Frequently Asked Questions
I don't guarantee that the answers to these questions are correct. Your manuscript, your risk!
On Writing Fiction
What are good writing craft books out there?
I want to write a novel. I'm overwhelmed. Where do I begin?
On Submitting Your Work
What is a S.A.S.E.?
What is the proper manuscript format?
How do I calculate word count?
What is an outline? A synopsis? How long should they be?
What is a query letter?
Where can I submit my short stories?
On Literary Agents
Do I need an agent?
Chicken or egg: completed manuscript first, then query an agent? Or query an agent to ensure interest before writing the manuscript?
Should I accept or offer literary agents "exclusives"?
Should I send my work to Janet Kay (Desert Rose) or ST Literary Agency?
How do I find an agent or publisher?
How do I find out a particular author's agent?
On Publicity
I'm a writer, not a publicist. Why should I care about this stuff?
As I said, I'm a writer... I don't know zilch about marketing!
On Likha
How do you pronounce that word?
Who are you anyway? What gives you authority to answer these FAQs?
Will you keep updating this FAQ section? Do you mind if I correct you on some points?
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A N S W E R S
On Writing Fiction
Q: What are good writing craft books out there?
A: There are writing books that inspire, there are ones that instruct. I don't like the latter, but they did serve their purpose in my life. The list that I've compiled from my own collection, and those of my writer friends, include:
- On Writing by Stephen King
- Writing the Breakout Book by Donald Maass
- Stein On Writing by Sol Stein
- Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande
- The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner
- The Career Novelist by Donald Maass
- Being Your Own Literary Agent by Richard Curtis
- The Blockbuster Novel by Al Zuckerman
- Making A Literary Life by Carolyn See
- How To Write by Richard Rhodes
- Ernest Hemingway On Writing Edited by Larry W. Phillips
Q: I want to write a novel. I'm overwhelmed. Where do I begin?
A: Begin by reading, not books on writing craft, but books that you enjoy reading. If you don't enjoy reading, forget about writing. That's my opinion; yours could be different.
When you read this time around, pay closer attention. What is it about the book that you love? The characters? The plot? The suspense? The languange?
You won't always enjoy every book you decide to pick up. This is good. This will help you realize what works and what doesn't.
Also, read books on writing. Take what you need; throw away the rest.
Write. Take a plunge and write that first sentence. Do you need an outline? Only you can tell. I wrote my first novel with an outline, and I'm writing my second without one. From my own experience, I can say that writing without an outline works better for me. I've met writers who swear by the outline, though.
Rewrite. Your first draft will not be publishable. Period. You need to revisit your work, edit, and then edit some more. Read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne & King.
On Submitting Your Work
A: Self-addressed, stamped envelope. You need to pay postage for your own rejection.
I learned that I need to put the title of the manuscript on my SASE. I put mine on the last line of my address. This is especially important if you have multiple manuscripts out there. Some form rejections won't mention the name of the project. Some, on the other hand, will include the first page of your manuscript. That's a big clue as to which manuscript is being rejected.
Q: What is the proper manuscript format?
A: This is my favorite reference for manuscript formatting: Shunn's Proper Manuscript Format.
This is not, by any means, THE rule. I have heard people say that Times New Roman pt. 12 and 14 are acceptable. I've heard people say that it is unnecessary to have two spaces after periods, questions marks, colons, and exclamation points.
Q: How do I calculate word count?
A: See my post on The Controversial Word Count.
Q: What is an outline? A synopsis? How long should they be?
A: I'm too lazy to explain. Just know that these are terms you should be familiar with. Here are others. Google is your friend.
A: I view the query letter as a cross between a cover letter for a job application, and a movie teaser. You send one to an agent to ask her/him to represent you. Here are a couple of examples:
Karin Gillespie's query letter to Jenny Bent
Nicholas Spark's query letter for The Notebook
My friend, Karen Dionne, offers editorial critique of query letters. There are samples on her site, as well as helpful links.
Q: Where can I submit my short stories?
A: Literary Markets compiled by Mary Anne Mohanraj. Remember when I talked of top tier magazines? I pretty much use her list as reference.
Online journals. I have not submitted to these, but some friends of mine had success with these publications.
Writerswrite.com provides the ability to search publications by name, keywords, paying vs nonpaying, and type (fiction, poetry, all).
On Literary Agents
Q: Do I need an agent?
A: The answer to this varies, so I won't recommend one way or the other. This is a personal decision based on your goals. For example, if you dream of getting the attention of big publishers and you are not from royalty, then you will need an agent. The big'uns don't look at unagented manuscripts.
A: The answer to this is simple. If you are writing fiction, then FINISH THE MANUscript FIRST! Most people who claim to write a book will not finish it, and of those who do, few will have something publishable. Therefore, agents will not be interested in a novel (especially a first time novel) that is just an "idea" or one that is "halfway done." When you query, make sure you are clear that you have a completed manuscript.
For nonfiction, you don't need to write the manuscript first. You initially send a proposal (search for nonfiction proposal on Amazon for help on writing one), and if you get interest, then you write away.
Q: Should I accept or offer literary agents "exclusives"?
When you offer or accept an exclusive to one agent, you cannot query other agents until such time that 1) the agent with the exclusive accepts/ rejects you as a client; or 2) the agreed period of the exclusive is over.
Many writer friends of mine will scream if you mention the word "exclusive." If you can avoid it, do so. If an agent asks for one, and you honestly have other agents already looking at partials or fulls, then politely decline the exclusive but say you would still like to send her/him your manuscript. If no other agent is looking at partials or fulls, and the agent asking for an exclusive is on your priority list, be sure that you give a reasonable time frame. Two to three weeks seem good. Six months is BAD.
Q: Should I send my work to Janet Kay (Desert Rose) or ST Literary Agency?
Send it to me instead, with a check for reading fees, submission fees, lunch fees, my-cat-needs-litter fees...
You get my point.
Q: How do I find an agent or publisher?
A. Beats me. I'm trying to find them myself.
Seriously, there are tons of information on the Web (e.g. Everyone Who's Anyone in Trade Publishing), as well as published books about this (e.g. Jeff Herman's Guide and Writer's Market.)
Beware of scammers, though. Check Preditors & Editors and Writer Beware before submitting to agents. Also check if the agent is a member of Association of Authors' Representatives. If he/she is, you can have peace of mind.
Q: How do I find out a particular author's agent?
A. If you feel that a particular author's agent will be interested in you (because you have similar styles, or your story is one of those "cross between book x & book y"), then check out the acknowledgements on the author's book. Chances are, he/she thanked the agent.
On Publicity
Q: I'm a writer, not a publicist. Why should I care about this stuff?
A: You should care because the royalties go to your pocket. Here I talked about advances and publicity. Judge for yourself if you will need to create your own buzz.
Q: As I said, I'm a writer... I don't know zilch about marketing!
A: Research. Here are some books about the subject:
- Literary Publicity by Joseph Marich, Jr.
- Publicize Your Book! by Jacqueline Deval
- Guerilla Marketing For Writers by Jay C. Levinson, et al
- Marketing Strategies For Writers by Michael Sedge
On Likha
Q: How do you pronounce that word?
A: It's LEEK-ha. Not LIKE-ha, although feel free to tell people "That Zarina girl, I like ha'."
Q: Who are you anyway? What gives you authority to answer these FAQs?
A: I'm just a wanna-be author. I'm learning a lot about the industry, and I take notes. I like taking notes. I might forget if I don't. So consider these my notes, and you're copying them. Just like in school.
Q: Will you keep updating this FAQ section? Do you mind if I correct you on some points?
A: Yes, I will keep updating this section and no, I don't mind you correcting me. I have never claimed to be perfect.
