I am no expert on this matter, but someone pointed out to me that in my last post I did not say exactly how I was able to get a published author to read my manuscript. So, for those of you interested, I'm going to tell you the entire process.
Ask.
No joke! All I did was contact a handful of authors and ask them how an unpublished author is supposed to go about getting endorsements. A few replied, saying that I was doing it exactly the way it was supposed be done. By asking.
One of the authors said, "Yes, can you email it to me?" I think I almost did a back-flip in my chair! Another one said, "Sorry, I can't. I'm too busy for that right now." I haven't heard from some of the others yet.
I think that often readers come to see authors as untouchable "movie stars" of literature. I'm finding out that usually isn't true. Hey, they used to be dreamers, too, just like the rest of us writers! The authors I have come into contact with have been very cordial and helpful.
Obviously, if you are looking for an endorsement, I would start by asking authors who are in the same genre as the story you have written. Don't go to Ted Dekker if you have an Amish romance (lol). The point is to find someone who will actually want to endorse your manuscript!
Also, I doubt any author will read your manuscript if it isn't completely finished. Authors are busy people (take a look at your bookshelf). They probably don't have time to edit an unfinished story. Make sure your book is ready to give to the first agent or publisher that says, "I want this story!" Then you can ask an author to read it.
Guess that's all I have for now. Like I said, I am no expert. In fact, this is my very first time down this particular stretch of road on my journey. But hopefully you have found my observances to be helpful.
Post Tenebras Lux!
-ST
14 comments:
well, for a person who says that you don't know anything about book endorsements, I'd say that was some good advice, ST! Well done! And I am very excited for you! I can hardly wait until you get a response back from this particular author. I really hope they like it! :)
Thanks, Caro! I can hardly wait either!
ST, Once your book is published will you give us the name?
Oh, yes! As soon as I have a contract, I'll give you all so much information, you'll get tired of it! *laughs*
Nay, I shall rejoice with the saints. I was just not sure if you were comfortable with it. Sweetness I shall wait. THough...Something tells me AB will know before I;0>
*laughs* Well, I must admit that AB already knows. The Watcher has been watching my progress from the near beginning, which was two or three years ago.
As soon as I have a contract with a publisher, or someone experienced tells me that it would be good to post more information, then I will not hesitate to tell everything. :)
Mwahaha! Yes, I know EVERYTHING about ST! Ok, not really EVERYTHING. :)
DO I await moderation??
Millard
Now that one I saw, but if you posted before this, I did not receive it. Sorry.
Wow, excellent, Storyteller! I've very, very often wondered what the next step would be after writing a book on the way to publishing it. Thank you! Cool blog. ~ whisper
Hey, whisper! Thanks for visiting! You and I are both learning the step to publication. It gets a little hair-raising at times! *laughs*
Would you mind giving me the e-mail addresses of a few of the authors you got a response from? ~whisper
I wish I could, whisper, but I am not certain they would like me to specify them. :( You should be able to find a way to contact authors on their sites, though. And, actually, I did not email them; I sent them messages on Facebook. Most of them have not responded, so I would try the emailing if I were you. I'm sorry. Hope you understand.
That's fine, thank you Storyteller! I understand completely. ~ whisper
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