Dream or Destiny Contest Winner, Author Interview, and Open Forum
November 14th 2008 16:00
We Have a Great Deal Planned Today!
Dream or Destiny: A prize worth winning
First Order of Business: Contest Winner
Drum roll, please! And, the lucky winner of an autographed copy of Dream or Destiny is...Mark Antony! Congratulations, Mark! I know you'll enjoy the book! Please e-mail me at writersnotes@gmail.com with your shipping info, which I'll pass on to Lillie so she can ship your book to you.
A big Thank You to all who participated in the drawing! I appreciate your comments and wish all of you could have won! Thanks, also, to those who commented without entering! It's always great to hear your thoughts!
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Next on the Agenda: My Exciting Interview With Lillie Ammann!
Without further ado, I present to you my interview with Lillie--a fascinating exhange in which this experienced author offers a wealth of interesting, helpful, and encouraging information for aspiring and practicing writers! Plan to give it a thorough reading--and make sure you check out the valuable resource links Lillie provides for your benefit!
WN: What writing and/or life experiences sparked the idea for Dream or Destiny?
LA: I saw a television documentary about a woman who uses her psychic dreams to help the police solve crimes. Her dreams are after the fact and are generally about such things as the location of the body rather than about the crime itself. However, that sparked my imagination. I wondered, “What if someone dreamed about a murder before it happened?”
WN: How detailed was your plot line when you began writing Dream or Destiny, and how did your plot unfold?
LA: I knew little about the plot when I started writing. Characters come first for me. The characters bounce around in my head for awhile before I have any idea of the plot. I knew Marilee would dream about a murder, and that’s about all I knew at first. I got to know Marilee, then David appeared. I hadn’t consciously planned to write about domestic violence, but when I was getting acquainted with David, a long history of abuse came to light. It’s probably more accurate to say the characters told me the story than to say I wrote the story. I didn’t know what was going to happen until they told me. In fact, I didn’t even know who the murderer was until the very end!
WN: Dream or Destiny tackles a sensitive topic: domestic violence. What challenges did you face in weaving this issue into your story and still creating realistic character development?
LA: As I said earlier, the characters really told me their story. One of the best compliments I have received came from Bluestocking at The Bluestocking Guide. She asked me if I had personal experience with domestic violence and said when she read the book, she felt sure it was written by someone who had either experienced abuse personally or was close to a victim of domestic violence. Bluestocking is an attorney and domestic violence victims’ advocate, so I was pleased that she said the characters were true to life, unlike what she normally finds in fiction.
WN: What techniques have you found effective for strengthening motivation when working on a book-length project such as Dream or Destiny?
LA: While I was writing Dream or Destiny, I belonged to a critique group. Each member was expected to bring a chapter for critique to each weekly meeting. Having that accountability was a powerful motivator. I didn’t want to show up without my chapter, and I couldn’t just not show up—the meeting was at my house. The group no longer meets so when I start my next novel, I am going to give myself deadlines. If accounting to myself isn’t enough, I’ll partner with another writer to be accountable to each other.
WN: The tension between raw creativity and literary polish often plagues writers. How did you achieve (and how would you recommend that other aspiring writers achieve) the balance needed for creating an inspired yet polished piece of writing?
LA: I learned in an online writing class that first drafts are supposed to be “pure green dreck.” I separate the raw creativity/the inspiration from the literary polish. The purpose of the first draft is to get to know the characters and find out what happens. The only editing I permit myself at that stage is primarily getting back into the story after a break. I re-read the last few paragraphs from the work of the last writing session, whether that was the previous day or weeks ago. I allow myself to make minor revisions in those paragraphs, then it’s back to “pure green dreck.”
The only time I would consider making major revisions during the first draft would be if I found myself completely off-track. That’s never happened, though. After the “pure green dreck” is poured out onto the pages of the manuscript, I like to put it aside for days or weeks. Then I go back to edit … and edit … and edit … and edit again. One way to look at it is you can’t polish a gem unless you have a gem to polish. That “pure green dreck” is the diamond-in-the-rough that you will turn into a stunning jewel.
WN: Tell us a bit about your road to publishing Dream or Destiny.
LA: It was a long road with so many twists and turns I couldn’t see the end until I was almost there. My road to publishing this book should encourage any other writer who is discouraged that their manuscript hasn’t sold. As I wrote in How Things Change—Editing a Manuscript Ten Years Later, “The road to publication for Dream or Destiny was a long one—more than ten years, in fact. For much of that time, publication seemed like a dream that, unlike Marilee’s nightmare, didn’t come true. Representation by an agent for two years resulted in nothing more than a stack of rejections. I put the manuscript away and tried to forget it, but the characters wouldn’t let me forget. They seemed to call out to me, demanding publication, claiming it as their destiny.”
Several times I put the manuscript away to gather virtual dust on my computer, only to have the characters clamor out again. I signed a contract with one publisher, then before Dream or Destiny went into production, the company decided to focus on publishing erotica. They released me from the contract because my book would not be a good fit. After some more virtual-dust-gathering, I sold the book to GASLight. However, there were delays as a result of health issues and other circumstances. Finally Dream or Destiny has come to the end of that long road and is now a reality.
WN: I understand that much of your experience has been with small press and self-publishing. What have you found to be the main advantages of each? Are there any disadvantages to these publishing methods that other authors should be aware of?
LA: Both self-publishing and publishing with small press allow the author much more input into the publishing process than is possible with major traditional publishers. Self-publishing gives the author total control, but not all writers are comfortable with the responsibilities and risks of self-publishing.
Small presses assume the responsibilities and risks but don’t offer as much control as self-publishing. Neither self-published nor small press-published books have the distribution of the large publishers. Writers will generally sell fewer copies of small- or self-published books, although they will earn significantly more on each sale.
In general, I think self-publishing is more viable for nonfiction than for fiction because it’s easier to find customers through niche marketing to people interested in the subject of the nonfiction book. I’ve written about the pros and cons of various kinds of publishing in my free Self-Publishing Primer.
WN: What advice would you give writers whose manuscripts are sitting around gathering dust and who feel they have little hope of getting them published?
LA: Re-read the manuscript yourself. If it’s been sitting around for awhile, it will be fresher than it was when you were working on it constantly. Ask yourself honestly if you still believe in this story. Do you like what you read … or would you quit reading if the book had been written by someone else? If you still love your story, ask for input from other writers or readers that you trust.
This is something else I’ve discussed in other blog stops, especially Getting Published with a Little Help from my Friends. If the readers like the story, submit it again …and again … and again. If the readers make suggestions for improvements, evaluate their suggestions and decide which you agree with and which you don’t. Revise, then start submitting again.
WN: Where can we go to read an excerpt from Dream or Destiny?
LA: You can download a free excerpt from Dream or Destiny in a PDF file on my Web site.
WN: Where can we purchase Dream or Destiny, and what formats are available?
LA: You can buy the book in paperback and e-book formats from the publisher, GASLight Publishing. If you order the e-book, you will download a zip file with several different electronic formats so you can choose the one you prefer. You can also order the book in paperback or Kindle edition from Amazon.com.
WN: I believe Dream or Destiny is your second published book. Would you mind sharing a little about your first book and your inspiration for it?
LA: Dream or Destiny is my second published novel, but my fourth published book. My first book, Look beyond Tomorrow: The Carola Spencer Story, told of the courage, faith, hope, and love exhibited by my friend and her employees after a double-murder/suicide at their workplace. I wrote the story to raise money for Carola’s medical expenses, and we donated the rest of the books to a literacy organization. I also wrote a nonfiction book on network marketing. Both are out of print now.
As is the case with many first-time writers, my first novel, Stroke of Luck, is autobiographical. The heroine has a stroke like the one I had. During my recovery, my husband had to care for me. I wondered how someone who did not have that support system would cope with devastating illness. That wondering led to Stroke of Luck.
WN: Where can we read an excerpt from Stroke of Luck, where may we purchase it, and what format(s) are available?
LA: You can read a free excerpt from Stroke of Luck on the publisher’s Web site. The book is available only as an e-book (a zip file with four different electronic formats) from GASLight Publishing.
WN: Tell us a little about your blog and what it has to offer writers seeking publication of their own work.
LA: A Writer’s Words, An Editor’s Eye covers writing, editing, and publishing; freelancing; and books and authors, along with occasional patriotic and Christian topics. I write about working on clients’ books as well as my own, and I’m planning to host several authors on blog book tours in the coming weeks. Writers will learn and be inspired by other writers’ stories. I also give practical advice on writing and publishing as well as related topics, such as rejection.
WN: Share with us, if you would, a few blog posts or series you’ve written that writers might find especially helpful in preparing and publishing their own work.
LA: Readers can go to my Series and Related Posts page and look through the categories. The most helpful posts in preparing and publishing your own work will be in the following categories: Critique and Other Groups, E-Books and E-Publishing, Editing, Life Lessons/Inspiration, Rejection, Self-Publishing/Publishing, and Writing and Self-Editing.
WN: What plans do you have for your next book?
LA: Characters for two different books are struggling for dominance in my brain right now. I know my next two books will be about secondary characters in Dream or Destiny. However, I’m not sure which of the books I’ll write first: Tess, “the crazy lady,” or Bonita, who was involved with a married man.
WN: Thanks so much, Lillie, for sharing your experiences with us and giving away a free, autographed copy of Dream or Destiny here at Writer's Notes today!
LA: I’m delighted to be here, Jeanne, and look forward to answering readers’ questions.
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Learn More at Lillie's Other Tour Stops
Be sure to visit the other stops on Lillie's tour and read her other fascinating interviews and guest posts. You'll find links to all of them on her Dream or Destiny tour schedule.
Have Your own Publishing Questions Answered Right Here: Leave a Comment for Lillie
Lillie is ready and willing to answer your questions about planning and writing your book, preparing your manuscript for publication, and doing exactly what it takes to get that book published and in print--with your byline on it! So, ask away! Bring your questions about all those small--or big--matters you've always been curious about and ask them with confidence of a writer who's been there. Leave a comment on this post, and Lillie will be happy to answer your questions.
Hope you've enjoyed this Writer's Notes interview with Lillie Ammann, author of Dream or Destiny. If reading Lillie's story has made you the least bit curious about her book, why not purchase a copy of Dream or Destiny at one of the above links. And be sure to invite everyone you know who enjoys a good mystery to visit this post, read my earlier review of Dream or Destiny, and get a copy of this entertaining book!
Enjoy!
Jeanne
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About Lillie:
Lillie Ammann
As a freelancer, Lillie works with authors and publishers to prepare manuscripts for publication. She also writes and edits business documents and helps families and individuals compile family histories and memoirs. She especially enjoys helping self-publishing authors navigate the publishing maze and likes to think of herself as a book midwife. She can design the interior of the book, negotiate and contract with cover designers and printers, create and maintain the author’s website, and help with promotional activities, such as writing and distributing press releases. Lillie is as proud of the published book as the author is.
Source: Lillie's website
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Did you enjoy this post? Have anything to add? Any questions for Lillie? Perhaps reading Lillie's story has inspired you to write and/or publish your own book. What do you need to do to make that happen? What do you need to know to make it happen? Would it help you to get a bit of encouragement from one who's "been there"? If so, ask away! Lillie is waiting to give you the advice and encouragement you need to go for it and make your dreams of publication come true. Perhaps you'll find, after learning from Lillie's quest to publish Dream or Destiny, that publication of your own book is both your dream and your destiny!
Please note: If the StumbleUpon and other social bookmarking buttons aren't visible, please click the "Add Comments" link beneath this post. Thanks!
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Comment by Lillie Ammann
I'm excited to be here and eager to answer readers' questions.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks so much for your willingness to be available over the course of the day (and beyond) to answer individual questions posted by my readers in comments. I appreciate that!
I believe other writers will derive great benefit from your experience if they'll take the time to formulate the questions that will help them define the best path to publication for their project!
Thanks again!
Jeanne
Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
The Wily Wordsmith:Poems, Stories and Creative Scraps
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
Although I didn't win your book, I am likely to purchase it since you took time to stop by on Orble. Thank you!
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Adventure Toes
boxing sound
Business Rope
Fun Places 2 Travel
Congratulation, Mark and I think you deserve the prize
PS: At least, I'm inside the top 5 lol
Comment by Lillie Ammann
It took me six months to write the first draft of Dream or Destiny but ten years to get it published. That included several edits but also several years at a time when I ignored the manuscript and didn't do anything at all on it.
On the first stop of my blog tour, I encouraged writers participating in NoNoWriMo by saying that if I had written a few hours every day instead of only one time a week, I could have finished the first draft of Dream or Destiny in less than 30 days.
However, a first draft is a long way from a finished novel. NaNoWriMo (write a novel in 30 days) and write a book in a week groups often motivate a writer to get started on their book and get the "pure green dreck" I described above down on paper or screen. That may be what it takes for a writer to get started because the task of writing a novel seems overwhelming. Some writers finish their draft during the 30 days or week, but many others who don't finish still find the exercise worthwhile because they have a good start and momentum to continue.
People write at different speeds. Some writers can turn out a huge number of words in an hour and others produce much less in the same time period. You can't compare yourself to others—slow writers may be able to increase their writing speed but will probably never be fast writers.
And, of course, everyone has different time commitments. Most people can make more time for writing by sacrificing something else (TV, socializing, sleep), but all of us have commitments that we must meet. Someone with a full-time job and children at home can't devote as much time to writing as a person with no children at home who has the luxury of writing full-time.
Most of my self-publishing clients take about two years between books. Some prolific writers can produce one or more books per year, but I think most writers would find that a difficult pace to maintain.
I hope you buy and enjoy Dream or Destiny.
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I'm glad you enjoyed the interview. Jeanne's questions really made me think.
Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
The Wily Wordsmith:Poems, Stories and Creative Scraps
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
Comment by Lillie Ammann
First, let me point out that if your friends wants to write novels so she can quit her job and stay home with her son, she is likely to be very disappointed.
In the first place, her son may be grown before novel writing makes her any money. Most writers need other sources of income as novelists in general don't make a lot of money. The average advance on a novel is between $2,000 and $5,000, and most novels don't earn out their advance.
For anyone who doesn't know, an author who is published by a large publisher will receive an advance against royalties, often paid half on signing of the contract and half on release of the book. Then royalties start to accrue. The royalty may be 6% to 12% of the selling price of the book (with first-time authors at the 6% end of the spectrum). The publishers send royalty statements twice a year showing what has been earned, and deducting the earnings from the advance. Only when the royalties exceed the advance does the author receive any more money ... and for most authors that doesn't happen. As mentioned earlier, few writers can produce a book a year, but a fast writer may make $2,000 to $5,000 a year. Of course, there are exceptions—JK Rowlings has become a gazillionaire from royalties—but you can't bank on the exceptions.
Authors who self-publish earn all the profits on the sales of their books, but the sales will likely be much less. Small press published authors may earn higher royalties and be paid more often, but they don't have the distribution of major publishers.
The other thing is the amount of time it takes to earn that small advance. I saw a study several years ago of first-time romance authors published by major publishers in a given year. On average, the "first-time" authors had been writing seriously for seven years and had seven published books before they made their first sale. I don't know what age your friend's son is, but he could be grown before she makes the first sale.
Most importantly, though, writers are compelled to write. They don't want to do anything else. They would write whether they ever earned a penny or not. They have characters and ideas floating around in their head. They read prolifically and probably have always written something—even if it's a personal journal.
If your friend is a writer, she will write because she is compelled to write—not because she thinks it will enable her to stay home with her son. If she doesn't love writing, she will find it very difficult to do.
Anyone can learn writing techniques, but I think storytelling is a natural talent. Talent needs to be developed—I don't know of anyone who just starts writing and produces top-quality work immediately—but I think the talent and passion are needed to be successful.
I hope my answer isn't too discouraging to your friend, but I feel it's important to be honest.
If your friend has a real dream to write, then the two best pieces of advice I can give her are these: 1) read, read, read; and 2) write, write, write.
Read every chance she gets—fiction she loves as well as writing how-to books and inspiring stories of success.
Every writer is motivated differently. Establishing the discipline to write on a schedule is important. Your friend can commit to writing 15 minutes a day, even if means getting up 15 minutes earlier. She can keep a journal if she's not comfortable starting her novel, but at some point, she has to sit down at the computer and start the story.
A writer will write even if no one else ever reads their work. Having others read and fall in love with your words is a bonus. Making money from writing is a thrill, but the real thrill has to come from the writing itself.
Comment by Lillie Ammann
In the first line of the previous comment, "friends" should be "friend."
This sentence: "On average, the "first-time" authors had been writing seriously for seven years and had seven published books before they made their first sale."
Should be: On average, the "first-time" authors had been writing seriously for seven years and had seven COMPLETED BUT UNPUBLISHED books before they made their first sale."
My apologies for my carelessness.
Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
The Wily Wordsmith:Poems, Stories and Creative Scraps
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
Another question. How do writers get readers? How do you attract readers to your blog, book, etc. How does a writer get fans and keep them for life?
Comment by Cath Lawson
One big problem I have is that I keep falling out with the story, because I always think of something else I want to write that sounds more exciting, once I've got so far.
Do you think I might be better off doing the writing down the bones stuff, but doing it faster - in a month or two even?
Comment by moonglow
A Lot of Scrap
The Wily Wordsmith:Poems, Stories and Creative Scraps
Paranormal Paranormal
Teacup Tales
Rubber Ball
In Zoo
How does a writer develop a unique voice, one that stands out?
Thank both of you ladies for the interview. Good luck with sales, Lillie!!
Comment by Lillie Ammann
How to get readers ... that's what I'm working on now.
First, readers have to know about your book. That's why I'm doing this blog book tour. I'm trying to introduce as many readers as possible to Dream or Destiny.
Having my own blog helps because I've built up a readership, though quite small by the standards of the most successful blogs.
I also am a member of a promotional group: Books We Love that has a Web site with information about many authors and many books. Books We Love holds regular contests to encourage visitors to check out the individual author pages, so readers interested in the kinds of books I write can find me there.
Other promotional Web sites that I belong to are Authors on the Net, Nothing Binding, Authors Den, and several others.
I've been making contact with everyone I know—with a local book launch party and e-mail announcements. My hairdresser has distributed cards about my books, and one of her customers has invited me to speak at a book club ... and hopefully those readers will tell others.
I'm also submitting Dream or Destiny to a number of reviewers to try to get reviews posted in a variety of places. So far all the reviews have been good, so I hope they will encourage readers to buy my book.
There are entire books written on promotion as well as a number of Web sites, so I can't begin to cover everything here. And I'm certainly no expert at promotion and marketing. My books are not flying off the shelves (or through the mail), but I'm working hard to get readers.
Writing and publishing my next book ... then the next ... will be a big help. The more books a writer has out, the more sales she makes of each title, assuming readers like the books. They read one book, like it, and want more from that author. When you only have one (or in my case two) novels available, a reader can buy only one or two of your books.
Of course, word of mouth is the ultimate promotion. If an author can get readers talking about her book, telling their friends, recommending the book to everyone, she's on the road to success.
That's certainly what I'm hoping with Dream or Destiny—that everyone who reads it, loves it and tells their friends.
Thanks for keeping the conversation going here with your questions.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Wow! I left the house about three hours ago to go to a meeting, and now that I've come home I see that all of you have written a book in comments! This is great!
Thanks so much to all of you for bringing your comments and questions for Lillie! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from Lillie's experience.
And, thank you, Lillie, for giving so unselfishly of your expertise to help your fellow writers succeed!
Appreciate you all!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
It sounds like you enjoy writing the first draft but aren't as enthusiastic about revising/editing.
If you've got as far as the third draft, you've probably got the bones down—you're at the stage of putting flesh on the bones. Writing fast may not work at that stage.
You might try reading the manuscript from beginning to end, just as if you were reading a published book. Don't let yourself be distracted with edits—just read what you've written.
If you enjoyed reading the story, you have something worth finishing. Maybe you need to get some feedback from someone else. If they are enthusiastic about the story, that might motivate you to continue with it.
On the other hand, maybe what you've been working on is a practice novel. Many successful authors write one or more books that never see the light of day, but the experience of writing those unpublished works develops the writer's talent and confidence to go on and write publishable books. If re-reading the story and getting input doesn't fire up your excitement about the manuscript, ditch it and work on one of the other ideas you have.
When I say ditch it, though, I don't mean literally get rid of it. Always keep your work, even if you don't think you'll ever use it. You may discover that a scene from the unpublishable work is perfect for your next novel., or sometime in the future, you may want to return to this book.
When I was trying to sell my first novel, Stroke of Luck, several people told me they didn't like the prologue. I removed the prologue and submitted the prologue-less version. When I finally sold the book, the editor asked for two changes, one of which was to add a prologue. I pulled out the discarded prologue and sent it back. The editor was amazed at how fast I made the revisions and thought the prologue was perfect.
You mention that you are distracted by new ideas. This is common, and there are a couple of ways to deal with it. One way is to just set aside whatever you're working on and start a new project. This may be best if the original story isn't working. Another way is to keep an idea journal or file. Record your idea in a notebook or computer file, knowing that it will be waiting for you when you're ready to start something new. Then return to what you were working on. This can be effective if you want to finish the current manuscript.
You're an excellent writer, Cath, so I encourage you to do whatever it takes to get a book finished.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Glad you've enjoyed the interview! I knew that Lillie's insightful responses would be helpful!
Thanks for bringing your own questions to Lillie, as well. That's one of the main purposes for this post--to help writers learn more about the publishing process and apply that knowledge to their own writing projects!
Thanks for getting the ball rolling with your thoughtful questions--and for keeping it rolling through your ongoing input!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I'd like to think I have a distinctive voice, but others will have to be the judge of that.
A writer's voice is a reflection of that writer's experiences, style, and personality. It's something that evolves. I don't know of any way to consciously develop a voice other than to be authentic and true to yourself.
Perhaps a writer can see things they want to enhance or eliminate from their writing, but I think voice primarily develops as a writer matures.
Comment by Lillie Ammann
Your readers are keeping me busy answering questions. And their questions are as thought-provoking and insightful as yours.
I looked back at my responses and see comments longer than many posts!
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Yes, Mark certainly does deserve our congratulations!
Glad you've enjoyed the interview--and also glad you've made it into the top five comments!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Welcome to Writer's Notes! So glad you've enjoyed reading my interview with Lillie! I was actually quite excited about bringing Lillie's thoughtful and wise advice to my readers in today's post--as well as here in comments!
This open forum is a great way to have those questions answered which we've always wondered about! To many of us, the logistics of publishing are a total mystery--and this is where Lillie can come to our rescue! As we've seen, she can also provide a host of valuable writing techniques for getting that novel completed--and completed well--so that we actually end up with a finished product that's worthy of submission!
Thanks for taking part in the conversation!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks so much for providing those answers that are longer than many posts! Both my readers and I appreciate your dedication and willingness to share your wisdom with us in such great depth and with such helpful and detailed examples!
I for one love comments that rival the length of blog posts!
Thanks for being here for us!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
You and your readers have given me a workout today ... and I love it! Thanks for your hospitality and support, and thanks to your readers for their interest.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I do believe we've put you through your paces today! Hope we haven't made you work too hard! (Believe me, I know quite well how much work is involved in writing comments of the length of those you've written today!) Please know, though, that we value every word!
Happy to host the final stop on your blog book tour--and even more ecstatic to help you end the tour with a bang!
I'm sure my readers will agree that it's been wonderful having you visit Writer's Notes and a real pleasure to have you grace us with your wisdom! (Though I hope to see even more reader questions than the ones above!)
Comment by Lillie Ammann
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Comment by Mark Antony
Great interview Jeanne, particulary the question regarding raw creativity, literary polish transition. Being also a musician, and writing music, I find this the hardest step. Cole Porter once said writing music is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration..The ideas are often the eay parts for me, for words and music! At times, we need to rely on technique for polishing, so a good grounding is essential.
Lille, I will read your link on getting published with help from your friends later.I'd be interested to know if you ever did get an agent. Sometimes agents can be too dismissive of content, and only concerned with image marketing. I can understand why, but I think the entertainment business as a whole has moved too far away from quality content (especially television) Why else is nostalgic elements so much loved in films, TV, writing. One reason is we like to be reminded of days when quality content was the main factor in publishing, drama ect.
Thank you again ladies!
Comment by Lillie Ammann
You and Cole Porter are right about 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
Yes, I had an agent for two years right after Dream or Destiny was first finished. He was a fairly new agent, so I don't think he had the contacts a more established agent would have. But more established agents weren't interested, and neither were the publishers my agent submitted the work to.
As you indicated, the major publishers are looking for something that they expect, based on their experience. to sell well. That has led to the huge increase in small press and self-published books.
The positive aspect of this is that many of these books are exceptional quality—they just don't fit the big publishers' mold. I enjoy reading books from independent publishers.
However, there are also many low-quality books that are subsidy- or self-published. These books wouldn't be accepted by major publishers—or quality small press publishers—because they aren't well-written.
I love working with self-publishing authors to help them produce excellent books. Unfortunately, many self-publishing authors don't want to take advice; some don't even want an editor to correct their grammar errors.
Small press and self-published books need to be even better than books from major publishers to compete in the marketplace.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Also, thanks for your e-mail containing your shipping info. I'll pass it along to Lillie so she'll be able to get your book to you as soon as possible!
Glad you've enjoyed the interview! I had a great time coming up with interesting questions to ask Lillie about her book and about writing and publishing.
I really felt the raw creativity/literary polish question was an important one and very relevant to writers of all types of content. It can be very difficult to strike that balance, and learning the techniques another experienced writer uses to achieve that can help the writer who is struggling in that area.
Cole Porter's words were very wise, and I think they apply equally to writing. We authors need that same grounding in technique that the musician does, I think, which allows us to take the ideas we develop during our most creative and inspired moments and turn them into quality writing.
Yet, there are times when we need to simply write, letting the ideas flow and the inspiration flare, and worrying about technique and polish later--after our noblest thoughts have made it safely onto the page.
Thanks for your insightful comment, and once again, congratulations on winning a copy of Dream or Destiny!
Enjoy!
Jeanne
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
this kind of advice might seem simple but its actually really useful to hear from a published writer, i think its the little tips like this that really give new writers the confidence to get started
thanks again, i feel i learnt a great deal from reading this!
if Lillie is still around i would love to know her writing process, ie: pen and paper or into a computer program? off the top of her head, or writing out character profiles and plot outlines?
i note Lillie said:
which i find really intriguing, it sounds like the process must be quite organic and natural
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I'm glad you learned from the interview.
Learning that first drafts are supposed to be "pure green dreck" was an epiphany for me. Those of us who are perfectionists want to create a polished first draft, but I now realize that a "perfect" first draft is "pure green dreck." I hope that lesson makes as much difference to other writers as it did to me.
As you surmised, I am a very organic writer. It all starts with character for me. I have an idea for a character and something that will happen—in this case Marilee and her dream. The character hangs around in my head introducing herself to me until I feel ready to write. Then the characters tell me the story, and I type it.
I didn't know there would be domestic violence in this story until David appeared and told me his story of abuse. And several times I thought I knew who the murderer was only to learn I was wrong.
No paper and pen for me—it's computer all the way. Perhaps I would have written on paper if I had started writing before I had a stroke. But I put my dream off for years until a stroke convinced me it was time to get started. Although I have recovered from the paralysis of my right side, my hand doesn't work quite the way it used to you. The beautiful handwriting I used to have has turned into chicken scratching. Also my vision was severely affected, and it's easier to adjust the font size on the computer than to write so I can read it.
I'm probably as close as anyone you'll see to having a paperless office. Even when I have paper documents I have to keep, such as legal documents, I scan them into my computer.
Thanks for your question.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Glad you've enjoyed it and learned something from it at the same time! That's about the best combination we can hope for as writers and presenters of information.
Lillie's interview responses are indeed informative, and she has generously offered to continue answering any reader questions left on this post--which will definitely be our gain!
So, feel free to explore all the questions that come to mind about the writing and publishing process. Lillie would be more than happy to share the benefits of her experience, as she addresses the issues that interest you most!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
thanks so much for answering my question!
i struggle myself with being a perfectionist so i have found it quite difficult to form my ideas into a narrative . . . your advice was an epiphanie for me too!
sorry to hear about your stroke, but im very glad the experience gave you the incentive to plow ahead with writing!
you deserve every success!
hi Jeanne,
yes it has been very generous of Lillie indeed!
thanks again for bringing this interview and question-time to the Orble community!
it was definately been a wonderful gain!
Comment by Karen Swim
Karen
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Happy to have had the opportunity to introduce Lillie here at Writer's Notes and provide all this great information for my fellow Orbleites--and others!
Feel free to stop back by with any other questions that come to mind!
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
So happy to hear how helpful Lillie's advice has been to you! I just knew the question about raw creativity/literary polish was one that would be relevant to readers. Lillie has a great deal of experience to share, and I'm very honored that she's decided to share it here at Writer's Notes!
Best wishes for the remainder of NaNoWriMo--and beyond!
Appreciate your visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
From one perfectioinst to another, I'm glad the idea of a first draft being "pure green dreck" was an epiphany for you as well.
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I'm happy that this post encouraged you and that you're getting that novel written during NaNoWriMo. You're a fabulous writer so I know you'll end up with a good story after both the raw creativity and the literary polish are done.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I agree that it's always fascinating to hear the "backstory" of a book's development. Lillie's offered some very helpful advice in this interview, as well as in her comments about the issues raised by readers. Glad you liked the questions!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Thank you for this wonderful post/batch of comments, they've been a wonderful method of procrastinating my Nano-writing.
~Dianna
Lillie,
Since you have so generously offered to keep answering questions, I'm going to have to ask one.
My question is this:
Small press over big publishing company? And for small presses, agent or no agent? That's two questions, sorry.
~Dianna
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I hope the post and comments not only allowed you to procrastinage on your NaNo writing but also motivated you to get back to it.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both small presses and large publishing companies. I don't think one is inherently better or worse than the other. The author needs to consider what is most important to her. If she wants wide distribution in bookstores, a large publishing company would be first choice. If she prefers to have some control over the final product, then small press might be a better choice.
Of course, sometimes the determining factor is who will accept the work. Small presses are generally more open to work that is a little different so if you've written a novel crossing several genres, your book might appeal to small presses more than to large publishers who have more rigid guidelines.
In most cases, you don't need an agent to submit to small presses, which are more likely to accept unagented manuscripts and which probably offer less room for negotiation. An agent can probably get an author a better advance and royalties from a large publisher, but most small presses can't afford to offer a lot more money to certain authors. Small presses often pay higher royalties than large publishers' standard, however.
Like so many things, I guess, the answer to both of your question is "It depends."
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Thanks for the well thought-out answers.
I'll see if I can harass my mother to buy your book for me-sounds like a lot of fun.
And oh, motivation to get back to it wasn't lacking, I just needed a nice long break.
~Dianna
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Glad you enjoyed Lillie's interview. I thought so many interesting facets of writing and publishing were explored in both the interview and reader questions. Thanks for joining in the conversation!
Jeanne
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
Thanks for having the conversation for me to join in. You always have something useful to say.
~Dianna
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Always love having you join in!
Jeanne
Comment by Christin Mowery
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Not sure how I missed your comment, but somehow it seems that I did -- or perhaps it was lost after I posted it. Hope you didn't think I meant to ignore you. While it may seem strange to respond at this late date, I've decided to do it anyway, because replying to comments is one of my key values here at Writer's Notes. (Have you noticed the "You Comment, iReply" emblem in my left sidebar?)
I certainly agree that Lillie's story is motivating -- and fascinating! Lillie has a great deal of experience in writing and publishing, as well as blogging, and I'm sure the advice she's shared both in this interview and here in the comments section will be very helpful to all the writers who read it.
Thanks for reading!
Jeanne