Consider three choice resources shared in the workshop (read the articles linked to author names):
1. Have you read posts in Medium.com yet? What about serializing your novel into posts here and then sharing them for free? If it's the first in a series of books, it makes sense for some authors:
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“You’ve
probably read in the news about the ongoing Amazon vs. Hachette battle or the
recent deal between Amazon and Simon & Schuster. We won’t dive into the
gritty details here. Suffice it to say they’re ugly. Technology is reshaping
the business of storytelling, and the big players are tearing at each other’s coat
tales as they struggle to catch up. Meanwhile, indie writers and voracious
readers are forging a new world.” – Eliot Peper
2. I've heard so many seemingly serendipitous stories about author connections made with agents or publishers - but the randomness is not the predominant force here. I think what happens is that an author is prepared to step into that opportunity when it suddenly appears because of the preparatory work they've been doing for years:
·
“Writers who have been active for
years in reading in their genre can easily reference other works in their
pitches and conversations with agents/editors, plus they can pinpoint how their
style is similar to or different from other authors. They know what stands out
about their work and where it follows conventions. They can have a conversation
with another author, agent, or editor about the exciting works in the field,
and what they like and don’t like about current trends. And this is what it means to be a part of a discourse community; it makes it possible to strike up a conversation with someone you've never met before, but immediately have common ground and shared language that informs how you talk about a book or a project." - Jane Friedman
3. Poet and Blogger Trish Hopkinson interviewed on The Fem:
F: What makes a piece of writing feminist?
TH: Feminist writing can be any writing that either celebrates diversity or undertakes the hard topics of social justice.
On her blog Trish compiles a thorough list of journals that undertake these topics and celebrate diversity and "communicate, educate, and broaden the perspectives of those who are treating others unjustly".
Join the next Submission Garden Party Workshop in September if you want to gain new perspective and ideas on how to submit your work successfully to the right venues!