My Book's Going to Be Published - Now What?

If you thought it took a long for agents and publishers to respond to your query, wait until you get your publication date. It seems like it’s so far in the future. Here are some things you can do that will help prepare you for your book launch.

• Work on building your email list. This is the one thing you own. If your social media sites are removed, you have no way of contacting those readers. Find ways to advertise your newsletter and build a following. Do social media posts, partner with other authors, or host a contest. Make sure to take your sign-up list to all of your events. Make sure NOT to add anyone to your list who didn’t sign up for it.

• Build your following on your key social media sites. Follow readers and writers in your genre. Follow book reviewers and librarians. Be active with your audience. Make sure to comment and share others’ posts. You don’t want to be the author who only posts about her books.

• Join Facebook groups for book lovers. Many of these will let you advertise your book or host a take-over day where you can find new readers.

• When you do a Facebook take-over, make sure to include a link in each post for your email signup for those who what to keep in touch. When I started doing this, I’ve noticed a jump in newsletter subscribers after each event.

• Work on a promotional plan for your book launch. Even if your publisher is assisting with the publicity, you’ll still need to schedule blogs, blog tours, Facebook ads, and events. Make a list of all the things you will need to update and a list of all those you will need to contact. Remember, bloggers and book tour folks usually book 3-4 months in advance.

• Learn a new skill or software that will help you create graphics or videos. There are a lot of free and paid tools out there that make it easy to create images for your social media posts.

• Use your time and write your next book.

Another Writing Secret

Persistence is a trait you need to develop for your writing journey.

The Brittanica Dictionary Online defines this as “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something, even though it is difficult” (Brittanica Dictionary, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. Accessed January 2023).

Writing for publication is difficult, all-consuming, and often overwhelming. Each phase: researching, planning, plotting, writing, revising (and revising) takes a lot of time and energy.

It also takes a lot of courage to show others your work and to ask for feedback. The natural inclination is to want praise and accolades for your beautiful manuscript that you’ve sweated and bled over for months (or years). While praise is awesome, uplifting, and reassuring, you need the feedback that will help you get your work published. Publishing is a business. Agents and publishers are looking to represent projects that they can sell. It’s a crowded market out there. Your work has to be the best it can possibly be because you may get only one chance with an agent or editor. It takes a lot of work to get a manuscript to that point. Don’t give up.

Here are some ideas that may help you along your writing journey:

1. When you think your manuscript is done, print it out and proofread it again.

2. Check all the details like names, physical descriptions, and the story’s timeline for consistency.

3. Run your word processor’s spellcheck after each major round of editing to catch any booboos you may have made correcting other things.

4. Find a writing partner or a critique group and exchange pages or manuscripts. It’s best to find someone who writes and understands your genre.

5. Know what’s out there in your genre. Sometimes, a manuscript can be rejected because an agent or publisher already represents a similar one.

6. Make sure that you read your genre regularly to understand the trends and conventions. Read the acknowledgments page to see what agents and publishing houses produce books you like.

7. Find an independent editor, especially if this is your first manuscript. They can be pricey. I asked my writer friends for a recommendation, and I found an editor who specialized in mysteries. If it’s not in the budget, seek out a middle or high school English teacher in your area. Often many will do side-work at an affordable price, and they can help you with basic edits and proofreading.

When your manuscript is the best you can make it, then it’s time to do your homework and target agents/publishers that represent your genre. Follow all submission instructions.

Now, the wait begins. Sometimes, you’ll get a quick response, but others could take weeks or months. Use that time to write your next book and to build your author platform.

Persistence is key. Writing is a tough job with lots of feedback and rejections.

What to do When You Don't Feel Like Writing

I try to write every day, but life does get in the ways sometimes. And there are days when I just don’t feel like working. Here are some ideas to jump start your creativity.

• When I am in writing mode, I try to “bank some words” to meet my weekly goals. This gives me some flexibility for days with less productivity. I also do this if I know I have a busy day with not much time to write.

• Work on other projects like your website, blog, editing, proofreading.

• Work on book marketing or event planning.

• Build your social media platforms by following new accounts and responding to comments and posts.

• Excercise. Even a few minutes will get your endorphins pumping.

• Take a break and go for a walk (even if it’s up and down the hall). A change of scenery is often good.

• Work on another creative project like cooking, painting, sewing, etc. Sometimes, it will help you get your mind focused when you return to writing.

• Step away from your desk and go somewhere else. The time away is often the break you need.

• Make sure you’ve turned off or blocked out distractions. Sometimes, shutting the door helps. I use my noise-cancelling headphones before I throw in the towel on an unproductive writing session.

When I’m not motivated, it’s usually because I’m distracted by something else (usually my phone, email, or social media). My headphones were a great investment.

Keyboard Shortcuts Save Time - Tips for Writers

Keyboard shortcuts can save writers some time. Here are quick ones for that can help as you write.

• Ctrl + C = Copy

• Ctrl + V = Paste

• Ctrl + Z = Undo Last Function

• Ctrl + B = Bold Text

• Ctrl + I = Italicize Text

• Ctrl + U = Underline Text

• Ctrl + = (Equal Sign) = Subscript

• Ctrl + + (Plus Sign) = Superscript

• Ctrl + F = Find

• Ctrl + P = Print

• Ctrl + S = Save

• Ctrl + O = Open a File

• Ctrl + A = Select All

• Ctrl + 1 = Single Space

• Ctrl + 2 = Double Space

• Ctrl + 5 = 1.5 Spacing

Microsoft Outlook Shortcuts

• Ctrl + R = Reply

• Ctrl + Shift + M = Create New Email

• Ctrl + 3 = Open Contacts

Shortcuts on the Ribbon

When in a Microsoft product, click the Alt key, and letters and numbers will appear in black squares on the ribbon.

Type the letter or number combination in the black box to activate that function. If the black boxes disappear, just press the ALT key again. To make the black boxes disappear, click Alt.

This is a quick way to access all of the keyboard shortcuts without any memorizing.

One of the Writing Secrets

One of the writing secrets isn’t really a secret at all. This is how you become a productive writer — BICFOK. I learned this from the great Alan Orloff. It’s Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard.

It’s true. If you want to be a writer, you need to write. And you need to limit the distractions. Here are some ideas that may help you along your journey.

1. Find the best place for you to write. Figure out what works for you. I am fortunate to have an office with a door that closes. And when that doesn’t work, my noise-cancelling headphones do.

2. Figure out what time of day works best for you and your life. I am a morning person (a really early morning person). I like to write when the house is quiet, and this is when I’m most productive. I have found that if I start early, I can usually have my word count done before I have to go to the day gig.

3. When you are writing, don’t stop to do additional research. Make a note and keep writing. Do all of your research or lookups later. When I stop to check on something, I end up watching cute dog videos.

4. Set your writing goal and/or word count for each day and try to meet it. If you have busy days ahead, make sure you adjust your goals for that day (or plan to skip a day). If I know something is coming up that will affect my writing time, I try to write more on the days leading up to it to bank some extra for a skip day.

5. You will see progress if you write regularly. The longer you are away from a project, the more time you spend trying to get back to where you were.

6. Figure out a writing calendar that works for your schedule. Stuff happens. Don’t beat yourself up when you get interrupted. If you can plan your writing time around the other stuff, you’ll be more productive. If not, just try to get back to it as soon as you can.

7. Procrastinating, too much research, or doing anything other than writing keeps you from your goals. You may have to remind yourself to focus on your WIP (work in progress). It may take a few times before it becomes a habit.

8. I create a fairly detailed outline for each chapter before I start my first draft. I’ve found that that keeps me on track. I don’t get stuck in the middle, and I know where the story is going.

These ideas have helped me be much more productive in a world where work, family, friends, and volunteer projects all vie for my attention.

Things to do before You Query

Writing and publishing are a business, and you need to do some research before you send out queries to agents and publishers. Here are some things you may want to consider.

Agents

• Is this agent accepting queries at this time? If not, it will be a quick “no.”

• Does the agent represent your genre?

• What has the agent sold recently in your genre?

• If there is more than one agent at the firm accepting queries, did you look to see who closely matches your project?

• Did you follow all the submission requirements and instructions? Don’t get eliminated on a technicality.

Publishers

• Does this firm accept unagented queries?

• Did you follow all the submission instructions?

• Does this firm publish your genre?

• Does this firm already have a book that is similar to yours? They may not want another one.

• How many books do they publish a year?

• Does your manuscript meet the word count and other genre standards?

• Have you talked to anyone published here for a recommendation?

Sometimes, you only get one shot with an agent or publisher. Make sure you’ve done all you can to make your query and your manuscript the best it can be.

8 Online Tools Writers Need to Know About

Here are some online tools that writers need to know about. Some are free and others have paid subscription plans. Check them out and let me know what you would add to the list.

• Social Security Baby Name List - This site shows you the most popular baby names. If you scroll down further, there is a search feature to see popular baby names from past years.

• Google Maps - This is a great way to find locations for your stories. Put on the terrain or street views to see the surrounding areas of a place.

• WorldAnvil - You can create a free account to build your fictitious world and design interactive maps.

• Canva - This is a great tool for creating graphics for almost any type of promotion. There is a free and a paid version.

• Bitly - This is one of the free sites that will let you shorten a long URL for your social media posts. If you want to customize your URL, there is a paid version of the software.\

• Fake Name Generator - This site helps you come up with interesting character names.

• BrownieLocks - This site has a calendar of holidays (real and silly) for each day and month. You can use these to help with your book marketing tie-ins.

• BookBrush - They have free and paid subscriptions. This tool helps you create book graphics for all kinds of advertising and book trailers. Their training sessions and customer support are awesome.

Improving Your Productivity - Tips for Writers

In workshops and interviews, I’m asked a lot about how long it takes me to write a novel. It took me over five years to write my first novel (and another two to get it published). As I worked on my writing and revising skills, I came up with some ideas that would help me be more productive and focused with my writing time. You need to find what works for you and your life. Here is what I do.

1. I spend about a week plotting the story idea and thinking about what characters need to be involved.

2. I write an outline of each chapter. It’s usually a bulleted list of what happens. This helps me see where I can add clues and suspense. It also helps me see motives.

3. I need between 28-35 chapters for my word count. (I write cozy mysteries.)

4. I create a character list in an Excel spreadsheet to make sure I remember the key details. (I add a column for each book in the series.)

5. Then I start to write. I still have a day gig, so I write before work and during lunch. If I don’t hit my word count for the day, I’ll write more at night.

6. I try to do 1,000 words on workdays and at least 3,000 words on weekends and holidays. Life gets in the way sometimes, so if I know I have something else to do, I try to write ahead. Do your best to keep your schedule, but don’t beat yourself up. Some days, the words aren’t there.

7. I just write during this time. I don’t revise or edit. When I started writing, this really bogged me down. I spent months rewriting and revising before I ever finished the first draft.

8. When I’m done, I save it. (And always make a backup.) I then print out the draft.

9. Now it’s time for revising. I’ll spend another month or so looking for typos, plot holes, and any other thing that doesn’t make sense or contribute to the story. I add new stuff, and I delete a whole bunch of junk that bogs down the flow.

10. It’s time now for beta readers or my critique group.

11. Then it’s time for more revisions.

12. My agent and her fantastic crew read it next and provide feedback.

13. And it’s finally ready to go out for query.

This is my system, and it works for me. Give it a try. Keep what works for you. I am able to write at least three novels a year now.