Is THIS hurting your chances at publication?
Plus my new writing companion and TONS of writing links and resources
*For writing links and resources, scroll down.*
I got some insider info…
I was talking to someone in the publishing industry the other day who told me something you may want to consider if you’re writing with the goal of publication…
Due to COVID supply chain issues, the rising cost of paper, the downfall of bookstore chains, etc., agents and editors are becoming much more hesitant to take on longer manuscripts, especially from debut authors. She told me if you’re shopping around a YA novel over 90,000 words, for example, agents and editors might shy away from it based on the word count alone. I don’t have specific numbers for other genres, but take a look at these suggested word counts, and if your manuscript is over, or on the high end, you might consider paring it down before querying. In these tough publishing times, less is definitely more.
That being said, there are exceptions every rule and publishing is a highly-subjective business. Also, if you’re still in the drafting stage, don’t worry about your word count. You’ll have the chance to slim it down during revisions.
We had a terrible problem…
We’ve been struggling with a mouse infestation at my house. We were trying to take care of it ourselves with traps of all kinds (snap, sticky, bucket, catch-and-hold, you name it), but I guess the mice were too smart because we only ever caught two, and we know there were way more than that.
At first we were only seeing them (and their droppings) in the kitchen and laundry area. But then things got exponentially worse, and we were finding their droppings everywhere, in every room of the house. The mice were getting bolder, too, coming out into the middle of the living room and chewing on the carpet right in front of me.
The final straw was finding droppings on the couch and realizing that they had been chewing through the cushions from the bottom, probably using the stuffing for their nests. That’s when we called the exterminator, who sealed up the holes around the outside of the house while my husband spent the entire weekend sealing up holes inside the house.
We also decided to get a cat. Apparently just the scent of a cat is enough to keep mice away. Here’s hoping this will be a long-term solution to our mouse problem.
She’s a pretty cute solution, wouldn’t you agree?
When your solution causes more problems…
Of course, getting a cat is no small thing. She has already pooped on the carpet (I think it was the stress of moving homes) and chewed through her cat food bag because we didn’t, despite her insistent meows, get up at 5 am to feed her.
She’s quite shy and skittish, and though she’ll sit under my desk during the day and occasionally allow me to pet her, she continues to hide in terror from my kids. Hey, I get it, sometimes I want to do that, too. But it’s also breaking my heart because we’ve had her almost a week now, and my six-year-old, who has been amazingly patient, asked me yesterday, “Mommy, when will kitty stop being afraid of me and let me pet her?”
What I’m saying is: the solution to our mouse problem has introduced a whole new set of problems.
Let’s bring it all back to writing.
Our cat-and-mouse situation is kind of like revision. There’s a story-level problem with your manuscript, so you come up with a way to fix it. You start rewriting, but then you realize that change has created different story problems to solve.
My agent recently read my new novel draft, and though she liked it, she had a good deal of story-level feedback. She pointed out a lot of problems that need to be fixed, and I agree with about 95% of them. Now I have to figure out how to fix those problems, and I know the changes I make are going to introduce more plot brainteasers for me to puzzle through.
Such is the way of writing.
Such is the way of life.
Gotta go clean the litter box now.
Writing News & Resources
For All Writers:
#1000WordofSummer runs from June 17 - June 30. Get daily writing encouragement from published authors and join a community of other writers with the goal of producing 1,000 words a day for two weeks.
Black Fox Literary magazine’s next contest theme is Secrets Unraveled! The deadline to submit is June 18, 2023.
Check out this advice about first pages from agent Samantha Wekstein.
Craft First Chapters Contest with cash prizes is open until July 30, and the guest judge, Rebecca Makkai, is looking for stories in all genres, as long as they don’t bore her.
Check out these upcoming online seminars with Jane Friedman from Writer’s Digest University:
Tackle any creative writing project with tons of free online support and accountability with Camp NaNoWriMo — starts July 1.
If sitting at a desk typing away is taking a toll on your body, check out Yoga & Writing At Home Retreat via Zoom from StoryStudio Chicago. July 31-Aug. 4
I updated my list of writing and publishing resources — my very favorite books, websites, and podcasts and writing, publishing, and creative life.
Thinking about self-publishing? This detailed guide tells you all the steps you need to take: How to Self-Publish a Book: A Guide for Aspiring Authors.
For KidLit Writers:
The Searchlight Writing for Children Awards submissions are open from now until August 31. Shortlisted winners have their text sent to agents and publishers, and first place wins a sizable cash prize.
Best Novel Opening for Children’s or Young Adults (novel does not need to be complete)
The Highlight's Foundation is offering three sessions of the Whole Novel Workshop: a life-changing retreat with amazing faculty members for those with a full novel manuscript they want to workshop:
From Bitsy Kemper’s blog: over 100 publishers accepting unsolicited picture book manuscripts. (Updated June 2023)
Check out this incredible list of upcoming events for KidLit writers!
For Querying Writers:
Check out this query letter template from agent Samantha Wekstein.
Don’t miss my latest Query Guru post: Comp Titles, Clarity, & Mentioning Self-Published Books
Find a long list of example query letters on Quite the Query.
From The Good Story: Successful Query Letters: 40+ Real World Query Letters with Literary Agent Feedback.
Every Friday, Operation Awesome offers one free query critique through their #QueryFriday contest.
Every month I will chose one subscriber for a FREE submission package critique. Send me your query letter and the first two pages of your manuscript, and, if you’re the winner of the month, I will send you back in-depth feedback on both. Interested in receiving a critique? Fill out the form here.
Twitter pitch contests continue to happen, and though they can be frustrating, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try. (After all, I found my agent through a Twitter pitch party. I am now an official success story.) So mark your calendar for these upcoming Twitter pitch parties. And be sure to read my updated article 13 Things to Know About Twitter Pitch Events.
#PitchDis, June 22, for writers who self-identify as disabled, neurodivergent, and/or chronically ill.
#LatinxPitch, Sept. 15, for Latinx writers of kidtlit.
Writing Conferences & Events:
The Writing Day Workshop “How to Get Published” Conferences will held both online and in person this year. I attended one of these conferences in person a few years ago, and I thought it was fantastic. I can’t vouch for the virtual version, but there are some benefits: recorded classes, no travel expenses, attend in your comfy pants. Plus, sign up for pitch sessions with agents for $29 a piece. Check out the upcoming conferences:
Chicago Writing Workshop: June 24, 2023 (in-person)
The Chesapeake Writers’ Conference will be held from June 18 - 24 in St. Mary’s City, MD. The conference features lectures, craft talks, readings, panel discussions, and daily workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction
The Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy is back! Join educators in Washington, DC this July (7/16-7/18 or 7/20-2/22) for one or both sessions of learning, including a panel with award-winning authors.
Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference is happening August 17-20. For mystery, suspense, and thriller writers.
For more writing conferences, check out this list or this list of 19 Writing Conferences for Emerging and Established Writers.
Hearing that word count is now a primary factor in considering a manuscript is just one more reason why I am leaning more and more toward going indie with my first book this year.
The rising cost of paper? Really? The people whose one job is to print books don't want to spend money on paper?
What value are traditonal publishers adding to the process at this point? Serious question.
I love your cat-and-mouse analogy to writing! Brilliant.