First Draft Friday #66: Brainstorm to Book: Steps to Publishing
TLDRIn this First Draft podcast episode, host Alexandre interviews author Kathleen Fine about her journey to publishing her debut novel, 'Girl on Trial'. Kathleen shares her experiences with writing, editing, seeking professional feedback, and querying agents. She emphasizes the importance of persistence, learning from rejections, and using tools like Scrier for organization. Her advice for aspiring authors includes starting with a realistic word count, setting daily writing goals, and being open to edits and improvements. Kathleen's story is an inspiring example of how dedication and a willingness to learn can lead to success in the publishing world.
Takeaways
- 📝 Kathleen Fine's debut novel 'Girl on Trial' will be published by CamCat Books in October.
- 🎓 Kathleen has a background in Reading Education and Elementary Education, which influenced her writing.
- ✍️ Kathleen started with short stories before transitioning to her first novel, which took her three years to write.
- 📚 She used Microsoft Word for her first novel but switched to Scrivener for her second, finding it more organized and user-friendly.
- 📈 Kathleen set a word count goal for her second novel using Scrivener's project target feature, inspired by National Novel Writing Month.
- 📅 She faced challenges with pacing and word count, ultimately settling on a range of 80,000 to 90,000 words for 'Girl on Trial'.
- 🔍 Kathleen sought feedback from beta readers and a professional editor before querying agents, using Author's AI tool for her second novel.
- 📋 She created a spreadsheet to organize her agent queries, ensuring she didn't forget who she had contacted and their responses.
- 📩 Kathleen queried over 50 agents, using rejections as opportunities to improve her manuscript.
- 📖 She secured a publishing deal with CamCat Books before finding an agent, who then expressed interest in representing her.
- 📖 Kathleen is currently on the third round of edits with her agent for her second novel, 'The Chest Recip'.
Q & A
What is the main topic of discussion in this episode of First Draft?
-The main topic is about the steps to publishing a debut book, the process of getting a traditional publisher, and tips and advice for navigating the publishing path.
How many short stories has Kathleen Fine written and published?
-Kathleen Fine has written almost 40 short stories, which have been published in various places like IRA magazine, Pen in Hand, and Maryland Writers Association Anthology.
What is the name of Kathleen Fine's debut novel and when is it being published?
-Kathleen Fine's debut novel is called 'Girl on Trial' and it is set to be published in October of the year mentioned in the transcript.
What writing tool did Kathleen switch to for her second novel and why?
-Kathleen switched to Scrivener for her second novel because it's more organized and easier to manage multiple timelines and narrators compared to Microsoft Word.
How did Kathleen handle writer's block while writing her first novel?
-Kathleen would write a placeholder scene or summary of what should happen and then move on to the next chapter or scene, allowing her to continue writing without getting stuck.
What is National Novel Writing Month and how did it help Kathleen with her second novel?
-National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an event where participants aim to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Kathleen used this challenge to give her the initiative to finish her second novel.
What genre does 'Girl on Trial' fall under and how did Kathleen determine the word count for her novel?
-'Girl on Trial' is a young adult contemporary crime mystery. Kathleen determined the word count by researching industry standards for her genre and using the Scrivener tool to set project goals.
How did Kathleen find beta readers for her first novel?
-Kathleen found beta readers by joining various social media writer groups and mom writer groups where she could send her manuscript for feedback.
What was Kathleen's process for finding a professional editor for her novel?
-Kathleen used the website rey.com, which is like an Angie's List for book professionals, to find a developmental editor who had previously edited books she admired.
How many agents did Kathleen query and what was her strategy for handling rejections?
-Kathleen queried over 50 agents. She used each rejection as a tool to improve her manuscript, making changes based on the feedback she received.
How did Kathleen eventually secure both an agent and a publishing deal?
-After multiple revisions and rejections, Kathleen secured a publishing deal with CamCat Books first, and then received interest from an agent the next day.
Outlines
📚 Introduction to the Publishing Journey
The host, Alexandre, introduces the podcast episode and the guest, author Kathleen Fine. They discuss the process of publishing a debut book, navigating the traditional publishing route, and sharing tips and advice for new writers. Kathleen shares her background as an author, her journey from writing short stories to her debut novel, and the challenges she faced as a novice writer.
🖋️ Writing and Editing the First Novel
Kathleen delves into her writing process for her first novel, 'Girl on Trial', including her use of Microsoft Word and the challenges of organizing multiple timelines and characters. She then discusses her switch to Scrivener for her second novel, highlighting its organizational features and how it helped her manage her writing more effectively.
📈 Setting Word Count Goals and Participating in NaNoWriMo
The conversation turns to the importance of setting word count goals based on genre standards. Kathleen shares her experience with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and how it helped her complete her second novel. She also discusses the use of Scrivener's word count tracking features and the importance of adjusting goals based on progress.
📝 Overcoming Writer's Block and Seeking Feedback
Kathleen talks about her approach to overcoming writer's block by writing placeholder scenes and moving on. She emphasizes the importance of not wasting time and maintaining momentum. The discussion also includes strategies for seeking feedback, such as using beta readers and joining writer groups, and the challenges of finding the right professional editor.
📧 Querying Agents and the Rejection Process
Kathleen shares her experience of querying agents, the importance of researching and selecting the right agents, and the process of organizing queries using a spreadsheet. She discusses the rejections she received and how she used the feedback to improve her manuscript, eventually leading to a publishing deal.
📖 Getting a Publishing Deal and Future Plans
Kathleen concludes the discussion by sharing how she secured a publishing deal with CamCat Books and the unexpected response from an agent after she had already signed with the publisher. She also talks about her current process with her second novel, working with the same agent, and preparing to shop the manuscript to different publishers.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Publishing
💡Debut Book
💡Traditional Publisher
💡Beta Readers
💡Developmental Editor
💡Querying Agents
💡Rejections
💡Writing Schedule
💡Word Count
💡National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
💡Author's AI
Highlights
Kathleen Fine shares her journey to publishing her debut novel, 'Girl on Trial'.
She discusses the importance of understanding the publishing process and avoiding common mistakes.
Kathleen's transition from writing short stories to her first novel took 15 years of gestation.
She used Microsoft Word for her first novel but switched to Scrivener for its organizational features.
Kathleen emphasizes the value of beta readers and professional editors in the editing process.
She advises authors to set word count goals and use tools like Scriver's project targets.
Kathleen's first novel, 'Girl on Trial', is a young adult contemporary crime mystery.
She initially struggled with finding the right word count for her novel.
Kathleen's second novel is a women's fiction suspense thriller, targeting an older demographic.
She shares her experience of querying agents and the importance of persistence and learning from rejections.
Kathleen received her publishing deal before securing an agent, which is an unconventional path.
She advises authors to use rejections as opportunities for improvement and to be open to editing.
Kathleen's debut novel, 'Girl on Trial', is set for release in October as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.
She discusses the challenges of finding a developmental editor and the importance of starting the search early.
Kathleen's experience with National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) helped her complete her second novel.
She shares tips on how to handle writer's block by writing placeholder scenes and moving forward.
Kathleen's advice for new writers includes using tools like Author's AI to analyze repetitive phrases and dialogue.
She emphasizes the importance of having a support system and community of writers during the publishing journey.