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CONFESSIONS OF AN ACQUISITIONS EDITOR

Small publishing houses work for me because I can't seem to resist the urge to put my two cents in on how the publishing house works. I'm sure Simon & Schuster or Random House could care less about what I think on the way they run things, but I've had two publishers now who value my opinions. Let me tell you, it's a heady feeling.

When my current publisher was backed up by the onslaught of query letters, I volunteered to lend a hand. Not that I know anything about acquisitions (is there a training manual somewhere?) but I know what I like to read. I've also studied the market and have an idea of what sells.

I loved all the letters I received. Some were funny, some were written by a quivering hand, all were hopeful. But, here's where I went off the beaten path of query letter/synopsis/outline.

When I open e-mails, the first thing I look for is genre and word count. We are a strong genre house, our word count doesn't exceed 85,000. This is the only way to make books cost effective, for both the buyer and the publisher. While main stream publishers push the idea that BIGGER is BETTER is a BLOCKBUSTER is a BESTSELLER, we have more realistic expectations. Sometimes the best novels come in small (55,000 words) packages.

I know all the writing books stress that the query letter is “The most important letter you'll ever write.” Really? How about the letter to the IRS explaining that strange tax deduction? To Santa for a new computer? To Match.com to complain about bad hook-ups?

I don't even read the query letter. Blasphemy!

The first thing I do is Google the writer's name. I'm expecting to see at least a website. I'm hoping for many more hits. How active is the potential author on the Internet? Does this person blog? Have they joined any professional/social sites other than Face Book? What has this person been doing to foster their career goals?

Because it's not just about the writing anymore. I lecture on marketing at conferences. My mantra: marketing starts the minute you decide you're a writer. Waiting until the novel is finished puts you behind the pack. Name recognition is key. Why would anyone in the writing field want to withhold words, to refuse the reading public a sample of their “voice?”

I doubt if the big houses bother to investigate. I wonder if they even look at their slush pile before sending rejection notices. Although the expectation is that a big house will supply an endless marketing budget for the book of an unknown author, that's not going to happen unless your name is Paris Hilton or Prince Charles. Marketing has become the responsibility of the author.

Although my publisher originally believed I wasn't fair to authors, I convinced her that checking the writer's “street creds” goes a long way to selecting authors working hard at their career goals. In my opinion, they are the ones who deserve a shot at publication.

But, that's just me. And I'm the acquisitions editor.

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Comment by Sunny Frazier on November 15, 2010 at 6:00pm: Yes, John L., WE are the product now. We're all competing not for shelf space but for cyber space. Think back--how did you hear about me in the first place? Because I'm everywhere. You know me from SMFS; Marja, Holli and Wendy know me from the publishing house and PSWA; Jack knows me from Shelfari. If I wasn't involved with any of those organizations, we wouldn't be having this chat!

Place yourself front and center in cyber world. That's how you get people to buy your books.

Comment by Marja McGraw on November 9, 2010 at 9:56am: Holli, Great addition to what Sunny said. I'm absolutely blown away by how much we can do on the Internet.

Comment by Holli Castillo on November 8, 2010 at 7:10pm: I took a less traditional route than even other Oak Tree writers, having gotten a contract and then had an accident that took me out of commission for a year. During that year, when I was spending most of my time sitting in a bed or learning to walk again, I took advantage of the down time and started a promotion campaign, joining writer's sites, starting two websites for my book as well as a separate blog, beefed up my Facebook and joined Twitter. I also wrote a screenplay that I entered in a host of contests and did very well, coming in first runner up in a major one and making the finals of several other prestigious contests. It did not necessarily reflect on my novel, which I was waiting to be released, but did get my name out there a little bit more. I think it's important to feel comfortable in your promotion, but I also think it's important to spread your wings sometimes and try something new and slightly uncomfortable to see where you land. The best part about the internet, or emailing websites requesting reviews or interviews, is that I don't have to actually speak to a live person and worry about how I sound, but can work on my request until it sounds exactly as I want it to. Online promotion takes away a lot of the pressure and stress.

Holli Castillo
Gumbo Justice

Comment by W. S. Gager on November 8, 2010 at 4:22pm: Hey I found it finally. I thought when I clicked on your picture, it would take me to your page. It only took me to your emails. Great blog. Wish I had started when I started writing the book. I would be much farther ahead. I don't envy your task after reading contest entries! Have a shot for me on the cruise. I'll have one for your while I'm crying in the cold!!!

Comment by J. R. Lindermuth on November 8, 2010 at 4:11pm: It becomes more and more clear, people don't buy books today because of reviews or advertising hype anymore. They buy to a great extent based on the opinion of family and friends. And how do we get those opinions circulating? Exactly as Sunny has been saying--by getting our names and works out where people can hear about them.

Comment by Marja McGraw on November 8, 2010 at 2:01pm: Terrific article! And I have to say that the marketing and promoting is harder than writing the book, at least for me. However, I'm already seeing how beneficial your suggestions are. In a way, I guess it all boils down to, does the author want her/his writing to actually be a career or not? I see a career in my future, hopefully.

Comment by Paula Petty on November 8, 2010 at 11:53am: Marketing is about selling yourself. What better way to do so than "street creds." Great blog!

Comment by Sunny Frazier on November 8, 2010 at 11:22am: Actually, Jack, I'm impressed by the quality of queries I receive. Can't believe the Big Publishers are letting these authors slip through their money-grubbing fingers.

I believe the mold for acquisitions is already broken so why not re-invent a game plan flexible enough to work with the real world, creative enough to anticipate trends, brave enough to take chances and break new ground? Authors are all about individuality and unique viewpoints. Why encourage them to stick to "what sells?"

I just wish authors took more time to set up websites and participated in networking and cyber-socializing. Keep it in the professional realm. I really don't need to know how the cats, kids, or crafts are going--unless it's the craft of writing!

Comment by jack everett on November 8, 2010 at 12:22am: In the current climate I think everyone should feel blessed if they are even considered for publication which makes your job, Sunny even harder. To spot a gem stone in a path full of pebbles is so much harder than finding a rotten apple in a barrel. Thank you for sharing your insight with us.