After my last post, I got a number of questions about how a newer writer could do the same thing with novels. And I have always said, over and over, that if you don’t read short stories, don’t bother trying to write them.

So, how to make the “challenge” I talked about in the last post work for novels.

There are a couple of ways, actually. But first off, you have to start with Heinlein’s Rules #1 and #2. You have to write and you have to finish what you write. The first part of the challenge or “secret” gives structure to those two rules.  But actually, just following Heilein’s Rules will do the trick.

So, here’s my suggestion. (This is too slow for me now, but it would have worked fine when I was working three jobs.)

1) One chapter a week, finished.

2) Repeat until the book is finished.

3) One week later, the book must go in the mail TO AN EDITOR (or better yet, a bunch of editors, which is allowed with novels unlike short fiction). And follow Heinlein’s Rules here as well, keeping the book in the mail until it sells.

4) No break. Start and finish first chapter of the next book the next week.

5) Repeat.

If you have to scream “But what about rewriting?” then you haven’t read Heinlein’s Rules, have you?

Okay, now to change to another topic on novels, one that I am sure will bring up a ton of questions.

Writer promotion of novels.

My rule: Besides a web site and a local signing to help out a local bookstore, don’t do any book promotion unless, and only unless, the publisher asks you to help them.

I know, I know, that’s against all the current myths about self promotion. But folks, think it through. Do the math.

First off, a job description. You are a writer. I am a writer. My job is to sit alone in a room and make shit up. I produce product, the very product that keeps this business going forward. I hire one employee, an agent, to help with some things, but otherwise, I do this alone, producing product.

When I have a finished product that a publisher would like to buy, the publisher and I have a contract. The contract says they are the publisher and I am the supplier of product. Their job is to publish, promote, and sell my product, and they take the risk with that. I took the risk in the time and money spent producing the product.

Unless asked, I NEVER step across that contract line. Ever. And most publisher’s would rather not have an author across that line messing up their promotions. That’s why they hire sales forces. When an author crosses that contract line, they are a problem most of the time, if not asked by the publisher.

If the publisher asks, a different matter. They have their reasons for asking and they will pay ALL the bills.

If the publisher is a small press, they will often ask and expect you to pay your own bills. Careful in that case as well. Your job is to write books, not promote them. But often if you have gone to a small press, and they ask, help them out where you can.

So back to the first topic, you are always better off just sitting alone in a room and writing, day after day, week after week. Follow Heinlein’s Rules, stay the hell away from self promotion of a sold book.

Of course, none of you out there will follow this advice until many, many years down into a career. But just remember I said this. I am just trying to help speed up the success and cut down the number of tragic events that can happen to you in this business.

And oh, yeah, get rid of your ego and write under a bunch of names. But that’s a topic for yet another day.

Cheers

Dean

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