How much does a publishing contract cost?

So you're a wanna-be bestseller. No big contract. No agent. Only an unpublished manuscript and dream. Publishers won't give you the time of day because you don't have an agent. Agents won't give you the time of day because they are only picking up clients at writers conferences, and even then, only the ones who have done some things and know some people and have a proven track record with a self-published book are making the cut. What things do you need to do? What people do you need to know? Just how much does a publishing contract cost anyway?

Things you need to do yearly:

1. Attend a workshop
2. Attend a conference
3. Join a local writer's group
4. Join a national writer's group
5. Establish a web presence
6. Book promotion

People you need to know (no specific names):

1.  book reviewers
2. librarians
3. writer's group presidents/ vice presidents
4. established authors with agents and contracts
5. mentor authors

Now let's talk numbers:

Average workshop cost $75-200
Average conference cost $300-500
Local writer's group dues $20-100
National writer's group dues $80-400
Website (not optimized) $100-200
Book promotion $500-1,000

Okay, math people - not me, that's what calculators are for - let's see what this all adds up to. If you factor in just 1 workshop and 1 conference per year, joining 1 local and 1 national group per year, and only promoting 1 book per year, you come up with:

$1,075 - $2,400 / year.....just to put yourself out there in hopes of talking to the right person who will lead you to the right event with all the stars aligned in your favor.

Oh, but it gets better. This blog post is full of sunshine, isn't it?

50% of all published authors (non-NY) make an average of only $500/book. Kinda disheartening.

Okay, very disheartening.

But there is light at the end of this dark, depressing tunnel. It will pay off. The system is set up to weed out all but the best writers. The good news is that great writers are making great money. They put themselves out there, got the attention of an agent, landed the big contract, and now they are living the dream. If you believe in your writing and invest in yourself, then it will happen for you eventually.

The best thing you can do is accept that you will have to spend money (or be a very smooth talker) until you land an agent. Getting the agent is essential. Whenever I think about how much money I've spent versus how little money I've earned so far, I remind myself that this is how much an agent costs. And repeat.

Agents are expensive these days. I still don't have one. And I'm still spending more money than I make as a writer. But I have hope. I pray every day, and I know that writing is my calling. God is going to make a way. Hang in there, writer friends.

Beware of those who try to scam writer hopefuls. If there is any 1 specific area I would recommend spending your limited dollars, it would be attending a conference and scheduling time with an agent.

Until then, I'll pray for you and you pray for me. Keep the faith!

In touch with Tamera Alexander

Who is Tamera Alexander? To be frank, she's my #1 competition in the romance market. As in #1 bestselling on Amazon. Not to mention, she holds the title of USA Today Bestselling author.

One day.....

A writer can dream, right?

Let's meet her formally:

"Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books, including A Lasting Impression, A Beauty So Rare, To Whisper Her Name, and From a Distance. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her devoted readers worldwide, as well as multiple industry awards.

These awards include two Christy Awards for Excellence in Christian fiction, two RITA awards for Best Inspirational Romance, three Gayle Wilson Awards of Excellence, two Bookseller’s Best Awards, and being listed among Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction, among others. 

After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville where they enjoy life with their two adult children who live nearby, and Jack, a precious—and precocious—silky terrier."

For more about Tamera, please visit her website at: www.tameraalexander.com

A few things we have in common:

1. We both have Southern roots.
2. We both have two children.
3. We both have a beloved dog named Jack.

 "Bestseller Alexander will delight fans..."
~ Publishers Weekly about A Beauty So Rare 

Blurb:

Eleanor Braddock—plain, practical, no stunning Southern beauty—knows she will never marry. But with a dying soldier’s last whisper, she believes her life can still have meaning and determines to find his widow. Impoverished and struggling to care for her ailing father, Eleanor arrives at Belmont Mansion, home of her aunt, Adelicia Acklen, the richest woman in America—and possibly the most demanding, as well. Adelicia insists on finding her niece a husband, but a simple act of kindness leads Eleanor down a far different path—building a home for destitute widows and fatherless children from the Civil War. While Eleanor knows her own heart, she also knows her aunt will never approve of this endeavor. 

 

Archduke Marcus Gottfried has come to Nashville from Austria in search of a life he determines, instead of one determined for him. Hiding his royal heritage, Marcus longs to combine his passion for nature with his expertise in architecture, but his plans to incorporate natural beauty into the design of the widows’ and children’s home run contrary to Eleanor’s wishes. As work on the home draws them closer together, Marcus and Eleanor find common ground—and a love neither of them expects.

But Marcus is not the man Adelicia has chosen for Eleanor, and even if he were, someone who knows his secrets is about to reveal them all.

Buy the Book: Amazon

For a few, precious hours my novel, HOLDEN, ranked higher than hers on Amazon. Still, I'm pleased to be holdin' in there 15 slots away at #16.

Book Royalty

New York has long been considered capital of the literary world, but one of the greatest book influencers of all-time comes from the small, Texas town of Hawkins, catapulting unknown authors to bestseller stardom and leaving quite a windblown wake from all the pages turning so fast.

Sure, it helps a writer's career to be preceded by fame and have some nice connections, but there are also the stories of regular joes who made it to the big time on a twist of fate - writers like Amanda Hocking and John Locke of the eBook platform and mothers, J. K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer. My favorite is Colleen Hoover, a single mom and social worker from East Texas, who became an eBook millionaire in just a few months.

All of these prolific authors relied on reviews and word-of-mouth to send their sales soaring. The same remains true for all writers. It's the bread and butter of the industry. Every time my novels hit #1 on Amazon in category, it's been the direct result of a feature of ENT (eReading News Today). I'd like to talk about a book reviewer and influencer of epic proportions, a woman so important in the book world she's been featured on Oprah.

Kathy L. Murphy owns Beauty and the Book in Hawkins, Texas and founded the Pulpwood Queens Book Club in 2000. Since then, she's made history over and over again. Oprah, Diana Sawyer, and Good Morning America are just a few of the many heavy hitters who have covered the world's first and only beauty salon/ book store. Media darling, Kathy, launched her book club - Pulpwood Queens - from her salon, which now boasts 550+ chapters around the WORLD! Their mission is to "promote authors, books, literacy, and reading all while having some BIG TIME FUN!" 

Whatever she does, she does it big. Big book signings, big literacy events, big hair! Okay, I added that last one. Her influence and the club's popularity launch writers careers. She showcases writers and treats them like royalty. I haven't had the pleasure of getting picked up by Kathy and her crew yet, but a writer can always dream. In the meantime, I'm just grateful that there are people like Kathy in this world who are so willing to help little-known writers like me. 

I salute you, Kathy, and all the Pulpwood Queens and other influencers who pick the jewels from piles of rocks and put them on display for all to see. It's no wonder your tiaras are so stunningly adorned!

50 Shades of White

50 Shades of White

What I love most about the inspirational market

Prism Book Group

The inspirational romance market is one of the fastest growing in the entire industry. For me, it's easy to see why. Christians are always looking for entertainment that doesn't interfere with their faith. Below, I've created a list of 50 reasons I love reading and writing inspirational romance.

1. They display Godly relationships.
2. They lead readers toward what is right.
3. They are founded on strong Christian values.
4. No physical immorality included.
5. Virtue and purity are upheld and encouraged.
6. Readers benefit from the idealistic examples of what falling in love should be like.
7. Filled with well-shaped convictions.
8. They support turning eyes and heart to seek God's purpose.
9. Expectations of love that are focused on the right occupations.
10. They feature characters that are called to love and serve.
11. They share prayers.
12. Relationship that are not founded upon fleeting things.
13. They show committed relationships founded in the Lord's plan.
14. They focus on things that help Christians grow and flourish.
15. The emphasize that forging a relationship with God is the most important thing in life.
16. They show that life is hard and people struggle - God makes it all bearable.
17. They feature strong protagonists that only become stronger together with God at the helm.
18. Emotional depth.
19. Focus is NOT on being perfect, for all fall short of the glory of God.
20. Strict guidelines that govern what can and cannot be included within the pages, though you must make sure you only gets books from ACFW-approved publishers.
21. They inspire an emotional response.
22. Faith impacts the characters' decisions.
23. They contain solid theology.
24. They provide encouragement. 
25.  Christ is the Redeemer, not a overly-muscled and scantily clad hero.
26. Hope lies in Christ, not the hero.
27. God doesn't always wrap up the loose ends, and that's okay. They provide an accurate depiction of life's messes.
28. Helps us grow as believers, as they often included sermons. It just might be the message you need to hear.
29. More realistic expectations about relationships and spirituality than secular novels.
30. They promote satisfaction with real life.
31. Paints a beautiful picture of Christian life.
32. Alpha males are replaced with more genuine heroes - strong, but not dominant and aggressive.
33. They break all the stereotypes about romantic fiction.
34. They are about the whole experience.
35. They feature real people, spiritual crisis, and sin.
36. They deal with real world issues.
37. The characters are believably flawed in a beautiful way.
38. They inspire people without being too preachy.
39. People from all walks of life read inspirational romance.
40. Readers feel safe reading inspirational romance.
41. Great stories are enhanced with a great message.
42. Christian authors are tools for God and use the talent and creativity they were blessed with to turn others to God.
43. Christian romance is all the good stuff without the graphic stuff.
44. There's something out there for every reader.
45. Christian writers entertain and enlighten.
46. Love and romance, experienced in union with God.
47. They are light, entertaining reads.
48. Christian romances teach that God works in our lives.
49. Christian romance value marriage and family.
50. They are the only books that encourage you to read another book first: the Bible!

There you have it, friends. In completely random order, 50 great reasons to read Christian romance. My publisher, Prism Book Group, has a fantastic line-up of inspirational titles. All of which are approved by ACFW. You can visit their website at www.prismbookgroup.com for descriptions and excerpts.

Here are my inspirational titles, available on Amazon:

What happens when you're living the dream and things suddenly change? Micara Lee's charming existence starts slipping away as land developers threaten the town she loves.

What happens when your dream doesn't align with God's plan for your life? Garrett Hearth finds out when an injury ends his athletic career. Disenchantment and wavering faith keep him from the life he desires. Micara's beautiful spirit touches Garrett's heart... but can she help restore his faith and convince him to live the life God has planned for him?

Their happiness and the legacy of Sweet Home, Texas hang in the balance.

Buy now on Amazon!

 

Return to Sweet Home, Texas!

High school administrator, Sparrow Walker, has just moved to Sweet Home into a rental house closer to the school. The Hearth family eagerly welcomes her to town. But the eldest son - workaholic and heart shy Gabriel Hearth - isn't too pleased about having his son's pushy principal living next door.

Sparrow's concerned determination could prove to be Gabriel's saving grace. If only she can convince him to go along with her plan. Proud and private Gabriel isn't exactly willing, so she decides to turn the tables - using her behavior management tactics on him! With her program in place, this time for the parent instead of the student, it's up to Gabriel to make the next move and risk falling in love again. If he can't, he just might lose the one woman strong enough to love a man like him.

Buy now on Amazon!

Shy and self-conscious, Irelynn's natural instinct has always been to withdraw with her sketchbook. The last time she picked up a paintbrush, however, was the day her father killed himself.

Now put in the position as stand-in for her boss, Irelynn must overcome her wallflower ways and run Hearth Dairy Farm while he's away on vacation. A twist of fate leaves her short a manager, and ruggedly handsome Holden Hearth steps in to assist her.

Second son in the Hearth family, Holden welcomes the chance to spend time in his hometown and confront his disappointing past, even if it includes a bit of hard labor. He's grown from a geeky kid with glasses into a successful businessman. Despite what he went through - enduring the teasing and bullying - he's ready to show Sweet Home what he's become.

Working at the dairy brings Irelynn and Holden together, and the attraction is instant. But as Holden breaks down the personal barriers between them, uncovering the truth about Irelynn's artistic ability, she resists him every step of the way....until she, too, decides to confront her past and come to terms with who she really is.

Buy now on Amazon!

 

 

What We Write Reveals Who We Are

People who read my books know that I love the Lord. They are Christians, too, who enjoy reading inspirational romance as much as I love writing them. They know that I have a soft spot for geeks, have a tendency to wax poetic and get all flowery and symbolic, and I have a very silly sense of humor. They can tell that I relate to older people, so I always incorporate deep relationships with older characters in every story. My stories are much more unique than you'd expect. I'm different and not ashamed to reflect that in my writing. Readers can tell that I love simple, country living and down-to-earth personalities.

Those who read my books know that I struggle with faith and purpose. They know that prayer is important to me. They know I cherish second chances and starting over and making mistakes. They know that above all else, writing is my ministry. It's also an outlet and my connection to the world. My readers know that I strive to make my characters as relatable as possible because it is through those connections that deeper meaning takes place. I want my readers to experience my creative world and really feel every aspect of it. My ministry wouldn't work any other way.

Readers can tell that I root for my characters and fight hard alongside them to achieve that happily ever after. I won't spoil them though. They have to live and learn just like everybody else. Just like I've done over and over.

My readers can pick out bits and pieces of me scattered about: my quiet side, my romantic side, my artistic side, and my quirky side. They wouldn't put it past me to talk to cows or dust bunnies, to fend off heavy equipment with a stick, or to have intellectual debates about zig zags and the importance of facing the "right" direction in restaurants.

Those who read my books know that I spend quality time researching in order to add just the right amount of realism to my fiction. They know I pay attention to detail.

It's very evident in my writing that I am a southern girl, and I even write with an accent. They may not know that, even though my "accent" is there, it's been diluted by several rounds of editing by editors who are not southern. I don't want to alienate my fans from the north, east, and west.

My readers can tell that I'm not perfect, I don't strive for perfection, and I don't expect perfection for my characters. I hope that they walk away from my books knowing that it's okay to make mistakes and to not be perfect. I believe they know this and it's one of the main reasons why they read my books.

My readers know that I am human and they're okay with that.

What does your writing say about you?

Virtual Traveling for Research

I’ve never been to Sweet Home, Texas, the setting of my small town romance series, but the world my characters live in is as rich and real as any place I’ve visited in real life. That’s the goal that all writers strive to achieve – to add just enough realism to their fiction to draw readers in and create a deep connection.

Sci-Fi writers are experts at this. Not only have their readers never been to the futuristic realms of which they describe, but there is sometimes very little point of reference. It takes masterful skill to bring those worlds to life in a way readers can fully connect and visualize.

One way writers can do this is through virtual traveling. The internet is full of videos and pictures of places around the world and around the corner. A good place to start is Google or Yahoo with a search for a town or area similar to the setting in your story. At the time I was doing research for my series, I was looking for a Texas town with a funny name at DribbleGlass and stumbled upon Sweet Home, Texas. Not exactly funny, but something drew me to it. Another search and I was immediately lost in pictures and history of the town and surrounding area. I pictured my characters there and everything started coming together.

Never underestimate the power of your senses. It may be fiction, but the more real it is to you the more real it will be to your readers. I read about many writers who create soundtracks for each story to set the mood while they write. Also, I’ve heard of writers eating certain foods or lighting a candle of a certain scent. Or wearing costumes or wrapping up in a special blanket. They need to hear and smell and feel and taste their creative worlds. Virtual traveling adds a visual layer to the mix, and one I think readers will appreciate. It’s all in the details.

Go forth (on your computer) and explore this beautiful world God created. Just remember to let Him lead you in your travels.

“Even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.” Psalm 139

Structure and the Creative Writer

I recently completed a three-day diet called the Military Diet with no success, practically starving myself for nothing. It was a great disappointment. Upon further research, I discovered that it only works if you have large amounts of weight to lose – 20 pounds or more. I should have done more research before starting because I only have about ten pounds to lose. Did you know that the skinner you are, the harder it is to lose weight?

The same applies to writing. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit” (Proverbs 21:5).

God gave me a pretty good balance of left and right brain. While I am a creative writer, I rely on extensive plotting to make it all come together. Call it structure, if you will. But which kind works best?

Like the diet I tried, what works for one may not work for another. I struggled through several methods before finding a plotting structure that works for me. There are many resources available to writers, and I encourage you to do your research, try several things, and find what works for you. I used my plotting journey as a basis for a workshop I developed called: Forget the Fluff: Mastering the Fab Five Plotting Books to Get That Novel Outlined and Drafted in 30 Days. The 5 books I’m referring to are: “Story Structure Architect” by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, “The Writer’s Journey” by Christopher Vogler, “45 Master Characters” by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, “First Draft in 30 Days” by Karen S. Wiesner, and “Book in a Month” by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. There’s a lot of information, and I break it down into a method that’s easy to follow.

Let’s not forget the ultimate resource – the Bible. Whether it’s dieting or writing, the Bible has an answer for everything. Whatever you seek in life, do so according to God’s will and let Him be your guide. Understand that even the most diligent of plans will fail without God.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step….PRAY before you take that first step!

Blessings!

Lettuce Makes the Cheese Fall Out

The Bible tells about order and organization and planning and being prepared. Luke 14:28-30 says, "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'"

The same goes with tacos. Yes, tacos. Lettuce, while oh-so-delicious, is also a bit flighty. It jumps ship at the slightest disturbance. And it takes everything on top with it. I've learned over the course of my lifetime of taco-eating that layering a taco is essential. Either the lettuce must go on bottom, with the weight of other toppings to hold it down, or it must go on last. There's still a risk of losing lettuce if it's on top, but at least it doesn't take anything with it. Namely my precious cheese.

And the same goes with manuscripts. They take careful planning. Whether you're a plotter or a pantser determines the level of conceptualization and depth of preparation.

There are many layers to consider. I've talked before about the layering process and even offer a workshop for those who are interested. Extensive research on the subject has led to a precise list and method for building the perfect taco...er, novel. As with lettuce, the placement of certain aspects of a story is essential to the success of the whole.

Will you make it to the finish line and be able to write the words THE END? Or will pieces of the plot fall apart onto your literary plate?

Order. Organization. Planning. Preparedness.

Before you sit down to build your tower, will you take the time to count the cost? Have you prepared a stable foundation for your characters?

Kind Words for Authors

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. - Proverbs 15:4

I recently watched a video on YouTube, a compilation of advice for authors by some of the most well-known authors of today. Write for yourself, write every day, write what you know, and be persistent. These ideas are nothing new, but to hear them from the best in business makes it that much more powerful.

And therein lies the critical component - inspiration. Our brains know many things, but sometimes it takes an outside source to get the message to our hearts. We can learn a lot from those who've traveled the path before us. Action is only half of what it takes. Motivation makes up the other half. Writing is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Putting your bottom in the seat is the easy part, but wrapping your head around the task at hand is more difficult. That's why many authors post daily mantras to get the creative juices flowing. For Christian authors, scripture works well as the mantra of choice.

There is no denying the power of encouragement from others. It's a driving force that fuels all sorts of things from academics to athletics to art. Thoughtful words of kindness from professional authors in the business can give us the boost we need to make our daily word count. The book of Proverbs talks about this power to encourage in a positive way. "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life." (Proverbs 15:4)

Let's show Christ-like encouragement to our fellow authors, building each other up with joyful and positive words. Take a moment to call, text, write, or message some of your writer friends (or strangers) right now and encourage them today!

Is Your Plot Too Contrived or Coincidental?

In the quest to write something that is marketable, it's all too easy to slip into bad habits. Using plots that are too contrived, meaning they aren't natural, will no doubt blow up in your face later down the road. You might think that if it worked for others, then it's sure to work for you, but that isn't necessarily the case. If one person breaks onto the scene with a plot that is farfetched and manages to sell it to a major publishing house, it doesn't mean that others can put their spin on it and achieve the same grandeur. In the world of publishing, what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. Editors are finnicky. Send them something that's too contrived and they may think you're insulting their intelligence. And you have to think about your readers, too. You have to give them more credit than that. Readers and editors these days are looking for real plots. It's fiction, but the situations could really happen. They want extensive research. They want your characters and plot to be believable.

The problem that a lot of writers run into is that they want their characters to go from Point A to Point B. Now the quickest way from Point A to Point B is a straight line, but what if that doesn't work with your story? All too often, writers will jerk the plot around in an effort to achieve what they want to achieve in the way they want to achieve without regard for what happens naturally.

The thing you have to remember is that when something happens, there is always a reaction. Sometimes there is only one specific reaction, and sometimes there are several. Humans are notoriously predictable. If you write a scene in which the characters react in a way that is not natural for the sake of your plot, readers and editors are gonna know it. They're going to say, "He wouldn't do that." Or, "She would never say that." Or "That would never happen."

How many times have you found yourself thinking those exact words while reading a book or watching a movie?

You may justify it because you feel like it's the only way to get from A to B without destroying the carefully-laid plan for your characters.

Here's my challenge for you: next time you want to take the easy way out so you can get from A to B without breaking any of the plot bricks you've carefully laid DON'T! Go for what is natural and see what happens. This is a lot easier for pantsers than plotters like me. I know.

Think about this:

A plot that is too contrived requires a certain amount of coincidences to make it happen. Coincidences lead to weakness in the plot because both are blended with an abundance of willing suspension of disbelief.

This ain't bad in small doses. As with alcohol, it should be in moderation.

So you've gotten your plot laid out just the way you want it. There are a few coincidences in there and at times is seems a bit contrived, but you managed to get the characters from A to B. That's all that matters, right? WRONG!

True, you made the journey. You got them there, but the plot is now weakened and worse for the wear.

I urge you to take the road less traveled and forego the easy way. Take your time. Do the research. Make it real. Make your characters real. If you do, it will be no coincidence when I see your novel on bookstore shelves!

Jayna Morrow’s debut novel hit #3 in category on Amazon and was ranked #1 on the Top 15 Most Popular Books on Slake.com. Morrow brings to life heartwarming stories that embody realistic plots with an uplifting message, giving readers a sweet and warmly satisfying sense of love and hope.

Morrow is the author of the Sweet Home, Texas series, starting with her debut novel Garrett; numerous sweet contemporary and inspirational works; a short read with several other Prism Book Group authors, A Blizzard Wedding; and several children’s books. She has been featured at eReader News Today, Daily Cheap Reads, Working Writers and Bloggers, Books for Book Lovers, The Old Stone Wall, Lilly’s Book Club, Book Goodies, Nearly Brilliant, Goodreads, and Christian eBooks Today. She is an active member of the East Texas Writers Association and is a regular guest speaker, presenting mini-workshops on plotting structure, drafting a novel in 30 days, and the layering process. Her next novel to be published will be Gabriel (Fall 2013).
In addition to writing novels, Morrow is an elementary school reading teacher. She and her husband, Chip, are patrons of the arts, especially fine arts and music. They also enjoy the outdoors and frequently go off-roading, canoeing, barge riding on Caddo Lake, and camping.

She is a devoted mother to two precious little girls, Rebekah and Ella, and spends a majority of her time creating memories with them. Jayna, Chip, and the girls live in East Texas, near the Lousiana border. You can find out all about the writer and her books at www.jaynamorrow.com