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It’s time for another weekly discussion. This week’s topic is: Books
on Writing

We’ve all read numerous books about writing or for reference. Please
share with us a few of your favorites, a few that have been
recommended to you in the past, and perhaps a few tidbits from within
the covers that you feel extra helpful.

Ally
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Get ready for another Writing Challenge this September at CataU!

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This topic of discussion needs mentioning I think. In the past I’ve seen articles by editors about how you should never address your cover letter to “Editor.” You should figure out the editor’s name. And heaven forbid if you spell the editor’s name wrong.

Let me state for the record that yes, I understand what it’s like to get hundreds of emails a day. I understand what it’s like to have thousands of names in my contact list. So yes, I understand what it feels like to have lots of contacts and plenty of submissions, not to mention details to be buried in.

That said, editors are not the only ones buried in these details. I do feel sorry for all the crap editors have to read. There, I’ve said it. Editors freely admit they have slush piles and most of that mountain is…slush.

I try not to add slush to the already slushy pile. That’s my contribution.

Let me also state that I understand what it’s like to have someone call you the wrong name and/or misspell your name. I have become exasperated about it before, sure, but I have never gotten bent out of shape about it. I consider it a small detail. For the record, I spell my name Ally. Not Allie. Not Aly. Not Alley. Not Allee. Not Alie. Yes, I’ve seen all of those. I don’t sweat it. I know who you’re talking to…me.

In fact I had a running joke when I was younger and people called my Allison I would correct them and tell them “but I pretty much answer to anything that begins with A and isn’t followed by two Ss.”

Also, my maiden name was hard for EVERYONE to spell. Even our power company misspelled our name. So unless your name is Smith, you have nothing to complain about.

It’s small stuff. That’s they way I look at it.

Regarding “Editor.” As often as editors change houses, well it’s like musical chairs. And yes, we should, as writers, make an effort to find out who’s editing and how to spell your name. But that only goes so far here people. We’re writers. We writer. We’re not in the publicity business. We are not Super Sales people. We’re selling our book and you’re an editor in the market for books. If you’re not, that’s another post entirely.

I have seen several publishers request letters be made to Editor so they can appropriately and easily forward your mail on to whoever is available. What a novel idea. Not getting bent out of shape about having your name on a piece of paper.

I do understand how nice it is to get real mail with your name at the top versus Dear Editor or Dear Resident as is the case in my snail mail box. So if you as an editor must have letters made out to you, please put your name and contact details on your publishers website in an easy to find location. That way everyone wins.

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What say you? Do you agree? Disagree? Speak up. 

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How long did it take for you to get published and what was the journey like?

SL: I had a couple of short stories published right out of college, but it was several years later before I finished my first novel, which wasn’t really a novel. It was only 145 pages and very bad. Then I joined Virginia Romance Writers and started to learn the rules of the novel (especially page count!). I submitted the novel then revised and submitted again for about two years, when my friend from VRW suggested I submit to Liquid Silver Books.

Tell us about your call story?

SL: There was no actual phone call. It was an email. I can’t even remember exactly what it said. I think they wanted to make sure I was open to editing, which I was. I was just so happy that my baby had finally found a home!

For those who aren’t familiar with your work, tell us what you write and who you write for?

SL: I write super hot romance for Liquid Silver Books and Loose Id, everything from suspense to paranormal to futuristic.

How long does it take you complete a book, start to finish?

SL: That’s really hard to say because the books often get extensive revisions after I’ve finished them, which can go on for some time (usually coinciding with the rejections). I’d say three months is probably the fastest I’ve finished a project. No more than a year usually.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your career?

SL: The mountain of rejections. It takes a strong ego to continue submitting rejection after rejection. When all the editors seemed to have rejected me, I switched to agents and racked up those rejections too. Another challenge is writing to market. Some of my books won’t work for Loose Id but will for Liquid Silver. I have to know the different requirements and cater the books for the publisher I plan to submit to.

Do you believe in muses?

SL: Not really. I believe in inspiration when I can suddenly write page after page because a story just clicks for me.

What influences and inspires you? Any authors?

SL: I’m sure I’m not alone in saying Nora Roberts inspires me. The authors I meet everyday in my local chapters of the Romance Writers of America inspire me. I couldn’t do this without them. As far as influences, it’s everything from Mary Janice Davidson books to a Firefly marathon to a custom playlist designed to keep me in the mood while I write.

What’s your take on self promotion? What have you found to work the best for you?
SL: Self promotion is an ongoing job and a process of discovery. I can’t tell you whether an ad or review in Romantic Times brought me sales or an ad on a web site or a loop chat. I put out a monthly newsletter and run frequent contests to get readers to keep checking my web site. What I’ve heard repeatedly from other authors is that writing another book is the best form of promotion. In e-publishing, the new release can bump up the sales of your back list, too, as new readers discover you. Two things to consider when you’re mapping out a promo plan: money and time. Are you going to be able to keep up with a weekly blog, a monthly newsletter, all those chats you’ve lined up? Can you afford to do an RT ad with every book or would web ads suffice?

What do you think of social networks? Are you on any of them?

SL: One of the most useful social networks that helped me from the very beginning was Liquid Silver Books’ Forum (nicknamed SiN). I like the forum format. They’re very informative whether you’re a brand new unpublished author or someone whose been with them for a while. Here’s the link: www.liquidsilverbooks.com/forums/
I’m also on several loops, and as I said, I belong to RWA and three local chapters (Chesapeake, Washington, and Virginia Romance Writers), and that has helped me immensely.

How about blogs? Do you read them? Write your own? Guest blog? What do you think works best? And do you have any favorite blogs or blog posts?

SL: I have a blog (sharalanel.wordpress.com/), but I’m atrocious at keeping up with it. I also blog on my MySpace page (www.myspace.com/sharasezone). I guest blog once a month at Liquid Silver’s blog and sometimes over at Loose Id’s blog. I do think a group blog works better than an individual-you have more people promoting it and it’s less time consuming. Finding a group that gels with you is a bit harder. I enjoy guest blogging. One I particularly liked had me interview my character for the blog. That was cool.

What’s your opinion on having an agent? Do you have one currently?

SL: No, I don’t have one, but I am seeking one. You don’t need an agent for e-pub, but you do need to be a savvy contract reader or find yourself a literary lawyer. That’s the reason I’d love to have an experienced agent on my side-to deal with contracts, and to get my books in front of editors who normally wouldn’t look at them. Of course, I’ve heard that a bad agent is worse than no agent. I’m hoping to avoid that experience.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve been given?

SL: “Finish the damn book!” That’s on a t-shirt created by an RWA chapter-I forget which-but it’s totally apropos. I’ve also heard “You can’t fix what isn’t written.” Another way of looking at it. If you’ve never finished a complete novel, that is your first task, no matter how bad it turns out to be. If you’re 80 pages into a novel and think every word you’re writing sucks, that’s when I remind myself about the “fix” quote. It’s true and usually the thing isn’t as bad as I imagine ;-)

Do you have any advice for new writers?

SL: See above: finish the book, study and understand any contracts BEFORE you sign them, be willing to say no, and get involved with an RWA chapter.

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