Chip MacGregor .com

What are some good resources for writers?

Dan wrote and said, "I hear you've taught a couple classes for colleges, and I know you do the occasional conference. For those of us who can't get to another state to hear you, what would be some resources you'd recommend for writers?"

One of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer is to attend a good writing conference. They have conferences all over the country, usually featuring experienced writers and publishing professionals. It's a great way to meet people, ask questions, and connect with others who are also trying to make it as writers. There's undoubtedly a GREAT conference happening somewhere close to you in the month, as the conference season kicks off (for example, I'm attending the Left Coast Crime conference in Sacramento in two weeks). You'll rarely regret investing in a good conference.

Another thing to consider is a critique group -- a chance to sit down with a small group of fellow writers and compare notes, critique each others' work, and talk books. It offers you perspective from others, and it gets you talking writing with people -- something many writers have discovered is hard to find. You can often connect to them online, and many local bookstores will help authors in the area come together in order to network and critique one another. A third resource is one of the online writing groups -- one helpful such gatherings is the Yahoo group "The Writers View," but there are numerous others. Most of these groups discuss writing and publishing, and many have a panel of experts to bring some wisdom to the discussion.

If you're already involved in some of those things, let me suggest a writing course at your local college. It can be a lot of fun to take a literature course or participate in a creative writing class, and the instructors can often give new insight into your work that can help move your craft to the next level. When I was in college, I got to take a class from Ursula Le Guin, one of America's foremost fantasy writers. It was a wonderful experience, and one you can't get just anywhere. Check to see who teaches college courses near you. Another idea is to take a look at the world of writing by subscribing to Writer's Digest Magazine or The Writer, and carefully checking out what's new in the "writing" section of BAM or Barnes & Noble. There are more new resources being created every few months, so if it's been a year since you looked at books about the craft, by all means check out the latest.

Two more thoughts for you... If you're a nonfiction author, the folks at www.bestsellingauthor.com have re-released their CD set, "Become a Bestselling Author: Lessons from an Anonymous Publishing Giant." This is like a master's level course in publishing -- a freelance writer interviews the president of a major publishing house, who gets into the mechanics of publishing, the psychology of editors, and the methods for creating a great proposal. They cover things like "landing a literary agent" and "generating free publicity" and "conducting great book interviews." It's a wonderful resource, but it's not cheap. I think the cost was about $300, but now that they've re-packaged it and are re-releasing it, they're selling for something like $149. Still spendy, but WELL worth the investment. (And no, I don't work for them.) Check it out.

If you're a novelist, by all means go to my friend Randy Ingermanson's site www.advancedfictionwriting.com. Randy gives away some great information (make sure to look at his free e-zine and his famous "snowflake" method), and also sells his Fiction 101 and Fiction 201 classes as downloads or on CD. All of his stuff is well done, and he's one of the few people out there who has something realistic to say about fiction writing and marketing. And Gina Holmes' "Novel Rocket" site has some of the best mix of interviews and insights into the writer's life. 

Of course, if you really want to move forward in your career, consider a writing career coach. I blogged about what Lisa Samson is doing last week -- her company, Luminary, offers manuscript guidance from one of America's great novelists... what more could you want? And, of course, by doing a bit of hunting online, you can discover a number of others who offer similar assistance. 

Hope this helps. What are the resources all you like to recommend?

 

What do you need to know about literary agents?

Donna wrote to say, "I heard an agent speak at our writing group. He sounded interesting, so I went to his website, which is interesting but I wasn't sure I could trust it. You have to contract with them for a year and pay an up-front fee of $195, though it's not clear if that is per project for for all your works. Is that the usual course?"

Yikes. Several thoughts come to mind... First, don't go to any agent that asks for an up-front fee. That screams rip-off. I don't know of any credible literary agent who asks you to send him or her a check right off the bat. You can't be a member of AAR by charging fees, and you'll get listed in "Predators and Editors" if you do. Stay away from fee-based agents. (And if you're interested in this topic, I highly recommend the book Ten Percent of Nothing, which offers a fine expose' of scam agents.) Second, you don't want to sign up with an agent you know nothing about. Websites are marketing tools, and some of them over-promise when in reality the agent will under-deliver. I can claim anything I want on my website (that I'm the best agent in history, that I'll make you a million dollars, that I look exactly like Brad Pitt), but if we don't know each other, and if we've never met, HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE? Be cautious over sites that over-promise. (For the record, I look exactly like Brad Pitt. Especially if you stand far away. And squint. And are blind.) Third, be wary of agents trolling for business by sending you advertisements. It's one thing to meet someone at a conference, or to begin a dialogue over a submission you've sent in -- most of the authors we represent we met somewhere and had a discussion with, or they were introduced to us by current authors we represent. I think that's true of most agents. What you're describing is akin to a lawyer chasing ambulances. Sorry to sound negative, but this sounds like a scam.

Camille wrote to say, "I have heard the best way to contact agents is to attend conferences. I've also heard it is possible to schedule a meeting in order to have the agent look at your material at a conference. Is that true? And if so, how does an author find out about conferences? And how does one go about scheduling an appointment with an agent at a conference?"

It's true, Camille. There are few venues left for getting a face-to-face meeting with an agent any more, but a writers' conference is one of the best. And many conferences will simply post meeting schedules, where you can sign up with an agent either before the conference or on the first day of meetings. Usually you'll come in with your one-sheet or proposal, make a quick pitch, and have about 15 minutes to talk. You can't totally "sell" them in such a short time (so don't think you're going to land an agent at a conference), but you can certainly start a conversation, make a good impression, and begin the process of working together. To find writing conferences in your area, just google "writers conference" or talk to your local bookseller. You can also check out an online writing group or join a writing association such as Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the like. I'm a big fan of writing conferences because it puts writers and agents in touch with each other.

Dale wrote and noted, "A publisher requested my manuscript at a conference. They later sent me an evaluative memo with some editor notes and a request that I rewrite it and send it back. Is this worth mentioning in an agent query?"

Sure it is. Understand that many editors will request a proposal at a writers' conference. Unfortunately, many time they aren't really "requests." They are more "resigns" -- as in, "The editor was resigned to saying yes to every author who showed them a proposal." That's because the bulk of editors, while exceptionally nice people who know their jobs, are also big weenies. They hate looking you in the eye and saying "no, that doesn't fit us" or "no, this isn't ready" or "no, did you stop taking your medication?" Consequently, I'll often hear authors tell me an editor requested a proposal, when in actuality the editor did nothing more than agree to look at it later, so as to reject it later, by letter, thus saving himself from having to tell the author "no" face to face. (Okay, I'm exaggerating. A bit.) However, if the editor has taken the time to review your work and make notes, then has suggested you do some revising and re-submit, that shows genuine interest. So yes, I'd tell a prospective agent that bit of news. And by the way, I think it's great that you wrote to me, since it allows me to not that both Chip AND Dale are part of today's post.

 

Newsday Tuesday ...

Some quick notes and random stuff…

Well-known writer Alton Gansky has put together a strong faculty for his intimate, new-style writing conference, coming up October 18-22 in New Mexico. If you’d like to meet people in the industry, but are a bit intimidated by one of those 500-attendee gatherings, check out what he’s doing at the Southwest Christian Writers Studio: http://www.altongansky.typepad.com/swcws/

The INSPY Awards have announced their list of 2010 finalists. Included this year are some authors we represent: Gina Holmes, in the Literary Fiction category, for Crossing Oceans; Jim Rubart, in the Speculative category, for Rooms; and Jenny B Jones, in the YA category, for So Over My Head. Other finalists included two authors we represent, but whose books we weren’t representing at the time—Dean Nelson for God Hides in Plain Sight and David Gregory for The Last Christian. And Mark Bertrand made the finalist list for his fabulous novel Back on Murder, but then was taken off the list when it was revealed his book released one day too late to make the list! You can see the entire list of finalists here: http://inspys.com/

Publishers Marketplace (a great resource that you should consider subscribing to) did some research on the number of deals being done so far this year in all of publishing. As usual, they reported things were slow in the summer, then picked up considerably in September. Overall books deals are up about 16% from last year (which is great news for authors), with “thrillers” being a clear growth category, and YA fiction on an upswing. And while big-money deals are growing, “debut” authors are down considerably—meaning publishers are looking toward their A-level authors to pay bills more than ever before. If you’re interested in staying on top of the publishing news, check it out at http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/automat/

In case you missed it, Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours, penned a wonderful piece of writing in the New York Times on the use of words. It’s worth reading: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/opinion/03cunningham.html?_r=1

I frequently get people asking about freelance editors. There are ton of them (especially now that all the publishing houses have trimmed their staffs), so if you go to any decent writing conferences you’re sure to meet a few folks who do freelance editing. For copyediting, I have often worked with Hannah at DoubleCheck:  http://www.doublecheckediting.com/  , and I noticed at ACFW several authors were chatting up the developmental editing abilities of Jamie Chavez, who you can find at

http://www.jamiechavez.com/ 

If you need help just getting your novel up to snuff, we are big fans of www.mybooktherapy.com , and we like the work Joyce Magnin is doing with authors. Of course, if you want some basic "how do I make this writing gig work" advice, consider talking to Tiffany at http://writingcareercoach.com/ 

I also have people write to ask me, “How can I make sure my site is the top one listed on a search engine when somebody does a search for my name or topic or genre?” There are whole books about this subject, but here are a couple places to start: http://www.seomoz.org/article/beginners-1-page

and

http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf

And in the NEWS OF THE WEIRD category, a paper in Pennsylvania refused to run an advertisement from the Christian Book and Gift Shop because the name of their store was “offensive.” True story – the guy at the paper said the fact the store had the word “Christian” in it meant an ad “could offend non-Christians.” Good grief. It’s all here: http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/newsletter/latest-etailing/22074-store-rejected-over-offensive-christian-name-

Here’s something you’ll enjoy – the 100 Best First Lines from novels, according to the American Book Review: http://americanbookreview.org/100BestLines.asp

 

And some follow-up to ACFW questions...

Jan wrote to say, "When you were asked at the ACFW conference what you're looking for, you said 'high-concept literary fiction for the Christian or general market.' I don't even know what that means. Can you help?"

I can try. Someone in a group setting asked me to describe what I was looking for, and since I was afraid I'd have to start doing drugs if I had to face a bunch of writers who wanted to tell me about their Amish romances, that's what I came up with. I'd love to say I labored over it, but... well, it's not bad. I do a lot of literary fiction -- probably more than most of the other CBA agents who attended. But I've learned that literary fiction sells best when it's tied to a high concept, rather than another one of those "Christian woman faces a difficult struggle which allows her to ruminate on her crappy life" type of literary novels. And I'm moving more and more toward the general market, so... that's what I said. 

Now. How would I define it? Um, how's this: I like contemporary fiction that doesn't easily fit into some common genre category, but still offers a big enough story to make me pay attention. I suppose I need it to sound more artsy. Literary novelists sometimes have to be reminded that (a) I have to like your lead character if I'm going to keep reading, and (b) there has to be a big enough story to actually have a book, and (c) it has to seem enjoyable enough at the front end that I'll want to read the whole thing. Therefore I tend to look for those things in literary fiction. When you look at some of the literary novelists I represent (Lisa Samson, Susan Meissner, Claudia Burney, Gina Holmes, Ginger Garrett, Joyce Magnin, even Kimberly Stuart, who is lighter than the others but crafts a wonderfully entertaining story), they all fit those descriptors. Does that help at all? You're welcome to rent my definition. This lousy economy has created a glut of literary definitions, as you know, so some of them have been on the market for months.

And several people wrote to ask, "What would you do to improve the conference experience for writers?"

Hey, I love writing conferences. I don't do as many as some other agents because I just can't take the time to go to a bunch of them any more -- Ive got authors I represent who need me working on their behalf. Still, I try to make it to a couple each year, and do the best job I can of sharing information. Frankly, the ACFW is as good of an annual conference as there is. The faculty are professionals, the topics are good, and the whole thing runs like clockwork. I've been happy to be part of it. So let me offer my thanks to the ACFW staff first. 

A few things people who are planning writing conferences could keep in mind? Well, think about going to the local newspaper and asking them to send a workshop leader. Most papers have someone who does community public relations (they will do this for free). A workshop on "writing for the newspaper" would be nice. You could also consider talking with local magazines -- they offer real-world opportunities, and would be available to come for a day, so there are low travel costs, an no need to put them up. In addition, most states have a list of publishers. If you were putting on a conference, you might try linking to a local publisher. It'll build the list of publshers participating, and will give authors wider chances to talk to publishers. Similarly, if the local University has a press, you could ask them to send an editor. 

I still like seeing an author interviewed, rather than just offering a presentation. I've had some great experiences where an author shows up, does a short reading, and just takes questions or is interviewed by someone skilled at asking insightful questions. And I'd love it if agent panels were more focused -- like five agents talking about romance novels, or about digital rights, or... whatever. 

If someone local has written a play or a movie, ask them to come in and speak. Show the movie (or invite people to attend a performance of the play), then let everyone talk with the author. For that matter, you can always ask local writers to show up and speak (which will save the conference money). You can also ask a writer to bring one chapter of a work in progress, put it up on a screen for all to see, and have them go over it, showing writers how they rewrite and make changes. (I've also seen this done with a writer and editor doing it.)  If there are writing groups in the area, or bookstores that host writing groups, don't forget to invite them. Getting some involvement with a college would be nice. Have them inform the students, especially the students in writing or English or journalism. Maybe give full-time students a discount, but the big deal is to have them help you advertise and promote the conference.  

Those are my random thoughts. If you're looking for a conference to attend soon, I mentioned the Southwest Writers Studio yesterday: www.swcws.com

There is also a writing conference coming up in Indianapolis the weekend of November 6 (the same weekend I'm doing my one-day "perfect book proposal" seminar in Richmond VA). So you've got plenty of options. And if you're tired of reading serious stuff and simply need something funny to check out, by all means visit the Landover Baptist site: http://www.landoverbaptist.org. Some of it is in bad taste -- but some of it is very funny, and will make you laugh out loud. (Thanks to ACFW'ers for showing this to me!)

Some ACFW Notes...

There has been a ton of buzz in the media about the just-completed American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference. It was big (more than 600 writers, about 700 people attending), it was fun (Susan May Warren teaching a line dance to 100 people at her pizza party stands out), and it has become influential (lots of media there -- I had interviews with a national magazine and a large newspaper). A few things that stood out for me:

-As noted yesterday, Sandra Bishop of MacGregor Literary won "Agent of the Year." Congrats, SB! Well deserved. 

-Jenny B Jones, an author we represent, won two "Book of the Year" Awards, in both the "Contemporary Romance" (for her novel Just Between You and Me) and the "Young Adult" categories (for I'm So Sure). 

-Other authors we represent who were finalists in various categories included Vickie McDonough (a two-time finalist in the "Historical" category, plus a finalist in the "Short Contemporary" category), Joyce Magnin (in the "Long Contemporary" category for her fabulous book The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow), Susan Meissner (one of the great novelists in CBA today, for White Picket Fences),  Mindy Starns Clark (for Under the Cajun Moon), Darlene Franklin (for A String of Murders), Janice Thompson (also a two-time finalist, for Pushing Up Daisies as well as Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas), Rachel Hauck's Sweet By and By in the "Women's Fiction" category, Lynette Sowell (for All That Glitters), and Jill Williamson (for By Darkness Hid - which we didn't represent at the time, but Jill is now represented by Amanda Luedeke). So a great night for our authors. 

-By the way, the Book of the Year Award is now The Carol Award, named for longtime Bethany House fiction director Carol Johnson, who had significant influence on the direction and growth of Christian fiction over the past 25 years. In a very touching moment, Carol was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award by Jeanette Oke -- one of the authors who helped propel Christian fiction into the spotlight. Ms Oke has had serious health issues in recent years, and it was good to see her up and looking well. 

-Curtis Riskey, the new Executive Director of CBA, was kind enough to come into my marketing workshop and chat for a while about the partnership authors have with retailers. He was encouraging and on point, and everyone came away feeling better about the future of CBA retailers.

-People have asked me for highlights, but it's tough for me to say because I don't have time to attend a lot of the sessions -- my schedule is filled with author and editor meetings. I heard a lot of folks say they enjoyed the general session speaker, novelist Tim Downs. I had a great time team-teaching the fiction marketing seminar with my good buddy Jim Rubart (who also played guitar in the band). There was apparently a sale on asparagus in the midwest, so we got to have fresh asparagus spears every meal (including, um, breakfast). The hotel and accommodations were great. Lots of friends to visit with late at night. And the banquet, while way too long at three-and-a-half hours, was interesting and fun. (I was relieved when Amanda announced she had decided against borrowing Lady Gaga's meat dress for the banquet.) 

-If you're interested, there is a great article in Publishers Weekly on the ACFW conference here:

http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/beyondherbook/?p=2207&utm_source=Pub

-And, as long as we're talking fiction, let me share a fascinating fact coming on the heels of the biggest ACFW conference ever: according to a new study from the ECPA, Christian readers bought almost as many novels as they did Bibles last year. Here’s a link to the story:

http://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/newsletter/latest-etailing/21992-fiction-nearly-rivals-bible-purchases

-Three other quick things on today's menu... 

First, the Southwest Christian Writers Studio is coming up October 18-22 in New Mexico. The lineup of talent and topics sounds really good, so if all this talk of the ACFW conference has you motivated, you may want to look into this one. You can check it out here: http://altongansky.typepad.com/swcws/

Second, I'm teaching a one-day workshop in Richmond, VA, on Saturday, Nov 6. It's called "The Perfect Book Proposal," and is sponsored by the local ACFW group and the Virginia RWA. You can get more details from Tiffany Colter at [email protected]. 

Third, marketing guru Rob Eager sent me details about his upcoming one-day workshop, also on Saturday, November 6th, in Atlanta. It's called “How to Sell Books Like WildFire,” and provides advanced-level book marketing instruction that’s applicable to authors at all levels. Space is limited to the first 10 authors who register. For a small investment, you will learn how to:

·         Build a distinctive brand that sets their books apart from the crowd.

·         Learn to boost book sales by driving readers to bookstores and websites.

·         Get more exposure via media interviews and speaking engagements.

·         Connect with influential leaders who can spread word of mouth.

·         Learn what really works with social media to promote a book.

·         Develop a personalized marketing plan that focuses on the author’s strengths.

·         Make new friendships with fellow authors who provide ongoing support and share best practices.

For registration and information, please visit:  http://www.startawildfire.com/authorworkshop.html

As I said, there's a lot going on. Now get back to your writing! 

The ACFW Conference is next weekend - Sept 17-19

As a writer, you probably spend a lot of time sitting at your desk, banging out words, pondering your story. You do some research online, write out a chapter, do some revising. Sure, you spend some time emailing friends to try and see what else everyone is up to, but for the most part the things you do as a writer are done alone. Writing is a solitary job. Every successful writer I know spends a lot of time along with their thoughts, sitting at a computer, creating worlds and conversations in their head. 

If you're a novelist, that's exactly why you need to think about coming to the ACFW conference next weekend in Indianapolis. Because all of those solitary writers out there also feel a need to meet with other people who love books and words. A writing conference is a chance to connect, to learn, to network, to hear about opportunities, to see old friends, and to make new ones. Let me suggest five benefits to attending the annual ACFW conference...

First, it's a chance to LEARN. Just take a look at some of the workshops being taught at this year's conference -- information on creating strong proposals, on developing better characters, on using humor, on writing to specific niche audiences (there's even a workshop on "how to write Amish"!). There are a couple dozen workshops you can attend, and most are taught by bestselling novelists or experienced industry professionals (for example, I think the concept of listening to the editorial team from Thomas Nelson talk through what an editorial meeting is like sounds tremendously valuable). 

Second, it's a chance to POLISH. The conference offers continuing sessions, where you'll be able to get more in-depth on a topic. Multi-bestselling author Tracie Peterson is there to talk about crafting novels. Famed writing instructor Dr. Dennis Hensley will be talking about symbolism and structure. Bestselling novelists Susan May Warren & Rachel Hauck of My Book Therapy (which has some of the BEST material on creating good fiction) will be helping you craft better scenes. Jim Rubart, a 20-year marketing veteran, is offering his experience to help you know how to market your books. And there are a bunch of other in-depth tracks you can take. 

Third, it's a chance to NETWORK. You'll see hundreds of other writers there -- people who love books and words as much as you do, and who want to explore how to get better at what they do. There will be editors there, representing a wide variety of publishing houses. You'll be able to set up one-on-one appointments, just to talk with them about your manuscript. There's also a chance to talk with several agents -- in fact, a writing conference like this is one of the few place you can go and connect with literary agents. Between sessions, at meals, during the social times, and in the hallways you'll be surrounded by industry professionals. Make sure to use those opportunities to meet people and get to know other writers. 

Fourth, it's a chance to CONNECT with friends. You'll see some people you know, and be introduced to some folks you've read but never met. There will be an opportunity to link up with a critique group, or to simply meet other writers from your area. When I was a young writer, I went to a conference and introduced myself to people. I made friends that helped me get connected with the local writing scene, and that led to my first paid book-writing gig. 

Fifth, it's a chance to REFLECT. There will be time to think, time to sing, time to talk, and time to laugh. Part of the value of being away at a conference is that it forces you to get out of your normal routine -- so you can use that to think through what you'd like to be writing, and how you'd like to approach it. You can join a small group for a quiet night of discussion, or you can grab friends and sit laughing in the lobby until all hours of the night. 

I'm a huge fan of the ACFW conference -- in fact, I'm on record as saying it's the most practical conference for Christian writers to attend. I'll be there again, meeting with authors and wearing my kilt and appreciating friends and trying to think of something to say in a one-on-one appointment that doesn't sound trite and shallow. Make sure to say hello. 

NEWSDAY TUESDAY ...

Recently a friend said to me "it must be so cool to get paid to read manuscripts for a living." I knew then that he really had no idea what my job entailed. Reading manuscripts and reviewing proposals is an important part of what I do, of course. But, honestly, it's just the beginning of what can be a long process.

For me, sometimes reading manuscripts is soothing. It reminds me that there is always the possibility of finding something fresh, or a potential perfect fit for an editor, or simply a gem I want to seriously consider. Other times it's stressful because I wonder how I'll ever find time to help with another project. But, it ebbs and flows, and all works out in the process. Publishing is a lot of things, but one thing it most certainly is is a process.

Sometimes I think writers forget this.

For example, right now I'm working on submitting a project I've been helping an author shape since January 2009. Yep, you read that right. 18 months of work. Admittedly the author is a busy mom and works full-time, so it's been a bit of an off and on process for her. But, I believe in her work and her message, and I know when the time is right, we'll be ready. For some authors I represent, patience (on both our parts) is the primary speed. For others, sometimes, we have to hasten things a bit.

I'd love to hear from some of you who are willing to share how long it took you to get published. I mean from first submission to book on the shelf. Just to give some perspective. Anyone willing?

While we wait for your responses, here's a smattering of NEWS for you:

A COUPLE NEWISH BLOGS by a couple editor friends of ours we thought you'd like to check out:

Nick Harrison - Harvest House Publishers Nick Harrison Books
Barbara Scott - Abingdon Press The Roving Editor

CHIP WAS INTERVIEWED last Friday. Here's the link

REVIEW NEWS

Susan Page Davis' recently released title THE CRIMSON CIPHER (Summerside Press) is a Top Pick in Romantic Times Book Reviews' August issue.

AWARD FINALISTS 

Congratulations to several MacGregor Literary authors who have recently finaled in contests:

Kit Wilkinson's PROTECTOR'S HONOR is an RWA Maggie Finalist in the Inspirational Romance category. 

ACFW's Book of the Year Awards have been renamed. Henceforth they will be called the Carol Awards after Carol Johnson, an editor who played a big part in helping  create a place for Christian fiction in publishing. Congratulations to you, Carol. And to the numerous MacGregor Literary authors who are finalists: 

- Historical Novella -
Vickie McDonough - A Breed Apart (Barbour Publishing)
Vickie McDonough - Beloved Enemy (Barbour Publishing)

- Long Contemporary -
Joyce Magnin - The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow (Abingdon Press)
Susan Meissner - White Picket Fences (Waterbrook Press)

- Long Contemporary Romance -
Jenny B. Jones - Just Between You and Me (Thomas Nelson)

- Mystery -
Mindy Starns Clark - Under the Cajun Moon (Harvest House Publishers)
Darlene Franklin - A String of Murders (Heartsong Mysteries)
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Pushing up Daisies (Heartsong Mysteries)

- Long Historical -
Siri Mitchell - Love's Pursuit (Bethany House)

- Long Historical Romance-
Janice Thompson writing as Janice Hanna - Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas (Summerside Press)

- Short Contemporary -
Vickie McDonough - A Wagonload of Trouble (Heartsong Presents)

- Short Historical -
Lynette Sowell - All That Glitters (Heartsong Presents)

-Women's Fiction -
Sara Evans & Rachel Hauck - Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson)

- Young Adult -
Jenny B. Jones - I'm So Sure (Thomas Nelson)
Jenny B. Jones - So Not Happening (Thomas Nelson)

For a complete list of the finalists for the inaugural year of the Carol Awards, go to
The Carol Awards will be presented at ACFW's Conference in Indianapolis, September 17-20.  If you've been thinking of going but haven't registered, there's still time to do so here.

A FEW NEW BOOK DEALS

-Melanie Dobson is doing another Historical Romance with Summerside Press titled LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA
-THE THREE MARYS, a new Bible study written by Eva Gibson will released from AMG in 2011
-Harvest House has contracted Poppy Smith to write a marriage book tentatively titled WHY CAN'T HE BE MORE LIKE ME
-Arloa Sutter is working on two Bible studies to accompany THE INVISIBLE: What the Church can do to Find and Serve the Least of These, her imminently releasing title from Wesleyan Publishing House

BEST SELLERS
I noticed something interesting today. Of the top 50 books on CBA's list of Best Sellers for August, 2010, eleven (22%) of them were fiction titles. And those eleven were written by seven authors. Like I said, I just found this interesting ...

News? Thoughts? Just let us know ...

Truth and Fiction

Gwen wrote to ask, "When working on historical fiction, if an author is using real people from history and not created characters, what is the author's responsibility to the character? I sometimes admit to feeling guilty of slander -- I'm using real people, but my judgments of their deeds and motivations is quite different than that of historians. What is the ethical line between historical fiction and history?"

I don't think there is a line connecting them. A novelist who is creating a story and weaving in actual people and events probably owes a debt to the reader to try and get the facts correct, I suppose (though even that is a questionable supposition, and many authors have altered facts and dates in order to tell a better story), but a novel isn't a textbook. It doesn't have a restriction that "you must have all your facts correct" or "you must accept the commonly held notions about a character's motivations."  It's a novel, for crying out loud. The author is inventing a story to entertain, maybe to explore themes and motivations, not to teach history. So, while I wouldn't create a story in which the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor on July 11, I see nothing wrong with an author creating a story depicting an interesting twist -- that Roosevelt knew about the attack ahead of time, or that it was the attack was a rogue group of Japanese military, or that it was all a mistake. With fiction, it's the STORY that counts, not the accuracy of the events. Besides, if we all knew the deeds and motivations of historical events, there would be no need to explore them further. A novel allows us to consider alternative interpretations -- that Richard III was actually a good guy, or that Sir Thomas More was a self-absorbed twit, or that Robert E. Lee wasn't the military genius he's been made out to be. Sometimes those ideas are daft (Oliver Stone's movie JFK was filled with tripe and innuendo -- which, of course, many movie viewers swallowed as gospel), other times the ideas can be reasonable (take a look at Elizabeth Peter's Murders of Richard III). But what your readers care about most is that the story is interesting, emotional, and readable.

An author I represent, Ginger Garrett, took a fresh look at Thomas More in her fabulous novel In the Shadow of Lions. A few people (including one editor) argued that she shouldn't take a well-beloved historical figure like More and paint him in a negative light. I found that notion daft. Isn't that one of the PURPOSES of fiction -- to get us to see things in a new way? There are some creepy things about More if you want to take an honest look at the historical record, regardless of his sainthood. And that's not at all on a par with a doofus like Oliver Stone just trying to do another hatchet job on someone he doesn't like. 

2. Mary wrote to ask, "As an agent, what are you looking for in a query?"

Every time I open a query letter, I'm hoping to see something I fall in love with. I want to see a great idea, supported by great writing, from an author with a great platform. I want to read an idea that makes me go, "Fabulous! Why didn't I think of that?!" An author platform that shrieks, "I can help support this book!" Writing that hooks me from the first line. It's rare, but it happens. On the flip side, the thing that makes me immediately plop the query into my "reject" pile is seeing a variation on a theme -- something that's trying to ride the coattails of a project that's already been done in a big way. (Examples include, "I was thinking we could turn the Book of Revelation into a novel" and "What about a book on making your life more purpose driven?" I've seen them both. Recently.) 

I always tell people I'm looking to be changed by a book. Nonfiction is basically written to solve a problem or answer a question, so it should share information that will change us -- help us to live more effectively. And novels are written to entertain and enlighten us, so the best novels change us by helping us see the world in a new way. All great books change us -- and that's what I'm looking for. Books that will CHANGE me. 

3. Denise wrote to ask me, "What's the worst query you ever received?"

This one is easy. All of us have pet peeves -- I happen to hate it when an author uses a query letter to sing his or her own praises: "This life-changing book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you quit your job and move to Toledo so you worship at my feet." Fer cryin out loud -- let somebody else sing your praises. The same holds true for competitive analyses in which the author basically bashes everybody else's book on the topic. Nothing will make you look more like a self-absorbed jerk than to suggest "Jerry Jenkins got it wrong but I'm doing it right." 

Of course, bad writing often wins the day. I once received a novel proposal that began with these words: "Ring, ring!" said the telephone. Barf, barf, said the agent. 

However, the worst query letter I ever received was from some prophecy nutjob in the Midwest. He claimed (and I swear I'm not making this up) that he and his son were "the two prophets foretold in the Book of Revelation." He informed me that I needed to send him "a contract and a sizable check," and warned that if I didn't do so, I was incurring God's wrath. He went on to say I could expect "severe weather patterns" and that God was "going to kick [my] ass." Really. Needless to say, I immediately leaped into action by suggesting he write to friend and fellow agent Steve Laube.

4. Andy wrote to say, "I thought you weren't doing many conferences this year." 

I'm not. I'm team-teaching a "How to Write Bestselling Fiction" seminar with Susan May Warren for a handful of people in Portland later this month, and repeating that in Denver in late June, but those are small groups. (If you'd like to know more, check out www.themasterseminars.com ). And I'll put in an appearance for a couple events at the Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing next week, but the ACFW conference is really the only big writing conference I'll be doing this year. 

However, if you'd like to interact with me, check out the marketing webinar I'm doing for Writers Digest this Thursday. We're going to be exploring marketing your books in the new economy, branding, writing good ad copy, and how to take charge of your own marketing plan. I think the cost is just $79, and you can find out all about it here: http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/self-marketing-for-authors-webinar/?r=chipblog033010

Would love to see you at the webinar. Enjoy your Easter Monday! 

chip

What are you doing to improve your craft this year?

Word is out -- I'll be doing a webinar next week for Writers Digest entitled "Marketing for Authors." This is a business-focused, 90-minute webinar for authors who have books coming out soon, or authors who just want to learn more about the marketing process. It starts at 1 eastern next Thursday, April 8, and you're invited to attend. Chuck Sambuchino has blogged about it over on his "Guide to Literary Agents" blog...  http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/CategoryView,category,Webinars.aspx . You can get all the details there.

These days, publishers expect the author to really take charge of their own marketing efforts. That's a tough task for most of us who were trained as writers, and don't have much enthusiasm for becoming full-time publicists or marketing directors. So my goal in this 90-minute session is to try and break down some of the basic information authors need to know about marketing. We'll cover topics such as:

• Marketing in the new economy
• How to establish an author brand
• What to expect your publisher to do 
• Keys to writing great marketing copy
• Five things you can do to become your publisher's favorite author

I hope you'll check it out. You can sign up here: http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/self-marketing-for-authors-webinar/?r=chipblog033010

By the way, I'm going to be speaking at the Calvin Festival for Faith and Writing in mid-April. It's the best writing conference for my own personal growth, and it happens every two years at Calvin College. Speakers this year include Eugene Peterson, Avi, Kate DiCamillo, Lisa Samson, Scott Cairns, Tim Stafford, Parker Palmer, Wally Lamb, and a host of others. The Festival always has an array of incredible talent, and is the conference I get the most out of personally. I'll be teaching a workshop on "Making a Living at Writing," and I'm doing a couple group appointments with unpublished authors. If you're going to be there, make sure to stop by and say hello.

And the weekend of April 23-24, I'll be team-teaching a seminar called Writing Bestselling Fiction in my hometown of Portland, Oregon. My co-teacher is bestselling author Susan May Warren, and in this seminar we'll explain the elements of a bestselling novel, show you how to create great characters, and get you going on plotting a story that will be both memorable and meaningful. We'll make the whole process understandable, and you'll leave having taken a major step forward in your novel writing. If you want to finally create that romance, suspense, mystery, or thriller that will gain a readership and get noticed in a crowded marketplace, you should come join us. You can get more info on the website, and readers of this blog get $50 off. Check it out at: www.themasterseminars.com

One last one to tell you about: Two of my favorite authors, Lisa Samson and Susan Meissner, are doing a seminar in Orlando called Adding Depth to Your Fiction. Susan is a widely respected author, and wrote the most decorated novel of the year in 2008 with The Shape of Mercy. Lisa Samson is widely regarded as one of our best literary novelists, having won a shelf full of awards and honors. Together, they've created a weekend retreat to help authors make their work better, deeper, and more meaningful. This is a rare opportunity to spend a weekend with a couple of talented, experienced novelists, focused on helping you improve your own craft. This sort of thing comes around rarely -- not a huge, 500-person convention, or a one-hour workshop somewhere, but a couple days away with experts. Doesn't get much better than that. The retreat takes place May 7 & 8 in the Orlando Embassy Suites, right by the airport. You can get your questions answered by Tiffany at tiffcolter(at) gmail.com. 

Of course, there are plenty of other good conferences coming up as well. Write to Publish happens in June on the Wheaton College campus in Illinois, and I know plenty of people will be at the Colorado conference in May. What are you doing to improve your craft this year? 

Newsday Tuesday

 

A NEWS UPDATE: Due to a family emergency, Sandra won't be able to attend the Mount Hermon conference this week, as planned. Sorry, everyone. She'll try to come next year. 

AND due to circumstances, Chip won't be able to attend the Blue Ridge writer's conference in May. Apologies to everyone -- just couldn't be helped. 

Okay, so  I'm hoping someone on an island in the Pacific might not notice that I'm quite late with today's post. Sorry. Stuff happens. Stuff that makes me incredibly grateful for our current health care system, thank you very much. Ahem.

But, in other news...

Chip and Jim Rubart taught a great marketing seminar in Nashville last weekend. If you attended, feel free to leave a comment and let others who have yet to attend a Master Seminar session know why it's well worth the money and time.

The next two upcoming sessions, also facilitated by Chip MacGregor, are on craft:

On April 23-24 in Portland, Oregon - Writing a Bestselling Novel - with best selling author Susan May Warren. This is a perfect weekend for authors who are at a place in their writing where they want to learn the secret to moving forward in their careers and enjoying commercial success (aka ... how to write books that sell!)

- Adding Depth to Your Fiction - on May 7-8 in Orlando taught by novelists Lisa Samson and Susan Meissner. This is a rare opportunity to share a weekend with two nationally-recognized writers. (And if Orlando is just too fun or too far for you, no worries. This seminar is also scheduled to take place in Detroit in June.)

Check The Master Seminars website for more info and to register.

A few upcoming books to look forward to:

Jennifer AiLee, author of THE PASTOR'S WIFE will be doing a second title with Abingdon Press, titled THE MOTHER ROAD.

AMG is working with Eva Gibson to release a new bible study, THE THREE MARYS.

Tia McCollors has contracted to write STEPPIN' INTO THE GOOD LIFE with Moody Press' Lift Every Voice line.

And I'm sure there's more news. But it will have to wait 'til next Tuesday. I think I hear the sun setting somewhere over Samoa...