Workshop: Writers Boot Camp

Dancing Word Writers Workshop

with DiAnn Mills

December 15, 2006

Hosted by: Anne McDonald

Dancing Word Publisher/Editor

*This chat has been edited for clarity.

Anne McDonald: I'll open up in prayer, go over protocol and then introduce our guest. Lord, thank You so much for keeping us safe through that horrific storm last night. Thank You for Your everyday touches of care and for the little surprises you tuck into every day. Please be with us tonight as we learn from our seasoned guest. Please also be with those who cannot come tonight. Bless DiAnn for giving so much of herself to encourage other writers. n Jesus' name, Amen.

Protocol reminder: When the floor is open to questions, please type ? for questions, ! for comments, and ga when you are through. For those new to the chat room "ga" mean go ahead and keeps us from stepping on each other's toes.

Tonight I am honored to introduce a woman who has some incredible experiences as a writer and is generous in passing on her wisdom and expertise to other writers. She recently returned from a trip to Africa. Please give a warm welcome to DiAnn Mills.

DiAnn Mills: I'm thrilled to be with you tonight.

Anne McDonald: Please give us a brief glimpse into your recent trip.

DiAnn Mills: I am writing a fiction novel set in Sudan. Moody Publishers offered me a grant if I want to go. Yeah! I went by myself to Kenya and on into Sudan. It was truly an experience that changed me forever. I saw hard things and encouraging things - but the country is struggling. 25% Christian! guess I'd better quiet down about the trip or I could talk all night about it!

Anne McDonald: I'll have to set up an interview with you so that we can cover the trip. If you are ready, I'll turn the floor over to you for boot camp.

DiAnn Mills: I do want to hit the basics tonight. Even for those seasoned writers who have sent out proposals for a long time. Review is good - and we're going to touch on those qualiities that make your proposal stand out - as in attention:)

We are going to talk about the basics of getting you published. Before you touch a finger to the first letter of the first word of your writing, you need to know the fundamentals for creating the look that will grab the editor’s attention and move him/her to contact you immediately for your manuscript. Their desks are overflowing with queries and proposals, and unless you have yours perfected, it will end up in the rejection pile.

Before we continue any further, let me give you the basics for a query.

1. If you want to wow the editor then make sure you have done the research on what that house is publishing. This means studying the market, reading their publications, and adhering to their guidelines.

2. Make your hook short and sweet. Throw out the line and reel them in.

a. Include why the readers would want to read it

3. Why are you the one to write this idea?

4. If you don’t have any publishing credentials, be creative. Play up what you know.

5. Close it with an “Enclosed is a SASE for your reply, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.”

Exception to the SASE is an e-mail submission

A proposal is a sample of your work to an editor who has indicated interest in your manuscript or the guidelines state for you to send a proposal rather than a query. This is accompanied by the article or a book proposal, three chapters and a synopsis. The thrust of our seminar is based on a quality proposal. I want your books on the retailer shelf. The Prize Winning Proposal contains three P’s:

Particulars, Purpose, and Packaging

the particulars:

Okay, let’s begin. Editors and Publishers do have a common format. They want a readable font, preferably Times New Roman or New Courier at 12 pitches per inch and double-spaced. Fancy fonts simply reveal the fact we haven’t done our homework. Use one inch paragraph indentions.

The title page is easy, but here are the instructions:

Every manuscript needs a title page. In the top left-hand corner, type in your name, address, phone number, and email address. In the top right-hand corner, type approximate word count. Do not type in your social security number or copyright on the title page. Your work is copyrighted the moment you begin working on it.

Count down 20 spaces and in all caps, type the name of the manuscript. In regular type on the next line, type the word “by”, and on the next line your name. I have seen a variance of this, but this is what has been recommended to me.

Agents and editors vary - so find out their guidelines. I'm going to quickly paste in the directions for setting up your format. It is essential to set up your document so that you have 25 lines of writing per page or approximately 250 words per page. Most editors calculate the approximate word count of your manuscript according to the number of pages in your document.

MICROSOFT WORD Click on the Format on your task bar, then on Paragraph. In the box that says Line Spacing, click At Least then type in 25 pt. Now click Line and Page Breaks. A window will appear with several boxes. Make sure the Widows and Orphans box is not checked. I uncheck them all. OK all of that. Click on File on your task bar, then Page Set Up. Set your margins at 1 inch all around with a .5 inch header and no footer or footer or gutter. Use a 1 line Header.

WORD PERFECT Set your Top margins at .25 inch. Right and Left margins at 1.25 inch. Bottom at 1 inch. Use a l line Header and leave a distance of .5 inch before beginning your text.

Now for the header. I call this all the "boring" stuff before we go on to other things. This needs to start on the first page of your manuscript. Every page of your text–except the title page–should have a one-line header. This is an automatic format and you set this up before you begin your text. From the task bar select View, click on Header and Footer. Make sure the font type for you header and footer is the same as your manuscript. On the left hand side of the box provided for your header, type in the name of the manuscript, on the right hand side – your last name and a dash. From the Task Bar select Format Page Number and type in 1. From the Task Bar, select Page set-up and click Different First Page. From the Task Bar, select Insert Page Number and it will automatically number each page.

keep a copy of all this above. It will come in handy

Anne McDonald: Why do you not want footers on your manuscript?

DiAnn Mills: You don't simply because that is not what the editors want. Sorry that is so simple, but they are who we are trying to please. Also when looking at a manuscript, the eyes follow across the top, not the bottom

The proposal: The Purpose of a proposal is to give the editor a synopsis of your story, sample writing, a list of your credentials, and a marketing plan. The marketing plan can be tough, so let me give you a list of what is needed. Feel free to step in with questions or comments. Here are a few at a time:

1. Title of manuscript, your name and contact information

2.What is the goal of your writing this manuscript

3. Description of book or article

4. Target audience. You are wise to have many audiences

5. Hook sentence describing your manuscript

6. What inspired you to write this manuscript

7. What is your strategy/plan on marketing this. List ten items if you can. Include promotional items.

8. What are your sales and media angles: talking points. In other words why will people want to buy your book

9. Author Bio

10. A list of published titles that is similar to yours. How is yours different, compare these.

11. A list of those who have indicated a willingness to endorse your manuscript or help market it.

12. Your past experience in media work

13. Sales Leads

Lera: what is media work?

DiAnn Mills: any TV, Radio, Magazine work/connections

jane: why is it important to note media?

DiAnn Mills: publicity and promotion - the marketing team at the publishing house wants to know that you are partnering with them to sell books. any media contacts that you have further enhances your book selling power

Elf: Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but as a fiction writer, I don't necessarily start with a goal for writing a MS or even inspiration--my inspiration is usually pretty vague or hard to describe. So, how do I state these? I know this is confusing, but how do I define this for an editor?

DiAnn Mills: This is a common question. You have a reason for wanting to tell a story - a goal met or something obtained. It may be that you will have to write the entire book before you understand your inspiration. but here are a few ideas: my mother suffered with bipolar and that experience moved you to write a fiction story about that illness

Laura: does it need to be in this order? And does--say Love Inspired -- require promotional items? What if you have no connections in media?

DiAnn Mills: I'm glad you asked that. I was getting ready to say that there is not a particular order given, but incorporate the list I've given you to the best of your ability. Your publisher may have their own list. Did you ask me if Love Inspired requires promotional items?

DiAnn Mills: All publishers want you to have simple items like book marks, a data base of names. if you have no connections in media, then take a deep breath and start calling radio, TV, and newspapers about your exciting new book. develop a pitch and show your passion for your project. You will sell you with your enthusiasm

KC: What if you hate selling anything much less yourself or your ideas and the idea of marketing sends cold shivers across your body? Can we pay someone to do this for us, lol?

DiAnn Mills: Well you can hire a publicist, but you still need to promote yourself. Let me tell you a secret about me. When I started writing, I thought I could do anything but speak to anyone, talk about my book, etc. And then I take a trip to Africa - Sudan - by myself to research a novel. So God will give you the strength to accomplish His purpose. (That's my sermon)

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