Adjusting Courses
Today we welcome Amy Atwell to Romance University. I’d like to start off by sharing Amy’s bio with you because it’s important for this post. Here’s the bio:
—2008 RWA® Golden Heart® finalist Amy Atwell has won awards in several contests including The Maggie, The Sheila and The Daphne, The Beacon and others. A member of Romance Writers of America for nine years, she hosts WritingGIAM, where goal-oriented writers share support and track progress. A professional theater veteran, she’s written non-fiction projects for Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The National Park Service, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Learn more about Amy at http://www.amyatwell.com
Now, you would think with that bio, Amy would be published by now, but she’s not. I asked Amy to share her thoughts on making career adjustments while trying to become a published author.
Here’s Amy!
It’s such a pleasure to join Romance University as a guest today. And to talk about Crafting Your Career? I’m all over it.
You see, I’ve been writing fiction with an eye toward publication for ten years.
Did you wince when you read that?
Don’t apologize. Frankly, I cringed a bit writing it. Oh, I could give you a litany of reasons why I’ve never sold. It’s a tough world out there. Ever changing markets. A suffering world economy. Technology blurring the traditional landscape of publishing. Sure, I’d like to blame my lack of publication on all these factors.
But the truth is I’m not published yet because I haven’t presented the “right” (marketable, fresh and well-crafted) manuscript to the “right” (loves my concept, loves my voice) editor at the “right” (there’s available budget and room on the publishing schedule) moment. Call it the holy trinity of publication. Or, for the more cynical, think of it as a slot machine where all three wheels must match before you win the jackpot.
I’ve had some successes along the way. Contest wins. A Golden Heart® final. Requests for full manuscripts from editors. Signed with a fabulous agent last year. Alas, so far, no jackpot.
I felt really confident about my first agented submission. This was the manuscript that had garnered so much editorial interest, had won praise from contest judges and beta readers. People loved the characters—especially Edgar the rabbit—and the quirky treatment of the Las Vegas setting.
But once we submitted, the responses from the editors surprised me: they loved the idea, and the characters were great, but they didn’t know how to market it. It was romantic suspense, but it was also a dark comedy. Too suspense-y to put in their contemporary romance line, but too funny to put in their romantic suspense line. I was sitting on the fence dividing two popular markets.
My next submission—a Regency era saga—met with eerily similar feedback. My story, while well-written, wasn’t sexy and streamlined enough to fit editors’ notions of historical romance, yet it lacked the immersion into that specific world to market it as a mainstream historical. Again, my manuscript straddled two popular fiction genres, but didn’t clearly fit either.
I’d written two very different stories, but I’d made the same key mistake in both. While I was aware of the sub-genres, I hadn’t defined my story to clearly fit into any particular one. Frankly, marketing the story to the public book buyer hadn’t been on my radar. I’d just been trying to catch the eye of an editor.
Well, I caught a lot of their eyes. A number of editors even commended my work. But none of them offered me a contract. I realized that in the evolving world of publishing Darwinism, I had to adjust my writing or face possible extinction.
I’m lucky to have a wonderful agent who believes in my voice and my ability to turn out another story. She suggested I go back and revise my Golden Heart® finalist manuscript from last year. The problem is I first plotted that story nearly ten years ago. At the time, it felt new and fresh. Looking at it a few months ago, the concept felt overdone and, to be honest, dull. Worse I now saw the same mistake I’d made twice before—this story was a romantic comedy but the subplot felt more like women’s fiction. Again, it was straddling markets. There wasn’t a lot of sense in spinning my wheels down this same road again. I mean, if the signs say “Road Closed,” you find an alternative route, right? So I came to a full stop, reviewed where I’d been, confirmed where I wanted to go, and set a new course.
Remember, my goal was to write fiction with an eye toward publication. Though I’d come close, I’d missed that target. To zero in on publication, I knew now I had to look more closely at the market.
Markets change. Popular culture changes daily. Heck, with Twitter, make that hourly.
Instead of working in a vacuum like I had with my first stories, I spent 45 minutes on the phone with my agent, discussing the market and what editors were seeking (note: this info is about four months old, but… BIG ST contemporaries, a la Debbie Macomber, more about family than about the romance only; paranormals—but they want something FRESH; sexy historical romances and commercial historical fiction are both being sought; RS is still doing well, though editors aren’t clamoring for it the way they used to).
Based on all that feedback, I sifted through my pile of story ideas. The work I’d done on my recent historical submission had reinforced for me that while I’d gotten great feedback over the years on my contemporary voice, my first love was historicals. I had a half finished manuscript I’d always hoped to get back and finish. It’s a late medieval historical suspense. I’d sent it to a critique partner a couple of weeks before, asking if she thought I could put a nice “sexy romance” spin on it.
Her feedback stopped me in my tracks. She suggested I go in the opposite direction—increase the historical context, add some real people from history as characters, and blend it into a commercial historical fiction. Basically, drop my fictional plot into the midst of real life events and intertwine everything.
My agent loved the idea. More to the point, she thinks it’s seriously marketable. When I hung up the phone, I felt this wave of relief. Not that she’d agreed with me, but that I was going to return to writing what I had first loved reading—big historical fiction stories with the emphasis on the history. I wasn’t chasing the market, I was finally giving myself permission to write outside the boundaries of romance. I see now I was trying to pigeonhole myself as a romance writer, but elements of my stories just refused to fit.
So, what have you learned today from my ten years’ experience?
1. If you want to write for publication, be aware of the markets.
2. Don’t chase the markets, but make an honest appraisal of your writing and how it fits—or doesn’t fit—within those markets.
3. Don’t give up writing stories you love, but consider how you choose to craft a story to make it a clear fit into one of the many sub-genres of fiction.
4. Don’t be afraid to change course. Yes, it’s scary, but you may discover you have a talent or a voice for a particular sub-genre.
5. If the market isn’t publishing the types of stories you love to write, don’t despair. Ten years ago, I was told the historical was all but dead. Now it’s one of the strongest selling sub-genres both as historical romance and mainstream historical fiction.
6. Read. Read everything. Read newspapers and magazines, read romances in your sub-genre, read outside your subgenre. Read literary classics. Read non-fiction. Reading refills your well of ideas. It energizes yet relaxes your mind. It keeps you abreast of the markets.
7. If you feel like you’re close but you’re not making that sale, don’t lose hope. Don’t give up. Slow down, try to identify what’s missing, and change course if needed.
And finally, if you plan to make writing your career, make sure you’ve stated your goal. Know what you want out of this career. Once you’ve got the goal, you can make an active plan on how to achieve it. Review it often and adapt whenever necessary.
And here’s hoping you all hit the publishing jackpot.
A special thanks to Amy for being here. She will be checking in today to answer questions so fire away!
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Hi Amy,
Welcome to Romance University! We’re delighted to have you join us.
I found your statement about straddling two subgenres amazing. We hear so much about agents/editors looking for cross-genre material. Do you think yours didn’t work because the subgenres were too far apart? I’m reaching here because I thought they sounded like an interesting read.
Thanks for sharing your story.
Tracey
Amy – Greetings, my frirend. As one who took ten years to sell, I can only say keep going. Each of us is on our own journey. I do want to caution readers, however. Whatever you sell will be what you will write, so be sure it is what you love, not just what you can sell. Sorry to sound convoluted, but I’m always in awe of those who can write across genres. I’m a one trick pony: historical. But even there, I have other time periods and other stories I’d like to tell. Yes, too romancy for historical fiction, too historical for romance. (And will, someday!) But my first sale was a medieval romance and I’m now writing my sixth. (And there will be more before I can branch out.) So when you review your projects and pick a focus, make sure you can play in that sandbox (market) for a long, long time.
Blythe,
So good to see you–thanks for stopping by. Your point is so true. I don’t recommend trying to write what appears to be selling. First off, what sells are great stories. The best way to write a great story is to write what you love.
Beautifully stated as always, Amy. Having been with you on a few of those bumps, I’d like to add one more element that’s crucially important: sheer gutsy determination. When it comes to your writing, you’re the Little Engine That Could. That, or the Unsinkable Molly Brown. I’m fascinated by your market analysis, but that’s the way it is, isn’t it? Also muttering, muttering to myself about in which market I’ll fit . . .
Beppie,
Thanks for the confidence (this is the kind of support I get all the time from my fellow GIAMers!). Some of my gutsiness over the years may have come from sheer ignorance (it’s bliss, you know). Publishers all say they don’t have guidelines, they want something fresh and new, but let’s face it: romance has form and structure to it. Each sub-genre has something unique that sets it apart from the others. We just need to be smart about what we’re writing.
Tracey,
I think editors are seeking cross-genre material. Look at the success of time travels (basically, paranormal mixed with historical), much of the paranormal market also has an element of romantic suspense to it, chick lit is a style of romantic comedy with a broader woman’s journey intertwined. But I would caution that when you blend genres, know which is your *primary* genre, and make sure the story fits that overall market. Think about how you’re blending the genres and WHY. It can be done — which is why I’m not nervous about an historical romantic suspense. But this time I know I’m targeting the commercial historical market with a story that has suspense elements.
Amy, welcome to RU!
How have you kept yourself going during the ups and downs of the past ten years? I have days where I think I should just go back to being a reader and leave the writing to the pros. Do you have any suggestions for beating back all the self-doubts?
Thanks so much,
Kelsey
PS – I want to second Beppie’s comments. Amy, you’re not only quite talented, but your generosity with your time and concern toward writers will pay you back in dividends, even though we all know that’s not the reason you’re so selfless with programs like GIAM and Golden Pen.
Kelsey,
I wish I could say I’ve been diligently writing throughout, but that would be a big fat lie. I’ve been disheartened, I’ve felt defeated, I’ve wondered if my dream of being published was a waste of time and energy. I think we can all agree that writers are notorious for flogging themselves with negativity.
My best recommendation: don’t try to do this writing/publishing thing in a vacuum. If you don’t have an agent yet, don’t fret. Find a few critique partners who understand your work (but don’t want to rewrite it for you). Surround yourself with other writers so you have a safety net to catch you on those awful days when you fall off the high wire into that dark abyss of despair. The GIAMers got me writing again after my mom’s sudden and unexpected death a few years ago. For that alone, I do what I can to “pay forward” to other writers with the GIAM writing community.
Great post! I love your analogy to a slot machine…so, so true. Even once you have an editor who loves your story, there’s a marketing department hurdle to clear. This is disturbing to me, as the emphasis on marketing deprives readers of the chance to experience fiction that is truly unique. If marketing departments can figure out how to market the many diverse products on the market, why is it so hard to market a book that merges two genres? I think publishing houses need to give readers more credit. If editors love the story, it shouldn’t have to fit in a pigeon hole to sell.
Adrienne, I also feel like throwing in the towel at times. At RWA I had the privilege to see Madeline Hunter (think you did, too!) and her presentation was so refreshingly honest about her path to publication. You’re likely to quit when you’re so close you can taste it. So we just need to hang in and hope our fingers don’t give out from all that pounding the keyboard ; )
Victoria,
This is exactly the problem so many writers encounter. An agent may love your story, an editor may love your story, but if they can’t get it past acquisitions (and marketing plays a key role here), you’re not going to sell. Editors may want fresh and new, but marketing wants something they feel has a track record of selling. Let’s not forget, it’s a multi-billion dollar business out there for the publishers.
Amy, you know how much I admire your determination and your thoughtful comments. I have been in the same boat as you for the last four years. I had fantastic feedback on my writing, but kept being told my work would be a difficult sell. I also finally realized I wasn’t a romance writer. When I went to start a new project, I looked at the market, and realized commercial historical fiction seemed to fit me best. And it worked out. I recently landed an agent with my Tudor-set historical suspense. Almost all the characters are real historical figures, but I’ve dropped a suspense plot into it (quite plausibly
) and the great thing is the two main characters did marry, so I get a romance as well. Let’s hope my agent can sell it, now 
.
Michelle,
Congrats on being smart enough to interpret that professional feedback. Tudor is very hot right now, and probably will continue to be so. Think of it–Henry VIII came to the throne 500 years ago, so we’re entering a period of 500 year anniversaries for all sorts of events. Marvelous news that you have an agent, and I hope we’ll be hearing about a sale soon.
Hi Amy and thank you for being with us. I think this is such an important topic for writers. I can’t agree more about your comment on finding the right critique partner. Kelsey and Tracey are probably rolling their eyes right now because this is such a hot topic for me! LOL. I think the right critique partner is an integral part of the process. I’ve had ones who derailed me to the point where I was so confused I couldn’t write. Luckily, I have found a group (big shout-out to Kelsey, Petrina and Tracey!) that I hope to keep for as long as they’ll have me! All joking aside, I always know their comments come from a good place and I trust their judgement. The trust factor, for me, is the big difference. The critique process can be so rewarding if you have people that push you, but do it in a positive way.
Adrienne,
Everything you say about finding the right Critique Partner is so true. But there is another element to it. I think a writer has to achieve a certain confidence in her writing. Otherwise, the feedback becomes a potential minefield. I’ve seen CP relationships that did more damage than good (as you point out). I have six CPs. Yes, SIX. Not that everyone of them reads everything I write, but I trust their input, and I’ve learned to understand their personal biases. I factor this in as I filter through the feedback. I’m also a huge fan of Beta Readers. Get ten people to read your finished manuscript and filter all the general feedback at once. Something that bothers one person probably isn’t a huge issue. But something that bothers eight people–there’s something you need to address.
Hugs and High 5s for your stick-to-itiveness … I think it’s job #1 for writers! We’re the queens and kings of rebounding from rejection!
Amy, we know you can write!!! Can’t wait for the slots to start ringing in your favor. I think it really is a matter of “when” not “if” as long as we stick to it, keep telling the stories of our hearts, and honing our skills.
Thanks for all you do to keep us all motivated.
Nancy
So true, Nancy. We may not always succeed, but we’ll never know what we might have accomplished if we give up.
Amy, your perseverance and undying commitment to see yourself and other writers succeed has been so inspiring to me. I’ve learned so much about attitude from you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I appreciate your candor, your willingness to share the difficulties you’ve experienced, and (this is the important part) what you’re going to overcome those challenges. Plunking away at the computer then sending creations out into the world is frightening. For the most part, once you press Send, you’ve lost control over what happens next for all the reasons you outlined. To hear what you’ve done to regroup and regain control is very inspiring.
Do you feel that by doing well in contests and having positive feedback from industry professionals (nice rejections) helped validate that you are a a good writer, that you are on the right track with your writing? Throughout all this did you ever have any self-doubt? If so, what did you do that helped you overcome those feelings? Or did you always know that if you stuck with it, those slot machine wheels would line up one day?
On a side note, I recently watched the finale of the next Food Network Star. Both final candidates were wonderful. I could see both of them having their own show on the Food Network. But there could only be one winner, only one slot was available. So I believe it came down to marketing. What segment of their marketing audience did they want to attract? Did they have similar shows and needed to appeal to a different group of people now? Or do they want to offer more of the same to their core viewers?
Your post reminded me of the finalist, Jeffrey, who wasn’t chosen. He was wonderful, his food was wonderful, I loved his personality. But evidently, the market conditions weren’t right for him at this exact moment in time. I’m hoping the Food Network will find something for him, because he’s fabulous. Just like I hope you’ll find a publisher who feels the same about you.
Laurie
Laurie, your comparison to chefs on the various cooking competition shows is right on the money. And that’s because fine food, like stories, are a matter of taste to the consumer. One chef might not be *better* than another, but one might have more *appeal* to an audience.
Contests did help get me on track after taking a writing hiatus. I sent out three different manuscripts to a bunch of contests in 2007-08, and if I do the math right, 14 of my 19 contest entries finaled or won awards. Even I was surprised by that ratio. Then the agent interest was a capper. I spent nearly four months going back and forth with her about what I’d written. She read four of my partials and two fulls–and she loved the broad range of my writing styles. Of course, I also had humbling moments, like the face-to-face pitch to an editor where I pitched three different story lines and she didn’t like any of them. She knew I was a GH finalist, had other contest wins, and she assured me she thought I was probably a very good writing. “But we’re not looking for good writing,” she said. “We’re looking for bestsellers.”
That was my first wake up call. I could write the most well-written story imaginable, but if it didn’t grab a wide audience immediately, I might not ever sell.
The doubts are still there, but I’ve also come to accept that Reading Is Subjective. Truly, write it out and post it near your computer. Not all readers are going to love everything you write. Accept it and move on. Keep writing–the more you write, the more you develop your skill. Pay attention to the markets and look for connections to what you love to write.
What an informative and inspirational post! I often find myself straddling the line between defined genres of romance. The advice from your own experience is something I needed to hear. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
You’re welcome, Brynna. One of the best encounters I’ve had with an editor was meeting Kate Duffy from Kensington a few years ago. I pitched the manuscript that later finaled in the GH, and I told her it straddled the line between romance and women’s fiction. She asked why I described it that way. When I explained a little about my plot, she gave me her straightforward wisdom (anyone who’s met Kate will tell you she’s DIRECT): my story was NOT a women’s fiction, it was clearly straight romance. Why? I had a contemporary plot with an “arranged marriage” device. She went on to explain that from her viewpoint, Women’s Fiction is rooted in REALITY while romance dances along the edge of pure FANTASY. She helped me understand mixing those two elements in the same story was not helping my chances of getting published. Needless to say, that manuscript is on my pile of “get back to this one day and revise heavily”.
Amy, I’ve always thought you were an incredibly positive and focused person, and the fact that you’ve never given up says a lot about you. You’re also selfless, as your GIAM family can attest to. I remember the first time I saw your name; we’d both finaled in the same contest (I think it was the query letter one…it’s been awhile…LOL). And like you said, you were winning contests left and right. I have no doubt when you do sell, it’s going to be big, like a three-story deal. But I am sort of curious as to why you’ve never gone the e-publishing route, just to get your name out there as a ‘published’ author?
Donna, thanks for all the faith! I’ve considered e-publishing a few times, but I’ve never taken the leap. It’s not that I don’t believe in e-publishing, in fact, I think we’re going to see even more of it in the next 5-10 years. I think publishing is due for a major shift into the 21st century of technology. But *my* dream of being published has always been rooted in the traditional printed books in the bookstores. The big NY brick and mortar publishers. It’s not that I think I’ll make a bigger bundle of money. In fact, those advances seem to be shrinking every year as the e-publishing competition nibbles its way further into the marketplace.
To help put it in context, my grandfather and my uncle ran a printing business. My grandmother reviewed children’s books for The Cleveland Press back in the 1950s. My mother had a master’s degree in library science. I grew up surrounded by the sight, smell and tactile sensation of BOOKS. And that’s why I keep pursuing this traditional channel of publication.
Wonderfully said, Amy! Your perserverence is inspiring. And, as we learn at each conference, and workshop, or just online, many authors have gone through a similar journey. So while it can sometimes feel so solitary out there, we are definitely not alone. I’m eternally thankful I got to meet you in Atlanta and signed up with GIAMx2! Thanks for all you do!
Hi Amy, a wonderful post and terrific inspiration. Finding your own niche is really difficult sometimes, especially for any writer who loves a variety of genres, and finding one that the entire buying time of a publisher loves, can market and agrees to buy is even more difficult I imagine. It’s never been much of a choice for me, historical romance is where my heart is so that’s where I stay… although I have stayed out of certain eras that I would LOVE writing in because I was afraid they weren’t “hip” enough for the big publishers. Writing an Elizabethan era historical romance is my greatest goal someday.
I agree with Stacey Joy, your perseverance is inspiring.
First off, kudos to Amy for sticking in there & zeroing in on what she needed to do to sell. There is a bright side to being late to the publishing party – and that’s all the education you get about the business over the years. I know because I was late to the party, but recently sold. And believe me, I’m very glad to have learned so much from pubbed friends and my own research. It kept me from making critical mistakes.
I started to respond to the comments on marketing since that is my day job, but that could be an entire post.
Anyway, Amy, I look forward to congratulating you on your first sale one day soon.
Amy, I enjoyed your article, although I feel for you. That wisdom you shared so eloquently took ten years to acquire. However, I see you poised and ready for that contract I’m sure is soon to come your way.
After completing five inspirational historicals, I decided to try my hand at a contemporary. My thinking was it might be an easier sell. Not in my case. My voice does not work for a contemporary. My characters sound old and outdated. LOL.
I returned to what I most enjoy writing, and I’m far happier. It took a while for me to realize that if I had sold a contemporary, I might have been asked to write another, and I had no idea what II would have done. However, I have more ideas for historicals than I may ever have time to write.
Keli, I’m so glad you’ve found your way “home” to what you love to write. Markets will come and go, but we must have faith in our voices, our characters and the stories we dream of sharing.
Thanks Stacey, Jeannie, and Vicky for stopping by! I know some of you have your own multi-year journey stories to add to mine. It would be so nice if there were some neat, well-marked path to publication, wouldn’t it? Instead, it’s a jungle filled with beauty and adventure and riddled with blood-sucking critics. I’m now in the jungle so deep, I may as well find my way to the publication side rather than give up and try to find my way back to my non-writing existence.
Amy you amaze me with your positive determination, all the while supporting so many others. You are so close and when you sell it is going to be huge.
Thanks, Karin. You are one of those terrific women who gives so much, I’m glad to count you as one of my role models!
Great article Amy! Everyone is rooting for you!
I agree about the e-publishing vs an actual book – i like the feel of a real book in my hands too! Soemday…. =)
I personally am marketing for a Harlequin style book, and they say the same as you…read read read….I might have to get a 2nd or 3rd job to pay for the books alone, but it’s worth it to understand the various markets and ask myself WHY did this one get published? and try to analyze them…last night I caught myself trying to edit a book I was reading..lol…
Can’t wait to see you in print, I’m sure you’ll be a success!
carrie
Carrie, It’s so true that many writers hit a point where it’s difficult for them to read for pleasure. Time is so limited, I feel like I should be reading things in my sub-genre. But I’ve found that reading outside genres, even outside of fiction, helps to spark my imagination. Best wishes to you, too!
Great post, Amy. As someone else who took a while to sell, my advise is to also keep going. When I stopped writing what I thought I should be writing and wrote what I wanted to write, I penned a story that was sellable.
Keena, isn’t it nice to be rewarded for doing what you love? And you’re so right about not quitting. I’ve heard dozens of stories from authors who nearly gave up when they later discovered they were inches from that first sale. You are one of those hardworking and talented writers who hit the jackpot. Celebrate!
Amy, thanks for sharing your story so far. I KNOW it’s going to have a very happy ending because a courageous heroine like you deserves one.
You give great advice and a wonderful perspective on this fun but crazy ride.
Anne, may we all find happy endings in our personal heroine journeys. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage not to give up when we feel beaten.
What a fantastic and thoughtful blog. Your analysis of what’s needed to get published is spot-on; I’d never really thought about it that way before, but the holy trinity of publication is exactly what it is.
You certainly have the talented to get published, and you also have the flexibility and the endurance. I think, these days, we all need those qualities to achieve our goals as writers.
Amy,
Great post! Can’t wait until the day that you’re an “overnight” success.
Vanessa and Walt, Wow, ten years to “overnight success.” Well, if that’s the way it has to be. As for flexibility and endurance–yes, those are necessary. I’m getting back on the Wii tomorrow. (What, every writer doesn’t use the Wii to workout?)
Thank you all for a fantastic day!
Chiming in late from the West Coast! Amy, your flexibility and adaptability are going to be your friends in the end. You have the hardest part down already – it’s hard to learn how to write or learn how to tell a story in an engaging way. It’s a lot easier to change genres or target a specific audience. Wow statement and so true: “But we’re not looking for good writing,” she said. “We’re looking for bestsellers.” And for category romance they’re not looking for good writing so much as those familiar hooks that our category readers love and expect. I learned I could do that – and you’ll do what it takes to get published too!
Carol,
You’re so right. Editors want the familiar but with a new twist. They want fresh, but they want the traditional flavors readers have come to expect from a category line. The market does play into it. You’ve been an inspiration (I’ve been watching Carol learn the ropes through Harlequin Intrigue, and she’s now hitting the jackpot regularly!) Kudos to you!
Amy, great to ‘see’ you here. I started a story last month and it was like I discovered what I was supposed to write. Been trying seriously since 2004 and just now discovering myself. Talk about a late bloomer. LOL My CP said I was leaving my emotions out of my writing, hiding from them, and she was so right. Now I’m writing something that hits, not close to home, right at home, and it is scary and exciting and thrilling all at the same time.
Jill, Isn’t it cool when you find that right story, that right voice, that right sub-genre that somehow frees you to tell the story you’ve been wanting to tell? Here’s to all us late bloomers making a successful go of our writing! It’s truly a roller coaster, complete with thrills and excitement.
I keep learning new things about Amy! Sometimes we need to change plans. Your words are encouraging and helpful, as usual.
Amy,
Great post! It’s always interesting to me to see how others analyze their work and the market. And the info about blending two genres was fascinating.
Chiming in as late as I am, I can only agree with what everyone else has said–you’re going to hit the jackpot. And it’s going to be a big one!
Best,
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Awesome post! With my current book, I’m thinking of what is marketable and what I like to read. This time, I hope I have it right. I have a gut feeling that your historical is right for you.
HI Army,
I read your post with great interest. Your name is very familiar to me from the RWA loops through the years, and I know when you do sell, you will have beat the problem of name recognition. Many of us have benefited from your strong volunteerism ethic.Thanks for that.
Like you, I spent plenty of time in the arcade game of finding of publisher, flipping here and there with requests and rejections. Also like you, I sought to keep improving my style and grounding myself more fully in craft. I learned that while I enjoy a romance and look for it in any book I read, that the mystery/suspense element is what I really love. That realization changed my focus and defined my core story. My books have mystery and romance elements, but I vary the octane mix to fit in different genres. Once I hit on that, I sold in both mystery and romance.
I beleive you will find the success you seek because you are true to your core story. Many writer friends of mine sold like gangbusters once that first contract came through. I know you’ll do well.
Best wishes!!!
Maggie, Thanks for your lovely comments. Oh yes, I’ve been around the RWA loops for *years.* LOL I feel a bit like an old war horse on the PRO loop. I’d be horribly jealous of all the wonderful writers who’ve sold except that I remind myself that the publishing world doesn’t have a finite number of book contracts. When the right book hits the right editor at the right time, BAM, it WILL sell. So happy to hear you hit the jackpot in both genres. You’re an inspiration.
Mary, Barbara & Edie, thanks for stopping by and offering the encouragement. I know many people share the ups and downs of this difficult journey to publication. It’s so important to remember we’re not completely alone in experiencing the disappointments of a story that didn’t quite sell. All we can do is keep analyzing, keep trying to work out what appeals to readers, what hooks editors, and what we love to write.
What a wonderful article. Wow, Amy, you really offer a good perspective. Ironic and rather sad though that so much depends on marketing. There are some terrific stories out there that readers would fall in love with if not for this daunting restriction.
I know you will be published because you have the necessary ingredients: persistence, passion, patience, optimism and genuine talent.
Keeping my fingers crossed that the day will come soon.
Thanks again for this wonderful and uplifting post!
–Chiron O’Keefe
The Write Soul: http://www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com
Yes i found it was buggy as well, the pages here load really slowly. I suppose it happens sometimes with servers