Sunday Quote ponders cheese
Read More“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”
~ J.K. Rowling
Shut Up! Times When It’s Imperative You DO NOT Share Happy Writing News
Writing is hard. Revising is hard. The submission cycle is downright depressing. Querying agents? It sucks away your soul, email by email.
That means that it’s especially hard to contain yourself when good news comes at last. It’s tempting to scream to the world–in reality and in all caps–that the story finally sold! That an agent wants your full manuscript! That a publisher wants your book!
DON’T. Take your hands off the keyboard. Step away from your phone. Maybe tell a few select people, but don’t you dare announce your good news in the early stages. Speaking out too soon shows that you’re unprofessional and unable to keep a secret. You may very well sabotage the deal you’re so happy about. Google is the biggest tattle-tale in the world, you know. Editors and agents will follow your social media and blog, and not in a creepy way, either. If they are taking the time to look you up, that’s a great thing. They want to know you! You’re establishing an important business relationship.
You want that relationship, too. So here are the moments when you need to sit on your hands.
– A story acceptance
It’s awesome to get that initial acceptance email, but the deal isn’t real until there is a double-signed contract. That makes it legally binding. Even then, sometimes a publisher will ask you to refrain from public mention for a while; for example, this might happen if they are still sending out rejections for that particular issue. Respect that request.
– The contract is signed but the work hasn’t been published after months of wait OR you didn’t get paid when it was published OR your story was revised without your permission, etc.
Sometimes, even after a contract is signed, a deal might fall apart. Maybe the editor pulls a jerk move, or editors change and the new one doesn’t want your work, or the publication dies, or your reminders about payment get no reply. This puts you in a delicate position because you have a valid right to complain. Don’t do that in public as step one, though. You want to build your case. Query the editor, if you can. Query more than once over a period of time. Go onto password-protected writer forums and find out if there are other writers in the same position as you. You want allies! Maybe together, you can make yourselves heard, either through email or as a united front on social media. If you’re a member of SFWA, Griefcom is a valuable resource with professionals who will intercede on your behalf.
– An agent has rejected your manuscript OR requests a partial or full manuscript OR wants to call you
Querying agents is a long, difficult, demoralizing process, but it’s not one to be discussed in public. Why? Agents NEED to check you out online. You don’t want them to know they’re the 73rd agent you’ve queried, or that you’ve been querying this book for three years. More than likely, you’re querying a bunch of agents at the same time (as one should, unless you offered an exclusive; it would take forever to query one by one). You want all of those agents to think they are your top choice. You want to appear professional yet also personable. Throughout various stages of the publishing process, you need to be able to keep a secret. If you’re a blabbermouth, well, will they want to work with you?
You DO need a safe place to vent or celebrate through the querying process, though. Find a password-protected private place to do that. I used Agent Query back in the day, but there are various other writer forums or private Facebook groups where you can safely chronicle your journey.
– An agent offers representation
Again, this is a test of how you can keep a secret, but it’s also a show of respect for other agents who may be considering your work. You likely have queries out with multiple agencies. When you get an offer, don’t say ‘yes’ right away, no matter how tempting; ask for a period of time like a week or two so that you can send notice to other agents to give them a chance to respond. You suddenly look a lot more appealing once you have an offer on the table. Other agents will likely want to push your query/manuscript to the top of their pile so they can find out what the fuss is all about. You might get more requests for the full manuscript or other offers of rep.
Again, share this joy in a private setting online. Don’t liveblog it, or you’ll look tactless and rude to other agents. Again: until the contract is signed with an agent, it’s not a done deal. Don’t sabotage yourself.
– An editor makes an offer for your book
This is the most aggravating secret in the world, but you dare not say a thing until the proper time. And that proper time may be a long time coming. Contract negotiations may take months with a major publisher–maybe even six months or more. If you speak out before the deal is done, you will look very, very bad.
There’s an extra level of aggravation here, too. Even after the paperwork is signed, you still need to keep every mum for a little while longer. Most large-publisher book deals aren’t official-official until they are in Publishers’ Marketplace. Most writers don’t subscribe to that because it’s expensive, but a friend may scream the news to you online (that’s how I knew I could announce my first deal at long last–a friend told me on Twitter!) or your agent can give you the head’s up.
At that point, mash down the capslock and scream the news to the world. YOU HAVE A BOOK DEAL!!!!!!!!
Reposted from Novelocity.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
Bready or Not: Stuffed Churro Nuggets
With Cinco de Mayo two days away, let’s revisit a classic Holy Taco Church recipe: Stuffed Churro Nuggets.
This recipe is EASY. It uses store-bought puff pastry. (I mean, you can use a homemade version, but even the great Mary Berry of the Great British Bake Off says she prefers the store kind.) I haven’t tried it with gluten-free puff pastry, but I know that it exists; if anyone uses that with this recipe, let me know how it turns out!
You can choose whatever filling you want. I like to make this and fill half with Nutella and half with Dulce de Leche, but you could try this with any kind of thick, spreadable delicious stuff.
Maybe try peanut or other nut butters? Or maple butter? (OOOOOOOOH.) But trust me, you can’t go wrong with Nutella and Dulce de Leche (and if you can find the squeeze bottle Dulce de Leche, it’s especially convenient).
These nuggets are best eaten the same day, but if you take this to any sizable gathering, that won’t be a problem. These are a perfectly-sized hors d’oeuvres, and I doubt that anyone will have just one!
Bready or Not: Stuffed Churro Nuggets
Ingredients
Nuggets
- 1/2 package puff pastry 1 bag out of a 2 pack box
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 stick
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Choose your stuffing! One of these or something else
- Nutella
- Dulce de leche squeeze bottle, can, etc
Note that if your filling is stiff, you can make it more spreadable with a zap in the microwave. Make sure you do so in a microwave-safe container.
Instructions
- Let puff pastry come to room temperature. Preheat oven at 425-degrees.
- Get out a large cookie sheet and line it with parchment paper. Unfold puff pastry onto the surface and use a pizza cutter to quickly cut the dough into 1-inch cubes.
- Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the squares are puffed and golden.
- Set out whatever will be used to stuff the nuggets. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. In another bowl, melt the butter.
- Remove the puff pastry from the oven. Pop open each cube by removing the top completely or opening it as if on a hinge--it's surprisingly easy, with those flaky layers--and add a dab of filling. Close the pastry, then roll it in butter and then in cinnamon-sugar.
- Churro Nuggets are best eaten the same day. Store them in a sealed container, with parchment or waxed paper between layers.
- OM NOM NOM!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
CLOCKWORK CROWN giveaway on Goodreads + Newsletter Tomorrow
I’m hosting a giveaway for two signed copies of The Clockwork Crown over on Goodreads! (Please note: US only. Sorry!) This runs through May 10th. Spread the word, please!
Also, tomorrow morning I’m sending out my monthly Cato Log. Find out the latest book news and get a Bready or Not recipe way in advance. This newsletter will feature Cardamom Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze! Input your email address in that the sign-up box on the right hand side of this page. Ta-da!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
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Read MoreSunday Quote braces for a busy May
Read More“The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.”
~ T.S. Eliot
