,
62 tweets,
16 min read
Read on Twitter
I don’t know who needs to hear this right now but:
-publishers don’t expect writers to take the first amount they offer on a book
-editors don’t expect an author to take all their edits just like that with no pushback at all.
Fight for what you believe in, including your worth.
-publishers don’t expect writers to take the first amount they offer on a book
-editors don’t expect an author to take all their edits just like that with no pushback at all.
Fight for what you believe in, including your worth.
(Not good ones anyway)
Caveat to that first one: it doesn’t make lowballing okay. The initial offer does set some sense of parameters and if it’s way lower than it should be and you are able to go wide, go wide.*
*in my humble opinion, consult an actual agent, circumstances assorted legalize etc etc
*in my humble opinion, consult an actual agent, circumstances assorted legalize etc etc
You ever go with someone to a market where haggling is expected and they ask the price on like a dish towel or something and the seller is like “four hundred dollars!” And the persons like “sold!” And everyone else is like
The publisher is the seller and you are the person and your book is the dish towel. And the high price is instead really low and you’re the one getting the mo...whatever you get the point. Don’t be that person.
Also, ask your agent to get some language about cover approval in that contract. You’re the one who has to walk around with that shit everywhere you go, not your editor or agent or the pub execs.
The editing process is a conversation. It’s collaborative. You know your book better than anyone else, which is why you need outside eyes on it and also why you get final say. It’s your name on the book.
More specifically, kill on that hill. Kill the bad cover.
Seriously tho knowing which publishing hills to die, kill, or just keep it moving on is one of the hardest parts of being a writer. In part because it's so personal, so there's no one way. And you can't really game out consequences of reactions. You gotta do you.
We tell so many stories on the page but the greatest one of all is always our own journey through this vast and complicated gauntlet that is being a writer in the world.
That is corny and I stand by every word of it. This shit is epic.
Thanks! And yes, titles are something I'd fight over. I also wouldn't advise having one and being stuck to it. If yours doesn't work for them, it should be a collaborative process to find one you and publishers agree on.
But no one should be forcing you to do anything in the publishing process. There is negotiation and it can get intense but again, it's your name on the book. A good agent will also help with this. @Zulu8Davis
Caveat to all of this: with Intellectual Properties (playing in other people's worlds) it's a whole other story and you'd do well to go in without too many expectations about control over things like titles and covers
I have fought over covers. And I have won. As you can tell from my extensive collection of bomb ass covers 💪🏼
This is a good point which brings up another important tip: check in with people who will tell you when you're wrong. Particularly if you're having a disagreement about something.
It's sort of a given to have beta readers but also you need folks to check in with about publishing shit. Folks who will not yes you to death or gas you up. Honest mothafuckas aka the people who actually care about you. @Karnythia is one of mine and I'm one of hers. Amen
Also true
You may be friends with people who work at the publishing house, like your editor or publicist, but the publishing house is not your friend. It is not your family. It is a business and it will treat you accordingly. Be advised.
Let's see...what else
Use your creativity and imagination when you're plotting out your career not just when you're plotting out your books.
The best writing advice and the best writing career advice are the same: "Caminante, no hay camino,
se hace camino al andar."
Walker, there is no path, you make the path by walking.
From a poem by Antonio Machado zendalibros.com/caminante-no-h…
se hace camino al andar."
Walker, there is no path, you make the path by walking.
From a poem by Antonio Machado zendalibros.com/caminante-no-h…
This is such a tough one bc it's so personal. I've had to learn to break my assumptions of when and where I could write to get things done. But also only experience can teach us our limits and abilities and that's a hard road to travel
To me what makes it particularly tough @jonnysun is publishing is so janky with times, so hurry up and wait, which makes it really hard to plan. Which also means like so many aspects of writing, self forgiveness has to always be the first step
I wrote more about that and not writing every day here, @jonnysun: Writing Begins With Forgiveness
sevenscribes.com/writing-begins…
sevenscribes.com/writing-begins…
Publishing can be very unforgiving sometimes which is why it's especially important that we are forgiving when dealing with ourselves and our process.
Absolutely true. Also know that even if you don’t have it in your contract, many publishers will still consult with you and are eager for your feedback.
Also know that most publishers don’t want that twitter heat for fucking up a cover
Whew man see that’s a whole other aspect of this mess we can’t even get into tonight!
A further thought on the editing process, one that bears repeating within this thread: every story has a secret heart. Edits will either bring you closer to that heart or not. That's how you decide whether to accept them. That's your true north.
Now, that is kinda vague. It has to be. There is no equation. The heart of a story is not a tag line or a synopsis; you can't tie it up with a nice ribbon. That's why it takes you literally the whole book to get to it. It's elusive, that's why it's exciting and worth it.
Orhan Pamuk talks about it, how its pulse gets louder and louder as we careen toward the ending, how it's indecipherable but we can feel it, sense it, in the fabric of each step along the way.
what it means is that to some extent, you have to rely on instinct. And that's hard because you won't always be able to explain your choices, and you have to be ok with that sometimes. It does make it hard to debate tho.
A useful thread from someone who has been on the inside of cover discussions:
Oh hello I have a patreon wherein I talk about writerly things and publishing and smize in videos wepa! patreon.com/danieljose
One thing I hope ppl take from this thread is that they shouldn't assume what the mainstream publishing process is like, neither for better nor worse. It is messy, unpredictable and each journey in it is unique. You don't know what yours will be.
I'm not against Indy or self publishing. I've done both and am really glad I did. What I'm saying is do them because that's what you want to do not because you've made up a story about what mainstream publishing will be like and decided it's fact.
I say this, and am passionate about it, in part because that's how mainstream publishing changes, is by us changing it. And it does change, has changed a lot and has a long way to go. But it doesn't change if we all just assume shit and run with it without trying.
Is that fair? It is not. It shouldn't fall on writers taking risks to change the industry. It often does tho. It was mostly women of color writers who took the risk and made #WeNeedDiverseBooks a movement instead of just a moment.
Which brings us back to the heart of your story. If you know what it is, there's the answer about which Hill blood needs to be spilt on. And beyond that, there's a lot of room to play, to learn, to be in conversation and get somewhere new and great.
With Shadowshaper, I knew the heart was about kids of color being who they were and discovering a brand new magic in the midst of a gentrifying Brooklyn. Knowing that, that that would never change and I wouldnt be criminalizing them or whitewashing them, allowed me room to play
So when I got major and excellent notes on the plot from @NathanBransford aand then @chavelaque, I could take them without worrying about the core integrity of the story
I didn't come into publishing as a known quantity or with a major deal. But publishing has never forced me, through coercion, heavy handedness, manipulation, or passive aggression, to publish anything I wasn't totally comfortable with. That doesn't mean it hasn't or won't happen
It has and it will.
There are as many stories about how stories get told as there are stories to be told.
A legendary editor weighs in 💙
I was gonna wait till we had better pics up but since this thread is making the rounds I might as well announce this now....
Fulfilling a longtime goal of opening up a creative retreat center in the bayou outside New Orleans. We are open to groups and individuals. The views are outrageous. It's called The Launch. Come create great projects on the waters!
thelaunchretreat.net
thelaunchretreat.net
We're working with local New Orleans chefs to have an option of catered food as well. And down the road we'll be setting up workshops and one on ones for craft and publishing advice <3 #TheLaunchRetreat
The Launch is in Slidell, right across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. It's in a quiet and diverse neighborhood, not way out in the woods but very tranquil, and not far from restaurants and grocery stores. And it's RIGHT on the water :-)
We'll have more and better pics up soon, but there's a contact form and a sign up area on the site — feel free to reach out with any questions you have!
I can tell you that having sat on that porch facing the water, I felt this gentle easiness even tho I was answering emails and dealing with random bullshit. It is a good good place to work. #TheLaunch
it is, of course, pet friendly af
The house is raised because it's right by the water, but there is an elevator! #TheLaunchRetreat
There is also a baby grand piano! #TheLaunchRetreat
anyway it's basically the best place in the universe, so come thru! #TheLaunchRetreat
AND OF COURSE THERE IS CENTRAL AC YES #TheLaunchRetreat
Also there is currently no TV at #TheLaunchRetreat but there is... a projector!!
This is the other available bedroom at #TheLaunchRetreat. Both have floor to ceiling windows looking out on the bayou and ensuite bathrooms
Yes! #TheLaunchRetreat isn't fully wheelchair accessible yet but we plan to make way more so. The elevator goes to first floor not second and there are still a few steps to get around. We will update the site with this info
#TheLaunchRetreat is half an hour from the French Quarter 🎺🎼🎸🎹🥁🎶🎵
Okayy update on #TheLaunchRetreat: there's a third full bedroom we're going to open up for group visits and guests with disabilities. It's on the first floor, has a king sized bed and its own full bathroom. Will add that info to the website shortly.
