Shelley Stout's Spiral Noteblog

When I was first beginning to write, I thought each and every word was solid gold, assuring me I was one step closer to a Pulitzer Prize. These days, I realize I’m about average for a published author, but even so, I have something to offer those who are just starting to write.

As a new writer, I remember how important it was to have others read and enjoy what I’d written. I soon found online writing critique groups, where my sample chapter or short story was posted for all to see and crit, while I sat back and cringed, waiting for the inevitable (bad) news. I have something slightly different to offer.

If you are a new, unpublished writer, unsure whether your writing is ready for prime time, and you’re simply looking for some validation, please feel free to post a paragraph or two of your writing as a comment on this blog post. I will keep it hidden unless you state otherwise, and I will offer you some feedback in the form of a ranking– sort of a beginner, intermediate, expert ranking. I will not go into a tremendous amount of detail, but just let you know where I think you stand.

A beginner might be someone who has recently begun writing, and perhaps would benefit from joining an online writing group or attending some workshops. This does not mean you should give up writing. It simply means you will improve over time.

Intermediate might be someone who has a moderate amount of talent which shows through in their writing, but still needs to work on their technique.

An expert would be someone who was born to write. They are ready to be published! (Sadly, at first, I fell into the “beginner” ranking).

Note: if the writing does not appeal to me in any way, (ie too violent, too graphic, etc.), I will not give a ranking or publish the comment on my blog.

My opinions are simply that– OPINIONS. Generally, I won’t be able to give a full critique. This will be only for beginning, unpublished writers who would like a little feedback. Just my way of giving back to the ever-growing writing community.

My third attempt at a novel was my most ambitious project to date: a sweeping novel with four main characters, (all male), which took place in the 1950s in a small town in Virginia. The title: Born Leaders.

As with the other two novels, I sent off the query letters and sample chapters, but to no avail. My query/response spreadsheet was beginning to look like a report from a ten-year government study.

During this time, I wrote a short story which was beginning to show some promise. I worked on it for months, with critique groups and revised it several times. When it was as polished as I could get it, I sent it into our local Charlotte Writer’s Club contest, (The Elizabeth Simpson Smith Award), and it won first place– $500.00.

The award was more than just a local contest, (I was told), but a coveted prize each time it is offered. I attended a dinner in my honor, (along with the second and third place honorees), and accepted my award later at the monthly meeting. Although this seemed like a great honor at the time, I discovered later that agents are only interested if you win a national award. Still, I was proud of my accomplishment, and was also pleased to discover the short story would be published in the Writer’s Club anthology.

Next blog post, I will explore my fourth attempt, (a young adult novel), loosely based on events from my own teen years.

Monday, Aug. 16 is the release date of my second novel, (an ebook), Celebrities for Breakfast. Yay!! Anyone who has ever been (or knows someone who is) obsessed with celebrities will relate to the characters and situations in this romantic comedy.

I am no longer considered a “debut author,” so marketing plans and efforts for this one will be slightly different. In fact, they will be easier in some ways, and more difficult in others.

Since I already have my social networking in place, I won’t be spending time developing or collecting fans/followers on a new Facebook or Twitter page. However, I still need to put my social networking to work. With a Goodreads.com profile, a BookBuzzr widget, and this blog, I am in a better position now to promote a new novel.

On Goodreads, both of my novels are listed, as well as a long-term giveaway for my children’s book, The Moose Next Door. Each book helps promote the other, especially if a reader pulls up my author page.

Bookbuzzr offers a flip-book graphic for both books, which allows readers to read an excerpt for each.

I am new to blogging– and constantly learning ways to draw attention to it. I have started tagging my posts, and hope that will help random searchers find me.

I also continuously promote my novels on multiple message boards. The word spreads, and people buy a book and write a review.

New bookmarks, (printed on both sides– one for each novel), make great handouts at events. Facebook “fans” who have agreed to help promote Celebrities for Breakfast, have volunteered to post a link the night before or day of launch. (Thank you all)!

As with my first novel, ebook sales must be high to ensure a paperback version. It’s impossible to say how well this one will do, at least until it’s out in the world. My publisher and I will be watching…

So, my first novel attempt– my pride and joy, which I’d spent months writing, editing, polishing, and pitching (to agents) fell flatter than a pancake. No go. So what do you do? You scoop yourself up and try again.

The story idea for my second novel came to me first, before the characters. They developed from the story. As with the first novel, I wrote, revised, enlisted the help of test readers, and began sending query letters to agents. This time, more of them asked for the complete manuscript rather than just sample chapters. I thought, “wow, I must be a great writer.” I printed off the copies and stuffed them into huge envelopes. The agents took their time to describe the degree to which they were not entertained. Nevertheless, as with the first, I received feedback prompting me to improve, change, revise, and enhance what I’d written. Somewhere in this process, I found my voice. My true writerly self was beginning to emerge.

With all these agents rejecting me, I decided I needed a spreadsheet to keep it all straight. I sent a query letter on X date, and received a rejection on X date. The full manuscript was mailed on X date, and the agent asked for revisions on X date, and so on.

Soon, it was clear this second novel was to be enjoyed by family and friends only, but no worries– I had an idea for yet another novel! This one was based on a childhood memory– I dropped something out of our car window when I was six years old, and watched it tumble end over end into the traffic behind us.

Next up, more rejection, but a bit of local notoriety.

As promised, I wanted to describe my “road to publication” in a series of blog entries. This will be the first in that series.

In 2002, I began writing short stories. Most of them were amateurish at best, but a few of them showed promise. I submitted them to local contests– (the first one I ever submitted to the Charlotte Writer’s Club won honorable mention). I was excited, but I wanted more. Also, I wanted to know more. How do you get published? How do you get a literary agent? How can I improve as a writer?

Over time, I found the answers to my questions. I studied, participated in writing critique groups, wrote more, and read books in several genres. Soon, I had one particular short story which my writer friends suggested I flesh out into a full novel. I worked on it for several months, and began submitting it to literary agents, who were kind enough to give me suggestions for improvement. I spent several more months revising the manuscript, sent it to new agents, and received more rejections than I care to admit, but I learned a great deal in the process. One important lesson learned, was that I should begin writing the next novel– take what I’d learned from the first one and create something new. Move on.

Next post: What happened to novel number two…

Personal shopper to the stars, Judith Collington, refuses to spend one more day in LA, answering the whiney demands of her Hollywood clientele. To escape, Judith and her seventh-grader, Shannon, give up their lucrative lifestyle to run a bed and breakfast in central Illinois. Judith prepares to purchase the property, until it changes hands in a poker game. New owner: Hollywood actor and part-time egomaniac, Ren Spencer. Judith installs Ren into the nearest guest room, where he insists on heated towels and meals on a tray. She would love to hate him, except he’s pathetic in an endearing sort of way. Oh, and did I mention he’s about to become engaged?

If you really want the latest, just read Shannon’s private computer journal. Her bedroom wall is plastered with posters of her all-time favorite star, but Shannon could care less if Ren Spencer’s a has-been at 35. He’s so hot, she can’t stop writing love stories about him. So what if Ren drinks too much and has to sober up in jail? And why can’t Shannon just have a normal mother like everybody else?

CELEBRITIES FOR BREAKFAST is a romantic comedy told through Judith’s voice, but sprinkled throughout are Shannon’s journal entries and Ren’s two cents.

Cover photo by Amy Snyder. Cover design by Mauricio Portasio

To read the first chapters of Radium Halos and Celebrities for Breakfast, click on the boxes above.

To order Radium Halos:

Click here to order paperback

Click here for Kindle

Click here for other eBook formats

To order Celebrities for Breakfast:

Click here for Kindle

Click here for eBook formats

Just when I thought I knew who I was, my persona as an author is about to undergo a drastic change. Or is it?

My first novel is historical fiction. My second novel is a romantic comedy– (Celebrities for Breakfast, soon to be released as an ebook from Girlebooks.com). Vastly different genres, yet both written by me, at different times in my life.

Switching genres isn’t anything new, but more often, you hear about well-known authors (who already have a huge following) taking this leap of faith. Since I only have a small-to-medium following, I’m hoping to expand my brand awareness in the marketplace by reaching out to a slightly different audience.

I’m still me, although with a wider reach. –I hope.

I always knew if I ever created a blog, I would use it to describe two things:

1. How I got published,
and
2. My marketing and promotion methods.

In the upcoming weeks, I intend to do just that in a series of blog posts. As always, I welcome questions from aspiring authors and hope to learn from all of you!

Please join me at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Saturday July 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for my next book signing.