2010 – The Year of your book?

January 1, 2010 by Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook)
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Getting Published 

Jo work picHappy New Year to all Writers’ & Artists’ users and Yearbook readers!

How are you today? Are you looking back at 2009 and weighing up the highs and lows? Or are you thinking of the year ahead as a new opportunity – made any resolutions?

New Year resolutions – shudder. It’s a bit odd how people wait until January to abstain from booze, pies and cakes (as usual I’ve vowed to and am dreading it). I mean, why do we do it knowing we’ll most likely fail come 17 January when the absence of a cheeky sherbet is driving us loop the loop?

And what about writing resolutions: is 2010 the year you start your book, do a writing course, or even, the ultimate in writing-related resolutions – finish your book and get it published…

Now that last one is a biggy, particularly if you’re abstaining from booze and chocolate at the same time. Just how will you do it, and will you be crushed if you don’t?

Maybe we’d all be better start by making bite-sized resolutions. It could be a case of deciding to write X amount of words a month or finding out all you need to know about the publishing industry and submissions before you start approaching agents.

We can help you there: you could make a start by getting stuck into the inspirational tales from the likes of Joanna Trollope, Terry Pratchett and JK Rowling in the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook (particularly if Father Christmas brought you one!).

Or book a ticket for our ‘How to get published’ writers’ conference on Saturday 13 March. We’ll tell you all you need to know to get your masterpiece into the marketplace.

Whatever your resolution, writing or otherwise, approach 2010 with positivity and creativity – it’s the only way any of us will get anything done!

Warm wishes, Jo

(Editor, Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook)

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Comments

39 Comments on 2010 – The Year of your book?

  1. Jessica Blake on Jan 1, 2010 at 14:05pm

    2. My resolution for 2010 is to write superbly and to do as much work (writing) as I can, to do it right. And also, I’d like to finish book 1 and start working on book 2 during this year…

  2. Laweir on Jan 1, 2010 at 18:21pm

    3. Have spent most of today beginning to look into how a person goes about publishing a book! Got stories, ideas and characters swimming around in my head (usually doing most of their splashing when I’m trying to sleep). So my resolution for 2010 is to get them out there in that big old ocean of children’s books!

  3. Clare Kirwan on Jan 2, 2010 at 23:26pm

    4. Yes! Yes! Yes! This is the year of the novel! I’m 60,000 words in and I got the Writers and Artists Yearbook for Christmas so the search for an agent commences. 7 New Year Resolutions for Writers on my blog, too.

  4. Flugel Meister on Jan 3, 2010 at 21:46pm

    5. My resolution is a simple one. Choose a deadline and stick to it.

  5. tetl on Jan 4, 2010 at 20:13pm

    6. Because I’m currently doing my A Levels, I can only hope to finish my novel by the summer holidays. I’m 58,000 words in, and at the moment I’m reading over what I’ve done and enjoying it so far. I still think I’m too young to send off my novel once it’s completed, so hopefully after I’m at least a year into my Creative Writing BA and get some feedback from my teachers and fellow students I’ll be confident enough to send it!

  6. Christina on Jan 5, 2010 at 14:40pm

    7. I have the idea and have started trying to put together the pre book writing pieces like the character descriptions, plotline, subplotlines and am putting to gether the scenes for the book.

    My new years resolution is to get this stage done and actually start writing the book.

  7. Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 7, 2010 at 11:36am

    8. I’m so impressed by all you New Year’s Resolutionists out there! With determination like that 2010 may well be the Year of Your Book! Good luck and stick at it. All best, Jo

  8. SGJenyings on Jan 7, 2010 at 14:09pm

    9. I am currently working on my first book, Solaria: Two Worlds and it is almost complete. I have done a lot of research on my book and am looking forward to collecting more knowledge about “pitching” one’s manuscript.
    This site has professional opinion that I appreciate.

    2010! Bring it ON!

  9. Gavinh2009 on Jan 7, 2010 at 15:08pm

    10. I’m also working on my first book, I’ve already wrote about 200 pages of it so far, I will be finished in about a month’s time, and I have a few literary agents in mind after looking through the Writers’ and Artists’ Yeartbook 2010, I just need to complete the cover letter and rework the Synopsis and then send them off to the first agent :D I am very excited.

  10. tonyl on Jan 10, 2010 at 18:38pm

    11. I’ve just started doing some creative writing for the first time. Started off writing a thriller, and just this week had a go at writing an entry for the short story competition. Showed it to a few people and everybody is amazed that I can do it! Wow, what a buzz! 2010 is already the year I discovered a new passion. No idea what I’m doing, but I’m loving it!

  11. Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 11, 2010 at 12:36pm

    12. Hi Tony, go you! Keep buzzing and good luck finishing your short story for our competition. All best, Jo

  12. tonyl on Jan 11, 2010 at 13:46pm

    13. Thanks Jo, looking through your website content, it seems I am probably being quite/very niaive in my approach, guess I have a lot to learn.

  13. CLBROWN on Jan 13, 2010 at 21:27pm

    14. I think for me my resolution is to finish the first book in a trilogy I’ve started to have it ready to send out before the end of summer.

    I was also thinking maybe a proofreading course would be an advantage as well.

  14. tonyl on Jan 14, 2010 at 19:20pm

    15. I’ve just started a new job, and been away on a residential training course. The highlight of everyday were the stolen moments back in my hotel room, when I could boot up my laptop, and work on my writing projects. I only started writing this year (see previous blog entry). If I only ever keep writing as an escape I guess that’s ok, but this has really made me feel that I must make 2010 the year when I seriously find out whether anything I write is publishable. My wife has just ordered the yearbook for me. I can’t wait until it arrives.

  15. unclearthur on Jan 14, 2010 at 20:28pm

    16. This is a great blog for optimism and I hope everyone can keep it going through the tough bits – the chapters which you find utter rubbish when you re-read them, the interminable re-writes, the agent/publisher rejections, the self-doubt that creeps in.

    Good luck to everyone. I’ve started a second novel after POD publishing the first and there’s NOTHING like holding a book in your hand with your name on the cover.

    Jonathan

  16. tonyl on Jan 15, 2010 at 10:57am

    17. Sorry to be thick – what’s “POD publishing”?

  17. Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 15, 2010 at 11:51am

    18. Hi Tonyl, POD stands for ‘Print on Demand’. As soon as your copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook arrives, you’ll be able to read all about it! Good luck and best wishes, Jo

  18. tonyl on Jan 16, 2010 at 15:39pm

    19. I was hoping the book might arrive today. Instead of reading it I’ve finished my second short story from my 7 deadly sins series (how original I hear you say). My wife liked it, now I’m just waiting for responses from the rest of my “focus group”! Actually one just came in, and she liked it! This is addictive ……

  19. tonyl on Jan 16, 2010 at 20:31pm

    20. Sorry, me again. Now that I’ve written a few short stories I have found that I have a tendancy to maybe end them a bit abruptly. The problem is that I don’t want to telegraph the ending too far in advance and I think maybe I’m “sorting things out” a bit suddenly at the end. Is this something common in short stories? Sorry if this isn’t the right thread for this …

  20. Jacqueline Burrell on Jan 17, 2010 at 13:13pm

    21. I have been a journalist for many years and have always had the urge to write a book. I’m British but having lived in various Middle Eastern countries for nearly twenty years my ambition is to write about particular aspects of the Arab culture as seen through Western eyes.

    I made decision to start with non-fiction and chose 2010 as my year of the book. Literally, two days before I discovered this website, I sent a proposal to a UK publisher who specialises in the Middle East and accepts unsolicited approaches from would be authors. But after reading the tips and advice you offer, I certainly would have approached things a little differently.

    It is pointless crying over spilt milk, so I will remain patient and hopeful while awaiting a decision.

    Jacqueline

  21. Cressida Downing (Editorial Consultant) on Jan 18, 2010 at 12:43pm

    22. My New Year’s Resolution is keep a list of books that sound interesting so I know what to add to my latest book order, or to get from the library.

    tonyl – short stories are hard to get right in terms of how the action unfolds. Pace generally is vital part of writing well, and I will post a blog entry on it sometime soon.

    Good luck everyone with 2010!

    Cressida

  22. Anna Weber on Jan 20, 2010 at 03:39am

    23. I’ve just started writing my first YA fanatasy novel, with a girl as the Hero, WHOOHOO!. It is challenging to say the least and I am writing chapters completely out of order, but it’s working for me. After having read a million agents website that say ‘we dont accept unsolicited manuscripts’, i’m thinking it may just be easier to go straight to publishers. Is this crazy?

  23. tonyl on Jan 20, 2010 at 17:53pm

    24. Thanks Cressida, that would be very useful. Like I said I think I just need to play around a bit balancing maintaing suspense vs ending abruptly. I’m sure there are some key tips I can benefit from in that department.

  24. Merrifield2 on Jan 24, 2010 at 19:53pm

    25. I am similar to Uncle Arthur (or is it Jonathan??) as I am impressed with all the optimism expressed by most people on this blog. My initial enthusiasm when I first sent a submission to a publisher in about 2003 has since waned a little with a few rejections and a few others who didn’t even have the decency to do that. After 3 re-writes my new years’ resolution is that this year I will self publish although despite the efforts I have already put in to try and find a regular publisher I have niggling concerns that I am being very desperate. I think I can imagine what that feeling will be like when I hold the book in my hand but would be interested in any other views on self publishing.
    David

  25. Merrifield2 on Jan 24, 2010 at 20:00pm

    26. Tonyl – I am also new to writing short stories having only just started a year or so ago but have found it quite a useful method in hopefully helping me write novels in the future. I have written one (219,000 words) and nearly finished my second (190,000 words) and I find that once I start I just write and write. As you will see, the length of my first two novels are much bigger than most others which means the writing has to be much better to keep the readers interest and also brings with it cost implications or obstacles. Writing short stories has made me be more precise and I think this will help during the writing of my third novel. You mention a focus group, is this something you have joined separately to W&A?
    David

  26. Merrifield2 on Jan 24, 2010 at 20:01pm

    27. Anna Weber – what does the YA stand for please? David

  27. Jenny Treasure on Jan 25, 2010 at 12:16pm

    28. I have been writing my book for the last five years and am now at the final stages. It is my first book but I have no qualms about it it should be published even if, as expected, it will probably get rejected the first time. The book is entitled ‘The diary of a female martial artist’, different as it covers various perspectives on martial arts and not just the technical or fighting side of the art and it will be published for its uniqueness as several books that I have seen on the shelves are pretty pithy and lack depth. I have promised myself that this is the year. I have lived in various parts of the world and worked for government and the commercial world and
    incidentally, I have taught English to speakers of other languages whilst residing in Belgium for the last 22 years. I am now living back in Swansea for my sins.

  28. Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Jan 25, 2010 at 12:45pm

    29. Hi David (Merrifield2) – YA stands for Young Adult, so I expect that Anna is aiming her fantasy novel at that younger audience. Best wishes, Claire

  29. Merrifield2 on Jan 26, 2010 at 09:49am

    30. Hi Claire (Claire Fogg),

    Thank you for letting me know.

    David

  30. tonyl on Jan 29, 2010 at 17:14pm

    31. Well, I’ve just made my first submission. Just a short story to a US based magazine. Apparently they’ll let me know within 3 months whether I’ve been sucessful (I guess they must be slow readers). Its my first go, so I expect to hear nothing. Maybe I was a bit impulsive doing it, but nothing ventured … etc etc.
    If I can also make a short reply to David (Merrfield2), my “focus group” is just a group of people I know, that I trust to give me honest feedback. I know its not like getting an agent or editor to do it, but I’ve only just started.

  31. tonyl on Jan 30, 2010 at 13:05pm

    32. What a weekend! I’ve just sent in my short story competition entry today. I resisted the urge to continue mucking around with it (sorry … I mean editing and revising it), and just bit the bullet. Its the first thing I ever wrote fiction-wise as an adult (about 2 months ago), so I doubt it’ll do well, but this is what I wrote it for, so at least I’ve taken that step of completing something (albeit a short story) and sending it.
    Two firsts on two consecutive days

  32. Jo Herbert (Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook) on Jan 31, 2010 at 15:06pm

    33. Hi Tonyl – blimey you’ve been busy! Well done you and all the best of luck with the competition. I hope your positivity will encourage others. Jo

  33. tonyl on Jan 31, 2010 at 15:55pm

    34. Thanks Jo, positivity for writing I have by the bucket-load, its the rest of it I need to work on!

  34. Merrifield2 on Jan 31, 2010 at 20:24pm

    35. To Tonyl, just to also say good luck with your short story. You are quite lucky to have a focus group made up of friends unless you have come across them doing like-minded writing. I tried to get a group of friends to read my first novel and sent it to about 6 friends but only 2 actually replied and I think only one other read it. Keep reminding those in your group how much you must appreciate them.

  35. tonyl on Feb 1, 2010 at 09:43am

    36. Thanks for the note Merrifield2, yes i do worry about boring the pants of the people kind enough to read my stuff. I guess because they are only short stories at the moment, its something they can either read through whilst drinking a coffee, or use as an excuse to stop working for 15 mins. It must be harder to engage people in reviewing a longer work like a novel.
    I think the other good thing about being part of an organised group, ie not just your friends, is that they can probably give you clearer feedback, rather than just saying they liked something or not. On the other hand the bulk of people who buy books aren’t writers and I suspect with some genres people just read things at face value with little analysis of style. So maybe somebody liking or not liking something (enough to buy it) is enough. Mind you I doubt publishers and agents look at it like that.

  36. sexloveletters on Feb 2, 2010 at 20:59pm

    37. Hi Tony. Good luck with the competition and I hope, for all of us, that your enthusiasm is rewarded! I have just finished my first book (a collection of letters) and 2010 is my publishing year!

  37. bestseller on Feb 17, 2010 at 22:47pm

    38. New years resolutions! Made loads most of which are destined to go the way of the Dodo… Is 2010 the year of my book absoloutely (please!)

    If I believe my horoscope which said it was a good year to start a new chapter. It also told me to expect a change in my career from June 26th 2010 which is the date for the awards ceremony from the competition I just entered. If mystic meg has ever been right here’s hoping it’s now.

    Until I know for sure my eternal optimism will get me through – will keep you all posted on the publication date!!

    Keep smiling everyone :-D

  38. joff050474 on Feb 19, 2010 at 15:39pm

    39. I WILL (!) finish my book in the next three months. I note that I am supposed to submit my first three chapters, but can I do this before the manuscript is finished? Or if I am successful with my submission will the agent require a full final copy immediately? HELP PLEASE!

  39. Claire Fogg (Publisher, Yearbooks) on Feb 19, 2010 at 16:01pm

    40. Hi joff050474, There’s a post which might interest you called All I Want for Christmas is An Agent, and take a look at the thirteenth comment (from Cressida) as I think that answers your question. Best wishes, Claire

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