Safari Publishing

Am I a writer? This isn’t a philosophical question. This is a “get real” question. Just because you have an idea for a book doesn’t mean you are a writer. It doesn’t mean you aren’t one either. What it means is you need to learn how to be a writer–a good writer, that is.

First of all, write your story. Get it all down on paper or computer. Beginning, middle, and end. Then you need to join a writer’s group and attend writing workshops. Learn how to best craft your story. Is your story pacing/timing good? Should you tell it in first or third person? Do you need more backstory? Is your language and dialect appropriate for your characters and the time and place your story takes place. Are your characters relatable?

There is a big difference between telling a story and telling a really good story. You will need to learn how to become a better writer and keep improving your story. Practice makes perfect!

Secondly, once your story is polished and as ready as it will ever be (this includes professional editing), you need to attend writing conferences to network. Ask other writers you know about agents and publishers that specialize in your genre. Research how to write an effective query letter. Write the letter and submit your query letter to anyone and everyone who may be able to help you get your book published.

If you can’t afford to attend writing workshops or conferences, use the internet and your local library. Check out library books about writing and publishing. Subscribe to a writing magazine, such as Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and Writers & Poets. Your library may stock back issues of one of these publications. Use the internet to find resources, such as a current list of agents and publishers. YouTube has tutorials on everything and there are hundreds of good writing podcasts and blogs! There is even software that helps you create and organize your story and can even provide grammer and punctuation help, such as NovelPad, Scrivener, and Grammerly.

Lastly, know when to let go. If you keep reworking your story and you keep hearing negative feedback, it is time to let go of that idea and come up with something else. Maybe even pursue a different genre. If you don’t know what a genre is or how many genres are currently out there, you need to start there! Many writers end up shelving their first manuscripts, realizing they can create better characters and story lines. Yes, it is hard to let go, especially if you have put a year or more of your life into the book, but…you want to put your best foot forward and if your first try doesn’t accomplish that, then try, try again.

The purpose of this blog is to make sure you don’t get so excited about your story that you go off half-cocked, meaning not putting the best book out there that you can. We are living in an era where many self-published writers have hastily thrown their stories out there and polluted the virtual shelves of booksellers, such as Amazon, with their mediocre or just plain bad books. Don’t make that mistake. Don’t attach your name to a bad book. Take your time. Do your homework. Write a great book! Enjoy great success! Anyone can get published these days, but only a small percentage are successful!

November is NaNoWriMo, which means National Novel Writing Month. It is also National Nonfiction Writing Month. In the last few years, this concept has exploded. While we here at Safari Publishing do not encourage binge writing, we do like to encourage writing. So rather than think of this month as a “race to the finish” just writing for the sake of writing, we suggest you seriously pursue any writing aspirations you may have. Begin by outlining your book and then start writing. It’s that simple. Well, sort of.

There are nine different ways you can outline a book. We suggest you do some research before you begin so that you don’t abandon your project before you ever get started. Getting started is the most overwhelming part of the process. It gets much easier as you go along. But you must get off to a good start. We suggest you do more than online searches to find answers. Take a workshop or sign up for a course or pick up a reference book. There are videos and podcasts available too.

Don’t delay…start today!

Are you considering writing a book series? Here’s what you should know:

1. Outline your series before you write the first book. You need to know the flow of the story immediately. What is going to happen in book #1? How and when is the series going to end? Who are your characters? It takes a good bit of work on the front end, but it is vitally important when writing a series to invest this time upfront.
2. There are no rules. You don’t have to pick up with book #2 where you left off at the end of book #1. You can jump ahead five years–or whatever. Be creative!
3. Shake things up. Keep the reader guessing. Don’t you hate it when you read a book and within a few pages or the first few chapters you already know what’s going to happen? It is best to surprise the reader. He will be thrilled and keep reading to find out what happens next AND he will definitely want to read the next book in the series. This means incorporating flashbacks, backstory, subplots, and whatever else is necessary to enrich your story.
4. Play around with your characters. They need to grow and keep surprising your readers. Introduce new characters and maybe even get rid of old characters if it keeps the story moving forward. Do you have a nemesis? Where do you envision your protagonist? What about a funny sidekick?
5. Listen to your readers. What are your readers saying? What did they like or not like about book #1? Be sure to make changes according to what your readers are saying if you want to keep selling books.

These days there are so many indie authors and the publishing industry has evolved so much that it is much like television. Remember when the viewing season was Sept – May? And you only got three or four networks? Similarly, there are still only three or four large publishing houses but there is now room for lots of publishers. Thank goodness! While indie authors tend to release their titles whenever they are ready, there is still some protocol in traditional publishing.

Here is a calendar that most traditional publishers adhere to:
•January – April: Romance, Self-help, Business books
•May – August: Adventure, Fantasy, Travel, Beach Reads
•Sept – Nov: Academic, Horror, Paranormal, Inspirational
•Dec – Jan: Children, Cookbooks, Gift Books, Memoirs/Biographies, Reference Books

Some books are timed to coincide with a specific event, such as D-Day or Mother’s Day. One thing to remember if you’re pitching your book to a traditional publisher is that it takes more than twelve months to go from contract to published.

The Hermitage Hotel

Got writer’s block? Or just need to get away and do some writing? Here are ten great places to write without distraction OR to get your groove back!

1. Windsor Court Hotel (New Orleans, LA) www.windsorcourthotel.com

2. Wentworth Mansion (Charleston, SC) www.wentworthmansion.com

3. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff (Bluffton/Hilton Head area, SC) www.palmettobluff.com

4. Monmouth Historic Inn (Natchez, MS) www.monmouthhistoricinn.com

5. Hermitage Hotel (Nashville, TN) www.thehermitagehotel.com [Read more…]

Whether you’re trying to get an agent or a publisher, you need a query letter. Here’s the first thing you need to know: It should not be longer than one page.

In your one-page letter you are trying to convey a great deal of information and there is a protocol as to how agents and publishers expect it to be presented. Here are the basics:

*Use standard font, such as Times New Roman 12 point. Do not get cutesy!

*At the top and close of the letter be sure to include your contact information: full name, full address, phone number with area code, email, and website (if applicable)

*Address the agent or editor by name, not “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Editor.” And double check that you spelled his/her name correctly. Be sure you are referencing the most up-to-date resource for accurate contact information.

*Be sure to follow submission guidelines to the letter. If the person wants snail mail submissions only then don’t email. Duh! Be sure to include a SASE if you are sending a snail mail query.

*Stick to three-paragraph rule (see below).

*Thank the agent or editor for his/her time and attention. And be sure you are approaching the right people. If this person does not deal with your genre or is currently not accepting submissions, then you are wasting your time. Do NOT follow up. If they are interested, they will be in touch.

Okay, so here’s the breakdown:

Paragraph 1=Introduce yourself and any credentials you have, such as writing awards, published books and/or articles, and a popular blog or huge Twitter following. This shows you already have a platform.

Paragraph 2=Summarize your book, including a compelling description, word count, and genre. Needless to say, your book should be written before you begin to pitch it. If this is part of a series be sure to mention it.

Paragraph 3=Closing paragraph to thank person for his/her time and any other info you want to mention.

Do you know what a genre is? Do you know what genre your book should be in? You might be surprised! The list is huge and keeps changing. One of our authors, Terrance Zepke, wrote a great piece about this that we’d like to share.

Click here to read all about genres!

Here is Part Two of her piece about genres!

You can’t pitch your book to the right agent or publisher if you don’t know what genre your book belongs in, so take some time to do some research so you can get this right.