The Author and Agent Relationship

I often get asked: Do you have an agent?

Nope. I don't.

However, I think agents can be a valuable resource!

I've really enjoyed being an Indie Author. As a control freak, being able to have final say in all publishing matters appeals to me. Yet, it is a lot of work. That's why I would recommend saying yes to an agent if they want you for a client. In fact, for many authors, getting an agent is the dream!

But I would like to add a word of caution...while I don't have an agent, I am friends with several authors that do or have had agents. The horror stories I've heard about a few (and I stress a few) author/agent relationships is disturbing. Working with someone to sell your book is not a step you want to rush into.

Believe it or not, you may not want to say yes to the agent--or at least not until you are sure they are really a right fit for you. Hopefully, you've done your homework before submitting queries to an agent and you know what kind of genre they represent. Checking them out on the many Preditor/Editor sites out there is a wise idea, too.

But how do you really know if it's going to work out? Hmmm....well, you don't. Once you've got an agent that doesn't mean you get to sit back and twiddle your thumbs. What if your agent isn't doing their job? I mean, they are suppose to be hustling your work into the hands of publishers. Sometimes that process can take just as long as finding an agent and be twice as discouraging!

If you feel that your agent isn't really doing anything to sell your work and you've done all the edits/rewrites they suggested, well....maybe it's time to let them go. After all, it's suppose to be a partnership! You may be an artist with words, but dang it! You're in it to make a buck, too. I know, I know! What if you can't get another agent? Don't be silly. You were good enough to attract this one. You're good enough to attract one who will sell your book.

You must be an advocate for you! If you aren't, no one else will be either.

If you choose to part ways with an agent, be respectful. Be kind. The publishing world is still a relatively small place so don't go burning bridges!

Good luck to you!

A miss is as good as a mile

It's an old proverb but as true now as it was the day that it was coined. From the perspective of a book publisher, it means missing the market - a case of not understanding demand or missing out on a fickle fad or trend. Explaining it is also a problem the aforesaid publisher can have with authors whose egos bizarrely stand between them and literary success.

The problem lies with the definition of what constitutes 'well written'. A contract may be well-written in that it is clear, covers all eventualities and is fair to both parties, a wedding speech may be well-written in that it embarrasses the bride or groom by just the right amount without its cringe factor exceeding the socially acceptable norm, and a song can contain lyrics which are truly meaningful to its listeners. Being well-written doesn't make any of these three examples worth turning into a book - this is the message that publishers frequently finds themselves having to communicate to authors who've convinced themselves (or allowed themselves to be convinced) that their novel is 'hot stuff' and destined for great things.

Aim carefully!

The thing is that it might be - but often not in its presented condition. A canny publisher will be au fait with the latest trends in the market and fully aware of what the public is buying en masse. A new book may tap into this demand but then deviate to such a degree that the publisher knows full well that the novel's publication would be a frustrating and fruitless experience. For obvious reasons, that's not a decision which some authors find easy to accept.

While originality is not to be discouraged in author submissions, in most cases an excess of it is counter-productive. This is the point - the book may be extremely well written but, through being 'weird and wonderful' (in the eyes of the average reader), it renders itself non-commercial and against the primary raison d'être of the publisher which, like any business, is simply to be a profitable enterprise.

Another reason for authors missing the target occurs when they decide to mix genres. An erotic space opera family saga or a western romantic crime story may sound original but they’re also highly confused. Each theme will, in principle, appeal to three discrete markets yet each of these three markets will be 'turned off' by the other two genres represented in the book. For example, someone who wants a crime story is unlikely to be keen on reading pages of cow-poking and bodice-ripping. While a book publisher can see this from their more remote and 'universal' perspective, the average author, having invested months of hard effort in producing their book, will not want to hear that what they have written just won't sell.

It's so, so easy to go off on a tangent and anyone can do it - even the most experienced and famous of authors. That's why the lasting advice has to be to listen to the words of your friendly publisher because they know the market best. After all, you want a hit, not a miss.

Any Subject Books is both a publisher and provider of self-publishing services. New authors are welcome to submit their books for inclusion or independent authors may be interested in the range of publishing packages which are on offer - everything from brainstorming and ghost-writing to editing, cover design, blog tour arranging, distribution, book trailers and autograph hosting.

Authors and Book Reviewers: Why can't they just be friends?

Today we celebrate our Independence Day as a country! America is a place where freedom of speech is allowed and something we writers depend on. What better topic than to discuss the rights of the book reviewer!

I've recently run across several review sites on Amazon and Goodreads were a book reviewer and the author of the book they reviewed was behaving badly. And by badly I mean, badly.  I'm pretty sure there was both virtual hair pulling and nipple twisting involved in several of these cases. While I admit that a part of me was intrigued and somewhat excited at this display of unprofessional behavior, I couldn't help but think, wow. That's so sad. In the end, it made me think that about the importance of being a good, but fair reviewer and how as an author, you have to not let a review or even a comment about the review, get under your skin.

Since I work on both sides of that slippery slope, I know how hard it can be!

So I thought about a few things that both reviewers and authors can try to keep in mind.

1. Opinions are like first time manuscripts. Everyone's got one shoved away in the back of their closet, and they can make or break any relationship. You don't have to like everything a writer has written. There is no rule book I've seen as a reviewer that says that you do. It's okay to write that you don't like something, but my opinion is that if you want people to respect your thoughts, think carefully about how you express them.

Authors, opinions are not the end all, be all, final last word on your book. It may sting to hear criticism but be professional. You'll get a lot more respect if you keep your mouth shut than if you start talking smack on the internet about the reviewer. That just makes you look petty.

2. What are the good things? I believe as a reviewer that there should be a least one positive aspect that you can write about the book. It may be the book cover. It may be a minor character that keeps you from falling asleep. Maybe it's the way the author handles the setting. Try to find something that sounds positive. Why? After all it goes back that opinion thing, doesn't it? Yes, but saying at least one thing that positive can help you not look like such a giant jerk.

Authors take the positive and learn from the negative. Better yet, take the negative and ask yourself if perhaps the reviewer is right. Is the pacing of your story off? Should you try to cut some backstory? Maybe hiring an editor isn't such a bad idea for the next book….

3. Genre can sometimes be to blame for a bad review for a good book.  Let's face it: I don't like erotic murder mysteries with a touch of steampunk in them. It's just not my thing. As a result, I try not to review the genre erotic mystery steampunk (I'm making that genre up, by the way). Surely, I'm not alone in not enjoying every type of genre out there though. Sometimes a reviewer's review comes off as negative because it's just not their favorite style of book--not because the writing is poor.

Authors, before asking a reviewer to read your book, make sure they understand what genre it is, especially if your book cover or synopsis is misleading. In fact, don't send it to a reviewer who doesn't like that style of novel. If you are part of a book tour and the tour manager sends it to a reviewer who gives it negative press, it may well be a genre thing. Don't worry about it!

A few weeks ago I wrote a book about how negative reviews can actually be helpful for the author. Sometimes a review suggests that something is so bad that a reader has to see for themselves just how bad it is. However, sometimes negativity can be bad for the reviewer. If you are malicious or rip up a book just for the sake of doing it, then people won't see you as a credible source.

Now, back to virtual hair pulling and nipple twisting! Happy Fourth of July!

Tax Tips for Writers

Hey writers, did you know that you can claim a good chunk of your writing expenses on your taxes? It's true. If you are actively pursuing a career in writing (which means submitting, not boundless reams of paper hiding out in your home office), then you can claim all expenses associated with that pursuit.

I've been doing this for a couple years but just recently realized most writers don't know that they can. The trick is to treat it like a business. I have a separate checking account for all of my writing expenses. My copywriting, short stories, and other related payments are deposited into this account. From this account, I purchase all office supplies, books on writing/publishing, workshops, conferences, even travel expenses and meals while I am at meetings (there are special restrictions on how much you can claim for meals). I also claim my hosting fees for my author site and the cost of backing up my files on a remote server so I never lose my genius work!

To do this without getting in trouble again you have to treat it like a business, keep accurate records (receipts, receipts, receipts!), and to keep things totally legit, have a separate account for those transactions. Agent Rachel Gardener had a great post about taxes on her blog, with more in-depth info on resources and websites.

**OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER*** I am not a CPA, nor I have I ever wanted to be, impersonated as such, or otherwise claimed. This is not professional advice and you can't sue me if the IRS comes after you. You really should go talk to a CPA and find out what you can/can't claim and how to go about it.