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Post by veryblessedmom on May 4, 2009 9:55:28 GMT -5
OK, so I'm writing my first ms. It's been a wonderful experience. God's taught me a great deal through my characters and the plot. I know that might be the whole plan of this story, and I am fine with that but....
I do want to at least try to get it published when I finish my rewrite, but this is what I'm hearing from people.
Can you change it an make it not spec? Christian Spec does not get published.
Your writing is engaging. You have the hook that makes people want to read more, but no agent will touch it when you explain what it's about.
Just put it on a shelf and write a Christian Romance first, then after you get published, pull it back out.
Don't publish with a non-traditional publisher. That looks worse than being unpublished.
I don't know how to change my story. It never felt like I made it up. I'm the one learning how to write it down to meet industry standards, but the story showed up in my head a complete package. How do I change that?
I also don't know if I could write a normal story. That would bore me so much I'd never finish and if I did, people reading it would be bored.
If I go non-traditional, how does that look bad? At least I get the benefit of learning about the industry on a small scale. That's what the big publisher want right, someone who knows what their doing?
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Vaporwolf
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Post by Vaporwolf on May 4, 2009 10:31:41 GMT -5
I know exactly how you feel. My advice is don't change this story to fit the perceived market. There's a lot of good intentioned people out there who are using old arguments. Lets look at them: 1. Christian Spec does not get published. This is just plain false. There is more and more Christian speculative fiction getting published every day. But it is still an emerging market as far as the big publishers and book sellers are concerned (from what I can see) so a brand new author with no past credentials will have a tougher time getting in. And the "weirder" your story is, the harder it is. But there are Christian publishers putting out Vampire novels these days. That was unimaginable just a few years ago. So don't let people discourage you from writing the stories that drive your passions. 2. No Agent will touch it. This one still has a ring of truth to it. Most spec fic authors I know who have agents got them with non-spec fic manuscripts. Why? I don't know. I do know most agents who work in the CBA marketplace (Christian Booksellers Association) don't look at spec-fic, and those who do have a large number of clients already. Still, this isn't impossible and really depends on the agent/author/story mix. Very subjective. 3. Don't Publish with a non-traditional publisher. It Looks Bad. This was true a few years ago, but not anymore. The marketplace has changed, especially with so many small publishers like Marcher Lord Press popping up. About the only difference would be where your books are for sale and how much of the marketing onus is on you. Though even with a big publisher you would have to do a large ammount of marketing on your own. Just be discerning about what non-traditional publishing route you choose, and be realistic of the results. Not all non-traditional publishing routes are equal, some are scams. But these days it's not really a black mark against you, but at the same time it probably won't get you any favors at a larger publisher, unless you get incredible sales they'll likely still treat you like an unpublished author. How do you get around all this? First off, I'd suggest going to writers conferences and meeting the industry folk face to face. If they have met you and remember you that will help you when you pitch to them (as long as it is a pleasent memory). Second, keep writing and working on your craft. Don't get stuck on a single book, but once you've got this re-write done, move on to the next story that grabs your passion while you work on pitching the first one. Third, pray and give your writing over to God and give your dreams of being published over to Him. Write for pleasure, worship and the hope of the future. Don't write for the market.
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Post by kouter on May 4, 2009 10:41:33 GMT -5
The answers to all your questions and more can be found in Jeff's new book, "the Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction". I had the privilage of test reading it and I can tell you every question your raised is answered in detail. But if you can't wait (although I'd still encourage you to buy teh book because if has so much more) check out the tip of the week list. www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/tip_of_the_week.htmShort answer though... aim to publish what you write, not write to be published. ~Kirk
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Post by Teskas on May 4, 2009 11:18:25 GMT -5
Jeff is bringing out another book soon about getting published.
His Art & Craft book is a very good advance on his Tip of the Week column because of the way he's brought his ideas together. I'm sure the forthcoming book on getting spec fic published will be equally good.
These are the thoughts I speak to myself:
There is no "royal road" to writing and publishing any kind of good fiction. A person needs to read the guide books, go to the conferences, hang out in cyberspace. And also, keep reading and writing.
Reading good literature is important. It models the craft of writing. And writing is important. Even when a person has finished a book, he shouldn't stop. Deep clean the house, weed the flower beds, reacquaint yourself with your spouse and kids, and then get back to the computer for the next masterpiece.
Work smart, but above all else, work.
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Post by torainfor on May 4, 2009 11:20:49 GMT -5
I am trying to scrounge up enough money to go to the ACFW Conference in Denver this year in part because of what I found on this page: www.acfw.com/conference/edsnagents.shtmlScroll down to Andy Meisenheimer, acquisitions for Zondervan, and you'll see this: "Currently looking for: Science fiction. I say that with much fear and trembling. Other fiction, including but not limited to high concept thrillers, quirky postmodern metafiction, horror (the real kind), based-on-a-true-stories that aren't, and any sort of fiction that blends genres (I'm not talking romantic suspense here) and causes most everyone else to say "what the heck is that?!"" A little farther down, you'll see Terry Burns. I'm not sure what he takes, but I know a friend of mine is interning with him to eventually become an agent, and she writes scifi/fantasy. Something I noticed about the list of what people are looking for on that page. How many specifically state "not looking for scifi/fantasy"? If they have to say it so explicitly, does that mean they're getting a lot of submissions? And, if that's the case, shouldn't that get their attention as significant?
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Vaporwolf
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Post by Vaporwolf on May 4, 2009 11:32:33 GMT -5
With the ACFW conference it may be due to getting lots of submissions or it may be due to the good sized group of sci-fi/fantasy authors that attend the conference every year and look to every possible angle for where to go to pitch their works. Probably both. I've been going to the ACFW conference since 2004 (first year it was still AC RW--that stood for Romance--and the number of SFF authors just keeps growing.
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 4, 2009 11:45:17 GMT -5
I wish I could go to the conference this year. Even if I had the money, there's no one to watch my 3 kids.
At the loop, I'm being told not to cross genres. Find what sells and write that. I know they mean well, but I don't know how to do that. I'm all about improving my craft and learning, but I'm not interested in writing a formula novel. I do write romance, but with a twist. It's that twist that's causing me the trouble in my writing group.
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Post by morganlbusse on May 4, 2009 11:48:59 GMT -5
Hi! I was just reading www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com (a great free online magazine filled with all sorts of info on writing...) and there is a story about Cindy Woodsmall and her journey to publishing (she was writing amish back when amish wasn't popular). Anyway, I was encouraged by the story and thought you might be too.
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Post by Spokane Flyboy on May 4, 2009 14:03:54 GMT -5
I'd say Vaporwolf's final thoughts in his first post would be the number one. I know from other posts you have made on this forum, that you are confident that this story was placed in your head by God Himself. It would seem He has a purpose for this story, so I would not fret much about failure in getting it published. The words of Paul come to mind. "6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
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Post by veryblessedmom on May 4, 2009 14:49:11 GMT -5
I would not fret much about failure in getting it published. I know that I am too small to get in the way of God's plan. I don't want to assume that publication is His plan. Every time I assume to know God's plan, I end up down crazy rabbit trails that lead to no where. "6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 [/quote] This is one of my favorite verses and I quote it often. Thank you all for your support and words of wisdom. They mean a lot.
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