What is the best piece of publishing advice you’ve ever received?

Ellen blogged about NY published authors who still publish with small press and listed me as one of the examples.

From the very beginning I pursued small press because I wasn’t writing traditional romance and I didn’t want to wait forever to get my work out there. In the end, it was a twist of fate that garnered me a NY contract first. Funny thing is, although NY was first, it’s looking like that book will hit the public last.

Small press and e-pubs are generally faster, though I have to admit that one e-publisher I’ve been dealing with is going on a year now just with the submission/contract stage. Who knows how long the process will take once we get to the editing/cover art part of it? However, the editor I have makes the wait worthwhile. Usually though, the length of time from story completion to print is much shorter than NY. Also, because there is less overhead for smaller presses, they’re more willing to take chances on stories that are outside the norm. When I’m asked to blurb SAPPHIRE, it’s torture. There is just so much going on and it’s so very different. I can’t fit it all in and have it make sense. I knew from conception that it would be a hard story to sell unless I deliberately targeted it for a small press publisher.

It’s easy sometimes to get caught in the negative currents of life. The undertow can suck you right out to sea if you’re not paying attention.

But lately I’ve been struck by how lucky I am. Struggling to become a published writer is like many things you do for yourself–it can be grueling and lonely. So when someone who has absolutely nothing to gain helps you along the way, it’s a real treasure.

I can honestly say that if it were not for those helping hands, I’d never have made it this far. Some of them I can put a name or a face to, some I can’t. Who are they? The women of my chapter who’ve applauded my every advance, no matter how small. The contest judges who’ve clearly spent hours pouring over my entries, marking up my pages with examples and writing reams of comments (both good and not so good). Those people who’ve taken late night pathetic emails from me and responded with “of course you’ll get published, I can’t believe you’re not already”. Wonderful people who’ve reached out and invited me to join a new loop. Writers willing to give their time and energy to teach a workshop, or critique a synopsis or just share their experiences. Critique partners that have squeezed reading hundreds of pages of my writing in between the things that are really important in their lives. People who’ve blogged or emailed about painful mistakes or challenges they’ve faced, so I could learn. The on-line buddy who started it all with a simple “I hope this won’t be the last time I talk with you”.

These same people help others as often and as unstintingly as they’ve helped me, and were it not for them, the world would be a much colder, harsher place. Thanks to all the generous people out there. For whomever you’ve helped along the way.

I’ve noticed that there are a lot of newbie authors building their presence on the web and I’m wondering which new to the world authors are you anxiously awaiting? How about aspiring authors? Which ones are you hoping will be published soon so you can read their stuff? And finally, what books are you looking forward to from any author, established or not?

I want to read Hot Spell with Emma Holly/Shiloh Walker/Meljean Brook/Lora Leigh, Chocolate Kisses with Renee Luke, et al and Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray for sure. And Twice Upon a Roadtrip by Shannon Stacey. There’s more, I know. I just can’t think of them now, but I’ll keep adding as they come to mind. Chances are if you visit my blog, I’ll be buying your book.

I’ll be chatting tonight with the other Red Sage authors at Writerspace. I’d love to see some of you there.

Come join the Red Sage authors as we discuss our books, writing and any other interesting topics that cross our collective minds. This chat is always a lot of fun!

9-10PM EST

http://www.writerspace.com/chat/readers

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From Buzz, Balls, and Hype–Adam Ash asks:

I recommend blogging to all writers. It disciplines you to write on the fly, like a journalist. Only one caveat: I haven’t started my next novel yet. Does blogging replace the novel-writing impulse? There’s some irony here, since I started blogging to promote my novel-writing. If I’m still blogging 6 months from now and I haven’t started a new novel, I will face a big choice. Who am I — a blogger or a novelist?

What do you think about that?

The schedule of events for the Romance Writers of America National Convention is up.

http://www.rwanational.org/pdfs/2005ConfSupp.pdf

They’ll be holding another PRO Retreat so for those of you planning to attend who are eligible and haven’t yet applied, you should. Get the most out of the experience by having all of your options open to you.