Love in the Time of World Domination
CH 4
LEARNING THE BASICS OF AN AUTHOR
NEXT DAY
Naruto is online and searching ways on how to start his author journey.
Step 1: Getting an Agent
Most unpublished authors who write to me requesting help focus on the first issue, and I fully understand the Catch-22 with getting an agent: agents want someone who's published before, but how can a person get published without an agent? As hard as it is, it happens all the time. All successful writers were once in the same boat you are, but they found a way to do it. Believe me when I tell you that agents sign new authors all the time. It is tough to get an agent, but it's important to understand that of the three steps listed above, the first step is the easiest.
Agents act as a "filtering" system for publishers these days. For every manuscript sent to a publishing house, there were thousands of manuscripts and query letters examined by agents. Agents are always looking for well-written manuscripts. If you can't find representation for your manuscript, don't blame the agents. It might be the query letter or the genre or even the manuscript (egad!) that resulted in rejection by the agent, and it might mean you should try something new, either by editing your novel and improving it, or by writing a new manuscript. Remember, I had two unpublished, unrepresented novels and another book under my belt before I wrote The Notebook. Stephen King, I believe, had five.
I'll admit that it's not easy to get an agent, but becoming successful in anything requires perseverance. If you can't persevere on the first step, the easiest step, how will you react to the harder steps when they come? Do you think you'll be any happier if you have an agent but the agent can't sell the novel to a publisher? Or if it gets published and no one buys it?
Step 2: Find the Right Publisher
As for getting the right publisher, many times, you don't end up with much choice in the matter. If there is, it's important to not only to like the editor with whom you'll be working, but to find one who is passionate about your work. Sometimes, that means taking less money than you were offered by another publishing house. Tough choice, but often it's the right one, since passion is contagious and it just might mean the publisher will take a greater chance on promoting your work.
Step 3: Have the Book Sell Out of the Stores
Having the book sell out of stores is far and away the most difficult step of all. Walk into a bookstore these days and scan the shelves. Thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of books, are competing with yours and the front of the store is dominated by brand-name authors. Though I've said it before in this website, the following bears repeating. These days, it seems there are only three ways for an author to hit the best-seller list with a first novel: (1) have the novel recommended by Oprah (most if not all of the books she's chosen for Oprah's Book Club have become best-sellers, first time author or not, like Deep End of the Ocean by Jacqueline Mitchard); (2) have the novel receive wide and lavish critical acclaim, thereby triggering the interest of the major media, like Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier; or (3) write a novel that has good word-of-mouth, i.e., a well-written book that people read and enjoy and feel compelled to recommend to others, like The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells.
NARUTO: What the hell is this shit? I didn't know it took all of this just to become an author. I have a lot to learn about.
*RING RING*
NARUTO: Who could that be?
INO: Hey Naruto, what's up? Are you ready?
NARUTO: Ready for what Ino? And why are you dressed in that geek outfit?
INO: It's not a geek outfit, my dad brought this for me. Anyway, I'm here to let you know me, you, Sakura and Sasuke are going to Japan today.
NARUTO: WHAT!?
INO: Don't ask questions just get ready; pack some clothes and your passport so we can catch the plane before it leaves.
NARUTO: Why are we going to Japan for?
INO: My dad wants to see you and help you as soon as possible, so stop talking and hurry up so we won't miss the plane.
NARUTO: Fine I'll stop talking but on the plane, you can help me look at some stuff online about how to become an author if you don't mind Ino.
INO: No I don't mind Naruto. Hurry now, we don't want to keep Sakura and Sasuke waiting.
AT THE AIRPORT
SAKURA: Finally you made it. I was getting tired of waiting.
SASUKE: Me likewise.
INO: Alright since we're all here let's get on the plane people.
SASUKE: She's really cheery today. I'm scared now.
SAKURA: Why is that Sasuke?
SAKURA: Because she's just like you.
SAKURA: Really? You are too kind.
NARUTO: No no Sasuke you got it wrong. You see she's nothing like Ino the sweet part; you can scratch that out completely…
SAKURA: WHAT WAS THAT YOU UNGRATFUL BASTARD!?
SASUKE: Oh hell.
INO: Sasuke you keep Naruto safe and I'll hold Sakura back.
SASUKE: Ok but if she get too close, I'm not cleaning up the blood.
INO: Me either.