seeking someone who has "done this before"

[kara]

so, I know that the Lord has directed me to this, but I can't help sometimes but see the mountain standing in front of me!!! : )

As I am neck deep in still piecing together the content of my book, can anyone offer tips, etc on formating, contect requirements...What is the "right way" to do this...to be able to submit to an agent or pub co? how much do I need finished?

Also, first things first, as far as editing, since my book is different topically for each ch...would you suggest editing the whole book straight through (as some have suggested), or would you say do it in depth a ch at a time...

sorry if this is supposed to be a no brainer, I have just never done anything like this before, and could use any help I can get! : )

thank you and many blessings to you all!!!

k

[tlm]

Are you asking how to format to self-publish your book? I am not sure I understand your questions.

[TanyaSue]

Are you doing fiction or nonfiction? It makes a big difference in how to answer each of your questions.

[didot]

Kara,
I'm a new member and have just finished a book. Having researched this a bit, let me share what's helped me. First, yes, finish the book before contacting anyone unless you are already published and can get by with "what you're going to do." Second, get other people to read it...as many trusted, smart people as you can find. My book is fiction; yours, I assume, might be non-fiction from the sound of things. But getting input is important in either case. The "brillance" I saw in some of my work didn't go over big some people and after editing based on their comments, I am quite pleased with the results. Don't loose heart. At one point, I had the scissors and manuscript on the floor making a mess until the pieces literally fell together. Lastly, join a writer's group and/or get to some conferences. Do everything you can. Get everyone's opinions/advice/etc., including this, pick out what works and doesn't and remember, in the end, who you really work for and that if He commisioned you for something, you will succeed as He wills.

[TanyaSue]

Kara,
First, yes, finish the book before contacting anyone unless you are already published and can get by with "what you're going to do."

Do NOT do this if you are writing nonfiction. Like I said previously, fiction and nonfiction are completely different when it comes to seeking publication. If you are writing fiction, YES - write your book first. If you are writing nonfiction, you need to write a PROPOSAL before you write your book. Publishers do not buy nonfiction books -- they buy proposals. You write the book after signing a contract with the publisher. (Note that a proposal does include three sample chapters, but you don't need to write the whole thing.) It's easier for an editor to tweak a proposal than a whole book.

There are many here (including me!) who are happy to help you learn the process, but we need to know a little more about your project before we can answer your questions. If we know more, we can be sure to give you the correct advice for your book.

[love2write]

Both didot and Tanya are right...to a degree. In fiction, you do need to finish your novel before you begin querying agents or publishers. As far as proposals for non-fiction, you should write a proposal certainly, and you can present this to agents and publishers before you finish the book. However, you can present a proposal and the finished book. In the proposal you let them know the manuscript status, whether it is complete or a projected time of completion. Publishers do buy non-fiction books all the time that have been completed at the time an author has queried.

The advantage non-fiction writers have is they can present a proposal before they have completed a book. Novelists cannot.

[kriswrite]

The problem with writing a nonfiction book before you have a contract is that most of the time, editors want to tweak your idea. Nonfiction is really collaborative between author and editors...and editors should usually be headed, because they have a good idea of what readers are looking for.

For more on how to get started with your writing, check out this page: http://www.kristinaseleshanko.com/ForWriters.htm

Kristina

[kara]

Praise God!!! you all are exactly what I have been praying for! What a blessing! Here are a few details:
Genre: Non fiction
Audience: Christian singles
Brief "what": Redefining singleness by redefining who we are and who God sees us to be...written from the standpoint of two single, sisters (mid 20's) with very different experiences and opinions.
How is it different? We are not offering 5-7 easy steps to find a mate, and we are not promising successful dating or relationships...the point is to deepen one's relationship with God, and to focus on individual character and unique, devine purpose.

Do I need to worry about how much I "say" over the internet before things have been finished??? as far as copywrite stuff?

Really, If anyone can benefit from whatever I say regarding this topic, than I don't really care about who has access to it... I just want to be a tool, hopefully offering encouragement, insight, or sharpening... you know?

thanks again! I am so excited!!!

[SandRa]

Do I need to worry about how much I "say" over the internet before things have been finished??? as far as copywrite stuff?


Although the idea is new (I suppose), I'm sure you don't have to worry. Who could steal it? We're all Christians here!
OK, we can imagine non-Christian visitors come to this forum, but accidentally, not with the purpose to steal ideas. Non-Christians couldn't write for Christians. Well, of course they could, but they have another moral and they don't understand the psychology of Christians. So such writings wouldn't be popular or effective

[TanyaSue]

Do I need to worry about how much I "say" over the internet before things have been finished??? as far as copywrite stuff?


Sharing stuff on critique forums is not considered "publication", but posting it on open websites, like a blog or something like it, IS considered publication. This can cause issues when it comes to rights and payment. If parts are published on a website, a publisher will not pay first-rights -- which means you get paid a lot less. However, as I understand it, you can still get first-rights IF at least 50% of your material is new, never-before published.

All that said, it's a good idea to use secure online critiques -- like the private ones here -- and to never post your entire work. The general suggestion seems to be 15%. You can post that much and get solid critiques which you can apply to the whole piece -- without sharing the whole piece.

Speaking of critiques ... it's a good idea to find some test readers. These can be people in a local critique group or people you know online. These are trusted individuals to whom you can send your whole work for sound advice and critiques. Email is great for this.

[tlm]

Do I need to worry about how much I "say" over the internet before things have been finished??? as far as copywrite stuff?

It is probably harmless. Sometimes sharing an idea can cause hard feelings, though. My aunt shared that she was working on an autobiographical story about her childhood in a boarding school.

For years, I had been working on a ms for teens, fictional, about a family that became missionaries to Brazil. The setting is a boarding school. They are two VERY DIFFERENT stories.

The relative, however, believed I had stolen her idea. It left hard feelings by the time it was over, even though I have computer records showing when I first wrote this story (as a short story),

I seldom give many details about my stories, anymore, and I ask others to only be sketchy when they tell me their ideas. I don't like being called a thief.

[kara]

Thanks! I really appreciate it. I have been using some small sections for a few websites, but I will cut back now...although, one piece of advice was to put them on there bc it gave me some credibility for when I do want to get published...the idea being "it is hard to get published unless you are published". So, should I just try to use stuff I don't plan to include in the book?

[SandRa]

It is probably harmless. Sometimes sharing an idea can cause hard feelings, though. My aunt shared that she was working on an autobiographical story about her childhood in a boarding school.


Interesting story about aunt. I suppose she is not a Christian, because from Christian viewpoint such thoughts (especially about close people) are sins.

And what if the same idea appears in a mind of several people? The one who will realize it faster owns it, I suppose.

[tlm]

And what if the same idea appears in a mind of several people? The one who will realize it faster owns it, I suppose.

The kind author, Charles Turner, (Sometimes It Causes Me To Tremble and other books) once met with me at a Starbucks in Memphis and gave me some great writing advice and encouragement. As we talked about my book he kept telling me to be sketchy about the details. He told me that things like that sometimes happen and he didn't want anyone to think he had stolen from another author.

I let my guard down with the relative. My story was obviously fiction, hers non-fiction. There was no way I thought she would be offended that we were both writing about boarding schools.

I told my sister and mother that mine was as similar to hers as J.K. Rollins' was. After all, Harry Potter also lived in a boarding school. lol.

[Naomi Musch]

While you're trying to wade through this process, I would recommend you read the book: "Book Proposals That Sell" by W.Terry Whalin. Here's the site you'll find this at: http://www.right-writing.com

[kara]

thank you so much! It looks like a great site...I will have lots of fun exploring it!