Agent vs. Press: Why Choosing a Press Isn't Bad

I know, getting an agent is the dream. I know of people who only query agents period. I'm still querying agents even after successfully publishing ten books and counting. An agent opens doors.

But agents aren't always the best path for a writer's career.

No, you say? Of course an agent will direct me down the best path! Some do, yes. Some don't as well.

The ultimate dream is become the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. Having your books be so widely beloved you're a household name. That would be nice. But let's be realistic here. Amazon has literally millions of books available by almost as many authors. Those are two names. Yeah, you could probably name more off the top of your head, but can you reach a thousand, a hundred even, authors without looking them up? 

I'd also like to mention that both of these authors began before the rise of ebooks. It's no joke that ebooks have changed the shape of the publishing world, and I believe has changed how and what people read as well. Nowadays, even man and his dog can publish a book on Amazon if they want. Back when the above mentioned authors began, books were made of paper. Becoming an author meant an agent was pretty much essential. There wasn't much in the way of "small presses" or "self-publishing" the big publishing houses ruled and were the only way in. No agent meant no book. The rise of the ebook has completely changed that.

So, reeling our expectations back to reality, a book that sells well will probably bring about 15-20k a year for the author. Most authors probably get little more than a couple of hundred a month, very likely even less. So if you want to be a millionaire, you're in the wrong career. The honest to goodness truth is a vast majority of authors don't become millionaires from writing. Most use it as a side income on top of their day jobs, even those with an agent.

Now that we know that becoming a household name and insanely wealthy is highly unlikely, let's get down to the nitty gritty.

Agents are essential for one thing: Getting into big publishing houses. The Big Five and their affiliates, along with several other large publishing houses only accept submissions from agents. They have the demand, the means, the decision making power to make it so. The big publishers drive what is available, so can pick and choose what they sign on. Anyone who wants to have their wide range of distribution and publicity needs an agent to do so. This is why I want an agent even now.

But so often I see authors with agents signed with small presses. This blows my freaking mind. Not that small presses are bad, because I LOVE them (which I will go into more detail about in a minute) but honestly, the author could have submitted to the press themselves. When I see agented authors signed with small presses I believe they're getting duped. Big time. In general, press contracts will give around 35-40% royalty rate. That's pretty good, and the presses do their best to promote their books because they want their money too. But they can't sell like a Big 5 publisher can, realistically their income for any book will be lower. Take into that now that the agent takes say 15% that's taking what was about 40% down to 25%. The author, the person who poured their heart and soul into creating the book, gets a quarter of the book's earnings. But a small press has direct author submissions, so instead of getting say $500 a month which they would get if they'd submitted directly themselves, they're losing about $200 for the agent. Seriously, if your agent tells you they have a book deal with a small press, tell them to take a hike and submit it yourself. This is a business deal you have with them, and if they're not performing and doing things you could have easily done yourself, you should be looking for someone better to represent you. It's called firing them. I've had many friends who have fired their agents because they didn't perform. It's not unheard of. As an author, you have rights too.

I'm not saying agents are bad by any means. Agents who get deals with big publishers are worth your time. They're worth that percentage they take from the royalties. They're good agents. They're the ones every author should seek out. Go, find them!

Now, small presses. Guys, I cannot tell you how much I love them. I work with three great presses, Curiosity Quills, REUTS, and Soul Mate Publishing. Two of them have over 200 titles, and I believe authors too. All of them are eager to grow, promote their books, and be well respected and trusted by readerships. Small presses have put out my favorite books in recent years. Books that are unique and don't fit the mainstream. Also, these places don't have to worry about what's in vogue. They just get GREAT books. Market trends bear a moderate influence on their titles, unlike big publishers, which I know from a conversation with an editor at one after she read my manuscript from a conference request, are the main factor in contract selections. She explained that although she loved my book, the team couldn't accept it because they were only seeking thrillers/horror/suspense in YA because that's where the market is leaning.

Small presses can and do accept outside of the mainstream. Dead genres like Paranormal and Dystopian are still being published and read through them. I know my non-contemporary romance new adult makes agents balk and run away, but small presses love them.

Don't get me wrong, you should definitely look into the small press before submitting to them. Many presses have flopped, and some were scams. Like Enchanted a couple of years ago. Ask their authors about them, read some of their books. When you find the right one, you will love them.

My advice to all writers out there: know your market. Know the agents you are submitting to. Also, don't think that going with a small press is settling. As I mentioned, agents submit to them too,but you're better off doing it yourself rather than through them. If you want to see your work published and you've been querying agents for years, try a reputable small press. 

Don't you think it's time to take hold of your writing career and make it work for you? When you do, I promise you it will be more fulfilling than you realize!

Good luck!

Talking with Teens About Reading

***Originally posted on Aussie Owned and Read***

I know some great teenage girls who are smart, funny, bright, and generally pretty amazing. I contacted these teens, one who just completed her HSC last year, and the other who is in year eleven, and asked them to talk to their friends about books.

I brought them the below questions:

Why don't teens read very much, and what is preventing them from reading?

Miss 16: There's not enough time anymore to fit it in with homework, extracurricular activities etc. Books are expensive, they're big and they're bulky. It's difficult to find anything that is interesting, and everything feels the same and cliche.

I'm very rapidly getting sick of the good girl falls in love with the bad boy story, and all the modern dystopian love stories. I will always and forever love period dramas and fractured fairytales.

Miss 18: Senior school English. Enough said. Prescribed text. The groans of agony as every single beautiful detail is examined and analysed like a specimen in a jar. Year 11 and year 12 English taught me to dread reading- not because of reading itself, but the critical analysis and evaluation that I knew would come. I fell out of love with reading. My favourite books grew dusty, as I went through copious others that I'd never dare to pick up again. Reading lost its spark, it's beautiful release. It became a chore.

Then I finished the HSC. It didn't happen immediately, but when I saw a book from my favourite series on the shelves at the book shop, I knew I had to get it for my fellow Ruby Redfort lover and feaster, [my younger sister], for Christmas. It then dawned on me, that during the lapse in my love of reading, I'd missed the 4th book. What. How. Did. That. Happen? I picked it up, and read the 500+ page volume over two days. The flame was reignited. I tore through the entire series in 2 weeks (I didn't read for 5 days while at [a church] convention, so 9 days for 5 books). I re-established my relationships with my favourite characters. I fell in love with the way that details fitting in, no loose threads hanging at the end of the book. And I couldn't believe I'd let myself fall out of love with one of the most amazing joys in life!

But yes, agreed with [Miss 16] We don't need anymore chick flicks recycled. Nope. I love fantasy without too many dystopian aspects-it's just not original anymore. I hate that one gender has to triumph over the other, like weak girl vs. strong boy, or smart girl vs. dumb guy. Give me some equality, but don't make characters identical.

Seriously...is it that hard to take a cliché and turn it on its head? Bet the girl that she can't get the cool guy to go out with her. Make the pretty sweet best friend's favourite subjects art and chemistry, because she loves to watch things burn and explode. Why can't the "cool" guy teach ballet to little kids? Can we have normal characters who are just average at everything? Can we break away from the woe is me cancer story, where the main character dies and breaks our hearts? I wanna see people get to their feet and fight through their problems. I want to see characters that break the mold and are vulnerable, but aren't afraid to fight for what they want, what is right, and what they believe in. I want it to be complicated, for self doubt to creep in, for grey areas that leave us questioning. I need a book that keeps on the edge of my seat, that makes me think, that I can't predict the ending to (did not pick the end of Diverging Cadence at all. It was perfect). And I looooove fractured fairytales and historic fiction and time slip stories.

What can you suggest to overcome these obstacles?

Miss 16: For bulky books we suggested ebooks. Reading classics as opposed to newer things can help break cliches. And to find time, reading during car/train/bus trips to various places can be worked into busy schedules.

Miss 18: I think kids need to be taught to read and to love reading when they're young, and be free to read what they want as long as it's appropriate. English teachers should give kids a de-stress lesson every once in a while to just read for enjoyment. One of the things that I loved hearing at uni the other day is the idea that you always, always, ALWAYS read a book for the first time just for enjoyment. You don't force them to learn, or think, you just read it for fun. Fortunately, reading is also becoming a bit more of a "cool thing", so younger people are being encouraged to read more, which is fantastic. And to those kids that can't find the book they want to read, write it yourself! Readers are writers, and writers are readers, they go hand in hand.

We discussed the issue of expense and how that can be overcome. Many teens don't have ereaders, except on their phones, and even then that's limited according to data usage. Many teens, due to school and social expectations, don't have time for jobs, and when they do, their priority is paying for other things. An ebook that is $2 or $3 is more appealing that one that's $8 or $9, because that extra $5 can be used on that gear they need for that extracurricular activity, but they'd be happy to spend a couple of dollars for something enjoyable to read on that bus trip, because as Miss 18 said, reading is becoming "cool". It just needs to be affordable too.

What I gleaned from these teens is that they face the same issues I did as a teenager. I wanted to read, but I could never find anything that felt unique or interesting enough for me to spend my limited time or money reading, especially went I was forced to read and analyse the crap out of something I hated. Honestly, the only books I purchased as a teenager were the Harry Potter books. Even my scouring of the school or local library rarely came up with much. I also had to factor in the size of the book, because I had to carry the thing home along with textbooks and what-not. A hardback book was always set aside for a paperback, and nowadays, an ebook is even lighter.

I think, with our tech-savvy rising generation, access and affordability for ereaders will make a huge difference in how many teens spend their time reading.

So, although there are more and more books aimed at teens, the ratio of teen readers doesn't match up. The market and industry may have changed, but the lifestyles of teens, and their accessibility to books, hasn't. Even if it is becoming cool, other factors prevent reading, like time and cost. They've also lost interest in what's "trending" in the market. They want stories that are fun, fresh and exciting, not necessarily issue driven because issues are their daily lives, and with characters who are like them; just normal, everyday kids. If we want to encourage readers among teenagers, the gap needs to be closed.

The Struggles of PPD and Maintaining a Writing Career

Having a baby can be hard. Maintaining a writing career is a delicate balance. Now, add onto that a willful 5 year old, an unemployed husband, thousands of dollars of medical expenses debt from having the baby, and finally hormones out of whack, and bam, you have the perfect recipe for postpartum depression.
So I really don't want this to come across as a woe is me post. No, not even close. I think it's something that needs to be addressed, as I doubt I'm not the only person out there with these struggles.
PPD is real, very real. Like any depression, it can't just be a choice to get over it. Every day I feel isolated and alone. Everyday, I struggle to wake up in the morning and do the things I need to do. Usually I'm a highly motivated person, I wake up before my kids to get things done, shower, write. But lately I struggle to get out of bed to feed my 5yo breakfast.
I struggled with all my might not to feel this way again. The problem is, it's hormonal, then and in the above complications and I am worse this time than what I was with my previous baby, even though this baby is much, much easier. It's almost as if I can feel people judging me, like why can't you handle two when other people have five, six...
I also feel bad for feeling this way because I struggled so hard with my fertility and health to get baby in the first place. It's like I shouldn't feel like this because I've been given a miracle.
But I do, and it sucks.
I want to give this last Saturday as an example. Usually on Saturdays I'm up at 7:30 to cram some writing in before the hubby and kiddos wake up. This Saturday, I dragged my butt out of bed at 10 because the baby wanted to be fed. I wake up every day with a headache, and it only gets worse with the baby crying and the other kid talking to me.
I wanted to get out of the house because I was feeling stressed and depressed, and as the hubby took his shower, and I nursed while trying to entertain kid 1 who refused to eat her breakfast, I started to tear up. Thoughts like "You aren't cut out for this. These kids are going to break you. They deserve so much better than you" fill my mind, like at that moment. I looked around at the living room at the laundry I hadn't put away, the dishes that hadn't been done, and the toys everywhere, right as the baby puked on my fresh, clean clothes and I'm nothing but discouraged. I seriously consider walking out the door and driving off without looking back. But I can't because we have no money, because I had a baby and now we're in thousands of dollars of debt which is starting to roll over into collections.
Everything is snowballing, and I want to break. But I can't, because I'm the one who is keeping things together somehow.
When the hubby comes out from the shower, he saw my distress and said, "Why don't we give the kids to the grandparents for a couple of hours and just hang out?"
I literally burst into tears. The thought alone soothed my pounding head. But they couldn't take the kids, and I had to cry again because I was stuck with them. Then I felt guilty about wanting to get away from my children.
Hubby did get me out, with the kids, yes, but at least I'm out of the house. But that night, he goes out with his friend for a game night. I barely keep it together as I dread the prospect of giving the kids dinner, baths, and putting them to bed--normal routine things. When I go into kid 1's bedroom, I find something that does make me lose it: she has deliberately broken one of the toys she got for her birthday a week earlier. I'm ashamed to say I made her cry as I took all her toys away from her, yelling at her, and telling her to get to bed because I don't want to see her again for the rest of the night. It was the best I could do considering the violent feelings that pushed to the surface. An hour later, I'm sobbing from guilt because I felt like that and I made her cry.
The point is, this isn't me. I'm pretty chilled out naturally. Yeah since having my strong willed child my patience is much shorter, but it still take a lot to make me feel anything more than mellow, to pretty happy. I like to make people laugh, see people smile, and lift people's spirits when they're down. PPD makes me a completely different person.
Because of this, my writing suffers. Instead of finding the positives, seeing the people who enjoy my work, I only see the trolls and the negative criticism. I take it to heart, and I hate every word I write, or have already written and released through a publisher--which means an editor liked it enough to believe it would sell. I become ashamed to promote my work, and I feel like pulling the plug on everything.
Luckily, I have enough of my own sense to fight on. I know I'll get over this in time, so despite my self-loathing, I don't let the depression beat me. I won't. It's crazy hard, and I have internal battles where I just have to physically keep away from my computer so I don't do something stupid, but I hold onto the fact that this will pass. Despite all the thoughts and doubts and feelings going through me, I cling tight to that tiny ball of hope, because it's the only thing I can do.

Writer Mom and a New Baby Balancing Act

Just recently, I had baby #2, another little girl to wrap her daddy around her finger, and another little girl to make me wonder where I left my brain. Because yes, being a mother is a hard gig.
I knew this time was coming, which is why I pushed to get my edits done while I was pregnant and only had one child to deal with, even if I did feel fat and bloated and got confused easily. From having a nightmare experience with daughter #1--which was a combination of first time mother inexperience, some insane tearing that left me severely limited, and dramas nursing--I had braced myself for the worst. Thankfully, so far, things have been much easier, but still I am glad editing was finished before dealing with a newborn and a 4 1/2 year old with a strong will and some serious only child syndrome.
Despite this, I love being their mother. I love doing what I'm doing even when I'm so frustrated and I feel like I've traded in my looks and super cool persona for border line crazy person. I gave up finishing a degree to marry and have this nuts-o children.
But having people tell me to set my career as a writer aside and focus on my kids frustrates the heck out of me. Being a mother doesn't mean I have to set aside my ambition and drive. I need the outlet, for my sanity. I can't spend an entire day, and currently half the night, focused entirely on children. From my experience, I am susceptible to postpartum depression, and I will do all I can to avoid that. Already I feel the niggling of the baby blues eating at me as I struggle to juggle my new responsibilities with the old, and I will do all I can to stop it from getting worse and sliding into the full blown depression that literally makes me dislike my own child. My husband will tell you that I had him worried at one point when I admitted I did not like our first child. I do love her, I was just struggling, and I see that now, and I don't want to get to that point again. Which is why I write. I can go into my head, alone, and reset everything. It's the outlet I need to survive motherhood.
Is there anything wrong with that? I certainly hope not. But I am afraid people will judge me for it. As moms, I think we are the most paranoid about being judged, and I definitely get that way at time when I see others juggling what feels like a million kids with perfect hair and bright smiles on their faces, while I sit here wondering why I'm so run down with just two.
So I write, to let it all out, for my own coping purposes. Never do I regret having my girls, in fact, I consider both miracles considering my PCOS (which is another topic entirely right there!) and I know there is nothing more fulfilling that being a mother. But I will admit that I'm limited, and I'm far from perfect. I write so I can stay sane enough to enjoy the blessings I have.

How Did I Become a Writer?

I get asked this question a lot, especially by my "non" writer friends. I think it's interesting because I know it secretly means How do they become a writer? I'm also fairly certain most of the people who ask me haven't read my books, but that's another issue at this point.

So I'll begin with one thing: a burning need to write a story. Then another, then another. This need needs to be more than just an idea. You need to write it down, hash out the plot, the twists and turns, develop the characters.

No time? Congrats, I don't have time either. I'm a mother and wife, which in themselves are crazy busy gigs, I'm massively pregnant, have church and family commitments, and work. Yes, my work is mostly edits, but that leaves very little time for actually writing, and before I received my first contract, I was working in an office part time. Not to mention, I'm a female and put a heck of a lot of pressure on myself.
So no time? If you're serious about writing, you'll find time. Please don't insult me and every other writer out there by asking this.

Next: Remember your first story won't be the next Harry Potter. There's a reason why we have the term "first draft." Working in submissions, I've seen a lot of newbies submit. It's cute, really it is, and I try to send them something constructive for feedback. Yes, please, for the first round get all your ideas down. Better out than in. But after that, get online, join in writers groups, read blogs, make some friends who can critique with you and refine your art. Like anything else out there, there are rules and styles for writing, and these are there to fit the trends and reader expectations. Trust me, you want your readers to be happy.

Once you've written that manuscript and polished it to a shine, then you can look into querying. I started by getting involved with competitions. This way I could get great feedback on my query, and I met other writers at the same stage as me. We worked together, and I'd say most, if not all, the people I met during that time have a book deal of some form.
But you'll need to know a few things.
1. You will be rejected. Over, and over, and over, and over...
2. Know what you're looking for. Do you want an agent? If so, don't sign with just any agent. Know who is good, what agencies have positive/negative reputations, who actually gets big 5 publisher deals (some agencies have little to none of these) etc.
If you choose to go through a press, know the same about them, are they reputable? Do their books sell?
Also make sure you read over any contract you consider thoroughly. You don't want to be blindsided by contract clauses you missed.

So there you have it. Sounds simple enough, right? With hard work and patience, along with frustration and a thick skin, you can get there. There are plenty of writers out there, but the authors are the ones who soldier on and work through the trials.

How To Improve Your Chances of Querying Success

I've been at this game for a while now, so I thought I'd give some advice on what I've noticed help people progress through the querying process. So, here's my advice....

1. Social Media
As an acquiring editor, this is something I know is a big deal. An author needs to show they are capable of promoting their work and building a fan base before even signing a contract. So, while preparing the query, set up an author page on Facebook, get involved in Twitter, and set up a blog. Any other social media is also great. If you prefer Tumblr, Pinterest, etc, go ahead and set up a profile on those too. But Twitter is probably a must, since the writing community is strong there, along with twitter pitching and notifications of upcoming pitching competitions and other events.

2. Critique Groups/Partners and Beta Readers
Feedback is the best way to receive a personalized and objective view on your manuscript. It will help you improve where you have weaknesses, see typos, and reinforce your strengths. You can also help others by using your strengths to uplift their weaknesses. These people will become your friends, so will also be your greatest advocates.

3. Following Writers who are on "The Next Stage"
Whether it be on Facebook or Twitter, follow writers who are at the next stage of the querying process. Whether they be just signed, or published, it doesn't matter. They can give advice on direction, writing techniques that worked for them, and sometimes giveaway critiques and books. They can point you in the right direction, or guide you down the path that will work best for you through their example. I highly recommend following their blogs/websites.

4. Read
Especially read books by less well known authors in the genre in which you are writing. It's one thing to read the huge trendy books, but the books that are more obscure often have a uniqueness about them, rather than just mainstream appeal. Reading this variety helps learn how to create different types of voices and individuality with your own manuscript/s. So stop being a sheep and be an explorer! :-D

5. Help Others
Helping other people promote their books brings good karma. Being a writer can be competitive, but in general, being supportive is way more powerful than competing. Giving your blog for posting, tweeting, and/or sharing, will benefit you in the long run as you form friendships and respect with other writers. Be generous, be kind, while also being you.