Failing Forward: The Leap from Indie to the Big Five by Danika Stone

Photo credit: Tom Price Photography on Flickr

If you’re an indie author, you probably didn’t head into self-publishing right away. You started off bright-eyed and optimistic, eager to get a book deal. You made extensive lists of agents and publishers, searched submissions, polished and rewrote. You queried your book brimming with hope and settled in to wait, certain that it was only a matter of time.

The first replies trickled in.

Not the right fit for our agency… not the book we were looking for… Not the right time for this story… No, no, no…

If you were lucky, there was feedback in the replies. Using it, you polished and revised. And – if your journey was anything like mine – you queried again. Another wave of no’s followed. Eventually you realized it was time to head off the beaten track.

If you’ve reached that point, you know the question that goes with this choice: How do I make the leap from indie to traditional? There’s an expectation that one day – however impossible it might feel – you’ll reach the longed-for ranks of traditional publishing that holds the keys to author advances, royalties and the coveted space on chain bookstore shelves. The question is: Does it ever happen?

I’m here to say YES.

This year I signed two book deals: one with Stonehouse, a small, well-respected Canadian press, the other with the massive publishing powerhouse of Macmillan US. In doing this, I reached the “BIG FIVE” and as a one-time indie writer, this makes me a bit of an aberration. Some would call me lucky. Others would say it was a fluke.

I disagree with both.

There’s a very distinct process to making that transition into traditional publishing. Like any major life change, it isn’t easy. But it’s doable! In looking back at the process, these were the key steps:

1. Let go of your baby. I know you’ve put months and years into loving your indie novel, but now it’s time to let it go. Stop imagining it’s going to be picked up by a major publisher. It’s not. (Unless it’s something massively saleable like Leah Raeder’s Unteachable or E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, that is.)
   
   You can’t move forward if you’re tethered to the past. So cut the cord with your indie baby, and move on. Keep your sights on the new.


2. Write another book. Obvious, yes? But really damned hard when you get down to it. Write. Write everything. Write until you find the voice and story that demands to be told. Then polish that gem of a story until it gleams. If you had a few beta readers before, find ten more. Did two rounds of edits? This time do three.
   
   Take everything you learned from your first failure and use it to launch you forward. The key is to keep moving.


3. Make connections. There are endless numbers of online groups just waiting to help you. My personal favorite is #ASMSG: The Author Social Media Support Group which gives indie authors a combined social media reach of over seven million people! And the ASMSG group is only one of thousands.
   
   Get out. Get known. Help your fellow authors. You never know when they’ll return the favor.


4. Cast the widest net you can. I know you want that shiny book contract with one of the Big Five, but trust me, there are many ways to achieve it. Enter every contest you find. Don’t be shy. I was a Quarterfinalist in 2013’s Amazon Breakthrough Novel of the Year Award and it was this achievement that led to me signing with Mint Literary. My agent secured me my first book deal with Stonehouse (Yay!), but a few months later, it was the Swoon Reads crowd-sourced YA Romance contest that led to my contract with Macmillan. Not my original plan, but success nonetheless.
   
   Face it, there are opportunities all over the net. You just have to look for them! It might not be the direct path you expected to take, but you’ll still reach your destination.


5. Trust yourself. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it feels impossible… but it’s not. Take a look through your local bookstore. Every single writer there went through the same struggle you are experiencing. The difference is, they didn’t give up when they heard ‘no’.

Writing and publishing can be incredibly lonely, and to get through it, you have to be your own biggest supporter. So put those fears aside. Pick up your pen.

It’s time to jump.


Danika Stone is an author, artist, and educator who discovered a passion for writing fiction while in the throes of her Masters thesis. A self-declared bibliophile, Danika now writes novels for both adults (The Intaglio Series, Ctrl Z, and Edge of Wild) and teens (All the Feels). When not writing, Danika can be found hiking in the Rockies, planning grand adventures, and spending far too much time online. She lives with her husband, three sons, and a houseful of imaginary characters in a windy corner of Alberta, Canada.

Ms. Stone is represented by Morty Mint of Mint Literary Agency.

Author Site | Second Author Site | All the Feels | Goodreads | Twitter

Twitter-sized bite:

Is it possible to make the leap from indie to traditionally pub'd author? @Danika_Stone says yes & here's how. (Click to tweet)

Imposter Syndrome and the Writing Community by Julia Ember

Photo credit: kafkan on Flickr

Before I got back into the swing of writing creatively, I spent several years trying to be an academic. I made it through my Masters and two years into my PhD program before depression set in and I realised I was pursuing a goal that made me unhappy. Imposter syndrome was a term I used to hear all the time: at conferences, in the postgraduate halls. In the academic circles, it was sort of expected that everyone below the rank of Full Professor felt it. Worse, that it was desirable. We were all afraid that we didn’t belong, that our work was inferior, that we’d somehow deceived our respective PhD programmes into admitting us, that we just weren’t smart enough.

People don’t talk about Imposter Syndrome quite as much in the writing community. Unfortunately, I think it’s equally prevalent. Underlying the anxiety of Imposter syndrome is a feeling that you don’t belong. Many writers start out on the fringes of the community and they’re afraid to engage with established writers because they see themselves as interlopers. For many writers, that feeling of not belonging and the fear of exposure don’t go away.

Back in October, I went to my first writing conference (yay!). I was terrified that people would ostracise me because I didn’t have an agent. I internalised a lot of that fear and told myself that if they didn’t like me it was because I was worthless as a writer.

I’m happy to report that I made lots of friends at all stages of their writing journey and I didn’t feel left out. However, when I talked to other writers, it was amazing to realise just how many of them were suffering with anxieties like mine. An agented writer thought she had conned her agent into thinking she could write, since she’d been on submission for a year. A multi-published author was struggling after with internalised self-doubt after her publisher dropped her. Even the keynote speaker, a NY Times bestselling author, talked about her fear that her fans would realise her previous novel had all been a fluke.

I’m not going to pretend I have the answers to solving Imposter Syndrome or other forms of anxiety. I do think it’s important to remember that so many other writers go through the same experience, no matter what level they’re at. Maybe those shared experiences are what ‘membership’ in the community is about? We all have experiences to offer. Fears or not, you aren’t alone.

Note from Julia: I am more than happy to respond privately to anyone via e-mail (julia_ember@yahoo.com) who is experiencing anxiety or feelings of impostor syndrome if they want to chat but aren't comfortable sharing on the blog comments.


A world traveller since childhood, Julia Ember has now visited over 60 countries. Her travels inspire the fictional worlds she writes about and she populates those worlds with magic and monsters. Unicorn Tracks is her first novel and will be published by Harmony Ink Press in April 2016.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Twitter-sized bites:

Do you struggle with Imposter Syndrome? @jules_chronicle says you're not alone. (Click to tweet)  

"For many writers, that feeling of not belonging & the fear of exposure don’t go away." (Click to tweet)

How Writers Can Use Pinterest by Alyssa Carlier

Photo credit: Larry Miller on Flickr

I used to think Pinterest was for recipes or fashion blogs—until one time, I got the traffic in one day that I normally get in an entire WEEK. Crazy moment.

Turns out my blog post went viral on Pinterest. Coolest thing? It wasn’t even my pin—someone else read my blog post and decided to pin it. Pinterest can bring in readers even when you're not actively pinning on the site.

Here’s how writers can use Pinterest:

1. Promote your own blog posts. Create a board JUST for posts of your own blog. That way, when new followers see your profile, they can easily find all your posts in a single place. But of course you should also have boards for pinning other people’s helpful blog posts!


2. Adapt your images for Pinterest. If you’ve decided to leverage Pinterest as your main traffic source (high five!), use tall images so they take up more space in the Pinterest feed. Include your blog post title in the image as well! Most people are skimming on Pinterest, and a bold headline can catch their attention.


3. Include a description in your pins. Here’s an easy formula if you’re not sure how to describe your post: problem + explanation + read this post! For example: Tired of YA science fiction cliches? This post discusses ways to subvert science fiction tropes. Read it to make your sci-fi more unique!


4. Join group boards! To find group boards, search keywords such as “Sci-fi writing tips” in the Pinterest search bar, check out “boards”, and look for those with the grey silhouettes of people in the upper right hand corner.


5. Include a RELEVANT link in your board descriptions. Say you have an inspiration board for your Fabulous Space Novel. So include in the board description, “Find out more about Fabulous Space Novel here: [link to blog page]!”


6. Inspiration board for manuscripts. Let’s be honest, this is a procrastination tool more than anything else. But more than once, a pin has helped me visualise a character more clearly … besides, it is super fun.

Do you use Pinterest? Why or why not?


Alyssa Carlier scribbles YA fantasy novels about empowered, diverse girls (like herself) in worlds of magic, madness, and murder (unlike herself). Interested in developing your online presence? Join her takeout army and grab the 30-step action guide to define your blogger trademark!


Twitter-sized bites: 

Writer @AlyssaC_HK shares 6 ways writers and bloggers can use Pinterest to their advantage. (Click to tweet) 

Writers, do you use Pinterest? Join the discussion hosted by @AlyssaC_HK on @Ava_Jae's blog. (Click to tweet)

Vlog: 5 Dialogue Don'ts

Oh, look! It's a dialogue vlog on bookishpixie! Dialogue is one of my favorite parts of writing, but sometimes it can be tricky to get right. So here are five quick things you DON'T want to do while writing dialogue.

RELATED LINKS: 

• Writing Tip: Don't Be Afraid of Said
• The Dangers of Dialect
• On Writing Realistic Dialogue
• How to Write Realistic Dialogue
• How (Not) to Write Dialogue

Have you made these common dialogue mistakes? What other issues do you frequently see with dialogue?

Twitter-sized bites: 

Not sure where to start w/ dialogue? @Ava_Jae vlogs about 5 things you DON'T want to do when writing dialogue. (Click to tweet) 

Author @Ava_Jae vlogs about 5 common problems w/ dialogue—are you making this common mistakes? #writetip (Click to tweet)

Fixing the First Page Feature Giveaway #21!

Photo credit: Rrrodrigo on Flickr

So it occurred to me that with my impending travels and blog all scheduled through the 25th, that maaaaybe I should get the fixing the first page giveaway going sooner rather than later. Because apparently after travels March will be practically over. O.O

So! The 21st Fixing the First Page giveaway is a go!

For those who’ve missed it in the past, the Fixing the First Page features is a public first 250 word critique. Using the lovely rafflecopter widget, anyone interested in winning a PUBLIC (as in, featured in a post on this blog) first page critique can enter.

For an example of what this critique will look like, here's the last Fixing the First Page post.

Rules!

• ONLY the first 250 words will be critiqued (up to finishing the sentence). If you win and send me more, I will crop it myself. No exceptions.


• ONLY the first page. I don’t want 250 random words from your manuscript, or from chapter 3. If you win the critique and send me anything other than the first 250 words of your manuscript, I will choose someone else.


• I will actually critique it. Here. On the blog. I will say things as nicely as I can, but I do tend to be a little blunt. If you’re not sure you can handle a public critique, then you may want to take some time to think about it before you enter.


• Genre restrictions. I'm most experienced with YA & NA, but I will still accept MG and Adult. HOWEVER. If your first page has any erotic content on it, I ask that you don’t enter. I want to be able to post the critique and the first 250 in its entirety without making anyone uncomfortable, and if you win and you enter a page with erotic content, I will choose someone else.


• You must have your first page ready. Should you win, you need to be able to submit your first page within 48 hours of my contacting you to let you know you won. If 48 hours pass and I haven’t heard from you, again, I will choose someone else.


• You’ll get the most out of this if it isn’t a first draft. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if you’re handing me a first draft (though I will probably suspect because it’s usually not that difficult to tell). I won’t refuse your page if it’s a first draft, but you should know that this critique will likely be of more use if you’ve already had your betas/CPs look over it. Why? Because if you don’t, the critique I give you will probably contain a lot of notes that your betas & CPs could have/would have told you.


• There will not be a round 2 (unless you win again in a future contest). I hate to have to say this, but if you win a critique, it’s NOT an invitation to send me a bunch of your revisions. I wish I had the time available to be able to look at revisions, but sadly, I don’t. If you try to break this rule, I will nicely say no, and also remember to choose someone else should you win a second contest. Which would make me sad. :(

So that’s it! If you’re okay with all of the above and would like to enter to be the twentieth public critique on Writability, do the thing with the rafflecopter widget below. You have until Wednesday, March 23 at 11:59 EST to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

World Building: Insider vs. Outsider

Photo credit: daniel.schiersner on Flickr

So I've been reading a decent amount of Fantasy lately (A Darker Shade of Magic, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (for the fifth time!), Sword and Verse, and The Wrath and the Dawn, to name a few), and it got me thinking about world building. Specifically, about two very different strategies various authors take when building their fantastical worlds.

The first provides a sort of outsider perspective, often (though not always) from a neutral, third-person narration, even if the characters themselves are from the world being built. This perspective explains a lot of background and details, delving into why things are the way they are, how things work, etc. while continuing with the story—almost as if the narrator is aware that someone outside of the world is reading the story and could use background information. This can be a really effective way to give readers a large scope of the world and everything involved. The good and bad, past and present, etc. is woven into the text alongside the story, and readers often walk away with a detailed understanding of what the world is like.

The second is a subtler approach, and provides what I like to think of as an insider perspective. Often, (though again, not always), this is done with a first person perspective, in which the protagonist experiences the world but doesn't necessarily explain every detail. Here, the presumption is that the readers will be able to put the gaps together themselves, because the protagonist, who is part of the world, wouldn't realistically feel a need to explain things that are obvious and natural to them. Instead, cultural tidbits are revealed to the reader as the protagonist experiences them, and are often left for the reader to interpret with minimal explanation.

Both methods require careful balance. With the outsider perspective, background information and explanations can easily become tedious and significantly slow down the plot if the author doesn't balance it with enough action and story. With the insider perspective, the world building can be confusing and incomplete if the author doesn't weave enough information into the book—the key is to give just enough information to immerse readers fully into the story world without going overboard.

In my own writing, I definitely tend toward the insider perspective strategy, though I think both can be exceptionally effective when handled well. Ultimately which strategy you'll use as a writer will depend on preference, but it's another way to think about crafting a world that'll live in your readers' imaginations forever.

Which method do you tend to prefer in your writing or reading? 

Twitter-sized bites: 

Struggling with world building? @Ava_Jae shares two strategies for approaching story world creation. (Click to tweet)

Guest Post Contest Winners!

Photo credit: SKupkowski on Flickr

So first and foremost, thank you to *all* who submitted guest post entries! You guys totally blew me away with not only the sheer number of entries, but the incredibly awesome quality of entries submitted. It was really, really difficult to narrow down the winners to just five—and even the ones I ended up not taking were still really incredible posts. I totally encourage the rest of you to post your entries on your own blogs, if you have them, because they were really awesome.

That said! I do indeed have five winners to announce, whose fantastic posts will be up on March 16th, 18th, 21st, 23rd, and 25th (so keep an eye out!).

And the winners are...

• Alyssa Carlier
• Julia Ember
• Lara Willard
• Danika Stone
• Wendy Chen

Yay! Congratulations, guys! I'll be e-mailing you shortly with your date and instructions for any more things I need from you.

To everyone else, thank you again for entering! I sincerely hope you post your entries online, because I really enjoyed reading them, and as I said, it was super difficult to choose.

I can't wait to share these fantastic posts with you guys shortly! :)