Acolyte
Sleepy Maggie:
How do you approach an agent to publish a
book ?
BrendaJ: great q
you need to write a query letter
you can learn how to draft them by using
a "how to get an agent"
guidebook like writers market
: then you hope that an agent asks to see
a partial of your manuscript (ms)-- thats
a part of the ms. like the first 5 pages,
then, if they like your partial, theyll
ask to see the full msor 10 pages, or 50.
(every agent is different)
and then you pray!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
lol so that's why you have to have the
whole thing finished, huh?
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
hopefully reading mine doesnt make them
sick heh
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
There are several questions like this one
too!:
Where/how do you get the inspiration for
your stories?
BrendaJ: you can get it from anywhere!
usually its something crazy that
happens-- like going to your
ex-boyfriends wedding
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
lol
BrendaJ:
and then you think about what would
happen in the fictional world
so in real life, you just go to the
wedding and try to act normal.
but in fiction, oh God- you can really go
crazy!!!!
and the ideas follow from there.
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
This story sounds like it would make a
good movie! Do you think they'll make it
into one?
BrendaJ:
i hope so! i really really hope so!!!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
sounds like it would be hilarious
BrendaJ:
my agent is currently shopping it around,
so ive got my fingers crossed!
thanks so much for your comment!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Were you published right away or did you
have to struggle your way there?
I know some authors had to submit their
work like twenty times!
BrendaJ:
there was a lot of struggle! its really
hard!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
thats my fear, I have a hard time with
rejection sometimes
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
we artistic types do!
BrendaJ:
rejection sucks, but you have to start
developing a thick skin if you want to
get published
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker
oh I have a thick skin, I have a teenager
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
lol
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
but sometimes its hard
BrendaJ:
bc, just remember-- when your book gets
published, people will feel like
they have free reign to say stuff about
you
you have to just keep on going and
believe in what you do....
but, back to agents-- i was rejected by a
bunch
and i had interest from a bunch
mainly, i just believed in my book and
tried to keep moving forward
so id say finish your book and then start
submitting to agents
dont let the no's get you down, and just
keep applying to agents!
: trust me, thats what i did! and you can
do it, too!!!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
How much does it cost from your pen to
the book shelf?
BrendaJ:
I don't understand the question?
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
I guess that means: did you have to spend
your own money to be published?
BrendaJ:
OH! You have to pay to take a writing
class, unless you can find a free one
the writing classes that i teach for
mediabistro.com cost money.
but no agent should EVER charge you to
read your work-- those are scams.
Acolyte Sleepy
Maggie:Good advice!
BrendaJ:
also, when a lit magazine tells you to
pay to have a piece published, thats a
scam, too.
BUT, it takes a long time from the time
you get an agent until your book is on
shelves,
so you cant quit your job bc youll need
money until you get that first advance
check
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
did you ever fall for any scams?
BrendaJ:
i was a lawyer before i became a writer,
so i was lucky that i never fell for any
scams!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
oooo advance check
Acolyte Painter Mysstwalker:
I like the sound of that
BrendaJ:
yes, getting your first advance check is
so surreal!!!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
I bet! <jump>
Acolyte Painter Mysstwalker:
that would so scream SHOPPING to me
BrendaJ:
so funny!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
I would just plain faint
BrendaJ:
i must admit, im almost done with book
two,
and im going shopping with my best friend
on saturday to celebrate!!!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Are you working on a second story, and,
is it a sequel?
BrendaJ:
thanks so much for asking!!!
i am almost done with my second novel and
it is a sequel to SCOT ON THE ROCKS!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
woot!
BrendaJ:
its called JACK WITH A TWIST
(Engaging your adversary and other things
they dont teach you in law school)
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
ooooo that one sounds good
BrendaJ:
its about a woman who is planning her
wedding to the man of her dreams
while also litigating the largest case of
her career....
which just so happens to be against...
her perfect fiance!
Acolyte Sleepy
Maggie:utoh!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
the way my life goes, mine would be
titled Water with an Olive
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
pfft lol
BrendaJ:
oooh! do tell....
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
I bet you could make a GREAT story out of
that!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
oh its a twisted tale, best left for
later, so you have to stay in
DS<grin>
BrendaJ:
ok, sounds like a plan!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Do you have to approach different agents
for differant Novels ie:
kids,teens,adult,romance ?
BrendaJ:
usually you approach an agent about one
book at a time
BUT, once you have an agent, you can
switch genres.
eg, if i wanted to write a teen novel
now, id use my same agent
but you dont pitch more than one agent at
a time
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
huh! that makes sense
BrendaJ:
most people only have one book totally
written, tho, so its okay!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
now I thought the agents were genre
specific so that is good to know
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
So once you have an agent, he's the only
one you'll use?
BrendaJ:
yes, they are. but most agents rep a
variety of genres
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
versatile folks they is!
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
so say I might be able to find one that
does humor and kids books?
BrendaJ:
if youre happy with your agent, you
typically stay with her
yes, definitely. you can find an agent
with a variety of interests
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
lol kind of like a marraige
Acolyte Painter Mysstwalker:
ok you just spoiled it for me Maggie lol
BrendaJ:
thats whats great about the guide books--
the agents report
what kinds of books they like to work on
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Here's another one about agents: If we
submit our work to an agent,
but hear nothing back, do we just keep
submitting to other agents until a deal
catches?
BrendaJ:
you can follow up with another email or
letter two weeks after you sent your
first query
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
That sounds fair
BrendaJ:
but, yes, you should just keep querying
until you get a bite!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
if a writer has more than one interest,
how do they pick which direction
is most likely to be publishable? what
are the "hot" writing genres
right now?
BrendaJ:
gosh, thats a tough one bc whatever you
write now wont
actually hit shelves for at least 2-3
years.....
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
thats something on my mind, which one do
i do first
BrendaJ:
that having been said, chick lit mystery
is hot, as is young adult
also, anything supernatural is hot, too.
witches, etc.
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
ok now we talking hehe
BrendaJ:
but my general advice is to just write
whats in your heart
write the one book thats tugging at you
and wont stop tugging!
that one idea that you just cant get out
of your head
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
ok that settles it then
BrendaJ:
those characters who live with you every
day and just wont go away!!!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
I have just one more question if you have
time!
BrendaJ:
yes! definitely!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Did the events in your story really
happen to you?
BrendaJ:
oh, dear. i get asked that a lot.
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
lol I bet! <jump>
BrendaJ:
what i will say is this: i *did* go to an
ex-boyfriends wedding.
and there was a whole thing with this hot
scottish dude....
BUT, nothing else is true! I promise!!!!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Did you ever do any magazine work before
going on to novels?
BrendaJ:
thats a great question!
i myself did not do much mag work
BUT its an AMAZING way to get started.
and then once your book is published, you
can get yourself killer reviews very
easily
i was supposed to be reviewed in this one
mag that has a circulation of 7 million
(wont say which!!!)
and then i got bumped bc a former writer
of theirs had a book coming out the same
month
so if I had written from them, i woulda
been golden! so id definitely recommend
doing lots of mag work
and it can pay really well!!!!
Acolyte Painter Mysstwalker:
guess it can give you a major leg up
BrendaJ: MAJOR
and if agents know that you have those
contacts, theyll be more likely to want
to sign you
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Networking, kids, networking!
BrendaJ:
so it can also help you to get an agent!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
where can you get a list of responsible
agents to send your work in to?
BrendaJ:
writers market guide book or jeff hermans
guide to agents
both are entire books of listings!
also check out mediabistro.com for
detailed info on agents
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
if you don't pay the agents, how do they
get paid? Do they get a cut off your
book?
Acolyte Painter
Mysstwalker:
oooo good question
BrendaJ:
yes, agents take a cut of everything you
make
in general, they take 15% of your
domestic sales and 20% of international
so, 15% of your advance and then 15% on
royalties
(the money you get after you earn back
your advance money)
also 15% of your movie sale!!!!
but its worth it bc they do so much work
for you!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Do you feel you earned enough to make it
worth the effort you put in?
BrendaJ:
thats why people want eh big advances up
front.....
they want a lot of money earlier....
but look at dan brown
da vinci became HUGE well after it was
published
and he continues to get a percentage of
those sales even now.
so hes totally rich!!! go dan brown!!!
and you all will be, too!
thanks so much for coming tonite!
Twilight:
Brenda, thank you so much for coming and
talking to everyone tonight!
Acolyte Sleepy Maggie:
Everyone is asking me to thank you for
your time!
BrendaJ:
id love to hear from you-- check out my
website at www.brendajanowitz.com
or my blog at myspace--
www.myspace.com/brendajanowitz
Twilight:
As always, its been great, fun and
informative too!
BrendaJ:
thank you all so much for coming!!!!
Twilight:
I think we have a lot of people
interested in writing here!
BrendaJ:
im actually guest blogging today at jason
pinters blog today!
check it out at
www.http://jasonpinter.blogspot.com/
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