Novel Writing: What Happens After the First Draft? Revision, Feedback and Work

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Novel Writing: What Happens After the First Draft? Revision, Feedback and Work

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This article is so good I had to share it with you.

If you’re an author who feels your words are priceless gems and must not be changed, you’ll have a hard time connecting with publishers and readers.

This is fabulous advice from a National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) winner who landed a multi-book publishing contract.

He did it by revising, taking feedback, and continuing to work hard. See original article source.

I Published My NaNo Novel! Jack Soren on Revising His Manuscript, and Magic Curtains

Jack Soren is a frequent participant of NaNoWriMo, and recently sold a book series to HarperCollins’ Witness Impulse imprint—the first of which, called The Monarch, is available now. We talk to him about his book, and just how he found himself published:

Have you participated in NaNoWriMo?

I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo several times over the years. The community and general helpfulness is fantastic. The opportunity to work with and mentor other writers is just as amazing.

The first third of the The Monarch‘s first draft was written during a recent NaNoWriMo. I continued writing for months afterward to bring it to completion, but I have no doubt that without NaNoWriMo there wouldn’t have been anything to finish.

You recently became a signed author with HarperCollins. Congratulations! How did that happen? What steps did you make to go from an unsigned author to a signed one?

Thanks! Well, first you find out an editor’s jogging route. Then you buy a lot of duct tape…

Seriously, I followed the traditional route. Using Literary Market Place and QueryTracker, I sent queries to dozens of possible agents. I developed my queries using a variety of online sources, adjusting them as needed based on responses.

I didn’t end up acquiring an agent this way, but I did gather a ton of useful feedback from written responses and discussions with agents. This was far from a waste of time. The Monarch would not have been in the shape it was without this process. If I can offer any advice here, it’s listen. If you get four replies saying they liked the story and your writing but they can’t market a 200,000 word story about magic marbles, start cutting, baby.

After striking out with the agent approach, I started periodically submitting directly to publishers. Eventually, HarperCollins opened up their Witness Impulse imprint to unagented submissions. On a whim, two days after my birthday last September, I submitted the version of the manuscript that had been honed by all that previous rejection. In March, Chelsey Emmelhainz at HarperCollins, who would eventually become my editor, contacted me.

During a very surreal phone call where I mostly concentrated on not passing out, Chelsey said she’d like to publish my book. She then asked me if I’d ever considered writing it as a series. Luckily, my face broke my fall. I gave the answer everyone should give when an editor asks if you’ve ever considered writing your book as a series—of course!

Tell us about The Monarch. What is it about?

For a long time I’d wanted to write a thriller about a killer who was using priceless works of art as his weapon of choice. In one of my first NaNoWriMo attempts, I tried my hand at it but it didn’t really go anywhere.

Then in my most recent NaNoWriMo attempt, my day job was eating up so much of my life I didn’t have any prep time. So on November 1st, I just sat down and started typing. This idea came back to me as I wrote. As the story developed, it went from being a straight mystery-thriller to a cross with a techno-thriller.

What tips do you have for writers who are thinking about querying their NaNo-novels after their revision process?

Don’t give up! You need to develop a thick skin and understand that when you do receive rejections, they’re rejecting your work in its current state, not you. Use all the resources out there, as well. Forums, blogs, and websites are free and full of seasoned writers, editors and agents paying forward with their experience and advice. Seek them out.

And remember, editors and agents aren’t the enemy. They love books as much as you and are dying to help you be successful.

How do you juggle writing with day-to-day activities like interacting with your kids and running errands?

Time management is crucial. When you’re on deadline, that can get a little dicey. The solution is support. Without the incredible support of my daughter and my girlfriend, what I do wouldn’t be possible.

During my recent editing blitz, they not only knew to leave me alone during the 18 hours a day I was writing, but they put up a curtain and set rules that if the curtain was closed, you went away. Of course, if you ask them they’ll probably tell you the curtain wasn’t to keep them out, but to keep me in. Either way, it worked, and the curtain is a magic talisman that everyone respects, now. Including me.

And as it happens, I’m now selling magic writing curtains on Etsy for a mere…

Jack Soren’s favorite childhood movies usually starred either Jerry Lewis or Vincent Price. Jack recently signed a multi-book deal with HarperCollins for his debut thriller series. The first book in the series, The Monarch, is available now. The second book—Dead Lights—will follow in June 2015.