Career Management for Writers Archives - Page 8 of 9

Interview with Author Yvette Carol

Posted on February 17, 2016 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Hi everyone!

Today’s post is another great author and blogger interview. Yvette Carol is a good friend of mine from New Zealand, and she was kind enough to share her experiences about her writing and self-publishing.

Enjoy!

Can you tell us about yourself and your writing?

Hi, Pinar!

Yes, thank you for asking, and thanks for this opportunity. I write for fantasy fiction for the ‘tween reader, the 9 – 13-year-old

How long did it take you to complete your book?

It is a little hard for me to answer that question, as The Chronicles of Aden Weaver series started out life as a single volume in 2005. However, along the way, it got chopped into three stories, and the first book, ‘The Or’in of Tane Mahuta’ has been my work-in-progress as a single entity for probably the last five years or more.

Why did you take the self-publishing route?

When I was younger I did a lot of submitting to publishing houses and contests and the like. As I said in the speech at my book launch a month ago, ‘I set a glass ceiling for myself, that I would get that traditional book deal.’

Now that I’m older, the clock is ticking, there is no more time for waiting. I see other authors being intrepid and beating the Indie path and I hear the positive feedback returning from the front line, and my views are changing. I’ve stopped seeing the traditional book deal as the ultimate prize.

To my surprise, when I did let go of the trad. Publishing route idea, it was an instant relief. I’m not a gal who handles competition and the pressure of submitting and being rejected very well.

Also, it felt empowering. I was so glad to finally at last take up the reigns fully into my own hands and accept full responsibility for my “creative intelligence” and to own rights to my own work and success.

Which company did you use, which services did they offer, and how much did it cost you?

Carol J. Amato, of Stargazer Publishing, was the proof-reader I hired first, as she came highly recommended by my friend, author, Maria Cisneros-Toth. I spent the best part of a thousand dollars on this stage but then the exchange is brutal from the New Zealand end. Friends have recommended two kiwi proof-readers since then. For the second round of editing by a professional, I chose a local business called ProofPal. I highly recommend Katrien’s services. She was punctual and thorough. Nevertheless, it would seem $1000 is the going price for editing services on a full 60,000+ word manuscript, as in the end, I spent more or less the same amount.

Who did your cover for you?

People keep asking me about the cover art. Well they should do. I love it!

Once I had taken on the mantle of publisher, I began some serious investigating into the different options available today for digital online cover artists, many I found through Facebook. The going rate for that seemed to be from $5 – $400.

I had gone to various people asking questions. I really wanted to feel confident of the jacket. My story while set in the wilds of the planet Chiron is in reality based on earth, and while a story about shape-shifters in a time many centuries ago, reflects who we are today in a lot of ways. The cultures depicted are at once advanced and yet simple. It is a complex world and I felt the cover needed to be created with great care and precision. Let us just say it was not a book that could have stock art on the cover.

Luckily, I had the courage to throw caution to the wind and ask my nephew. Simon used to be a gifted artist in his youth, yet had not done any art since he left school. I asked would he create an image for the cover. He said yes. The rest is history!

Next, I hired the services of the guys at local printing outfit, BookPrint to do the formatting and layout.

Tim gave me files ready for upload onto CreateSpace and the Mobi file for Kindle Direct. These guys did a superb job with the digital side of things and everyone said the paperback they produced was top quality also. So a big “thumbs-up” for them!

Do you recommend them to other writers?

Yes, definitely!

How are you marketing your book?

Between the kids and Christmas, I haven’t yet found the time to do the marketing. I made a comprehensive list and have failed to do any of it. Today, I attempted to get an “Author Page” on Goodreads, and that’s the extent of my marketing so far. However, this is one of three posts which blogging friends have offered to post for me, so I guess I’m taking steps in the right direction at last.

One of my writing mentors, Bob Mayer once said, ‘Focus on craft; not marketing and promotion. You can’t promote crap. The best marketing is a good story; better marketing is more good stories.’ I, too, adhere to this approach!

Do you have tips for writers who can’t decide between self-publishing and traditional publishing?

Yes. One of the successful kiwi authors I admire and now also call a friend, Donna Blaber, had some sage words on this very topic. She’s had thirty or so books published, traditionally. She published her last book herself.

Donna told me, “Now, that I’ve self-pubbed once, I’m never going back. With trad. Publishing, someone takes their bite of the pie all the way down the line, until there’s nothing left and they haven’t done anything! Whereas, when you publish yourself, all the profit is yours.”

Also from the amazing Bob Mayer again. “The gatekeepers are readers. While traditional publishing is still a viable path, they no longer control distribution. This is such a fundamental change in the business paradigm, I truly believe very few people grasp the implications. New York is hanging on to its antiquated business model instead of embracing change.”

These are people I look up to in the business at the moment.

Which blog(s) and social media accounts can we follow you on?

Website: http://www.yvettecarol.com

Blog: http://www.yvettecarol.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YvetteCarol1

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/yvettecarol

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yvette.carol

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/yvettecarol/

Literary Agent/Manager Needed for 1 Novel, 1 Feature Film Script and 1 Pilot

Posted on November 20, 2015 Written by Pinar Tarhan

I write, therefore I am. :D — I write, therefore I am. 😀

Nope, I haven’t gone stark raving mad.

I haven’t lost it during the process of trying to getting my fiction published.

I’m just reacting to (and kind of celebrating) two interesting pieces of writing:

This The Billfold post: Calling All Literary Agents, Via Your Blog where Meaghan O’Connell wrote about Miles Klee, a writer who posted about his agent needs on his Tumblr.

Writer and writing coach Angela Booth mentions in one of her free e-books (I think it was called Blogging for Dollars) where a client of hers mentioned she was looking for an agent. Lo and behold, the agent found her through the description of her work online.

(I also reached out to Miles Klee to find out if he found the new agent he was looking for via his TUMBLR blog. I’ll update if I get an answer.)

Established writer and coach Marilyn Horowitz also encourages you talk about your writing and keeping a presence online.

So why not?
There are no guarantees. In fact, it probably won’t work. I. And yet, here I roll:

1 novel, 1 one-hour TV drama pilot, 1 feature drama

– They are low(er) budget, mainstream yet different enough. And they are similar in genre(s), even though the weight of romance, comedy and drama differs.

So I won’t be pissing off any producer or agent by saying I have one period drama, one CGI-heavy sci-fi and one gory horror. (Although I don’t promise never to write these, except from the gory horror.)

– I’ve a niche. I’ve specialized. I’ve been doing this for a while.

– None of the (manu)scripts are their first (or fourth, for that matter) drafts.

And they will each get their individual posts, detailing each project without spoiling anything. I have query letters and synopses for that (you know, those thing where you actually have to give away the ending and twists and all.)

– Oh, and the best of all, their medium can be easily converted into another.

My novel would work as a script, and my scripts could be turned into a novel.

So there you go, agents and producers.

And again, as Marilyn Horowitz points out in her book Sell Your Screenplay in 30 Days Using New Media (aff. link), I’m my own agent until I get one, so here I am. Letting the world know. I have stories I can’t wait to share.

In case you are in the market for contemporary romantic dramas with a sense of humor. The TV pilot placed as a semi-finalist in 2014’s Creative Writing Awards.

What do you guys have? Share away in the comments, including links to your blogs and Twitter accounts. And do read each other, follow up on the people whose work/comment you enjoyed.

That’s how communities are built upon.

And if you like what I create for you, please share the post on Twitter and wherever else you hang out on!

Where else to find me:

Stage 32

Twitter: @zoeyclark

I’m also a member of Ashley Scott Meyers’ SYS Select. (not an affiliate link.)

I Want To Move To L.A. For My Screenwriting Career: But I Don’t Live In The USA

Posted on October 30, 2015 Written by Pinar Tarhan

I don’t detest L.A; I love it.

I can’t drive, but I don’t mind cycling through. Let’s save the environment, burn me a few calories and get around. You say I can only live in Santa Barbara or somewhere like that? Even better. I love that town. (Seriously, I’ve been there. It’s gorgeous!)

Except, it’s not as easy as packing up my car and driving there. And before you rush to comment on how expensive the city is or how difficult to survive in LA, or leaving loved ones behind, I’ll do you one better:

I need to leave everyone behind in a different country.

And I don’t mind.

As much as I love my friends and family, I’ve wanted to be involved in making film in Hollywood since I was a little kid.

I don’t even have to develop skills like freelance writing or managing social media to support myself. I’ve got those.

Two polished scripts, a manuscript that can easily be turned into a script and a fully-developed idea for my next project? And a few more concepts that need some work on? Oh, I have that too.

What I don’t have however is a clue on how to get the right visa that will allow me to live and work in the States permanently. (I’m currently researching. I started with D’ALESSIO LAW GROUP because I caught a webinar from them through Stage 32, and they seem to know what they are doing.)

The USA might not welcome illegal immigrants, but it’s not exactly making it peachy for folks who want to come legally either.

I need one hell of a resume for O1, but the kind of work that will give me that resume is in LA in the first place. Talk about a Catch 22.

Of course, I can try and sell the script from here, whose process I’ve already started. But screenwriting deals rarely happen fast. And I can’t seem to agree with script consultants on some stuff. I’m all for improving my script, but not compromising what makes it the story I want to tell.

I don’t want to have the money and connections to move to L.A. when I’m 50. I want it now. I’ll take that PA job people seem to be hating. I can write on the side.

So next time, I’d love to see more posts on how people made it to Hollywood without having born in the States, having relatives in the States, won the green card lottery, married someone there or worked for decades in their own country before making the jump.

I’m 30. I’m ready.

So really, tell me how to get hired to work there from here. Then I can share those tips with the rest of the world’s enthusiastic filmmaker.

I do want to move to L.A. The mindset is there, even some initial savings to get me through the first couple of months.

When will L.A. have me?

An Interview on Consulting with LittleZotz Writing’s Lauren Tharp

Posted on September 3, 2015 Written by Pinar Tarhan

One of LittleZotz Writing's many awesome illustrations. — One of LittleZotz Writing‘s many awesome illustrations.

If you’ve been writing for a while, chances are you thought about consulting. It’s a terrific way to help others, as well as to increase your authority and income.

That said, like all worthy ventures, several important questions come to mind before starting:

Which areas are you going to offer consulting/coaching on?
Which methods are you going to use?
Will you be offering phone, face-to-face and/or e-mail support?
How much will you charge?

And

How did other successful freelance writers who you’ve been following for a while get around to it?

Today, you’ll be getting the answer for the last (but maybe the most inspiring) question on the list from the lovely Lauren Tharp.

Lauren Tharp is the face behind the award-winning writing blog LittleZotz Writing, associate editor and community manager of the amazing BAFB and the new Editorial Assistant the famous of CopyBlogger.

Enjoy!

What inspired you to offer consultancy to other writers? Character traits, certain experiences, your mentors…?

In 2013, I had partnered with a freelance editor with the plan of offering a class to writers and editors looking to start their freelancing careers. The editor ended up going in a different direction; however, I still thought the idea was fantastic and wanted to pursue it on my own. So I decided to start offering one-on-one mentoring.

I was fairly confident I could do a good job because I had worked as an English tutor when I was younger, and was briefly a children’s martial arts instructor. If you can control a room full of kids throwing punches at each other without anyone getting hurt, you can command pretty much any crowd. [laughs].

When did you feel ready to offer this service? How long had you been writing/blogging?

This is a difficult question to answer. I’ve been writing for pay since I was a teenager – and I’m in my thirties now – but I didn’t make it my sole source of income until I was twenty-five. So I had been writing for over a decade; however, I had only been in business for about three years.

What was your biggest challenge as a consultant, and how did you overcome it?

Over the years I’ve become a bit anxious about talking on the phone. I do well in writing and when I’m interacting with people in person, but I find exchanges that are purely voice-based to be a bit nerve-wracking.

So, since I couldn’t visit every mentee in person, I ended up utilizing Skype’s instant messenger function. That way, I’m able to do what I do best: Write. And, that way, my mentee is guaranteed to get me at my best.

They even get a PDF transcript of our conversation to refer back to when we’re done!

Do you have any favorite resources on this topic? (Links to your own posts will be appreciated too:))

Well, since you said I’m allowed to link to my own posts, I do have these two…

“5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Mentor”

“5 Things to Expect When You Become a Mentor”

What advice would you give writers who are thinking about offering consultancy services?

Practice answering questions elsewhere first. Either find ways to get yourself interviewed, or answer them on your blog, or do a video series. When the time comes to actually mentor someone, you’re not going to have time to carefully think over your answers – so it’s good to have practice answering questions elsewhere as training to prepare for that moment.

You should also think about what you’re good at and who would be the best client to teach. For me, I decided early on that my favorite type of mentee was someone just about to start their freelancing career. My own mentor, Sophie Lizard, prefers to teach people who are a bit further along. It’s going to probably be the toughest decision you make – next to the decision to mentor at all! – but it’s worth putting a lot of thought into.

I hope you enjoyed the interview. Don’t hesitate to spread the word if you found this helpful.