Category: Publishing Tips

7 Tips for Landing a Book Contract

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

After signing the contract, I spent some time reflecting – trying to figure out what worked. How did I get here? I came up with a list of things that I believe helped. Hope they help you – wherever you may be on your journey.

Pursue learning. I wrote my first two novels not knowing much about anything and got a whole lot of rejections. It wasn’t until I spent a summer devouring every writing book in sight that my writing turned a corner. I highlighted. I took notes. I wrote blog posts about what I learned. I paid for professional critiques. I found two very amazing critique partners. I entered contests. I listened to feedback.

Persevere. I didn’t give up when I got rejected. I determined at the start that I wanted to be published by a traditional publisher—one that would actually pay me—and I didn’t let rejections influence my determination.

Keep writing. We submitted my book in the fall of 2009. By the time it went to pub board almost a year later, I’d written two more novels. My editor was able to bring not one, but three books to pub board. She was able to show the committee that I wouldn’t be a one-book wonder. She was able to show them that I know how to write novels.

Surround yourself with supportive people. This business is hard. You meet a lot of people who don’t get it. A lot of people who get it, but don’t like your work. Having some encouragers in your corner is vital. I am blessed with three amazing friends who are my biggest fans (hi Erin, Susan, and Melissa!) These girls believed in me when I couldn’t and spurred me on with their encouragement.

Keep a journal. All those times I wanted to rant and rail against the publishing industry? I did it in my journal. My safe, private journal. Ranting online would not have helped my cause.

Go to writing conferences. Not for learning, because you can save yourself a ton of money and get the bulk of that from books and blogs. But go for networking. Go when your writing is ready. I got face-to-face time with my editor and agent at the 2009 ACFW conference and landed my agent two months later. I got more face-to-face time with the same editor at the 2010 ACFW conference and landed a book contract two months later. I can say with complete confidence that I would not be where I’m at today if I wouldn’t have gone.

Hold out for a reputable agent. I know this is a hard one to control—especially when you just want an agent already. But I’ve heard it said a bad agent is worse than no agent, and I believe this 100%. Rachelle is well-respected within the industry and she goes to bat for her clients. Without her determination and follow-through, I wouldn’t have Waterbrook Multnomah as my publisher.

Of course, there’s a caveat. A big BUT at the end of this list. Something I think is important to understand.

You can do every single one of these things, and still find yourself waiting, because so much of it is out of your control.

You might be an amazing writer – but the agent you want has a full roster, or too many clients who write books similar to yours. You might have an awesome agent and solid work to submit – but your genre just isn’t selling right now.

So much of this comes down to….timing. Everything lining up just so. Some luck. And God. I like to think God.

Here’s the good news: If you’ve got the talent, the passion, and the right attitude, your time will come. Work hard. Persevere. Keep writing. Believe in yourself.

Let’s Talk: Do you have anything else to add to the list? Are there any you disagree with? Any you struggle with? What has helped you the most on your journey?

removetweetmeme

Finding Peace

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Everybody wants it, right? I mean, really, have you ever met a person who’s said, “No thank you. I don’t want peace. Give me frustration and worry and agitation, please.”

Of course not. That’s ludicrous. We all would like peace. So how does one get it? Especially a writer seeking publication?

I think, in order to get it, we have to start with reality.

Here’s my reality.

Here’s me.

I’ve been agented for over a year now, and I can easily remember what it felt like before. What it felt like to put so much energy and hope into getting an agent. What it felt like to read about other writers getting agents. Experiencing the joy with them, but also a pang of sadness that it wasn’t me. I remember what it felt like to dream about getting that call–receiving that validation–that yes, I’m good enough for representation. That’s what I wanted to happen and man, once that happened, I’d be happy. I’d be at peace.

Well. I did get that call. I got that validation. It was a super exciting night. But then I woke up in the morning, and you know what? Life was still life. I was the same me. I still had doubts and insecurities and all that energy I spent dreaming about an agent, worrying that I’d never get the call….it didn’t go away. It just morphed into something different. It wasn’t, “What if I never get an agent” anymore, it was now, “What if a publishing house never offers me a contract? What if my agent realizes she made a mistake, that I can’t really write, and she drops me?” I started thinking that if I could just get a contract, then I’d be at peace. I’d feel secure and my dreams would finally come true.

Okay. So imagine this.

You get a publishing contract. You celebrate and rejoice. You jump up and down. You freak out with your writing friends and cry and laugh and do a couple back flips.

But then what?

Are you done dreaming? Are you going to stop wishing? Will you stop wanting more? All that energy you spent on finding a publishing house – do you think it’s just going to go away?

I have a strong inkling it doesn’t. I have a strong feeling it morphs into something else. A whole new set of worries. Like, what if I can’t write anymore stories? What if something goes wrong and my contract never comes in the mail? What if I don’t earn out my advance? What if I get horrible reviews? What if nobody buys my book and I can’t get anymore deals? I have a strong feeling that a person with a publishing contract still struggles with jealousy.

Do you see the pattern?

There’s always going to be another hill to climb. Another prize to chase after. Another dream to dream. The worry and unrest and insecurity aren’t going to magically disappear once we reach a certain wrung on the ladder of publication.

This is reality. At least it’s mine.

No matter where you are, there’s always going to be a bigger dream that stirs up just as much worry and anticipation as the previous one. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that once I just get to this point….

So how do we find peace?

Here are four things I think might help:

  • Repeat after me: Circumstances don’t bring peace. At least not the lasting kind. If we’re depending on circumstances, then we’re standing on very wobbly ground. Things change. Life is filled with seasons. If we want peace, we need to look up, not out.
  • Examine the source of your identity and worth. If my worth is wrapped up in the industry, then I’m never going to find the peace I’m looking for. No matter how high on that ladder I climb, peace will always be one wrung ahead. And when I finally do get to the next one, I’ll be left standing there, scratching my head, wondering, “What in the heck happened? I thought I’d be happy by now.”
  • Accept that our journeys were never meant to be compared. The journey I’m on isn’t supposed to be the one you’re on. My journey looks different because God created me different. He has different lessons for me to learn. And just because my journey moves slower than Author A’s or faster than Author B’s, doesn’t mean I’m any less favored or loved by God.
  • Realize that God doesn’t care about the publishing contract. He doesn’t even really care about the books. At least not as much as He cares about YOU. He hasn’t called me, or you, on this journey for the sake of book sales and good reviews. He hasn’t called us on this journey to give us everything we want exactly when we want it. He’s called us on this journey to grow our character. To teach us what it means to stay on our knees. To experience the wonder of creating. To surrender. To wait, because wow, do we ever wait. And to trust. To trust that maybe our definition of success, and the world’s definition of success, has nothing to do with His.

I hope you found some of these tips helpful. Wherever you are on the ladder this new year, may peace overflow in your life.

Let’s Talk: Do you ever think a change of circumstances will bring you peace or happiness? Do you ever think that once you reach a certain point, the insecurities and uncertainties will go away? What do you think is God’s definition of success?

removetweetmeme

Un-Rut Yourself

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Ever been in a rut?

I have. Especially lately. Not a writing rut, but a why-do-I-have-to-spend-eight-hours-of-my-day-at-work rut. There are a million things I’d rather do. Like spend time with my son. Stay on top of the laundry. Exercise. Get involved with women’s ministry at our church. And of course, write.

The clock gets closer and closer to 6:15 am and I know I have to save the work on my computer and get into the shower and everything in me shouts, “I don’t wanna!”

Life goes so darn quickly and the busier we are, the quicker it goes. Sometimes I just want to shout, “Time out!” Zack Morris style (you Saved by the Bell fans know what I’m talking about). Spending a third of my day at work, then trying to cram all the other stuff in when I get home….it gets to me. Leaves me feeling a little blue.

Here’s the thing. I’m not quitting. At least not anytime soon. This is my reality right now. I’m a full-time teacher, mother, and writer. Trying to fit it all in. My passion (writing) has to get shoved to the side sometimes.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person in this particular boat. I’m pretty sure most people wish they had more time to do what they love and could spend less time on the things they don’t.

So what do we do? How do we get ourselves out of those ruts?

  • Stop telling ourselves the grass is greener on the other side. Whether we work full-time, or have a passel of kids running around our feet all day, there’s always going to be something we have to do that we aren’t particularly thrilled about. Something that cuts into our writing time. Just yesterday, my pastor said, “Stop wishing for a different life, and live the one you have for Him.” It was like God decided to speak to me.
  • Find a new perspective. When I’m in a rut, I tend to look at everything through glass-half-empty lenses. If I force myself to step back and look at things a little differently, that unmotivated feeling in my chest starts to shrivel. I mean, I have a job, one I actually enjoy. I have insurance because of that job. Our budget has room to breathe. My writing is independent of our finances and there’s so much freedom in that. Any money I make is a bonus, something we can save, or give, or use to further my writing career.
  • Consider the perks. There are always perks. Because hubby and I both work full-time, we share the responsibility of housework. If I’m honest, he probably does more than me. I mean, I rarely have to do laundry or go grocery shopping. I’m sure a lot of women would love to be in that situation!
  • No matter how bad the rut, in the words of my mother, don’t wish your life away. Like I said earlier, life goes way too fast and man, I don’t want to be sixty-five and retired, regretting that I spent my younger years wishing for something different. I want to live present in each moment. With purpose and joy and thanksgiving.
  • Look at other factors – what’s the root of the rut? Have I been eating healthy? Exercising? Spending time with God? Have I been a good steward with the time I do have to write? A lot of times, when I examine these other factors, I find that there are things I can change, things I can do differently to get myself back on track motivationally.

So there you go. Those are some of the things I do when I find myself wishing for different circumstances. Most of the time they work. But sometimes, I just have to pray and let things run their course. We all go through seasons. Sometimes, I just have to remind myself that, “This too, shall pass.”

Question to Ponder: Are there things you have to do that you wish you didn’t have to do? How do you battle the unmotivation? What tips do you have when it comes to battling ruts?removetweetmeme