Two Cheap, Easy Ways Journal Editors Can Help New or Unknown Writers
Author reflects on how journal editors can help writers entering book-publishing
Welcome to our weekly column offering perspectives on lit mag publishing, with contributions from readers, writers and editors around the world.
Out of frustration, I recently took to social media to vent about the emotionally draining task of compiling a book proposal.
“Writing a 75k memoir is far easier and more fun than writing a book proposal for said memoir,” I whined on Twitter, ahem X. My tweets typically evaporate into the ether, but seven fellow writers liked my post. One commented “everything is easier than the proposal,” followed by the grimace-face emoji. I clearly hit a nerve, which got me thinking: Why is it so damn painful and how can I fix that?
Some of my frustration stems from the obvious reasons: I don't have a platform, nor an MFA. I bristle at how punitive the publishing industry is to new authors, wishing the process was at least more standardized (e.g., all agents/editors use the same template for a book proposal. How dreamy and timesaving would that be?!).
A big source of my frustration stems from my success. When I sat down to write my memoir two years ago, I made sure to set aside time to adapt sections into standalone essays, which I then aggressively submitted to journals, magazines, and anthologies. I'm proud to say each one was accepted (after multiple submission efforts, of course), and one publication even paid me.
For sure, that's been a validating experience. But it’s also left with a feeling of “well, so what?” When it comes to writing my proposal, yes, I can list out these bylines in my “published works” section, but other than that, I don't have much to say about them. As in, if they were well-received by readers, or maybe even went a little bit viral, ratcheting up surprise page views for the journal.
That's because that kind of powerful information largely exists with the journal editors, not writers. I know editors are busy and often editing for free. But holy moly, what a difference it could make if there was just a wee bit more information sharing. Case in point: My two suggestions, which require no money and very little time.
I know editors are busy and often editing for free. But holy moly, what a difference it could make if there was just a wee bit more information sharing.
1. Upon publication, editors send quick but customized notes of thanks to the writers. I'll even provide a Mad Libs style template: "Thank you for sharing this with us. Your [essay/poem/story] was [insert take-away here] and made us feel [insert emotion or reaction here.] This will not only make the writer's day, they can cut/paste that baby right into their proposal, MFA application or portfolio.
2. The editor lets the writer know if there is any sort of audience reaction or notable web metrics. Earlier this year, I had a short essay published about giving birth while listening to Metallica's “Master of Puppets” album. I shared the essay on my social media platforms, and so did a friend or two. Amazingly, a guy who writes about Metallica for a living came across it on Twitter, and shared it, adding “Thank you for writing! I try to read everything about Metallica and that was among the very best.” While his compliment may not make it into my proposal, it made my day. I also wondered if the journal editors would want to see his tweet or not, as his promotion likely brought them unexpected traffic and would certainly be an easy thing to share on social media.
After getting that tiny bit of engagement (and daydreaming about James, Kirk and Lars reading my essay), I got curious: How was my piece performing? This is something I monitor constantly in my day job as a web editor, so it felt weird to have no idea about the stats on my own personal work. I wrote the editor to ask, and while I'm still waiting a reply, I've already decided this is something I will always do post-publication. For editors, I recommend you simply make a calendar entry to set aside time to assess this kind of stuff and send out notes accordingly.
To help writers gain access to this info, I've again thrown together a template: “Hi [name] thanks again for publishing my work! Now that it's been online for a few weeks, I'm curious how the [essay/poem/short story] performed traffic-wise. When you get a moment, can you let me know if there are any intriguing stats or shares?”
In some cases, there may not be anything notable to say. (And that's a sign you should keep promoting/sharing your work–no harm done in a little extra self-promotion). But if there is, it again can be exactly the kind of invaluable fodder a writer needs to get to the next level of their career, or at least add to their mental list of “reasons to keep writing.”
We all need such a list, but just like a book proposal, it can sometimes be hard to fill.
 | A guest post by
|
Great article! For me, all of the "business" writing involved in writing is painful: proposals, cover letters, etc. I always feel like I am being too stuffy and robotic when I am attempting formality, or too familiar and enthusiastic when I am trying to be casual. And when I mix the two, I just come off as weird! ARGH! This is why I write poetry and not business-y things!
Joy, I'm working on a BP now, too. Why is it so darn hard? I agree the memoir was easier to write. Now that the book's done, edited, and revised, why can't agents and editors just read it? Good luck with yours!