What happens if the first book you query fails? 😢
Today's guest is New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer
What if the first book you query fails?
Many authors dream that the first novel they write will be their one golden ticket to signing an agent and landing a publishing deal. But the reality is that many successful authors don’t actually publish the first book they write. That doesn’t mean the work was wasted; it was an important first step in your journey and teaches many lessons that carry into your next projects.
But…what if the second does, too?
That doesn’t mean you should give up. Many bestselling authors were years — and multiple books — deep before before their first hit came. Your breakout book might not be your first or even your second, but the skills you’re building with each project are what will ultimately lead you to success.
In today’s interview, New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer shares how many books she wrote before she published her debut, her approach to POVs, and the unglamorous parts of the publishing process.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY IS…
Brigid Kemmerer
New York Times Bestselling Author
Available Now: Warrior Princess Assassin
What is the most memorable writing tip or technique that you have heard, and how did it influence your process?
I write a lot of books in dual (or triple!) POV, and I was once struggling with how to know which character should have the perspective for a specific scene. A friend reminded me that the POV should always be from the character who has the most at stake, and it was like a lightbulb went off in my head.
Since then, I always think about what's at stake for each character as I'm drafting their scenes, and sometimes I'll even write a chapter from everyone's point of view just to make sure I've chosen the right one!
What part of the writing process brings you the most joy?
Meeting readers! I absolutely love it, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. There is something truly magical about the fact that I can write a story by myself, alone in my basement, and someone somewhere out in the world can read it and find a connection with my characters.
When life gets busy, how do you protect your time to write?
I lock the door and lean on my husband to keep the kids occupied. It doesn't always work, but we do our best! I can generally work anywhere, so I've also been known to whip out my laptop at sports practices, on long car rides, and even when waiting at school pickup.
Ready for feedback that takes your story to the next level?
“Having Alyssa edit my manuscript was truly one of the best decisions I could have made. Her suggestions absolutely made my story better. Then, the very first agent I queried requested to read the whole manuscript after reading the revised pages we worked on!”
—Laura Geraghty, historical fiction author
What’s one thing about the publishing process no one tells you, but should?
How much about being an author doesn't actually involve writing. Just like with any other self-employed job, there is so much admin, so much marketing, and so many distractions from the actual writing, just to keep a publishing career afloat.
How did you get your literary agent? What was the querying process like for you?
It took forever! I queried two projects before I ever found an agent (with the third), and even then that book didn't sell. I had to write a new book, which became STORM, my debut.
ICYMI…this week on YouTube, I broke down the 4 types of writers (nope, it’s not plotters and pantsers!).
Which one are you?
This is part of the reason I have multiple WIPs.
In high school(long ago) I had a teacher whom told us that a book ready for publication would be rejected.