be write what excites you.

Of course research increases what people know. Also when anyone writes about anything, bits of knowledge are used. For example, I have never traveled in space. If I decided to write about traveling to another galaxy as a colonist, I would have no personal knowledge about the topic. However, I could take the experience of going under anesthetic to show how a person being put into suspended animation might feel as a drug takes effect. Writing such a story or book would excite me enough to allow me to use a little of what I know, what I research, and what I imagine. An authors interest and excitement is more important than what is already known about a subject or topic.

Myth 4. Authors have to label the exact genre of work to get an agent.

According to agents Irene Goodman and Daniel Lazar, at the OWFI Writing Conference, an agent is impressed with a well-written, attention grabbing pitch letter and interesting, good material rather what genre the material may be or not be. Labeling something as horror/thriller/romance/sci-fi doesnt garner any type of interest on the part of an agent. If its a novel, the agents say, then just say, My novel ...

Myth 5. Agents are members of a big club thats secret and hard to get into.

Whats sad about this myth is that it is false. Anyone can call himself or herself an agent. There is no licence required or test to pass. Anyone can have business cards printed up or place advertisements in newspapers or magazines calling himself an agent.

Many real agents exist all over the country. They are people who have been involved in or with publishing and have connections with publishing companies. Some may have been published themselves; others may have been editors or otherwise involved with a publishing company.

Authors need to research to find the type of agent they need, but agents dont belong to a secret club. The secret is for writers to ask questions.

That ends the first five myths of many. In time well examine some more.

Sources:

1. Oklahoma Writers Foundation Inc. Conference, May 6, 2006, session with Daniel Lazar of Writers House

2. Nancy Kress, Urban Myth vs. the Truth, Writers Digest , June 2001

Vivian Gilbert Zabel taught English, composition, and creative writing for twenty-five years, honing her skills as she studied and taught. An author on http://www.Writing.Com/, a site for Writers, with portfolio http://www.Writing.Com/authors/vzabel, her books, Hidden Lies and Other Storied and Walking the Earth, can be found through Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

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Friday, January 9, 2009

Publishing Myths: True or False? Five to Start

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