Christine Kohler

Oct 16, 2017 5:16 AM EDT

Oh, Christine. We are SO in the same boat. I have pitched and pitched until my shoulder is as sore as major league pitcher throwing a shut out. Unlike you, I have never gotten close to "getting hitched" to an agent. I have been recommended to friends' agents, I've had agents ask for my work. The response has been "you're not commercial enough" and ....nothing. One was a big name from a big agency who urged me to Fed Ex my novel "overnight" costing me big bucks. Nothing. Not even an email saying she received it. I have sold 11 books on my own, some to houses that are "closed". (This is the point where I say that belonging to SCBWI can be helpful in getting read in closed places...but no guarantee.) I am the one who constantly says that getting an agent is like getting married...you don't hook up with the first person who asks. Your post has made me see that yes, getting an agent IS like getting married...and in today's world, where the term "starter marriage" implies that "till death do us part" has an escape clause..."married" doesn't mean any more than what BOTH parties invest. Yes, it's a business decision, but agents, as you have said, seem to invest the least amount of work possible for the greatest possible gain (for them). If you aren't a white-phenom before your agent signs you, your agent is most likely not going to make you one. Me...at this point, all I want is someone who can negotiate contracts so that I am not getting screwed. Gee...do you think you hit a nerve?

- Mary Ann Rodman

Oct 16, 2017 6:28 AM EDT

Thanks for being candid, Mary Ann. Btw, I'm a YANKEE GIRL fangirl! Yes, needing agents to open doors and negotiate are at the top of my list these days.

- Christine Kohler

Oct 17, 2017 7:36 PM EDT

I presented to a group of writers today about the good, the bad, and the ugly in publishing, and agents came up as a popular question. Like you, I have published without one, but I believe my book would be further along with an agent having my back.

- Laura Moe

Oct 17, 2017 8:05 PM EDT

I wish I could have come to your talk today, Laura. It's nice to have a discussion with writers in such an intimate, private setting.

Your comment made me think about what the take-away could be from my article--and your and Mary Ann's astute comments. Especially if we were having this conversation with pre-published writers. I guess it would be to look for an agent, but don't give up if it doesn't happen. A lot of writers publish with traditional publishers without agents. The three of us are examples. You can still have a writing career without an agent.

For me, the goal has always been to take a step up. To step up my craft. To step up my abilities and discipline. To step up the quality of my writing and stories. And, to step up the ladder of publishers. I'm a big believer, though, that in goal-setting, I can only be responsible for what is within my power. I can set goals to write, to study, to query, to submit. But I have no power over being selected, either me or my work. I guess that would be the take-away.

- Christine Kohler

Jul 02, 2017 2:30 PM EDT

This is a great article. Thanks for sharing your strategies.

- Becky

Jul 02, 2017 2:53 PM EDT

Thank you, Becky! If you have any other strategies, be sure to share.

- Christine Kohler

May 13, 2017 3:29 PM EDT

Wonderful post! In this day and age of "fake news" and lies, one appreciates truth. This made NO SURRENDER SOLDIER even better. I truly think it should be required reading in schools. Wonderful story. I think teens appreciate honesty even more, as they seem to be fed a daily diet of deceit. One teen recently told me "you have no idea how hard school is these days." Truthfully, I wouldn't know, as I graduated 45 years ago. I have an inkling, though, when I see what the world is coming to.

- Kathy

May 13, 2017 4:24 PM EDT

Thank you, Kathy, for your honesty! :-) I hadn't even thought of "fake news" when I wrote this post, although it is a topic in a new YA novel I've been writing. But, you are absolutely correct. It must be more confusing and frustrating for young people as they try to make sense of black and white and 50 shades of gray (or more). The last thing we want is for young people to buy into the rationalizations, justifying "white" lies and shades of gray. Adults on all levels of society are not setting good examples by spewing, spreading, condoning fake news. Those of us who are in role model positions need to be honest, forthright, and truthful. If not, young people will be justified in calling as liars, cheats, and hypocrites. Thank you for posting and bringing up this timely topic of fake news vs. truth-telling.

- Christine Kohler

Jan 31, 2017 10:14 AM EST

A lot of good comments for those of us planning to use some of our family's history in fiction. You are telling us to do the hard thing--impersonalize it and make it a fiction story. I particularly like your suggestion to write a true non-fiction family history FIRST, to get it out of your system and so other family members who don't have access to that trunk can share in their ancestors' history. Thanks for the post.

- Robyn Echols

Jan 31, 2017 10:14 AM EST

Excellent. I wish I would have had this info when I decided to make my family's story into a novel. Fortunately I did at least some of what you mention here. I first wrote a family history, then started making it into a novel. Eventually the characters based on the real people took on lives of their own. I am still amazed at the great plot line that the real story provided. I only had to ramp up the conflict a bit and embellish the scenes, because the real life story was so dramatic and I had so many amazing anecdotes to work with.

- www.roseseilerscott.com

Jan 31, 2017 11:41 AM EST

Robyn, I agree this is excellent advice to write the true life story first. I wonder if it might also free up writers who have trouble letting go of what really happened to write what needs to happen to form a novel ARC. It might also help some writers let go of the tedious details and anecdotes that don't add to scenes and sequence. Thanks for commenting! I'll draw a name at the end of the week to win a copy of the novel!

btw, if you want to sign up for my blog articles, mostly on writing craft, you can do so under the Blogletter tab. Thanks!

- Christine Kohler

Jan 31, 2017 11:45 AM EST

Rose, isn't that so true! Real life is more fascinating than what our imaginations can create. It's why I believe that nonfiction research is the bedrock of fiction. (I have an article about that on my blog. It's easier to find the articles by title on the Blogletter tab.)

Your name is thrown into the drawing now. At the end of the week I'll announce who wins a copy of the novel!

btw, if you want to sign up for my blog articles, mostly on writing craft, you can do so under the Blogletter tab. Thanks!

- Christine Kohler

Sep 01, 2016 8:26 PM EDT

Christine - The school was lucky to have such a tenacious author who persevered throughout this process! Thanks for the great tips for those who want to do virtual presentations. For so many secondary schools, this is the only way they can schedule an author visit.

- Alexis O'Neill

Sep 02, 2016 6:14 AM EDT

Thank you, Alexis, for the kind words. As you know, I used to be a middle grade and high school teacher, so it was important for me to do this visit with the teens. And after all the techo-failures and problem-solving, I felt compelled to write this try-try-and-try-again process up for others who will be using Skype.

- Christine Kohler

Aug 23, 2016 7:44 AM EDT

Hi Christine. Thanks for posting this. I hope it is helpful.

- C. Lee McKenzie

Aug 23, 2016 7:58 AM EDT

Thank you, Lee, for writing this helpful article on Goodreads! I, for one, have not been good about understanding how to use Goodreads to its fullest. I review, mark books to read, participate in the lists, but beyond that I haven't made many author-to-reader connections.

I know of many authors who shy away from Goodreads because of either some scathing reviews--some with baseless personal attacks against the author--or because they've been warned by other authors. (In my own case, reviewers have been very kind and generous in ratings and reviews. But I wouldn't engage with reviewers if they did give me a bad review.)

Anyway, I said all that to say that I was so impressed with how you engaged a community of readers on Goodreads. That's why I asked you to write this insightful article.

- Christine Kohler

Aug 25, 2016 4:32 AM EDT

Great post, Lee! I didn't know you could use html in the author bio. Thanks for sharing, Christine.

- Yvonne Ventresca

Sep 28, 2016 12:56 PM EDT

I'm going to link to the article in my next Email Connect that comes out at the end of Sept, Yikes! This week! And I'm adding a couple of ideas that I've recently tried.

- C. Lee McKenzie

Sep 28, 2016 5:15 PM EDT

Great idea Lee! Let me know the link and I'll post it as an update.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 02, 2017 1:43 AM EST

Thank you for the great advice! I'm just going begin a write their own blog about books that I read. I want to share my thoughts on the subject with others. Also, it is interesting to read what others think about this. Now I collect information on how to start writing a blog. I watch a many different online resources including sites with assistance in writing resumes (like a http://ratedwriting.com/). There I corresponded with the manager on staff, leading his own blog. I will seek more information on how to start writing a blog.

- Joanna Taylor

Mar 02, 2017 3:58 AM EST

Joanna, thank you for commenting. It sounds as if you are going to start a book review blog, telling what you thought of the book you read. Many of these blogs also feature different authors. I have been very appreciative of bloggers who reviewed my books and/or interviewed me. It's a great way for readers to discover new books.

My best advice is to read these type of book review blogs, and model yours after the best. Plus, make your blog be distinctive to stand out among the rest. You are smart in looking at Goodreads for review blogs. I've noticed the review bloggers have goals of how many books they read per year. Some have categories they aim for as a challenge for specific years. I'm not sure if Goodreads sets those challenges or where they come from, though. For example, the year NO SURRENDER SOLDIER came out, reviewers of historical novels needed to read so many books that year set during wartime. The reviewers who specialized in war literature kept recommending my book because they called it "history with a twist" and it covered two wars at once, which meant they got double credit for reading my one short book.

Since you are a voracious reader, becoming a reviewer will also give you the opportunity to get free Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) before the book is released. Subscribe to Netgalley, a legitimate service where publishers offer the ARCs free to reviewers. (Be careful of downloading from pirates, which is illegal and can give your computer viruses.)

I wish you the best of luck on your blog! And please be kind to us authors. :-)

- Christine Kohler