Welcome to The Book Doctor Is In -- a unique community where published and aspiring writers can get the advice they need to take their books from conception to completion.
But first, let me tell you a bit about me, and how I gained the experience I need to hand out that advice.
My name is Sandi Gelles-Cole. In the course of my career, I have acquired, edited and collaborated on many best-selling books in hardcover, mass market and trade paperback.
I have worked in book publishing as a corporate acquisitions editor for such companies as Dutton/NAL and Dell/Delacorte and Dell Trade Paperback(part of the Random House Group), where I acquired and edited major properties, including ten of Danielle Steel’s phenomenally successful titles. The list of books I have edited includes many classic titles such as Games Mother Never Taught You by Betty Lehan Harragan, which has celebrated its twenty-fifth year in print.
My editorial agency was founded in September of 1983. Since then, I have worked with authors and their projects such as Karen Siff Exkorn’s The Autism Sourcebook (Regan Books/Harper Collins); Governor Ann Richards’ I'm Not Slowing Down (Dutton); Christiane Northrup’s Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: The Mind/Body Connection and its Effect on Women's Health Issues (Bantam Books); Letitia Baldrige’s Guide to the New New Manners (Scribner’s); The Gotham Diaries by Tonya Lewis-Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony, and Family Trust by Amanda Brown, author of Legally Blonde.
I have spoken on the subject of authors working with independent editors/ghost writers before such groups as The ‘American society of Journalists and Authors; the Mid-Atlantic Association of American Booksellers; the Oklahoma Writers Federation; The Cape Cod Writers Conference; Avila College; The University of Houston; The Florida Writers Association; Pub Net of the Hudson Valley, and The Arts Center of the Capital Region. I am a charter member of the Consulting Editors Alliance of New York City.
Of course, you can learn a lot more about me at my website, www.literaryenterprises.com -- but you didn't come here to talk about me.
You came here because you want advice from a publishing professional about the issues that are getting in the way as you are writing your book, from plotting to characterization to story structure or even the nitty-gritty of working in the publishing world.
So, please send your question (be as specific as possible) so we can get started, because The Book Doctor Is In.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
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24 comments:
Sandi--I have a very basic question: do editors want to see fiction manuscripts written with one or two spaces after each period and colon? I know writers who swear it's one space and others who use two. Thanks!
Sara
Great! Let's start with the basics. The correct answer is two. Come back any time.
Sandi
I love a straight answer! This is a great service. Thank you.
I'm trying to base my novel on the life of one of my ancestors, but I'm having trouble. Her life was very full and I'm finding it hard to get all the great stories into the book. How can I get it all in?
Thanks!
M.C.
What's the best way to really develop characters in a novel? Should I try to outline all their traits?
Martin,I always suggest the character bible, which might be what you refer to as the character outline. I ask authors to write the character's history all the way back to their grandparents' generation. Somehow this material soaks its way into the character without dumping irrelevant material. It's like you psychoanalyze your character and then you know who they are for real.
For 'anonymous' I answered you somewhere on the blog but I'm new at this, so it went on the wrong page. Basically what I said was you can have many different points of view to fit in your many anecestors.
For 'anonymous' I answered you somewhere on the blog but I'm new at this, so it went on the wrong page. Basically what I said was you can have many different points of view to fit in your many anecestors.
Sandi, do I have to have published articles or written a blog before an agent will take my nonfiction book idea seriously? What does an agent look for beyond my (terrific) descrpition of my book project?
David-two seperate (and good) questions. You do need to be published and/or have another 'platform' to get a literary agent's (and therefore a publisher's) attention.
An agent considering a nonfiction project wants a proposal that defines the concept and breaks it into chapters, nails the market, explains why you are the best author for it, covers competition and the market for the book. There are some good books available on how to write a book proposal.
Hi Sandi, and thanks for taking my question. I think I have a great idea for a book, but I don't have the track record to attract an agent. Help! Catch 22! How do I find the right agent and get them interested?
J.P.
JP: This raises the entire issue of 'platform.' I am assuming you are talking about NF. These days the publisher wants you to bring along your own group of book buyers. Some authors get themselves published in op-ed pieces; magazine articles; get pieces on the proposed subjet published; start blogs; network radio shows etc. Build a fanclub for yourself, people who will buy your book. A great example is Connie Bennet's SUGAR SHOCK Go to her site. She built up an incredible network on her own.
I'm trying to write about a real life experience, but don't know whether my book should be a memoir or if I should just use my personal story as the basis of a novel. How do I decide which way to go? What factors shuold I consider?
Thanks,
Pam
Pam, memoir or fiction, which way to go? I think that's a more complicated question then people make it. The basic question is are you nervous about people in your life being litigious? The editorial question is which way tells the story best? As a prism through which to view a portion of your life or as a work of fiction with everything, all the details recreated, your life enlarged. My opinion, there's no point in writing a novel about your life if you are only going to remove it one step from reality. In the case, write it as a memoir and make sure you are clear for publisher and reader that it is your version of the truth. Then write the truth, not purposely manufacturing impossible stories as James Frey did.
Sandi,
When you have a stack of submissions in front of you as an editor, what makes you select one manuscript over the other?
The goal for my nonfiction book is to get publicity to drive my speaking business in part through book reviews.
Another goal is to sell to libraries.
How important is having a library of Congress number and cataloguing data?
Chris-ah, the magic-that's what you're asking about. I once heard a famous editor answer this by saying when a box with a manuscript inside came to his desk he felt each time that there might be a treasure inside. I decided early on that when that feeling left I would quit the business. However, it is not so simple anymore. For an agent, before your material comes in, they have seen a query letter and probably sample chapters; an acquiring editor has heard from an agent what the idea is and information about you as a writer; as for the book doctor, my job is to add in the magic if the writing is there but there are aspects missing, I can help you add some stuff to it to make it a top of the pile submission. But these days no pile of manuscripts is sitting in an office without an agent or an editor knowing what basically is inside. They did have to use their instincts to know which one of those submissions to ask for based on samples--and that is where the unknow magic comes in, the instinct that makes it all so much fun. The answer is, no one knows which editor or agent is going to fall for that one submission. That's why you keep going.
Anonymous-libraries will want you to be registered with Library of Congress. They will want the data for their cataloques. I suggest you go to Library of Congress site and register on line.
Sandi:
What is your opinion of the numerous Print-On-Demand publishers out there? Which ones are the best--Or are they all just elaborate scams?
Thanks,
J.B.
Regarding POD-Keep in mind, my expertise is editorial. Anything I advise with accuracy stops there. That said, I have a personal bias against POD. Seems a waste of money. Might as well just put the book up online. Agents and publishers are searching all the time on line for material.
Sandi, I'm attempting to write a fiction (YA) novel. Now, should I try to have something like a short story published before I submit to a literary agent? What is the best way to get an agent's attention?
Dear anonymous,
I don't think it helps to publish other material first as it might for adult fiction. When you are ready, find agents who specialize in the market and go about querying them. Amy Berkower at Writer's House is probably the best in book publishing.
Sandi, Thank you for being so kind.
I have been a ghost writer for close to thirty years. At 60, I now want to write my own stuff!
But, as is apparent. I have no connection to someone who can make a decision at a reputable house.
I am of the Putnam heritage and have been encouraged to make some connections in regard to a series of 5 books in the works. The treatment is finished and has created quite a stir among those who have heard the first three or four chapters read.
Would you recommend someone who has the ability to not only bring the book to the marketplace, but negotiate the movie deals as well?
If not, I understand. You have no idea if I can write or not.
Let me know. I will provide a chapter and you can decide.
Thank you for your time.
Miron Putnam
To the Ghost Writer Anonymous
You have to bring an agent in at this point. If the books you have ghosted have immpressive track records this should be a fairly easy task. Send out multiple query letters describing the series and let all the agents know that you are querying more than one agent. Don't worry about movie deals. That is the agents' problem.
Good luck and thanks for checking in.
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