From where I sit, this isn’t true at all. Books are constantly being published that break molds and startle us with their creativity and vision. If you’re not seeing them out there, then I wonder how hard you’re really looking.

It’s all a matter of perspective. I believe that if you continue to believe this way about publishing, and believe that there’s no place for you because you’re extra creative and innovative and tend to write outside expected genre lines, then it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

But instead, you could choose to write such a good book that agents, editors and readers say “Genre be damned – this is a stunning book!”

That’s how the amazingly original books get published. They’re so good that people can’t put them down, regardless of genre. Those are the books you read, and then you go to tell your friends about them but find yourself saying, “Well, it’s hard to explain, but it’s SO good, you just have to read it!”

If you want an agent and a traditional publisher, don’t give up just because your work falls outside “expected” lines of genre or style. Be persistent. If your writing is good enough, you just may find that perfect editor to champion it.  Don’t give up with the excuse that the whole publishing industry sucks. You won’t get anywhere that way. Press on.

What’s the most unique or original book you’ve read lately?

One of my favorite blogs is Copyblogger. I’ve recommended it before and once again I’m suggesting you take a look if you enjoy reading about ways to have a successful website. Recently I read an article there called The 7 Bad Habits of Insanely Productive People, and it was so good, I got permission to steal the idea and adapt it here.

Can you do all the things everyone tells writers *not* to do—and still become a successful author? I spend a lot of time on this blog giving you tips on how you “should” be. Hundreds of other bloggers are doing the same… not to mention all the books for writers and all the teaching going on at conferences.

But the truth is, we’re all just muddling along. Even the most successful of us have habits and/or traits we know we shouldn’t. Nobody is doing everything exactly right.

So below are what I think are the most common foibles to which writers fall prey… and somehow they are still able to succeed. I give you this list not so you can gloat and feel superior (not for more than a minute anyway) but so that, if you happen to have any of these particular traits, you now know, unequivocally, that you can no longer use it as an excuse for not reaching your goals. Accept your weaknesses, and carry on.

Herewith, 7 bad habits of successful authors:

1. Impatient.

Everyone knows that it can take time to build a platform, time to get an agent, time to sell your book. It takes time for agents and editors to respond to you. It takes time to write a good book. Even self-published authors have to take the time to build their readership.

Everyone knows this, but it doesn’t matter. Once a person adds the word “writer” behind their name, it’s all over with. Any patience they enjoyed heretofore in their non-writerly life flies out the window. Almost all writers are, shall we say, less patient than they wish they were. But still, somehow, they make it through.

The upside: Patience may be a virtue, but impatience can be a motivator: Write another book. Build your platform. Do something different.

2. Inclined Toward Panic.

All of the foibles of the writer stem from their deep desire not just to be published, but to do it well, to be read by many, and to make a living doing it. So any time any of the specific goals seems threatened, even successful authors tend to get that cold-sweat feeling and wonder if it’s all over. This is when they call their agent or dash of an end-of-the-world email begging for reassurance that life as they know it really isn’t over.

The upside: Well, if you’re panicked at least you know you’re breathing.

3. Ruled by Reviews

While there are a few wise, brave and totally inhuman writers out there who swear they stay away from reviews both positive and negative, most writers are mere mortals and find that their moods live and die by the latest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or any of the professional review outlets up to the NYT and PW. Bad review = a bad day. No matter how many times we remind them that it’s all subjective, that every book gets some negative ones… it doesn’t matter. Many authors still find themselves slaves to the “stars.”

The upside: It’s nice when you’re getting a lot of great reviews. Otherwise… well, nevermind, that wouldn’t be the upside anymore.

3. Addicted to Bookscan sales reports

We tell them again and again, “Stay off of Bookscan.” We warn them, “That stuff’s like meth. It’s crack cocaine. It makes you feel horrible and ruins your life.” And yet they keep going back for more. We tell them those reports can have a low accuracy rate (depending on the genre of your book). Checking the numbers every 20 minutes isn’t going to help you. Alas, it’s to no avail. Crack is crack.

The upside: The one good thing about carefully tracking your sales is you may be able to tell if specific promotional efforts created a spike.

4. Thin-skinned.

It’s like this weird poetic justice. As if #2 and #3 aren’t enough, many writers also take everything hard (in their cute, thin-skinned way) so those unhappy reviews and sales numbers hurt all the more. We tell them, “Develop rawhide!” Thicken your skin! It’s a tough road ahead! It doesn’t matter. We are what we are, right? It’s a rare writer who actually has a thick skin.

The upside: That thin skin is what allows people to truly feel things, to experience every up and down of life… and consequently, probably makes them better writers.

5. Insecure

It’s a well-known fact that all writers think they can’t write. One book in, six books in, 47 books in… every writer is convinced, over and over again, that it was a fluke, they’re not a writer, they’ve lost it, they can’t possibly do this again. Ah, insecurity is beautiful, isn’t it?

The upside: If channeled properly, the insecurity can help a successful writer stay humble.

6. Unscheduled

Impossible to believe, but contrary to ubiquitous writing advice, many writers do not have a set schedule by which they write every day. In fact, numerous successful authors are squeezing the writing in with their day job or even homeschooling five kids. (You know who you are.) My hat’s off to them… I wouldn’t recommend it but somehow they get it done.

The upside: If you can get large amounts of writing done with a less-structured schedule, then your flexibility speaks volumes to your ability to be creative and productive under less-than-ideal circumstances. That is nothing short of awesome.

7. Easily distracted

Even the successful authors are susceptible to Twitter, Facebook and reading those darn agent blogs. We’re all easily distracted these days, to our detriment I’m sure, but we can be productive nonetheless.

The upside: You never miss the latest post on the fabulous pie your cousin Mildred baked in honor of Uncle Fred’s colonoscopy.

What are some of YOUR bad habits that you’re willing to share with us?

You thought I was going to say “Reading agent blogs,” right? Good guess, but no, that’s not it.

The quickest way to lose the joy is to expect that your first book contract is going to solve some kind of financial problem in your life.

Lately with the economy being rough on so many people, I’ve noticed that some writers who’ve been working at this awhile and feel like they’re getting “close” to having something published are harboring unrealistic expectations about the financial end of being an author. Their entire process of writing and rewriting and preparing proposals (etc.) is overlaid with this pressure and this anxiety—this need to sell, and sell soon, because they really need the money.

Now believe me, I know what it’s like to need money. Take it from someone who began a new business right at the moment the economy tanked—I understand things are rough out there.

Nevertheless, I firmly believe that newer writers, especially those who don’t have a book published yet, need to keep a clean separation between their writing goals and their financial goals. At least in the short term, keep your writing life separate from your financial anxiety.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s perfectly legitimate to have long-term goals that include making some percentage of your income from writing books. You may even have the goal of being able to write books full time and quit your day job. But your short-term goal should never be “Get a contract for this book so we can get out of this financial jam we’re in.”

I’ve found that when the writing is all mixed up in your mind with a financial need, especially a need that’s fraught with anxiety, the writing suffers. Not only that, but the joy is diminished, because the goal has changed (maybe without your even knowing it) from “write a great book” to “pay off my MasterCard.” And when that fantastic day comes and you finally get your first book contract, instead of being able to experience the joy of attaining a long-held goal, you’ll be asking yourself if the advance is enough to pay off the MasterCard.

A goal is a good thing. Desperation… not so good.

I’ve had this conversation with a few writers lately, and it’s difficult. My advice has been to find other ways to bring in an income, even if it takes time away from writing, so that their writing is not connected to their economic anxiety. I’ve also talked with writers who had some success with a few books published, but unfortunately quit their day jobs before they were really able to support the family from the books alone. The same thing happened to them—their writing life became riddled with anxiety because suddenly there was huge pressure to keep selling books.

I realize that many of you have spent years and probably a lot of money in the pursuit of publication. Many of you also have spouses who are looking for some return on that investment. I don’t have any easy answers. Yes, of course you want to eventually see some financial gain. And some of you will find the answer in self-publishing, if you have a strong platform and ability to sell a lot of books. But I just want to emphasize: Especially when you’re first starting out, you’ll be happier and you’ll probably write better if you don’t allow your writing to be connected to financial necessity and anxiety.

Q4U: Do you think your writing might suffer if you’re trying to write to solve a financial problem? Or conversely, do you think an economic goal can be a positive motivator for your writing?

The Get Yourself Organized Project

by Kathi Lipp

Harvest House

Finally, an organizational book for women who have given up trying to be Martha Stewart but still desire some semblance of order in their lives.

Most organizational books are written by and for people who are naturally structured and orderly. For the woman who is more ADD than type A, the advice sounds terrific but seldom works. Kathi Lipp, author of The Husband Project and other “project” books, is just the author to address this need. In her inimitable style, she offers easy and effective ways women can restore peace to their everyday lives; simple and manageable long-term solutions for organizing any room in one’s home; and a realistic way to de-stress a busy schedule. Full of helpful tips and abundant good humor, The Get Yourself Organized Project is for those who want to spend their time living and enjoying life rather than organizing their sock drawer.

The Telling

by Mike Duran

Charisma House

A prophet never loses his calling, only his way. Disfigured with a hideous scar from his stepmother, Zeph Walker lives his life in seclusion, cloistering himself in a ramshackle bookstore on the outskirts of town. But Zeph is also blessed with a gift—an uncanny ability to foresee the future,to know peoples’ deepest sins and secrets. He calls it the Telling, but he has abandoned this gift to a life of solitude, unbelief, and despair—until two detectives escort him to the county morgue where he finds his own body lying on the gurney.

On the northern fringes of Death Valley, the city of Endurance is home to llama ranches, abandoned mines, roadside attractions…and the mythical ninth gate of hell. Now, forced to investigate his own murder, Zeph discovers something even more insidious behind the urban legends and small-town eccentricities. Early miners unearthed a megalith—a sacred site where spiritual and physical forces converge and where an ancient subterranean presence broods. And only Zeph can stop it.

But the scar on Zeph’s face is nothing compared to the wound on his soul. For not only has he abandoned his gift and renounced heaven, but it was his own silence that spawned the evil. Can he overcome his own despair in time to seal the ninth gate of hell?

Wildflowers from Winter

by Katie Ganshert

Waterbrook Press (Random House)

A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years… until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.

Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to in order to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.

For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she’s not even sure exists?

The Soul Saver

by Dineen Miller

Barbour Books

Meet Lexie Baltimore, who is in the supernatural battle of her life. In obedience to God’s calling, Lexie uses her art and dreams to help others. But will she have enough courage to help herself when she becomes torn between her atheist husband and a godly man? A widower and a father, Pastor Nate Winslow is drowning in darkness. Will he resist his treacherous assignment to win Lexie’s heart or give in to the attraction between them? As events unfold, Lexie becomes entangled in a twisted plot. Will she overcome the evil assailing her or yield to the dark side?

The Pursuit of Lucy Banning

by Olivia Newport

Revell Books

She has a secret to keep. But will she give her heart away?

Lucy Banning may live on the exclusive Prairie Avenue among Chicago’s rich and famous, but her heart lies elsewhere. Expected to marry an up-and-coming banker from a respected family, Lucy fears she will be forced to abandon her charity work and squeeze herself into the mold of the well-dressed wife who spends most of her time and money redecorating.

When she meets Will, an unconventional young architect who is working on plans for the upcoming 1893 World’s Fair, Lucy imagines a life lived on her own terms. Can she break away from her family’s expectations? And will she ever be loved for who she truly is?

Get swept away into the lavish world of Chicago’s high society as Olivia Newport brings to life an age of glitz and grandeur, stark social contrasts, and one woman who dares to cross class lines for what she believes.

Wish you were Here

by Beth K Vogt

Howard Books (Simon & Schuster)

Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong. The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.

Still, kissing the groom’s brother, Daniel, in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the right thing to do. How could she have made such a mistake? It seems Allison’s life is nothing but mistakes at this point. Daniel’s adventures—chronicled through a collection of postcards—have always appealed to Allison’s well-hidden desire for something more. But how can betraying her fiancé’s trust lead to a true happily ever after?

Can Allison find her way out of this mess? Recognizing she doesn’t have all the answers won’t be easy because she’s used to being in control. To find her way again, she will have to believe that God has a plan for her—one outside her carefully defined comfort zone—and find the strength to let Him lead.

Chameleon

by Jillian Kent

Charisma House

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the Regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords of Parliament. Victoria is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

by Kathleen E. Kovach & Paula Moldenhauer

PK Publishing

April 1912 – Olive Stanford boarded the Titanic determined to protect all she held dear. Her secret will go with her to the grave—but how can she face the afterlife carrying the burden of her actions?

April 2012 – Portland real estate agent, Ember Keaton-Jones, distrusts men, with good reason. Ever since her great-great-grandfather, Thomas, deserted the family after the fateful sinking of the Titanic, every Keaton male has disappointed. Ember is on the brink of a huge sale when a stranger shows up with a key to a century-old secret challenging everything she believes. She meets forward-thinking Jeff Dawson who is working in the family’s musty antique shop and finds an unexpected ally in unlocking the mystery of her past. But can they undo the legacy of Thomas Keaton’s betrayal?

Want to be a guest blogger?

I am taking auditions for guest posts from YOU, my faithful blog readers.

I need a handful of guest posts that I’ll use throughout the summer. My blog is getting over 60,000 visitors per month (100,000 page views) so it’s not bad exposure for you.

If you’re interested, be sure to look over previous guest posts (you can access them by clicking on Guest Bloggers here or under “Find Posts by Subject”). Note their relevance to writers and the high quality of the writing.

Here’s how it will work:

→ In the comments to THIS POST, pitch me your guest post idea.

→ Do NOT email me your pitch.

→ Do NOT write your whole post.

→ I’d like a pitch in no more than 150 words.

→ Remember that a good pitch can include a note about your special qualifications to write about your topic (always true when pitching non-fiction). A good pitch also shows me you can write!

→ Auditions will remain open for ONE WEEK, closing 11:59 pm Eastern time on Friday, May 18.

→ Once all the pitches are in, I’ll choose five to ten of them to become guest bloggers.

→ If yours is chosen, you’ll write a post between 500 and 750 words, properly formatted for WordPress using HTML and including a brief bio, links to your own websites/blogs, and a photo of yourself.

→ I will determine the date your post will appear on the blog (taking into consideration your availability to respond to commenters).

→ I reserve the right to edit your final post and/or reject it should it not meet my expectations based on your original pitch.

→ If you have a question, leave it in the comments.

Sharpen those pencils and get to work!

Guest Blogger: Karen Witemeyer

Publishers say they want fresh voices and original plots. Yet they also want stories that fit into saleable categories with mass appeal. So how do we come up with plots that feel fresh while still maintaining the core elements that readers want?

Thousands of years ago Solomon observed that there was nothing new under the sun. Literature experts have said much the same thing, claiming there are only a finite number of plots. In fact, some say there are as few as seven basic ones. If that’s true, the only way to be original is in the telling of the story. How many twists and turns can you add? How can you surprise the reader with the unexpected? How can you get the reader so invested in your characters that they don’t care if part of your story is formulaic for your genre?

As a creative person, I’d love to say that my story ideas sprout naturally from the fertile soil of my imagination. But alas, I cannot make that claim with a clean conscience. So I’m going to share with you the deep, dark secret hiding in my authorial closet . . .

I get my inspiration from other writers.

Gasp!

I know, I know. I’ve completely disillusioned you, haven’t I? Well, do not fear. I’m sure there are many successful authors out there who are creative geniuses, who produce unique plots and original characters with a simple flip of a neural switch in their mind. You may admire them all you like. But, me? Well, I’m like one of those chemical reactions you studied back in high school that needs a catalyst to get things started.

I’m not talking about plagiarism or stealing someone’s idea. Those are crimes deserving of flogging to my way of thinking. What I’m talking about is the spark that ignites when you read a passage in a book or watch a scene in a movie that sets the creative fires burning in new and exciting directions.

For example, in my latest release, Short-Straw Bride, my inspiration came from the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My story has four brothers instead of seven, and the men don’t sing and dance while they do their chores. However the spark came when I thought about this movie and then asked, what if? What if instead of having the heroine agree to a marriage of convenience at the beginning of the story, the brothers drew straws to see who would marry her when a good deed goes awry? And what if instead of all the brothers being named in alphabetical order after Bible characters, my four brothers were named for heroes from the Alamo? The what if game continued until I ended up with a story that in no way resembled the musical. Yet if you look carefully, you can find a few similarities left over from the catalyst that started the creativity reaction in the first place.

So for those of you who have pulled your hair out in frustration when editors say they want something fresh and original while in the same breath insisting they need something that fits their established line, perhaps my strategy will keep you from going bald. Take a piece from something proven to be successful, then turn it on its head and stir it around until you have something completely new.

Have you ever needed a catalyst to spark your creativity? What do you find most inspiring?

Two-time RITA® Finalist and CBA bestselling author, Karen Witemeyer, writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. Just this week, her novel, To Win Her Heart, won the coveted 2012 HOLT Medallion award for the Best Long Inspirational Romance.

Her latest novel, Short Straw Bride, releases in three weeks and is now available for pre-order.

Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.

1. Read a chapter of your WIP aloud to someone other than your cat. Invite feedback, if you’re brave. But mostly, just listen as you read. Do the words flow easily, roll nicely off the tongue? Do you stumble anywhere? Anything sound awkward? How’s the dialogue? Option: Record yourself reading it aloud, then listen to the recording.

2. Write a short story featuring one of your characters, something taking place outside the scope of your book. What did you learn about that character?

3. Go out for some people-watching. Listen closely to conversations of those around you, observe details of body language and facial expressions. Keep a notebook or Word file of your observations.

4. Imagine your main characters in dramatic situations and see what they would do. Your character is on an airplane that has just lost both engines and is plummeting toward the earth; a gun-wielding madman bursts into your character’s home during a family game night; an alien spacecraft lands in the character’s back yard. How do they respond? Do you know how your characters tick? Write it down.

5. Guess what? All your major characters just got laid off and need to look for new jobs. Create resumes for each of them. What kind of jobs might they look for? Are they ready for a career change?

6. Go to one of your favorite places – Starbucks, a ski slope, the gym, your couch – and have an imaginary conversation with your main character. Would they like it here? What would they want to talk about?

7. Record a conversation with a friend or spouse or child. Transcribe that conversation exactly as-is. Then rewrite the conversation so it sounds good on the page. What kinds of things do you have to cut, add, or revise to make it work?

8. Change your writing routine. If you usually write on your computer, grab a pen and notebook for a day. If you usually sit in your den, go out to a coffee shop. If you usually write in the morning, try a midnight writing spree. Forcing your brain to work differently can sometimes spark a new way of thinking.

9. Write a review of your book. Pretend you’re working for Publisher’s Weekly or Booklist or the New York Times and write as honest a review as you can about your WIP. Then heed your own advice to fix the things you noted that were weak.

What’s your secret for getting back in the writing groove when the words aren’t flowing?

The message was powerful; it conveyed, “We care so much about producing the highest quality wine that we refuse to rush the process. We won’t try to bring it out faster to increase profit. We won’t skimp on the craftsmanship that makes our wine so good. It takes time, and we will give our wine the time it needs.”

I couldn’t help thinking about that as I considered what I wanted to say today about the time and craftsmanship it takes to write a high quality book. I’m not talking about a book that everyone has to love. I’m talking about a book that has the basics: a solid story, well-developed characters, conflict that engages the reader, a satisfying resolution, well-crafted sentences and paragraphs, literate use of words, and a lack of typos and other egregious, noticeable errors. Even if it’s non-fiction, the basics apply except instead of characters, we need well-developed ideas.

With the proliferation of self-pub, online retailers are flooded with books that contain almost none of those basics. Books that scream “vanity” and “I just wanted to get rich quick.” Books that say, “I was too impatient, or too arrogant, or too ignorant, to either learn the very most basic writing techniques, or to get an editor’s eyes on this before it went public.”

I’ve said many times — I’m in favor of self-pub and e-pub and all the various ways writers now have to get their words out there.

But here’s the truth:

If you don’t pay attention to the quality control of your work, you’ll kill your writing career before it even starts.

Readers are not stupid. They may be downloading 99¢ e-books like crazy right now. But they’re already starting to figure out that something’s not right. Many of these books are poorly written and desperately need editing. (Even Amanda Hocking’s Trylle series, originally self-published, went through extensive editing at St. Martin’s before they re-released it.)

So why should you care? It seems many have the attitude of, “Why should I spend all that extra time and money on editing when people are going to buy it anyway?” Here’s why I think you should care:

If you self-publish a book that sucks, you may permanently lose potential readers. They pick up the book, it’s poorly crafted, they don’t like it — and they cross your name off their mental list of good authors. Down the road, perhaps you’ve become a better writer, perhaps you’ve finally decided to work with an editor, but unfortunately it’s too late for all those readers who are already convinced your books aren’t worth buying. Why risk that? Why not take the time to make sure your work is ready?

This idea of taking the time to properly craft a book applies to those in traditional publishing as well. Many of my clients become frustrated with me because I push them to make their proposals better and better; I may push them to write more chapters of their non-fiction books, I may push them to do a complete revision on a novel before submission. They’re anxious. They just want to get it out there. But I don’t work that way. I will sell no wine before its time.

I believe we need to keep holding books to a high standard. I want us all to keep insisting on quality reading material, not settling for whatever someone could slap together and impatiently upload to Kindle with barely a lick and a promise.

One of the main arguments writers use for self-publishing is the speed at which they can get their books up for sale. They’re proud of themselves for circumventing the laborious publishing system that — yes — takes forever. But many of them have nothing to be proud of. I’ve bought and read numerous self-pubbed books now, and in general the quality is noticeably inferior to what most traditional publishers are putting out. (And all of those self-pubbers who are doing it poorly are giving a very bad name to the handful who are doing it well.) Many are sacrificing craftsmanship for speed.

It’s a trade-off that diminishes us all.

I say, let’s commit to selling no books before their time. Are you with me?

Update: Since so many people are mentioning in the comments that it’s hard to know how to find an editor, I wanted to give you a couple of resources. The latest post by Victoria Strauss on Writer Beware is about how to vet an independent editor. Also, I have a list of freelance editors here on my site.

I’ve had quite a few authors ask this about agents and publishers. So first I’m going to ease your mind; then we’ll cut to the chase.

Here’s the easing-your-mind part: you can relax. The agent or publishing house signed you because they like you, they really like you. There were forty thousand other authors they could have signed, and they signed you. Yay.

When an agent or publisher signs you, they have some degree of belief that you can write, not just one book, but hopefully many more. They have a commitment to you. They’re putting their time and effort into you, and they’re going to want to stick with you. So they’re predisposed to be favorable to what you write. Try not to worry so much.

Now for the reality check.

It’s true, many writers’ subsequent novels fall short of the mark. The most common reason is that most authors work on that first novel, the one that sold, for far longer than the second one. They may have even agonized over it for years. The following novels, by contrast, are usually written much faster and under the pressure of a contract and a deadline, so they might not be as strong. Then again, people often get better the more novels they write. So who knows how it will end up for you?

However…

If you wrote one great one, and your second one is not quite as good, the world’s not going to end. You just fix it. Presumably you’ll have the help of whoever told you it wasn’t good enough—your agent or editor. You’ll get notes for revision and you’ll get to work. Or you’ll be told to junk it and start over. (Hopefully not the latter, but it’s been known to happen.)

So the answer to the “what if” question is, “you deal with it.”

Now, a few people have written me and suggested that once an agent takes on a writer, they’re basically obligated to sell whatever the writer writes, regardless of whether the agent likes it or not. Um, not so much. It’s the agent’s job to continually assess the writing and the market, and to make judgments about which projects are worthy of putting out there. An agent needs to protect the author’s reputation by refusing to submit sub-par work; the agent needs to protect their own reputation too. If you signed with the agent, it’s because you trust they have a good reputation with the editors, right? And hopefully you trust their judgment and you also have a good enough rapport with them that you can talk through any problems.

(To put it more succinctly: it’s your job to provide a sellable book. It’s my job to sell it.)

Have you thought beyond selling that first book? Do you worry about the agent or publisher not liking your other work? If you sign with an agent, what expectations do you have about them selling your entire body of work?

“This is as good as this job gets. Savor it.”

(Peggy Olson to Megan Draper on Mad Men)

That line stopped me in my tracks. I had to rewind and listen to it a couple more times.

“This is as good as this job gets. Savor it.”

Megan had come up with a great idea that had impressed a major client and saved the agency from losing the account. It was her first notable accomplishment in the agency. She was trying to downplay it, but Peggy, the veteran, knew better. Savor it, she said.

I thought, wow. That’s it.

That’s what I’ve been needing to remind myself. When I have small victories, when I sell a project, when a client reaches a milestone, when an editor says something nice… this is as good as this job gets. I’d better savor it. Otherwise, what the heck am I doing here? What am I waiting for, what am I expecting? Why am I doing this?

So I thought I’d share it with you, too. The day-to-day life of an unpublished author is challenging. The day-to-day life of a published author is equally challenging, if not more. So when those little victories come? You’d better savor them.

You have a productive writing day.
Somebody compliments your work.
You get an agent.
Your book sells to a publisher.
You get a check.
You get a cover design.
Your book releases.
A reader likes it.

“This is as good as this job gets. Savor it.”

It’s easy to focus on the negatives. The  rejections… the demands on your time… the frustrations of platform and social networking… the marketing that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere… the sales numbers that aren’t as high as you’d like. There are always going to be the downsides.

So when something good happens? Even something really small?

Savor it.

What’s something good that has happened to you recently? No matter how small or large… share it. And savor it!

Guest blogger: Dineen A. Miller

Nothing like a book contract to make you suddenly aware of the need to think about marketing. Before the release of my first novel, The Soul Saver, I started questioning if current marketing trends in the Christian publishing industry were working. The big picture out there can be quite overwhelming, like a megastore with more choices in products than I have years to live (don’t ask how old I am).

My questions put me on a journey that’s now led to multiple areas of intentional marketing—intentional as opposed to just doing what everyone else is doing. With every marketing avenue we consider, we need to ask why and will it be effective for our particular book/brand/ministry.

One avenue of intentional marketing is something a group of my cohorts and I are calling “Rooted Marketing.”* Rooted marketing refers to planting seeds in your stories to be harvested right before, during and after your book launch as marketing tools. As you’re writing your story, you are literally building in settings, hobbies, causes, interests and anything unique that you can later use to promote your book.

From these “roots” you can write nonfiction articles for submission to magazines, blogs and other sources looking for special interest pieces. You can even start getting speaking engagements based on these topics.

For example, one author shared recently how her research for her book turned into a series of articles for her local newspaper. Another author built in a common theme of a quilt pattern through her book series and included the pattern (one she designed herself) at the back of each book. And still another author recently shared with me that she loved writing home and hearth stories because this had been a big area of enjoyment in her own life. Suddenly we realized she had unlimited opportunities to write into her stories traditions and celebrations that had meant so much to her, and she could give her readers step by step planning instructions to do the same kinds of events and traditions in their own homes. She had not only pulled a theme from the stories she felt so passionate about, she’d created her brand and an ongoing platform from which to promote her fiction.

Rooted Marketing isn’t necessarily “new.” Authors are pulling aspects from their novels all the time to reach more readers and sell more books through online promotions, non-fiction articles, and speaking. But why not start thinking it through before you even start writing your next story?

What can you build into that budding novel that can be a handy marketing tool? Can you even produce articles or downloads while you’re researching and writing it? Imagine finishing your next contracted novel and already having several marketing tools harvested from your marketing garden, ready to use to promote that book when it releases. All that research that goes into making your novel realistic can be put to good use later.

There are so many different ways to market today that we have to be intentional about what we choose. Rooted marketing is like preparing the soil for those seeds so when your book comes out, you’re ready to reap a harvest.

What can you weave into your story right now and build upon later to market that book of yours?

(Find out more at our ACFW Conference Continuing Education class, “How to Market Your Fiction Like a Non-fiction Pro” by Rachelle Gardner, Kathi Lipp, Dineen Miller and Jim Rubart.)

* * * * *

Dineen Miller is co-author of the blog Spiritually Unequal Marriage, and the book Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage (Regal, 2011).

Dineen’s fiction includes The Soul Saver, releasing this month from Barbour, and the upcoming novella, A Love Meant To Be, part of the Rendezvous in Central Park collection.

Dineen has won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine. She’s also a C.L.A.S.S. Communicator and has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Family Life and Focus on the Family Radio.

Hey Mark, way to put me on the defensive!

Ahem. Just kidding.

Along with everyone else, I’m carefully watching the new developments in publishing, and I try to think through how each change will affect readers, writers, and everyone who works in publishing and bookselling.

I’m not afraid of the future of publishing. For now, despite the loud voices online constantly screaming about the death of our industry, publishers are still buying and producing books, and so agents are continuing to represent authors. The difference is that in our role of career partner and advisor, we’re helping our authors to be aware of all their publishing options beyond the “traditional” ones of the past.

So the role of literary agents is already starting to change, and this will continue. The role of many publishing employees will change too. The roles of writers have been changing in the last few years and will continue in that direction. Heck, people’s roles in countless industries have been changing rapidly as our technology changes, our economics change, and the role of marketing changes.

The fact is, we live in an era in which no matter what you do, you’re going to have to embrace change or you’re going to stagnate and fall behind.

I think it’s an exciting time, if sometimes overwhelming. The future is wide open for people who are adaptable, creative, and forward-thinking. I can envision many different ways for agents’ roles to evolve, and I know most of my agent friends have been thinking about this too. Writers are still going to write; readers are still going to read; and agents are people who have developed a wide variety of skills that help bring the two together. How it will all shake out is anybody’s guess.

Most of us can think of twenty different ways our roles could morph into something related yet different. Those who aren’t interested in rolling with the changes are looking at the possibility of a different career down the road.

So don’t feel bad for all of us poor agents who supposedly may be out of a job in a few years. We’re not the equivalent of buggy-whip makers in the era of the automobile. Maybe we’re more like the road maintenance crew—we facilitated transportation via horse and buggy, and now we’re going to facilitate transportation by automobile, so we just have to figure out how to make the roads better.

I’m fairly sure that the same skills that led us to be agents in the first place will serve us as we each figure out our next step. Most likely, we’ll still be in the business of helping bring the written word to readers. Somehow, some way.

How do you envision the future for agents and publishers? And for writers?

I think Megan’s smart to consider this. Sometimes the dream of finally being a “published author” is different from the reality. So here are a few hints.

Life is going to get harder, not easier. There will be so much to do that you never really thought about. The minute that publishing deal is done, you might begin receiving requests from the publisher. Do you have a video we can show our sales reps? Can you send us your thoughts on cover design? Do you have any other ideas for your book title? And that’s just the beginning.

You’ll be busier than you can imagine. If you’re contracted for multiple books, consider that 18 months from now, you may be simultaneously trying to promote book #1, edit book #2, and write book #3. All on top of your current job and family responsibilities.

The writing itself can be more challenging. This may be the first time you’ve written under contract and under deadline, especially in book-length works. If you’ve always written on your own schedule, with no one to please but yourself, it could be a rude awakening.

The necessity for marketing can be daunting. You already know you’ll need to be doing everything you can to engage your tribe, using social networking and anything else at your disposal. Around the time of a book release, the time commitment can be overwhelming.

Did you get an advance? Staring at a blank screen is a totally different thing when people have already paid you money for words you haven’t written yet.

Are you ready for the pressure? Are you ready for the demands on your time and energy? What are you doing to prepare yourself for your dream coming true?

What does the “dream”of being a published author look like for you?

To Anyone Who is the “Significant Other” of a Writer:

Congratulations on having the fabulous good fortune of living with a writer-type. There are many great things about being involved with a writer, among them:

• Awesome income potential.
• Hollywood premieres and red carpet treatment.
• A stable, non-emotional partner.
• Opportunity to try new dinner recipes since you’re probably doing all the cooking.
• Plenty of time to play Xbox or watch hockey without interruption.
• Bragging rights when publication finally comes.

I know, the perks are amazing, right? However, there are a few things you should know about your writer friend. The sooner you accept these truths, the more harmony you’ll have in your household.

1. You can’t change them. Most writers can’t help it—they are what they are. They feel like writing is their calling or their mission. To try and get them to stop writing would be like taking away their oxygen. Don’t do this.

2. Success can take a very long time. Most writers spend anywhere from a few years, to a decade or more, diligently working on their writing before getting published. Think of it as being in grad school. This is their education, and although the thesis may be taking forever, it’s a normal process.

3. A writer’s life is more than just writing. It’s no longer enough to sit at a desk and pound out words. Writers must engage in social networking, they may need to attend conferences, and they’ll certainly need to buy books on writing. Yes, it’s gonna cost you, before it ever makes you a dime. Think of it as the cost of that graduate degree.

4. Speaking of the cost…money is a sensitive topic for a writer. There’s no way to know if a writer will make a little money from their writing, a boatload of money, or no money at all. It may take years to determine this. If at all possible, try to separate your financial concerns from their writing. Have your money conversations without bringing up the time they spend on writing.

5. Your partner is an artist. This means they may not view money and income as primary motivators for what they’re doing. They are on a quest. They’re attempting to master a very difficult skill; they’re trying to break-in to an extremely competitive field. But underneath it all is an artist dedicated to their art, and there may be a small part of them that’s willing to starve for it. Try to accept this even if you don’t understand it.

6. The life of a writer is mostly thankless. It comes with a lot of rejection and criticism, along with very little kudos or positive reinforcement. On top of that, being an artist means opening oneself up, being vulnerable, and therefore susceptible to insecurity and anxiety. Try not to make the insecurities worse by communicating disdain or disrespect for their work.

7. And it IS work. Paid or not, writing is difficult labor.

Here are a few “don’ts” for you:

Support your writer and show you care by doing things that are meaningful to them. You could do things like:

Most writers are smart, passionate, interesting, driven, and eager to share their words with the world. (And yes, okay, a little moody and possibly bi-polar.) Enjoy the fact that they have depth and ambition, and something to say!

And definitely make sure you have your own hobbies, passions and interests.  You’re going to need them.

Your turn: What would YOU say to the significant others of writers?