Rachel Huffmire's Blog, page 3

Fairytale Recipes: Snow White Apple Dumplings

To say I’m a little obsessed with Snow White would be an understatement. (Psst. Did you know Snow White is based on a true story?) But that’s a tangent, because this recipe is the star today, and it makes a perfect pairing with Shattered Snow, my Snow White time travel retelling.

Every fairytale princess should be good at baking, right? If so, I’m a hopeful princess still in training because I definitely have my fair share of mishaps. But I’m happy to say this is not one of those times. In fact, this has been a family favorite recipe for almost 15 years and I'm pretty sure this recipe is the reason my husband fell in love with me.

After meeting my husband on a double date (I was paired up with his roommate), I knew it was love at first sight. I still have the slow motion image of my husband smiling at me and saying hi. I needed to get to know him better, but didn’t want to make it awkward since I had already gone out a few times with his roommate. So, my own bestie and roommate suggested we invite both of them over for dinner. She pulled out this recipe, and we made it for them…

I’m not exactly calling it a magic wishing apple, but by the end of the evening, the four of us ended up perfectly matched and we all got married that next summer. I can't guarantee you'll meet your prince charming with this dessert, but I can promise you love-at-first-bite.

Now here are a few of my favorite extras for making this dessert the absolute best.

My favorite apple corer and peeler. (My kids use this all the time to make "slinky apples".)

My favorite caramels. (There's nothing better than a chewy golden center in this dessert.)

My favorite ice cream. (Tillamook Old Fashioned Vanilla wins every time.)

Now, all this needs is a copy of Shattered Snow and a room full of friends, and you have a perfect book club party!

Shattered Snow is a time-travel retelling of Snow White, based on the real-life history of Margaretha von Waldeck.

"Charming, addictive, and sets the bar for all fairytale retellings." -Readers' Favorite Five Star Read

"A beautiful reimagining filled with engaging new characters and fresh new ideas. Literary escapism achieved!" -Brian Crosby, Creative Director of Marvel Themed Entertainment.

★2019 Swoony Award Winner: Best Fairytale Retelling Romance

★2019 Whitney Award Finalist: YA Speculative Fiction

★Deep Magic Ezine highlighted novel, Fall 2019

New Year Resolutions: What to Write Instead

Welcome to 2022!

You undoubtedly have big dreams regarding what this year has in store for you. When you take a look back and celebrate what you did in 2021, don’t feel bad if time blurs together one big homogenous blob. You’ve been through a lot in the last 21 months since the world turned upside down. In fact, 2020 taught us that we are not always in control of accomplishing our goals the way we hoped. If you're like me, you probably had to let go of a few things.

On March 15, 2020, the day before lockdown began in my state, I was in the hospital with my newborn baby girl. I was so happy to be getting a new start on life! But the instant I set foot in my home, everything outside shut down. My husband was deemed non-essential and sent home without pay. My book launch that week was completely overshadowed by the news. (Yes, I had a baby and launched a book at the same time. 0/10 do not recommend.) Besides, my book was about a time traveler trying to prevent a plague and felt totally inappropriate to market at the time. My kids were home from school full time, so my writing schedule was completely thrown off course. And all my new and shiny goals from just two months earlier were completely flushed down the toilet.

That's when I realized that goals are subjective to circumstance. Does that mean we can't rise above difficult situations? Of course not! But I'm a huge believer in the fact that if it's not completely in your control, there's probably a deeper principle that needs to be focused on instead. Because if I can make sure the roots of a plant are healthy, that will be the best way to ensure the fruit grows.

So, if resolutions aren't the root of success, then what is? Goals are good to set, but there needs to be something deeper in our control than the outcomes. Despite our best efforts sometimes, the results just will not turn out the way we want them.

I had been struggling with this idea for a few months when I started reading The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. (This book is completely mind-boggling and transformative. If you're looking for a success mindset, this should be your next read.) I finally had an aha moment.

"I shouldn't be writing New Year's resolutions. I should write New Year mission statements!"

What is a Mission Statement?

Let's take a look at the difference between resolutions and mission statements:

Resolution: a firm decision to do something.

Usually tied to schedules, outcomes, and performance meters.

Mission Statement: A detailed statement of your fundamental purpose for being.

Usually a definition of what you value and the principles you want to act on.

Why is this such a better idea? You are in control because you can always act on your values no matter the curveball. A mission statement is flexible and can apply to any circumstance. Resolutions to achieve a particular outcome can be derailed by a slight twist in the environment, your health, or even a mood. (How many times have we cared less about our diet than that craving for dessert?) Basing your future actions on what you truly and deeply value and believe will help you be true to those principles, no matter what happens.

In the Seven Habits book, Stephen Covey says a mission statement should focus on who you want to be, what you want to contribute to the world, and the core values that will govern your behavior in life. Essentially, once you have these three things determined, you can analyze everything in your life through the filter of your mission statement and make adjustments to help you fulfill your true values and goals.

How to Write a Mission Statement

There is no right or wrong way to write a mission statement, but here are a few ideas to help you get started:

The best mission statements are simple statements that are 3-5 sentences long. They focus on the positive by telling what you care about or will do, instead of what you dislike or can’t do. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to get started:

What do I think is most important in life? What achievements would I want someone to say in my eulogy? What characteristics do I want to be known for? What brings me enjoyment in my life? How do you want to influence the world? What principle would you teach the world if you could? Why are these things important to you?

Once you've thought about this, you can start plugging your ideas into some of the following templates to see what fits.

"I value ___________ because____________. I can live by these values by ______________."

"I want to be known as someone who is _____________. I can become this by ___________."

"I want to achieve _____________. This is important because________________."

"The best contribution I could have in the world is ______________________. I'm capable of this because ___________."

These mission statements can be written for your personal life to help you govern all of your choices. You can also meet as a family and create a mission statement for your family unity. Or coworkers for your business. If you are doing a group mission statement, it is imperative that the entire group contributes, otherwise it won't be adopted by everyone.

Writing a mission statement is one of the first steps in my coaching program for your author business plan, so if you'd like help setting up a mission statement and building a business based on your values in the new year, I have openings and would love to meet with you!

I genuinely can't wait to see what this new year brings for all of us!

Happy writing!

Hi!

I’m Rachel Huffmire, I’m an author like you, applying these same principles to my own books. I have worked as a bookstore manager, acquisitions editor, the marketing manager for a small publisher, and now, I’m the founder of Author Capital, a coaching group that focuses on the business side of self-publishing! So, if you're ready to take your writing to the career level, click here to learn more about Author Capital's online courses and coaching packages.

How to Show Off Your Book on Amazon

Do you ever feel like your book blends in on Amazon? With over 800,000 eBooks for sale there, how is our story possibly going to stand out? The typical Barnes and Noble stocks about 10,000 titles. And even then, it’s a bookish wonderland! Now, just imagine 80 Barnes and Nobles in one enormous warehouse...

And your book is in there somewhere.

But don’t despair! Let me offer you some hope.

What if I told you that Amazon isn’t a bookstore? It’s actually a search engine. And search engines can be trained to show your book to the right customer the instant they start browsing. Doesn’t that spark some kind of feeling of hope because it’s not completely out of your hands?

I hope so, because I've got a few tips to help you instantly make your books more visible on the world's biggest book selling platform. And even better, these tips won't cost you anything. In fact, the goal is to make more money consistently! Believe me, Amazon wants to make money off with you, so as soon as you befriend the search engine and show it your earning potential, it’ll want to keep this relationship going.

So, let's dive in.

What is Search Engine Optimization?

Are those the scariest three words, or what?

They used to terrify me, too. But one day, I decided to look them in the eye and get to know them better. After taking some online trainings that described the intricate process of internet spiders “crawling” across the internet to find the most relevant search matches (this terminology did nothing to lessen my fears of SEO by the way), I finally understood how Search Engine Optimization was crucial to any kind of success online.

Within two months of applying healthy SEO practices to my content, my website was getting hundreds of hits a day. By the time my debut novel released, it became a #1 new release on Amazon, hitting the top 4,000 selling books on the platform and sold in over ten countries. And all this was done without a single paid promotion and a newsletter of under 200 people.

So yeah, that’s possible.

But what is SEO?

Think about it this way: if someone types in “best fairytale retellings”, I want my book to be the very first result that shows up. I don’t want anyone else rivaling my spot as the “best” option for them. So, I’ve got to convince all those creepy-crawling spiders (shudder) that I really am the “best fairytale retelling” out there. It means you’ve optimized your chance at a search engine finding and recognizing you.

So, how do we train that search engine to prioritize our product? By...

Using Keywords.

Keywords are the ideas that define what your content is about. Think about what someone would type into the search bar if they’re looking for a book just like yours. For example, “fantasy novels”. That’s a keyword (two or more words strung together are called long-tail keywords).

A broad keyword is a search term that covers thousands of results. For example, the term "fantasy novels" is going to cover everything from Harry Potter to Alice in Wonderland. Broad keywords are going to be very competitive, but also frequently searched for. Unfortunately, if you’re not already a bestseller, you’ll have to compete against books Amazon is already making money on. This means your book probably won’t be one of the top six results when people search for those terms. And people rarely scroll beyond those top six results.

That’s where niche keywords come in. An example of a niche keyword would be something like “Chupacabra shifter romance.” That keyword won't have a lot of competition, but will not get a lot of searches either. However, for those few people who do search for that term, you’re going to be one of the top six results. With that kind of visibility, you’ll be able to convince those few readers that you’re exactly what they’ve been looking for.

So, I want you to make a list of 20 keywords that represent your book, finding a variety that fall between broad and niche keywords. Having this list determined is going to help you once we get to training Amazon how to know exactly who you are and where your book belongs.

Finding Good Keywords

One of my absolute favorite tools for finding good keywords is Publisher’s Rocket. It's a fabulous tool that will save you hours of marketing research if you’re an indie pub author. But I’m also a believer in bootstrapping, so I’ve got an alternative for you if you don’t feel like buying the program just yet.

First, go to Amazon and begin typing in a keyword that you think people might use to find a book like yours. As you’re typing, stop halfway through the first word to see if Amazon auto populates any suggested phrases. These will be good options for your keyword list. It won’t tell you how many books you’re competing with, but it will tell you it’s something customers are frequently looking for and willing to buy.

If you want to go a little deeper with this research, Publisher Rocket will show you the metrics of each keyword, including: how many books you’ll compete against, how much money that keyword generates in sales every month, how frequently that keyword is searched for, and more.

Where Do I Use These Keywords?

Once you have your list of 20 keywords, you’re going to sprinkle them into your book description and author bio. Don’t overload your descriptions with too many keywords. That’s called keyword flooding and will hurt your SEO. You only want to sprinkle in 4-5 keywords throughout your entire product description or back cover copywriting.

Here's an example from Ready Player One:

"A world at stake. A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the OASIS, a vast ,virtual world where most of humanity spends their days.

When the eccentric creator of the OASIS dies, he leaves behind a series of fiendish ,puzzles, based on his obsession with the ,pop culture of decades past. Whoever is first to solve them will inherit his vast fortune—and control of the OASIS itself.

Then Wade cracks the first clue. Suddenly he’s beset by rivals who’ll kill to take this prize. The ,race, is on—and the only way to ,survive, is to win."

See how they sprinkled their keywords throughout the description that will help the algorithm AND the reader know what his story is about? Also, in Ernest Cline’s bio (click here to see the example) there are plenty of keywords as well. Take a look and see if you can pick out what keywords they decided to use.

Congratulations!

Now you know how to take the first step towards being more visible on Amazon! If you liked this first step and would like to dive deeper into how to make your book more visible and eye-catching on Amazon, check out the following link:

This $15.00, 6-part online course is all about optimizing your Amazon Product page and is jam-packed with information about how to use the following tools:

Author Central Kindle Direct Publishing Effective Copywriting The Friends and Foes of Amazon

Everything I teach there is effective for both indie and traditionally published authors, so don’t miss it!

Hi!

I’m Rachel Huffmire, I’m an author like you, applying these same principles to my own books. I have worked as a bookstore manager, acquisitions editor, the marketing manager for a small publisher, and now, I’m the founder of Author Capital, a coaching group that focuses on the business side of self-publishing! So, if you're ready to take your writing to the career level, click here to learn more about Author Capital's online courses and coaching packages.

Collaborative Writing

The writing community is full of some of the kindest people in the world. At least that's been my experience. Writers are free with their compliments, ready to offer service or support, and incredibly demonstrative when you finally get to meet face to face. These are the traits that make deep friendships, so even though I live in a completely different state than most of my writing colleagues, they are some of the dearest friends.

However, sometimes being a writer can feel a little like being on a desert island. You have to isolate yourself from distractions to spend time at the keyboard or page. But at the same time, we can't become a black hole of ideas with no relatable experiences to draw from. So, today, I'd like to introduce you to a revitalizing tool I use in my writing life.

Collaboration.

There are many benefits to collaborative projects. In fact, working with other creatives is one of the greatest and most enriching experiences writers can have. Bringing multiple brains and mediums to the same project levels up a story's potential in a major way. The energy, excitement, and momentum that collaboration produces can make inkling ideas transform into tri-dimensional sagas. Then, once your masterpiece is complete, you have an expanded circle of influence and networking to draw from to help spread the good news! And the best part of all is that you have someone to share the excitement of creation with.

How to select a collaborative partner:

In today's world, you don't have to live close to the people you want to work with. My illustrator lives in Idaho. My employer lives in Utah. I live in California. Thanks to ,,Google Hangouts and ,,Drive, we can all talk and collaborate on the same document simultaneously. However, it's important to consider a few things carefully before jumping into a project with someone.

Here are my critical ingredients to look for when selecting a collaborative partner, and a critical ingredient to be ​for them.

1. Someone who is easy to get along with.

Any personal baggage you have between collaborators will affect your project. Choose someone you respect, who you know will respect you back. Shower each other with compliments, encouragement, positivity, and friendship. Only under affirmative circumstances will you both produce your best.

2. Someone who is honest and accountable.

You want someone who will bring out the best in you. Honest critiques are essential. Be reliable in honoring deadlines, submitting work, and sharing the workload. This will foster the kind of relationship that you know you can truly rely on each other.

3. Someone who will be strong where you feel week.

If you are proficient in plotting but struggle with hitting the deeper emotional tones of characterization, find someone with those skills. Don't be afraid to divide up tasks according to your natural talents. The project will go faster and everyone will be happier doing what they enjoy.

4. Someone with an open mind.

You aren't going to get things right on the first try. Be willing to take a few steps in a direction you know isn't going where you want because you might learn more about your project than you expect. Asking questions like "why doesn't this work" really helps you understand your story on a deeper level.​

There are many different mediums you can use to collaborate. I have experience working with artists, musicians and other writers. I'd like to spend a minute and discuss the different process each one entails.

Preparing to co-write:

I attended a lecture on collaboration at,, LTUE and heard ,,Michael Jensen and ,,David Powers King explain how they prepared to co-author the book ,,Woven. First, they decided to leave ego at the door. There was no division of "That was his idea, this was my idea..." Second, they pre-determined to seek outside help if they got stuck with impassible compromises. They wrote a contract defining possession of rights, division of costs, assignments, income, and decided that if one person lost fire—who the project belonged to.

Different styles of co-writing:

Finding a process that fits you will take time and experimentation. Here are some of the most common methods of co-writing.

1. You write in each other's presence, talking, typing, editing together, etc...

2. You do chapter swaps, taking turns leading the story in the direction you want.

3. Division of phases. Begin by discussing the story together, brainstorming, and outlining. Then, you hand the story to the lead writer to create the rough draft. After the rough draft is complete, the manuscript is handed to a finesse writer who adds beauty to the language and helps edit the content. Repeat the passing back and forth as needed.

Working with an artist:

I have worked with ,,Kaelin Twede for years, imagining novels, children's books, and web-comics. After so much time together, we have a special kind of groove down. I start talking and she starts doodling. It's a beautiful conversation; me using words, Kaelin using the curves and lines of a pencil or stylus. Often times, I will send her the simple outline of a story and she'll give it new dimensions, which in turn spark more ideas.

Working with music:

A few years ago, a composer approached me with an idea and some sample songs for a musical. I immediately fell in love with the concept. However, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the task of writing the book alone. I asked fellow author Amanda Hakes to jump in as my co-writer. Together, the three of us worked out a plot that we felt strongly about. The composer drafted songs to highlight the pivotal moments in the story and wrote lyrics to fit the plot points. I took on the role of lead writer and drafted a rough sketch of the scenes as we discussed in our outline. Amanda followed close behind me, beautifying the dialogue and driving home the deeper characterization. Next, we brought in an editor to help elevate our manuscript even higher. But our collaborative team won’t stop there. Our list of future collaborators includes orchestration, musicians, directors, actors, and even audiences!

Often times as I wrap up a collaborative session, I take a minute to relish the creative process. I love how I'll pitch an idea, and someone else on the team brings it to life in a way I never would have considered. It really is the closest thing to magic. I hope you get the opportunity to find someone to collaborate with, whether its a sibling, an editor, a critique group, or an entire cast of actors. Best wishes and please feel free to share your projects below!

Happy writing!

The Magician's Horse: Part Two

While the entire kingdom prepared for the Prince's wedding celebration, the magician plotted his revenge. Bitter about being locked away, he did his best not to let his malice show.

"The Princess should ride to her wedding on my horse," the magician offered. "I will lead the beast myself, to ensure that nothing goes wrong this time."

As the princess gratefully sat upon the horse, ready to ride to her wedding, the magician lept upon the horse behind her and lifted them into the air.

"Stop!" the princess cried, but the magician only laughed and launched them higher into the sky.

"Come back!" the prince shouted from the ground below, but in an instant he disappeared on the horizon.

The magician transported them to a distant forest and landed deep within the trees.

"Take me back this instant!" the princess cried. But the magician only laughed again, pleased to have his revenge on the royal family.

"Help! Someone, please!"

"No one can hear you out here," the magician sneered.

"What is this?" a deep voice called from the trees. The two turned to find a huge man dressed in rugged clothes stepping toward them.

The magician's eyes grew wide. "This does not concern you. My wife and I were only having an argument."

"He's lying," the princess said, stumbling away from the man and his horse. "I am a princess, and this wicked man kidnapped me."

More men traipsed out of the underbrush surrounding them. As the princess studied them, it became clear that the large man was a bandit chief, and that these were his bandits.

"Seize the old man," the bandit chief shouted, pointing at the magician. He held out his hand to the princess and bowed. "Come with me, dear princess. I will keep you safe."

Relieved, the princess followed the bandit chief and followed him to his castle deep in the woods.

The next morning, when the princess awoke, she felt safe and rested. However, she soon overheard whispers among the servants about a wedding.

"Is someone to be married?" she asked.

"Of course, it is you!" the maid answered.

The princess gasped, realizing that the chief had never intended to let her leave when he took her in and promised to "keep her safe".

With a dramatic wail, she lifted her arms in the air and pretended to swoon. As she fell to the floor, the servants rushed to her side to assist her.

"She was so overjoyed by the news, that she has fainted," one of the servants muttered.

Concerned that her performance was so easily mistaken for joy, the princess opened her eyes and began to mumble unintelligible words.

"She is ill! Quick! Fetch help!" they shouted. But no matter who came to assist the princess, she continued to feign delirium. The bandit chief was distraught that his beautiful prize had so quickly fallen ill and offered a reward to anyone who could bring a cure.

As soon as the princess had been stolen away by the magician, the prince rode off toward the horizon to find his lost bride. He asked everyone he passed if they had seen a magician on an ebony horse with a beautiful maiden. Before long, he heard a strange rumor that a bandit chief had saved a beautiful woman from an evil magician. But before he could marry her, a horrible curse had left her mad.

Convinced that it must be his true love, the prince rode off to find the bandit's castle. He bought some robes from the nearest village and disguised himself as a doctor and presented himself to the bandit chief.

"Have you come to cure my love?" The chief asked.

The prince nodded. "Take me to the girl."

The princess, when she saw her beloved disguised as a doctor, led into the room by the bandit chief, pretended to faint. The prince rushed to her side and yelled to the servants. "Leave us! She needs a doctor's care."

As soon as they were alone, the princess threw her arms around the prince. "We must work out a plan to escape."

They whispered in low voices, and formed a cunning trick for the bandit chief.

When the prince emerged from the room, he approached the bandit chief with his fingers pressed thoughtfully to his lips. "In order to cure the princess, I must know more about the magician who brought her to your forest."

"The evil man carried her through the air on a magical horse."

The prince threw his head back and laughed. "Why of course! That is the cause of the madness. The horse passed it's magic into her. If we can only pass the magic back, she will be cured.

The bandit chief eagerly brought the horse into his courtyard, and ordered the princess carried out to greet it. While the bandit chief laid the princess carefully in the saddle, the prince built a bonfire and threw in strange plants, chanting all the while.

Thick, aromatic smoke drifted around the courtyard, curling around the princess and the horse. The bandit watched in amazement as she was swallowed up completely by the haze.

Not wasting a moment, the prince cast off his doctor disguise, mounted the horse behind the princess and threw the lever, lifting the horse into the air.

"Stop!" The bandit chief shouted, realizing he had been tricked, but the prince and princess were quickly flying back to Persia.

The next day they were married, and the magical ebony horse found a special place in the Sultan's treasure house. However, the bandit chief and the magician were left with absolutely nothing, which is what they deserved.

You can find this story in Richard Burton's translation of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

The Magician's Horse: Part one

Fairytales are the basis of cultures around the world. We aren't always exposed to some of the most beautifully diverse fairy tales around the world. This is one of my favorites from Persia.

There once was a Persian Sultan who loved oddities and inventions. There was a custom in his kingdom for people to dance and celebrate beneath the domes of his golden palace and leave their most curious devices on his palace steps. Tools for tracking time and the movement of the stars, strange pots, toys, and other devices were lined as gifts, each one hoping to catch the sultan's eye.

A man pushed his way rudely through the crowd, pulling behind him a magnificent horse. It was a beautiful creature with an ebony coat and a saddle that sparkled with jewels. However, it stepped stiffly and his head never tossed or shivered like the fine palace steeds.

The man approached the Sultan and bowed as stiffly as the horse. "You may have many wonders lining your steps, your majesty, but nothing is as wondrous as my horse."

The Sultan narrowed his eyes, realizing that the horse was made completely of wood. "A moving statue? Any sculptor could create such a toy."

The man, who was a magician scowled, but held back his angry thoughts. "This is no mere sculpture, but a magical horse that can transport you anywhere you wish. Allow me to show you."

The magician pulled himself into the saddle, then touched a hidden lever on the horse's side. The horse sprang to life and in a flash, vanished. Moments later, it re-appeared before the palace.

"This leaf comes from the foot of the mountains," the magician said, motioning to the purple peaks in the distance.

"Incredible! This horse shall be the pride of my treasury! Name your reward."

The magician smirked. "I desire to become a prince."

The Sultan's son began to laugh. "What a fool. You think you can trick my father? Let me try the horse first."

The Sultan thought this was wise and motioned for his son to mount the ebony steed. The Magician showed him the secret lever, but said deliberately said nothing about how to land.

"If he disappears, I can take his title," the greedy magician thought.

As the Prince touched the lever, the horse lept into the air, soaring higher and higher until it was lost from sight. The people anxiously awaited the prince's return, however, time passed, and it was soon dark with no sign of the prince.

The Sultan grew angry. "My son had better return safely, or your life will be forfeit!" He had his guards lock away the magician.

Meanwhile, the prince enjoyed soaring over mountain spires and foreign lands. But when he pressed the lever to return home, the horse rose higher into the air. Keeping his head, the prince examined the horse, hoping to find a way to land. He found a second lever on the far side that when he touched it, made the horse descend. The world had grown dark, so in the moonlight, he caused the horse to land on a starlit balcony in an unfamiliar palace. He peered inside the window and saw the most beautiful woman he had ever seen with warm dark eyes, and long silken hair that hung down her back. She sat on a cushion, surrounded by lotus flowers and white lilies.

"I must be dreaming." the woman murmured when she saw the prince and his flying horse.

"I am no dream, lady. However, I am a stranger in your lands, and at your mercy."

The woman, a princess, called for her maids to bring him food and give him a room to sleep.

The two spent the next few days, talking and walking through the magnificent gardens surrounding her palace. On the fourth day, the prince asked the princess to marry him, and she agreed, smiling.

"I must return to my father to make preparations," the prince explained.

"I am not afraid of flying. Please, take me with you." the princess asked. Together, they soared into the sky toward the prince's palace. The sultan ran out to greet his son, crying from the fear of never seeing his son again. After hearing prince's story, he greeted the princes and gave orders for the wedding celebration to begin.

In the palace dungeon, the furious magician heard the revelry of the kingdom, and swore to get his revenge.

Stay tuned for part two...

You can find this story in Richard Burton's translation of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

What it Takes to Get Published

For many of us, becoming an author is more than just a dream. It's a craving. It's a nerve-wracking thing to announce to people because you either get nodding and smiling like "you're adorable for having such delusions of grandeur", or rapid blinking as if you just told them you want to compete in "extreme ironing" (yup it's a real thing).

But drafting a novel is no small feat. They say that only the top 5% of writers finish a manuscript, so if you have made it that far, congratulations! After spending your precious free time drafting, editing, researching, learning, agonizing, and polishing, it's time to enter the dreaded query trenches.

That's where many writers drop off like flies. I think many of us assume that if we wear off the letters on our keyboards, we'll naturally land a New York Agent, a six-figure advance, and national tour with our bestselling novel. But when the first inevitable rejection letter lands in our inbox, we have to contemplate how much gumption we have to see this thing through.

I want to show you just what it took for me to get published...

This was my query letter:

Dear (Agent/Editor),(Insert personalization including why I'm querying them specifically). I was excited to see your interest in fantasy, and am happy to place my manuscript in your hands. GRANTED is a YA urban retelling of the middle eastern folktale THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE and is complete at 58,000 words.

Sixteen-year-old Liam Covington lives in a sun-bleached skeleton of a house in the middle of the Mojave Desert. The only colors in his life are the glowing shadows that appear whenever he faces death. After Liam nearly dies at Shaw’s Cove, he brings home a fossilized conch shell and discovers a luminescent jinni named Gideon living inside. Gideon grants Liam powers that reveal a hidden world and a jinni with a mysterious vendetta named Darius.

As Liam learns to protect himself, one of Liam’s wishes goes horribly wrong, pulling him into the jinn world of vibrant illusions and back-stabbing deception. Desperate to escape, Liam finds the door home locked by a two-thousand-year-old curse. If he manages to return, it could let Darius out of his cage—a sacrifice Liam is not willing to make.

I currently live in Southern California where I enjoy sand at its best: the beach and the desert. I work as a freelance writer for Writers Domain and have an article contracted with the NEW ERA magazine. I have attended multiple LTUE conferences in Utah, am in a weekly critique group, and studied courses in Children’s Literature and Writing for Children and Adolescents at Brigham Young University.

Thank you for your consideration,

Rachel Huffmire

I began sending out my first round of queries in July 2015. These are the responses I got:

Dear Rachel,

Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, this is not quite the right fit for me.Best of luck,Agent

Thank you for considering me as a possible fit to represent your book. I have reviewed your query and, at this time, I do not believe that I am the right agent to represent your work. Please know that we are extremely selective, even with the materials we review. I do appreciate you thinking of us as an agency, however, and I encourage you to continue your search for an agent who is just the right fit for you. I wish you every success in your publishing endeavors.

All my best,

Agent

Hi there Rachel,

I’m so sorry for this incredibly delayed response to you, but I didn’t want to leave you without a response at all so I'm writing to you super late! I was knee-deep in work and thought I had sent an email I’m realizing only now that I never sent. My hugest apologies! But thank you so much for querying me last year. Despite my tardiness, I do want you to know that I consider each project I receive very carefully, and while your story was not exactly what I had been looking for at the time, I do hope you kept on trying… agents are subjective and we’re each looking for different things. I know your work is important to you and I’m absolutely grateful that you wrote to me. And again, so sorry for this late reply! Thank you again, and all my very best,Agent

Hi Rachel,

Thanks so much for giving me the chance to review your work! Unfortunately, after reading your letter, I just didn't feel strongly enough to request pages. I'm of the belief that authors deserve an agent who will be passionate about the projects they represent, and I didn't connect as much as I'd hoped.

Please know that every agent feels differently, and this is merely my personal preference. I encourage you to keep querying as what doesn't fit for one agent is perfect for another. I wish you all the best in finding the perfect agent and good luck in your future writing endeavors.

All the best,

Agent

And then, a breakthrough! Someone requested a full!

Dear Rachel Huffmire,Thank you for submitting your manuscript Granted. Unfortunately, this submission isn’t quite what we’re looking for. You have a very strong voice, a competent writing style and overall your manuscript was very technically proficient. We also appreciated the mythology that you developed over the course of the manuscript and how it fit into the world you were building. However, for our purposes, we felt the plot overall progressed too slowly and the path the novel was taking wasn’t very well defined.To clarify this feedback: It isn’t until about 80 pages into the manuscript that the plot begins to pick up its pace. Until this point the majority of the story is background information delivered largely through exposition. This is something that we generally try to avoid, as it makes the progress of a plot tedious and drawn out. The plot does start catching its stride about the 100-page mark and from that point the story gets interesting, but that is just far too late in the manuscript. Additionally, while the plot does significantly improve as events begin falling into place, it isn’t a strong enough payoff to justify the very slow beginning.Along these same lines, the protagonist doesn’t have a clearly defined goal for the majority of the story. This is something that we prefer to see made obvious early on (within the first 50 pages of a manuscript) as it gives the reader something concrete to follow. This wasn’t the case here and even as the novel came to a close the protagonist’s “quest” was still somewhat ambiguous—was his goal to release Gideon? To break the curse? We didn’t feel this wasn’t made clear enough as the plot progressed.While this manuscript, in particular, wasn’t what we’re looking for, we do feel like you are a talented author and the strong parts of your manuscript were very well done. We would love to see more submissions from you or even an edited version of Granted in the future. If you would like further clarification please feel free to send me a response. We wish you the best in your writing career.Publisher

After this feedback, I put Granted through massive re-edits and joined a writing group. They helped me get the manuscript into much better shape! I resumed querying in 2016.

Thank you very much for your query, which we have read with interest. Unfortunately, the project does not seem right for this agency, and we are sorry that we cannot offer to serve as your literary agent.

We also apologize for the form rejection.  The sheer number of queries we receive prevents personalization in order for us to respond in a timely fashion. 

We wish you all the best in finding more suitable representation, encourage you to query widely, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your work.

Sincerely,

Agent

Hi Rachel!

So glad you found us! And an extra big thanks for your patience as I wade through my submissions inbox. I need a jinni to give me more hours in the day, so if you can write that into a story, that’d be great.  :-)

I’ve read through your query and the first pages of GRANTED. Your premise is definitely interesting, and I enjoyed your initial characterization of Liam and his friends (well, frenemies, maybe…). I can tell you are comfortable in your writing skin, and that’s refreshing.

That said, unfortunately I need to pass on GRANTED. While I am sure the remainder of the story is intriguing, we are looking for something quite specific to round out our catalog for the upcoming year. I wish you the very best on your publishing journey and invite you to submit to us again if you have something else that might fit our wish list.

Best,

Agent

This was my first non-form response from an agent and gave me so much hope that I was on a good path.

Dear Rachel,

Thank you for submitting GRANTED for review and for your patience while I considered it.  Unfortunately I am unable to offer representation at this time.  I am just starting to build my list and need to be extremely selective with the types of projects I take on. 

Please know that this is one opinion in a highly subjective field and another agent may feel differently.  I wish you the best of luck and thank you for thinking of Writers House.

All the best,

Agent

Dear Rachel:

We would like to thank you for your submission, Granted, and for the time, effort, and skills that have gone into preparing your manuscript for our consideration. After careful evaluation of your manuscript, we have decided not to publish at this time.

Although we did not accept your manuscript, we recognize the courage it takes to present a work for others to review.

We thank you for your interest and wish you the best as you continue writing.

Sincerely,

Publisher

Thank you for your query. I regret to say, it's not a perfect fit for me. I apologize for not having better feedback for you -- sometimes it’s hard to put to words something that is just a matter of personal taste. I wish you much luck in your journey, and I appreciate you sharing your work with me.

Thanks,

Agent

Dear Rachel,Thank you for sending me the query for your novel Granted, which I have read with interest. I am sorry to say it is not right for my list. We wish you luck with your work.All best,Agent

At this point, I discovered a publisher I had previously queried stole a concept from my book and implanted it in one of their new releases. This resulted in conversations with lawyers, a lengthy phone call with the publisher's CEO, and the realization that there ARE predatory publishers out there. I began researching agents and publishers with a fine-tooth comb after this.

Dear Rachel,

Thank you so much for submitting your query to me. Unfortunately, I am going to have to pass. I know you've put a lot of time and effort into your project. The publishing industry is very subjective, so what may not work for me could be exactly what another agent is looking for. I encourage you to continue your pursuit of publication, and to never give up on your goals.

Thank you for considering me for your work. I wish you great success with your writing career.

Sincerely,

Agent

Many thanks for your submission – I appreciate you thinking of me and (agency).

I’m sorry to say that I’ve decided to pass on your work. The children’s and YA markets are very competitive, and I have to feel a high degree of confidence in a story to take it on.  I just don’t have quite enough conviction that this is one for me at the moment, though please bear in mind that another agent may feel differently – it’s such a subjective business. I’m also sorry that I can’t offer editorial comment or advice on your story; we receive such a high volume of submissions. If you haven’t already done so, please see our website and my blog – links below – which will tell you more about what we seek and writing craft in general.

Best wishes, and thanks for giving me the opportunity to consider your work. 

Agent

Thank you for your submission, which I have carefully reviewed but must decline. Unfortunately, due to the volume of queries I receive, I am unable to respond to them individually.

I hope you will not be discouraged by this reply—as with all readers, I am limited by my own subjective preferences, and so I imagine other agents will feel differently. I wish you the best in finding the right match for your work. If, however, you end up querying a new project in the future, I would of course be happy to consider it.

With warm regards,

Agent

Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, it's not quite what I'm looking for at this time, so I will have to pass. Best wishes in your search for representation.

Agent

Dear Author,

Thanks so much for letting us take a look at your materials, and please forgive me for responding with a form letter. The volume of submissions we receive, however, makes it impossible to correspond with everyone personally.

Unfortunately, the project you describe does not suit our list at this time. We wish you the best of luck in finding an agent and publisher for your work, and we thank you, once again, for letting us consider your materials.

Sincerely,

Agent

This is not right for me, but thank you for the look.

Agent

Thank you so much for allowing The (Agency) to consider your material. Unfortunately, after carefully reviewing your query, we’ve determined that this particular project isn’t the right fit for us at this time.  As I’m sure you know, the publishing industry changes swiftly now, as do readers’ tastes and trends. As a result, our own agents’ needs shift and change, as well; therefore, we would like to encourage you to consider querying us with future projects as you may deem appropriate. 

Again, thank you very much for allowing us this chance to consider your material, and we wish you all the best in your publishing endeavors.

Sincerely,

Agency

Dear Rachel, 

Thanks so much for sending along the sample pages of Granted.  I’m sorry to say, though, that I just wasn’t as completely drawn in by the material as much as I had hoped.  What with my reservations, I’d better bow out. 

Thanks so much for contacting me, though!  I really appreciate it, and wish you the best of luck.  

Agent

Dear Author,

Please forgive this impersonal note but the high volume of correspondence makes it difficult for us to respond to you personally. Thank you for your query. Unfortunately it doesn’t match what we are looking for at this time. We hope other agents feel differently.

Best of luck.

Sincerely,

Agent

Dear Rachel,

Thank you for thinking of me for your work; unfortunately, it's just not quite right for me.  As I'm sure you know, whether or not to take on a client is a very personal decision, and has as much to do with an agent's personal preferences as it does an author's writing abilities.

I wish you lots of success in your writing career.

All the best,

Agent

Dear Rachel,

I'm sorry, but GRANTED does not sound like a fit for me at this time. Thank you for considering me and best of luck with your future queries.

Best regards,

Agent

Dear Rachel,

I read your manuscript entitled "Granted" a few days ago and I really liked it! I pitched it to our editorial board, and they were hoping to get a bit more information from you before they made a decision, mostly regarding your marketing plan.

Your current marketing plan mentioned that you have connections with the California Homeschool Network. The board was just curious about the depth of those connections. Are you a writer for the Network? Have you attended conventions in the past? The board was just hoping for more information so they can have a better idea of how the connections you mention could translate into copies sold.Like I said, though, I really enjoyed your manuscript. Your work is fresh and original. Folktale retellings these days are often more about princesses—which is fine, but it's nice to see something different!Thank you so much,

Publisher

...

Dear Rachel Huffmire,

Thank you for sending us your manuscript entitled "Granted". After careful consideration, we have decided not to publish your manuscript at this time. We enjoyed reading your submission, but we do not feel that it fits our publishing needs.

Selling a book requires authors to do a lot of personal marketing. In fact, the majority of book sales are driven by the author's following, especially in fiction.

I know that you had talked to a company that had agreed to use your books as part of a homeschooling program. When I called them, the program would not be able to drive sales as much as we hoped.

We think your book is a good concept, and we commend you for your work. Please be aware that although we did not offer to publish your manuscript, we encourage you in your endeavors to get it published.

Again, thank you for sending us your manuscript. Please feel free to submit any other suitable manuscripts you might have in the future.

Sincerely,

Publisher

This helped me realize just how important marketing is when working with a publisher. I kicked my platform into high gear.

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

Thank you for the opportunity to consider your query for GRANTED. Ultimately, I don't think it's quite right for my list at this time, and am going to have to pass. I'm sorry it isn't a fit, but I wish you the best of luck in finding the right agent for Liam's story.Yours,Agent

Hi Rachel,

Thanks so much for thinking of me, but this one’s just not quite right for my list.  Due to a very full workload, I have to be extremely selective about pursuing new projects. 

Please know that this is a very subjective business and that tastes range widely among agents.  Someone else may feel very differently—you deserve someone who is passionate about your work and is confident about their ability to position it.

Best of luck with this, and thank you so much for thinking of me.

Sincerely,

Agent

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

Thank you for your email. I apologize for the length of time we have had your manuscript under review, but the reviews have been fairly positive and we’ve lined up a few more readers to review it for us. I hope to have a decision for you soon.

Thanks,

...

Dear Rachel Huffmire,

Thank you for your patience with us while we have had your manuscript under review. I wanted to let you know that the reviews continue to be positive for your story. I am impressed with your writing, and am looking forward to reading more.

I hope you don't mind if we keep your manuscript a little longer while we complete our review of your work.

Sincerely,

Publisher

...

Dear Rachel Huffmire,

Thank you for submitting your manuscript entitled GRANTED to (Publisher) for our review. I apologize for the length of time we have had your material under review. Thank you for your patience with us.

We are always pleased to see new ideas, and we have now completed our review of this material. We had several people review your manuscript, and it is obvious that you have invested a considerable amount of time and energy into this project.

Our publishing schedule is quite competitive, however, and as we look carefully at all the issues involved in publication, we are forced to be extremely selective in our publishing decisions. After some lengthy discussions, I am sorry to inform you that we are not in a position to pursue this project with you.

I wanted to include a few comments from our reviewers in case they are helpful to you:

"I loved the compelling voice of the main character."

"Solid writing. Minor errors, mostly involving commas. Believable dialogue."

"Toward the beginning, when the lights and colors affect kids, the descriptions are a little muddled and confusing, usually taking a couple read-throughs to understand.

Over halfway through the book and I'm not quite clear on why Liam's convinced he killed a jinn the day his luck turned bad. This is possibly a leftover detail from previous drafts."

"What makes Liam Untouchable is never clear and the reader is left to assume it’s because he possesses the aura of a jinni. "

We appreciate your thinking of us and giving us the opportunity to review your work.

Sincerely,

Publisher

This one was from a publisher that I respect and admire. I felt incredibly honored to be considered. I later learned that they only have two slots open a year for new authors. The rest are filled with in-house authors. This taught me how truly competitive and subjective rejections can be.

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

Thank you so much for your query. Unfortunately, however, this project doesn’t sound right for me. I encourage you to continue to submit elsewhere, and I wish you every success in your writing career. Thanks again for thinking of me.

Cordially,

Agent

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

I received your query and I am very impressed. Your first two chapters are very strong, with good writing and excellent characterization. I love fairytale retellings and this looks like it has

a lot of potential. I would love to read the full manuscript. Please send it on at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to seeing more of your work!

Have a great day,

Publisher

...

Hello, Rachel,

Thanks so much for sending on your manuscript. I can say unreservedly that I really loved it. I thought your characters were excellent, the story was original, and it was such a great metaphor for those little voices in our heads that tell us to do stupid things. Sadly, our executive team ultimately decided to pass. There are so many good books out there and we can't acquire them all.

I don't believe you should have much trouble finding a home for your book, and I am sorry it could not be here. Please do consider us for your next project.

I hope you have a great day!

Publisher

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

Thank you for including me in your agent queries.  I have reviewed it, and am afraid I must step aside on this proposed book.I wish you all the best with your endeavor.Best,

Agent

Dear Ms. Huffmire,

Thanks for your query.

As to your material I'm afraid I will be passing — I'm just not drawn strongly enough to the concept of your story to feel that I'd be the right agent for the project. I realize it is difficult to make an assessment from a query; nevertheless please know that I give serious attention to every letter, outline, and writing sample I receive.

Sorry I couldn't give you a more positive reply. Thanks for thinking of me, though, and best of luck in your search for representation.

Sincerely,

Agent

I had an additional 21 queries that never received any sort of response.

Someone once told me to expect 100 no's for every yes in publishing (I can testify that this is 100% true.)

That's why, while I kept querying, I kept writing.

In November 2015 I wrote a science fiction story called Praeceptor.

In November 2016 I wrote a Pride and Prejudice retelling called Netherfield Reunion.

In November 2017 I wrote the sequel to Granted.

In November 2018 I wrote a book called The Reflection of Bianka Cirksena...

In January 2019, I pitched my latest novel to two publishers at a conference. A week later, I got this response to my query:

Hi Rachel!

Good news! I loved The Reflection of Bianka Cirksena! It’s such an unusual take of Snow White — I love how you mixed the modern (future) world in with the past.

Immortal Works would like to offer you a contract to publish with us. I’ve cc’d (CEO) on this email so he can send you a contract if you’re interested.

The Reflection of Bianka Cirksena would be a great fit with Immortal Works.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Chief Editor

I have to admit... I am incredibly proud of this list of rejections. I appreciated the time these agents and publishers spent with my manuscript, but I also love that I kept putting this story out there.

Every rejection letter became a tally mark on my way to my YES.

If you're in the trenches... It's hard. You're a rockstar for pressing forward.

But don't give up.

Because you know what?

After six years, I'm finally seeing Granted in print.

Recommended Retelling: The King's 100, by Karin Biggs

​​

I fell in love with this book instantly.

I was working as an acquisitions editor for a mall publisher when I read Karin's query. I was instantly intrigued by the concept of a STEM-based kingdom and its rival neighbor that was obsessed with performing arts. The first pages gave me the same feeling as Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, then quickly whirled me away into a Cinderella-esque world full of hot chocolate, ballgowns, perfectly authentic teenage flirtation, and the rush of performing. I closed the book feeling like I was seventeen again, performing in madrigals, spending hours in the practice rooms, performing onstage, and living all the delicious drama that comes with a life behind the scenes. It was that transportive.

Karin managed to get teenagers so right without them being overly angsty and or melodramatically romantic. Instead, she explored the themes of what makes healthy friendships, finding value in emotional expression, and being loyal. I loved every moment with this book.

Karin has become such a wonderful publishing sister. I adore chatting with her and learning from her as we navigate the publishing world together. We are both moms. We both love performing arts. And we both write books! It's the perfect recipe for friendship!

ABOUT THE KING'S 100:

Sixteen-year-old princess, Piper Parish, is a disappointment to the citizens of Capalon. In a STEM-structured kingdom where innovation is valued above all, her tears, songs, and compassion are viewed as a weakness. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and hiding in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper flees Capalon to prove once and for all that she's not just the queen's defective little sister.

Unsure how to get close to the palace, Piper bumps into a cute black-haired boy named Ari who encourages her to audition for the King's 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Piper lands a spot as a singer and dives head-first into a world of glittering dresses, girl-code, sugar, blackmail, and physical contact-all while taking direction from an evil maestro. If her identity is revealed, her life could be in danger. But living without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.

The King's 100 is perfect for readers who would love a mash-up of the Selection Series, Cinder, and Glee!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

​Karin earned her bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and served as an event planner for two Big 10 universities and various non-profits for over eight years before becoming a stay-at-home-mom. She enjoys chocolate-covered peanuts, uninterrupted sleep and singing with other people. Karin lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter, son, cat and dog.

Immortal Works Author Spotlight: The King's 100, by Karin Biggs

​​

I fell in love with this book instantly.

When I read Karin's query to Immortal Works, I was instantly intrigued by the concept of a STEM-based kingdom and it's performing arts rival. The first pages gave me the same feeling as Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, then quickly whirled me away into a world all it's own full of hot chocolate, ballgowns, perfectly authentic teenage flirtation, and the rush of performing. I closed the book feeling like I was seventeen again, performing in madrigals, spending hours in the practice rooms, performing onstage, and living all the delicious drama that comes with a life behind the scenes. It was that transportive.

Karin managed to get teenagers so right without them being overly angsty and or melodramatically romantic. Instead, she explored the themes of what makes healthy friendships, finding value in emotional expression, and being loyal. I loved every moment with this book.

Karin has become such a wonderful publishing sister. I adore chatting with her and learning from her as we navigate the publishing world together. We are both moms. We both love performing arts. And we both write books! It's the perfect recipe for friendship!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sixteen-year-old princess, Piper Parish, is a disappointment to the citizens of Capalon, a STEM-structured kingdom where innovation is valued above all. Her older sister, the queen, views Piper's tears during their parents' funeral as a weakness, not to mention her strange affinity for singing. When Piper receives an anonymous note stating her mother is still alive and living in the enemy kingdom of Mondaria, Piper chooses to risk death and flees Capalon to prove once and for all that she's not just the queen's defective little sister.

Posing as a Mondarian citizen named Paris Marigold, Piper bumps into a cute black-haired boy named Ari who encourages her to audition for the King's 100, an esteemed performance court of singers, magicians, and drummers. Piper lands a spot as a singer and dives head-first into a world of glittering dresses, girl-code, sugar, blackmail, and physical contact-all while taking direction from an evil maestro. Under Mondarian law, Piper will be killed if her identity is revealed. But living a life without the freedom to love might actually be the most dangerous risk of all.

The King's 100 is perfect for readers who would love a mash-up of the Selection Series, Cinder, and Glee!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

​Karin earned her bachelor's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and served as an event planner for two Big 10 universities and various non-profits for over eight years before becoming a stay-at-home-mom. She enjoys chocolate-covered peanuts, uninterrupted sleep and singing with other people. Karin lives in Ohio with her husband, daughter, son, cat and dog.

The Process of Writing a Novel

Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel? Does your personal muse pull you toward the creative ranks of authors? Welcome! The world needs your voice. It doesn't matter if you think your story has already been told. The truth is, it has never been told by YOU.

So, how does a novel come together? Where do you even begin? Here you'll find a brief overview of the process of crafting a novel. These are the steps you should take on your own before you query or pitch it to an agent or editor.

The Outline:

People have differing opinions on how to outline. Some people like to build every little detail J.K. Rowling style before they sit down to write their first word. They have offices covered in sticky notes, plot lines drawn across the ceiling, and notebooks spilling with character sketches. Others, prefer to write by the seat of their pants (we call these people 'pantsers'). They might have a general idea of their story, but they follow their characters wherever they want to go, learning about them on the way.

There isn't a wrong or a right way to outline, but you have to have a few things straight before you start writing:

1. Who are you following? What do they want?

2. What is standing in their way? What is their try-fail cycle?

3. How will it end? Do they get what they want, or what they need?

As long as you have the beginning and the end goal in mind, you can navigate your beloved characters through whatever waters come between. But you must have that end goal like a lighthouse leading you on, or else you might never make it to shore.

The Rough Draft:

I have one firm rule when I write my first draft of a story: NEVER hit delete. A little dramatic, yes, but I promise you will become more productive if you adopt this rule. Why does it work? Because writers cannot create and edit at the same time. John Steinbeck had this to say:

​“Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not going on.”​Writing without the fear of 'getting it right the first time' helps word counts soar, boosts momentum, and places authors at the finish line faster than they thought possible. While an unfiltered stream of words splattered across the page might not sound like the finished story, don’t worry. A messy script is exactly where you want to be at the end of a rough draft!

To use an analogy from one of my favorite authors, ,,Shannon Hale said:

“I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that I can build castles.”Once you finish, celebrate the milestone! You completed a novel. That alone puts you in the ,,top 3% of hopeful writers. Don't worry that it doesn't look like the story you want it to be yet. Those phases are coming up. Be happy with the general shape, the bones you built, and look forward to the detail work you get to dive into next.

​

The Content Edit:

While you might feel tempted to start throwing in lyrical prose and punctuation, RESIST! Now is not the time. Right now, you are making sure your structure is sound. You don't want a tower crumbling on you after you've spent time in the details. Right now you need to work through the plot holes, character motivations, and pacing. And let me emphasize something. You can't do this alone. Having a trusted community is a crucial part of the content edit. You need added eyes and experiences to dissect your novel, to pull any loose threads tight before you invest time in polishing your manuscript. The girls at Writing Through Brambles not only offer me crucial insight, but also encouragement and enthusiasm for my story. Trust me, I've needed it on those days I felt tempted to scrap the whole novel as hopeless. So, find a community, get feedback, and fortify those towers before you move on.

The Copy Edit:

Now that your novel is set on a firm foundation, bring it to life with a distinctive voice, style, and correct grammar. Many writers try beginning their novel with this phase. That's why a lot of people don't ever finish their books. On a book that has a solid plot, rounded characters, and excellent pacing, the copy edit elevates a manuscript to a publishable quality. Choosing just the right words is when the magic really starts to happen. Get the manuscript in as good a shape as you can possibly get on your own, then guess what...

You're ready to take your baby to market. The amazing thing about the writing process is that editing is cyclical. Once you find an agent, they will start you back over at the content edit phase, instilling your novel with a deeper quality appropriate for your market and audience. Then, when you find a publisher, they take you back to the content edit phase again! These deeper levels of edits add even more refining polish to your work. But don't worry about those steps yet. They will all be spelled out for you in your contract. ;)

So, don't worry- be happy. Shovel away at that sand and dream of the magnificent castle that will eventually take shape. Let others see it while it's still forming. And most of all, enjoy the journey.

​

Happy Writing!