How To Publish your book

Hello again faithful readers and welcome to those that are visiting for the first time.

Okay so you have finished your story and now you are working on getting it published.  Fortunately you have several options.  I urge you to spend the time researching the different options and then choosing the right one for your book. 

If you are an established author you will likely go with a traditional publisher.  Well if you are an established author it is unlikely you are reading this as you already know how you are going to publish your book.

The traditional publishers typically only accept submissions from literary agents.  They already have a stable of established authors and are very selective when it comes to bringing in new authors.  Some do accept unsolicited submissions but know that your odds are slim.

So if the traditional publishers normally accept submissions from agents then lets talk about getting an agent.  First though I want to say that one of the main reasons for them relying on literary agents is because of trust.  Over time the publishers have come to realize that these agents submit quality stories that are likely to be successful.

The process of finding a literary agent is not an easy one.  It takes great perseverance.  You must write the perfect query letter.  You should avoid sending a mass query letter to everyone.  Many agents have posted what they want to see in your query to them and what their submission requirements are.  If you choose to ignore them you do so at your peril.  Remember as great as you know your story to be these agents are looking for authors that they are willing to work with for years to come.  They are looking for professionals.  You must do your research and query each agent individually.  I strongly encourage you to learn about query letters.  There is some good information online if you take the time to look for it.  One of the main parts of the query letter is your personal history.  This is a summary of what you have done.  What you have published before and any awards or recognition you may have earned.  If you have these achievements then by all means make sure you list them.  If however you are just starting then tell the agent why you are qualified to write this story.  Also tell them why you should be represented.  One thing to keep in mind is that if you do have a literary agent then you will also be required to pay your agent from your profits.  The representation can be essential.  Most of these agents are true professionals and are very good at what they do.  As in all professions there are some that are good at it and some that are not so good at it.  Again do your research and look for an agent that you feel comfortable with.  If you choose to go this way I wish you well.

Another way you may choose to go is with a vanity press.  This may be the right way to go for you.  If your story is likely to appeal to a small niche market or only for your family and friends then it may be worth it to pay to publish a small number of copies.  Be very careful though.  There are some companies out there that charge large amounts for their services and then do not perform well at all.  Do your research and tread carefully.

The last option I want to talk with you about is self-publishing in the ebook format.  In my opinion this is the way to go for everyone.  If you are an established author then this is a market segment that you cannot afford to overlook.  If you are just starting out then this is the way to go as well.  As long as your manuscript is formatted per their requirements then your submission will be accepted.  One other main advantage is that you will get a large percentage of the sale.  With a traditional publisher you will usually only receive 10 to 15 percent.  If you have a literary agent then you will need to pay the agent from those royalties.  Granted that the major publishers can get your book on the shelf in a lot of locations.  The more available your book is the better the chance of it being sold.  I recommend you make yourself familiar with www.Smashwords.com  This company in my opinion is fantastic.  They make the process very easy.  The submission process is simple and quick.  Compared to traditional publishers the e-publishing will get you between 30 to 80 percent of the sale.  Another major advantage is the Smashwords can get your book available in multiple outlets.  They will make it available on Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes&Noble, Diesel, Apple ibookstore, Sony, Amazon, and Library direct.  One major advantage is that Smashwords will consolidate your sale records across these different platforms.  If you were to publish your book individually at these different outlets then you will need to track your sale history on each of these sites.

In summary I recommend everyone research all possibilities and then do what is best for them.  If you are an established author then you will likely have an agent and go with a traditional publisher.  If you have not already I recommend you look into publishing your book as an ebook as well.

If you are in the beginning phase of your writing career I recommend publishing with Smashwords.  In my research I have not found any other way to publish your story at a lower entrance price and having such a large distribution channel available.  This should translate into a larger profit margin for you.

If you have any questions or comments please take the time to post your response.

I wish you all the very best.

T. L  Scott

Fiction Writing: Who are you writing for?

Hello again faithful readers.  Things are busy now that the days are longer.  I always find it harder to find the time to do everything I want to do this time of year.  Well that is because I want to do to much.  Even with this I have to remind myself to focus and keep things in balance.  Life is a series of trade-offs.  So with that said I will trade-off a few minutes of my time basking in the sun to sit down and talk with you.  You see, I am trying to balance things?  After this I will go back to basking in the summer sun. 

Alright, so you have the idea for a story knocking around inside your head.  It is taking shape and you are ready to start writing.  For each of us that process is different.  Some may outline until the whole story is plotted out.  Others may brainstorm and jot down thoughts on sticky notes till their creative space looks like someone from 3m re-decorated your space.  Still others will simply step off the ledge and leap "write" in.

I wholeheartedly encourage to follow this process all the way through to the end.  I am a firm believer that during this essential creative phase you should not be distracted by, well, anything if it can be helped.

After this initial phase has been completed I have found that setting the story aside for a while is a good thing to do.  Let it ferment for a little bit.  That is if the story will let you.  I have found that some stories tend to go at their own pace.  Some are a sprint while others are a more leisurely stroll.

When you pick up the creative thread again read through it with an eye to your audience.  Whoever you have determined your primary target audience to be, that is who you should focus on.  You should focus on them almost as much as you should focus on your characters.  After all this is a conversation between your characters and your target audience.  They are the ones that will be reading it.  You are a storyteller.  Weave your tail with all of the eloquence you are gifted with.  Tell your story to those that are interested in pulling up a rock and taking a seat around the campfire to listen to you weave your tale.

Keep in mind that your audience will be a select few.  While many of us like to read different genres there are many that focus only on their favorite.  Whether you tell romance, science fiction, or horror tales, tell them well and remember who your are telling your stories to.

Always keep in mind that it is your responsibility to your readers to tell them the best possible story you can.  Do not release your story until it is told.  Write it, refine it, edit it, re-write it, re-refine it, then edit it again.

Thank you for joining me once again.

I look forward to talking with you again soon.

All the best,

T. L. Scott

Are you a fiction writer?

Are you a fiction writer?  Well, if you have ever put ink to paper in the form of a made up story then the answer is yes, you are a fiction writer.

Okay, now that we have gotten that out of the way and established that pretty much anyone still reading this is a writer of fiction let's delve into which type of fiction writer you are.  Trust me there is a reason for this.

I have talked with friends and family about whether writing is a hobby.  Some have even called it a past-time.  I have talked with fellow writers that say it is more of an addiction.  These are important definitions.  The funny thing is that people define them differently.

Here are my thoughts on them.

If you have written some and are happy with what you have done then you probably do not fit into any of these  categories.  You may be an author though if you completed the story.  Congratulations!!

If you occasionally sit down to put thoughts to paper, even if it is virtual paper, then you probably are safe to call it a hobby.

If you are passionate about the craft and you put aside time to delve into it then I would safely say that you have writing as a past-time.

Now for the other category.  You may fit in here if you have the story running through you all through your day and you cannot wait until you can sit down to put your thoughts down and see where the story continues to take you.  You fit into this story if no matter how hard you try to put the story to the side it refuses to let you go.  You are definitely addicted to writing when you feel lost when you are not writing.  There are positive things that can flow from this type of addiction but be warned, like other addictions there are functional members and those that cease to be functional.  Remember that to be able to continue pursuing your writing you have to attend to the other areas of your life as well.  Showering is still a good thing to do!
Seriously, the better health you are in the better your stories will be.  The better the rest of your life is the more you will be able to focus on your craft.  Granted there are great stories that come from pain and suffering in the real world.  More often than not these tragedies overwhelm us and we can only write about them after time goes by and we have a bit more perspective.

That is my main reason for writing this.  Remember to keep things in perspective.  No matter what your level of passion is for writing keep it in perspective with the other parts of your life.

I wish you all the very best to live the best life you can.

All the best,

T. L. Scott

How to find time to write in a chaotic world

How to find the time to write in a chaotic world.

As I am writing this my children are playing.  They are not the quiet sort.  They are very energetic and really get into whatever adventure they are undertaking.  My wife is chatting away on the telephone with a friend.  When this is done we will be going out for the day to attend to family business.
I say all of this because most of you are like me.  We do not live in a vacuum.  We have lives that need to be tended to.  We have families that demand and deserve our attention.  Most of us have full time jobs as well.  I am including you home makers as well.  You may not punch a time clock but you have a salaried position that is very demanding.  Keeping up the everyday business of running a home is work!

So now that we have established that we are busy and pulled in many different directions, when do we find the time to follow our passion of writing.

We make the time.  That may sound cliche' but it is the only way.  I have talked with other writers who carry around their idea book.  It is a small notebook that they keep in their purse or pocket.  When inspiration strikes them they take out their idea book and jot down the inspiration.  I have one friend that uses breakfast and lunch to work on his story lines.  He puts his notebook next to his bowl of cereal or his lunch tray and works on his story.

I have found success using both of these strategies.  I have also learned through trial and error that my best time to write is in the morning.  If I wake up and power up my trusty laptop before anything else I am able to get in some really productive storytelling.  I also try to write before going to sleep.  This may only be for 15 minutes or so, sometimes for hours on end, but I find that whatever idea I am working on it is usually richer after letting it simmer overnight.  On the nights that creativity is flowing I have found myself surprised to see that it is 3 am and time has literally slipped away.  I admit that I really love the feeling when that happens.  The next day at work I am paying the price though.  Unfortunately I am not one of the people that work very well on only 4 hours of sleep a night.  I like my sleep.  I like a good 8 to 10 hours of sleep.  Unfortunately I also like to write and my busy day takes up most of my time so sleep is sacrificed on the mantle of creativity.

So in summary capture inspiration when it hits by jotting down your ideas and ways to develop them, take advantage of situations like breakfast and lunch when you can write while you are doing something else, and make time to immerse yourself in your story.  For me the best time is in the morning but find out what works for you.

The biggest advice I can pass along is to keep at it.  There will be a million and one things that get in the way.  Things that demand your attention will always be around.  Focus and find the time to follow your passion of writing and you will be a writer, and writers write!

All the best,

TL Scott

How to discover your characters. T L Scott

Hello again, I hope you have been well since the last post.  Today is Saturday and it is the day before Easter Sunday.  It is a time that many of us get together with family and friends.  Before I go into the body of the post I want to wish everyone, whether you celebrate Easter or not, a very happy weekend.  I hope you enjoy your time with family and or friends, or alone if you prefer, this weekend.

What makes up a character?  The answer comes down to their experiences.  Of course how much of their experiences we, as writers, reveal is up to us, and the story.  Going into too much detail about a character can grind the pace down.  You can also run the risk of going off in a direction that really has no relevance to the story.  Remember the story must stay tight.  If there is no point in telling that Jimmy once wore his Grandmothers pumps then don't.  If however Jimmy goes on to become one of the premier shoe designers in the world then it may have been critical to the story.

Characters are like us.  They have a past.  They did not get to the point of the story without living some.  Just as you do not want to hear a persons life story when you are ordering a cheeseburger, the reader does not want to have to read about a characters history if it is not relevant.  That is the key.  What is relevant to the story.  It may be that it is important to reveal that the cheerleader used to be heavy before she started running.

I have found that sometimes the characters just stand up and speak for themselves.  They have a clear voice and nothing more needs to be added.  This however is rare for me.  More often I find myself getting to know the characters before the story goes on.  I have found a tool that works really well for me and I would like to share it with you.

I use flashcards to record the important character traits.  At first I tried using 3x5 cards.  I quickly found out that my characters were bigger than 3x5.  I tried cramming all of their details into that small space and it did not work well.  I now use larger index cards.  I get to know them.  Their height, hair color, eye color, distinctive mannerisms, their build, are they slim, muscular, heavy-set?  Are they strong of character or are they needy?  I really try to imagine what they are like.  Once I get it all out then I decide how much of them to reveal during the story.  As the story comes to life more details about the character will develop.  I simply add them to the card.  I have found that using the cards I am able to stay true to the voice of the character.  They are more distinctive.  I am also able to keep things in order and not confuse one character with the other.

While I am talking about keeping the characters straight I will share another tool that I use.  I use a timeline to keep the events in order.  The timeline often has branches to keep track of the different things going on.  Like the index cards this is a tool I use to keep things straight.

These tools have helped me to realize my characters more clearly and to keep track of what they are up to.  If you do not already use them then I hope that you will find them useful as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.  If you have any suggestions please take a minute to comment.

It is Saturday so I will be spending this weekend with the characters that are my family and friends and as much as I would like to edit some of their traits life does not work that way.

I will talk with you again soon.

T L Scott

Why should I write this story?

Hello and thanks for dropping by.

I was asked a question the other day from a friend of mine and I want to share my thoughts on it with you.  This friend revealed to me that she had been thinking about writing a story for a long time but had decided not to because she would not be good at it.  She went on to say that she still thinks about it but she just is not good at those kind of things. 

In the short time that I have been a writer I have heard this story quite a bit.  Here are my thoughts on the subject.

Why should I write this story?  There are so many answers to that question.  There are the text book answers: to inform, to entertain, to persuade.  Hopefully every story I share with you will achieve all of these items to some extent.  There is always the answer of to make money.  I don't think there is anything wrong with the desire to make money from telling stories.  In fact it is one of my primary goals.  That goal is circular.  I want to make enough money with my writing so that I can dedicate more time to my writing.  The money is not really the goal for me.  The way that it would enable me to dedicate more time to writing and not have to work another job for 40 hours a week.  That is 40 hours that I could be telling stories.

The real reason for me to write a story is so that I can share it.  I have found that the process of writing the story for me is great fun.  I really enjoy discovering the characters as they develop throughout the story.  More often than not they end up being different than what I first imagined them.  They also change the story from what I thought it would end up as. 

I have a lot of ideas for stories rolling around in my head.  I guess I could tell you that I am mulling them over.  That is true and still not complete.  Some of the stories are content with staying in the background while others are incessantly popping up with new scenes and scenarios.  This brings me back to the conversation with my friend.

I pointed out to her that since the story kept coming back to her it was obviously something that she wanted to talk about.  I advised her to do just that.  Sit down and tell the story.  Simply write it out.  No pressure to show it to anyone else.  Simply tell the story.  After that go back and read it over and see if the story has been told.  Are there points that need further explanation?  Are there things that are missing?  Once the story has been told then sit back and let it simmer for a while.  Ask yourself whether you want to share the story.  If so with whom?

It is my opinion that we all have stories to tell.  Some of these stories are to be shared.  Some are definitely not meant to see the light of day.  Burn baby Burn!!!  And then there are some stories that demand to be told!

If you are still reading this then you have the passion within you.  I urge you to pick up the thread and find out where it leads.  Will you weave an epic odyssey?  Will you unravel the mysteries of the universe?  Will you bring laughter and wonder to children?  Will you cause the heart-rates of lovers the world over to race?  Pick up the thread my friend and let the tale be told.

Talk with you again soon,

T L Scott

Where do the ideas for a story come from?

Hello readers.  Now that A Life Worth Living is off to the publishers I am focusing on the next story.  This one is a completely different one than A Life Worth Living.

I have heard a lot of people ask where do the ideas for a story come from.  I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject so please join in.

For me the thoughts come literally from everywhere and everything.  By that I mean that I never know what is going to inspire a random thought to become a plausible story line.  Sometimes it is revealed in a series of events that spin off of the initial "what if".   Other times it comes from looking at something and wondering how it happened to be what it is.  At other times it is more I wonder what would have happened "if". 

More than anything I think it comes down to asking questions.  It is the why, the what if, the I wonder. . . that leads to a story line.  Then of course the characters themselves start to reveal themselves and the story takes off on its own.  Where it ends up is as much a revelation for me as it is for the reader.  I just get to see it first.

Well those are my quick thoughts on where the ideas for a story come from.  Please share yours.