Kelley Armstrong's Blog, page 139

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process. 

Hi Kelley, huge fan! I was wondering if you could explain the corporate/business aspects of writing for us aspiring writers. Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers, is

Lots of questions, some that would require very long answers to do them justice, so consider this the condensed version.

1) Like once we go through our million and one edits and think we have gold on paper, how do we go about sending it to publishers

Depends on numerous factors. Are you writing commercial or literary? Targeting one of the “big five” NY publishers or not? I’ll go with “commercial” and “big five,” and the answer there is…you need an agent. With the exception of a few lines at those publishers, they don’t look at unagented work. Here’s a great SFWA article on whether you need an agent, how to find one etc: http://www.sfwa.org/real/ 

2) is using a non-commercial word program OK

Do you mean a Home or Student version of Word? Yes, that’s fine. I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. However, if you mean “Can I use something other than Word?” No. I write in Scrivener but have to export to Word to send it to my editors.

3) once a publisher finally shows interest, what exactly happens from there?

Again, it depends on so many factors and what I’m going to give you here is the process for most commercial fiction writers working with a big five publisher. They make an offer. You negotiate. You decide whether to accept. This is where you need help if you don’t have an agent. You sign the contract. You send them the manuscript. They send edits. You edit. Repeat until all parties are satisfied. It goes to copyedits. You approve fixes. It goes to proofs. You proofread. Pre-pub promotion (by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Book release! Post-pub promotion (again, by publisher if you’re lucky, but don’t count on it) Meanwhile, be writing book 2 because it’ll be due before book 1 comes out. This is a super-simplified version of the process.