Zack Smedley's Blog

8) To My Readers

Oh, my dear readers. Well…here we are. I’ve sat at this desk for the past 8 weeks chronicling my journey, and this post tonight marks the end of it. The last chapter of this story, and the beginning of a very different one. It’s astounding how fast these things go by, isn’t it?

(Bizarre analogy, but this post feels like the equivalent of Doctor Who giving a speech before they regenerate. I can just hear Capaldi’s voice…“Let’s get it right…basic stuff first!”)

Anyway. Basic stuff first.

To any...

7) Marketing as a Traditionally Published Debut Author

I started this blog series for two reasons: to help me collect my emotions during my debut year, and to create a helpful guide for the sparkling debuts after me. Tonight’s post leans heavily on the latter, which is a perfect segue to my first point…

Why. For the love of God. Are there not…more…guides…FOR MARKETING AS A TRADITIONALLY PUBLISHED DEBUT AUTHOR???

Don’t get me wrong, there are a few resources out there. And there’s my publicist, who’s great. But her job is to handle the background...

6) The Last Day With the Pass Pages

I finished writing the first draft of DEPOSING NATHAN on September 30, 2016. I remember that night distinctly, because I’d spent the day writing about 60 pages in 8 hours. When I finally reached the last few sentences, I could feel it—that realization that the thing I’d been creating was about to be…well, created. And then I typed “The End,” even if you’re not supposed to do that, and after I dried my tears, I went for a long run in the pouring rain.

And just over two years later, the first w...

5) The Story of the Cover (The Making of DEPOSING NATHAN, Pt. 2)

At the request of my editor, Lauren, I sat down in June of 2018 and submitted two lists to the team that would be creating my book cover.

SOME ELEMENTS I 100% LOVE

Simple covers (More Happy Than Not) Singular Imagery (Twilight)

SOME ELEMENTS I 100% DESPISE

People on the cover. I BESEECH YOU. Do not do this. Juvenile-esque visual elements (e.g. texting bubbles, emojis)

Lauren forwarded me the lead designer’s response: “Yes, this is music to my ears. I really like what he’s into and it’s to...

4) My Struggles with Self-Doubt as a Debut Author

In May of 2016, just after finishing my junior year of college, I found myself staring at the start of an outline for a new writing project. I could feel that the story was stewing with potential—things hadn’t clicked yet, but I was inches away from a breakthrough.

When I get in this mode, I tend to take a step back and just write a list of whatever pops into my head. That night, it looked like this:

Need a book that represents queer Christian teens. Lots of viewpoints—lots of arguing. NOT an...

3) From Manuscript to Book: The Making of DEPOSING NATHAN (Pt. 1)

Ever wonder what happens to a manuscript once it’s acquired by a publishing house? I mean like, how the design is put together and who makes all the little decisions?

Well, strap in guys, gals, and non-binary pals—here’s one man’s recap of how a manuscript was turned into a book.

Two days after my publishing deal became official, my agent Allison and I received a welcome letter from Lauren, my editor.

(I had an editor!)

The welcome letter laid out the editing agenda, to take place during Summ...

2) How I Got My Publishing Deal

Hi Allison, I officially signed the agency agreement along with my W9. I reached out to an accountant and met with a litigator in the area, both of whom recommended I form a single-member LLC without incorporating. I’ll get you the EIN once the IRS provides it. Thanks!

That’s a REAL email I had to send. Two weeks prior, I was in the query trenches. Since then I’d gotten an offer of rep, two counteroffers, signed with the first, been advised to form an LLC for my works, and met with a lawyer a...

1) Intro / How I Got My Agent

In June 2017, a month after graduating college, I had a breakfast conversation at Cracker Barrel that changed my life. I was talking with my mom about a manuscript I’d written–and started submitting to agents–called DEPOSING NATHAN.

My parents have always been the two strongest champions of my writing. When I finished my first manuscript in high school, I came home to find a handbook on my bed titled YOU ARE A WRITER, with a sticky note on it that said, “Congrats on finishing your book! Can’t...