Going pro
I take part in an online listserve for Teen Chick Lit writers. It's a great group, and this week both my agent and one of my editors are doing "guest" appearances over there, so it's kind of like old home week. I feel so loved.
But one of the issues that came up (and one that almost always comes up) is the issue of selling "on proposal."
That may be a new term to a lot of you, so let me explain.
If you're a writer and you'd like to have a book published, and if you've never published a book before, chances are that you will need to have a finished book that a respected literary agent can show to editors at publishing houses.
(Some may debate the merits of having an agent or not, but I am firmly in the pro-agent camp.)
What causes new writers' ears to perk up are stories about authors who sell their first books before the manuscript is complete. Secret Society Girl is a good example. Diana had (I believe) three chapters when that hot property sold.
(That's rare. Don't think you'll be Diana.)
It's not so rare for published authors to sell their future books before they have a complete manuscript.
Because CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE was finished and about to come out, I was able to sell I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU based on three chapters.
Charles Frazier sold his follow up to Cold Mountain for $8 million based on one page.
(That's more-than-rare. Don't think you'll be Charles Frazier.)
But writers hear these stories about money for one page, money for three chapters...money...money...money.
If you want some advice from me, don't follow the money.
Not only is this incredibly rare and difficult, but as I wrote to my online friends earlier today, I can't imagine selling my first book as anything other than a finished manuscript.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to write a book?
Well, if you haven't finished one, you don't know. Sorry. Starting one doesn't count. Having an idea for one doesn't count. Actually finishing a book is a monumental undertaking--like bowling a perfect game.
Now, imagine having never bowled a perfect game before and having someone bet several thousands of dollar that you will. Oh, and they're videotaping the game and it'll show on national TV in a few months.
That's what selling "on proposal" is like--you in a comfy shirt and ugly shoes with hot dog mustard and popcorn all over you trying not to let anyone down and/or look like an idiot.
I have sold four books.
Cheating at Solitaire, my first, was --purely from a writing standpoint--by far the easist. I don't think it's a coincidence that that's the only one where there was essentially no pressure.
Also, the easist/best writing I have EVER done is for the three chapters I turned in for the Love You Kill You "proposal."
My agent was going to see them but maybe no one else. I already had another book due to Berkley. I have a good job with great benefits. I sat down to do something fun, so I wrote an hour a night for three nights, and a month later I had a deal with Disney.
Can you say spoiled?
It was just a little YA book. I literally thought it would sell for about ten grand (it didn't. It sold for more.)
And that's when the pressure started. It hasn't let up since.
So all you unpublished authors out there--cherish it while it lasts!!!!
Don't rush to grow up. Enjoy your writing adolescence--the ability to try a genre out of the blue, the freedom to put a project in a drawer for months or years and come back to it with fresh eyes.
I've frequently said that publishing is a lot like sports. Anyone can play catch or shoot hoops. But once you sign with an agent you lose your amateur status forever. Once you start getting paid, it's never purely a hobby again.
-Ally
But one of the issues that came up (and one that almost always comes up) is the issue of selling "on proposal."
That may be a new term to a lot of you, so let me explain.
If you're a writer and you'd like to have a book published, and if you've never published a book before, chances are that you will need to have a finished book that a respected literary agent can show to editors at publishing houses.
(Some may debate the merits of having an agent or not, but I am firmly in the pro-agent camp.)
What causes new writers' ears to perk up are stories about authors who sell their first books before the manuscript is complete. Secret Society Girl is a good example. Diana had (I believe) three chapters when that hot property sold.
(That's rare. Don't think you'll be Diana.)
It's not so rare for published authors to sell their future books before they have a complete manuscript.
Because CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE was finished and about to come out, I was able to sell I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU based on three chapters.
Charles Frazier sold his follow up to Cold Mountain for $8 million based on one page.
(That's more-than-rare. Don't think you'll be Charles Frazier.)
But writers hear these stories about money for one page, money for three chapters...money...money...money.
If you want some advice from me, don't follow the money.
Not only is this incredibly rare and difficult, but as I wrote to my online friends earlier today, I can't imagine selling my first book as anything other than a finished manuscript.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to write a book?
Well, if you haven't finished one, you don't know. Sorry. Starting one doesn't count. Having an idea for one doesn't count. Actually finishing a book is a monumental undertaking--like bowling a perfect game.
Now, imagine having never bowled a perfect game before and having someone bet several thousands of dollar that you will. Oh, and they're videotaping the game and it'll show on national TV in a few months.
That's what selling "on proposal" is like--you in a comfy shirt and ugly shoes with hot dog mustard and popcorn all over you trying not to let anyone down and/or look like an idiot.
I have sold four books.
Cheating at Solitaire, my first, was --purely from a writing standpoint--by far the easist. I don't think it's a coincidence that that's the only one where there was essentially no pressure.
Also, the easist/best writing I have EVER done is for the three chapters I turned in for the Love You Kill You "proposal."
My agent was going to see them but maybe no one else. I already had another book due to Berkley. I have a good job with great benefits. I sat down to do something fun, so I wrote an hour a night for three nights, and a month later I had a deal with Disney.
Can you say spoiled?
It was just a little YA book. I literally thought it would sell for about ten grand (it didn't. It sold for more.)
And that's when the pressure started. It hasn't let up since.
So all you unpublished authors out there--cherish it while it lasts!!!!
Don't rush to grow up. Enjoy your writing adolescence--the ability to try a genre out of the blue, the freedom to put a project in a drawer for months or years and come back to it with fresh eyes.
I've frequently said that publishing is a lot like sports. Anyone can play catch or shoot hoops. But once you sign with an agent you lose your amateur status forever. Once you start getting paid, it's never purely a hobby again.
-Ally
posted by Ally Carter at Wednesday, September 13, 2006
8 Comments:
What are the four books you sold? I know Love You Kill You, Cheating at Solitaire, and Learning to Play Gin. What's the other one? The sequel to Love You Kill You?
Here, here, Ally!
Not that I'm complaining about our lovely profession. But man, once people in the industry actually like your work you're driven to continue to please.
Great post Ally. I'm struggling through completing my first ms. I feel the pressure from myself already, can't imagine other people relying on me to finish!
You know I'm with you on this one! Second book syndrome is real and it's the pits!
Hang in there, everyone!
Ally
Good post. Though I have to say I haven't really felt the pressure of a second book in the sense that I can't write it. Or that I worry about the second book's quality.
What with full-time grad school (one year program so everything is extra tight) and the March 2007 deadline, I think I'm solely focused on "do it, do it, do it". And the words have just been coming, so far.
Anyway, congrats on the third printing. I'll go look it up.
If you're a first time author, you Can see sell a book on a proposal and few sample chapters. When you say, "Don't think you'll be...." that's so, though realistic, very disturbing. Though I know the fursutrations of a first time author, I do have the confidence to do something special. And that edge and confidence can launch a successful writing career. You should know, the mighty Ally Carter. I have a well-established agent that took me, a first time author, in hopes to land a deal with a publishing heavyweight. The bottom line: If you write well,a and your proposal sizzles, you can land a deal, first time author. Have you forgotten where you came from, Ally?
Hi Anonymous,
Not sure where the anger is coming from, but that's your right.
I will say that books obviously do sell based on proposal for first time authors--that's why I gave the example of Secret Society Girl. But I wanted to point out that it's rare--a point you agreed with, so again not sure why that makes you angry.
Congrats on landing an agent. I hope you have lots of luck and sell on proposal if that's what you want.
The purpose of this post was to show that writing without a contract--for me--was easier and more enjoyable.
Sure, I've already been paid for the book that I'm working on, and that's a great thing. But there are more things than money and in many, many ways I envy writers who are at your stage in the game. I remember where I came from very, very well, and that's part of why I wrote this, to encourage others who are there now to appreciate that phase because you can do things then that--once published--become much, much harder.
Sorry if that makes me sound "mighty."
But it's true.
Ally
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