The Reveal

Information Point: There will be, I think, 3 posts about Wiscon in terms of specific topics, and some general anecdotal information.

Point the Second: It is important to remember that Writer Tamago is a sort of baby album for this writer, so when I get excited about something that may be old hat for some of my more experienced in the industry readers, for me, I intend to keep track of the firsts. Remember, this is meant to be a fairly documented description of how you walk a writer’s road, so these little things should be talk about. We often don’t get to see the background of the writer discovered overnight.

For those of you who don’t want the long version of the story, which I promise you will be entertaining, here’s what happened.

I had my first conversation ever with an editor of a major publisher, and I’ve been invited to submit 75 pages and an outline of Substance of Shadows

And now, the lengthier account, with track star imagery.

At Wiscon, one of the attractions is that it is a flat con. Really, there isn’t much of a hierarchy here. Everyone talks to everyone else, and hotel lobby conversations are du rigeur. I was waiting for my roommates, and I struck up a conversation with the glamorous pink haired and punky Martha Allard, whom I had never met. It turned out that Martha was waiting to have breakfast with a Tor editor. Then, she and I talked about writing, her job, this and that. Even my writing a wee bit. Finally, I went off to breakfast.

Flash forward to the Saturday night parties. I’m running around in my Obama as Superman shirt, looking really unprofessional, having a fine time, and I see Martha again. I like stories, and I wanted to find out how hers had turned out, so I asked for the ending. She’ll be sending her book in the fall. There were the usual congratulations, and then Martha told me she had mentioned me to the editor. Oookay.

Martha was paying it forward. Last year, her friend had dragged her up to talk to the editor, and she was nervous, but she did it. She thought I should too. Usually, I don’t have a problem talking to folks if I meet them in the lobby. It’s another thing to thrust myself into a situation where someone is very busy HOSTING an entire party. Not my style. Still, Martha was insistent, so I wandered up and introduced myself, and then hung out long enough for editor to schedule an appointment with me Sunday afternoon.

I wasn’t too nervous, I thought. Mostly, I was tired. Cons will do that to you. Still, I went back to my room. I researched and read about Tor’s various imprints, looked at their books buzzes, and scribbled a few things down about myself, my completed projects, and my works circulating and in progress.

By that time it was midnight. Dan and Lisa came back. My brain wouldn’t let me sleep because it was busy rehearsing. My body wouldn’t let me sleep, because even though I was calm, it was kind of nervous.

Zombie Girl did Sunday on 3 hours of sleep, including her reading (which had some great material in it, and maple cookies.) After the reading, the time came to meet the editor in the bar his office. There were others there, a young writer vying for his attention, and some friends, as well as myself. Actually, this helped make the situation less interviewy and more like the kind of environment I do well in.

The editor started the conversation. This is probably the part of the post that beginning writers should pay attention to, because I learned some important things in this conversation. Imagine, if you will, that you are in a race where you have to jump hurdles.

AND we’re off! The first hurdle in front of me was this: Tell me about your short stories.

Lesson learned: You have to demonstrate your publish-ability, and many people in publishing still ascribe to the idea that short stories are where you start. Even if you don’t write short stories, like me for the most part, you should take some time to write some short stories or learn how. This way, you are proven, and you have begun to develop an audience, points which this editor at least seemed to have on a mental list.

Here I want to extend some personal thanks. THANK YOU, Deena Fisher, for giving me a published NOVELLA to talk about. THANK YOU, J. Lee Moffat, for putting up my humorous vampire stories, so I could engage in a fun conversation about Hammer horror with all the people at the table. And most of all , THANK YOU, Sonya Sipes, for asking me to write Hulk Hercules, which, while not a short story, was the most impressive background piece I had to offer him.

First hurdle jumped: I am published, beginning to be established, and have a fan base, albeit tiny.

The second hurdle looms. You’re writing a book.

I take a leap. I have completed a book, and have one in progress.

The editor asks Are they about the same thing? I say no.

I’m honestly not sure what’s preferred here. I answered as I had to, with the truth. I’ve heard advice both ways, that it is good to have a series, and that it is good to have a whole different thing going on in draft form. I think that maybe the latter is best, as in some ways, you’re trying to show yourself as versatile and capable, rather than stuck in a narcissistic rut with the same characters. Nevertheless, he seemed to like the answer, and we moved forward.

Hurdle next: Is your book done?

Jump! Yes! Now for most of the readers of the Tamago, this is old hat. Of course your novel is done. Apparently, at conventions, young writer wannabes often make the mistake of marketing too soon.

We are now at the fourth hurdle. I have let slip during the race that two agents still have my book. One thing I learn from the editor is that I shouldn’t be concerned about how long they’ve been out there. He assured me that my chances were still fairly good to get either of the agents (both of which have given me some very positive feedback. One, who introduced herself to me here via the magical power of name tags, says she will send me some notes, and the other agent already has sent me revision notes for the first three chapters. Of course, things are in limbo now, but the Editor assures me that it’s all good, and I should be pleased. It’s sort of a relief to hear that.)

Right. The fourth hurdle. “Well,” says the editor, “I want you to send me your outline and the first 75 pages. I have no idea what your writing is like. Remind me that we had this conversation.”

Translation: Congratulations, writer newbie. You have conducted yourself as a professional. You have taken all the right preliminary steps to build to this point. I, representative of Tor, imprint of MacMillan, am willing to invite your to take a personal shot with us.”

Pardon me while I do a little dance in the corner.

Okay, I’m back.

Let’s get real for a moment. In the past two years, I have had many more rejections than acceptances. That is the way of the writing life. I assume that this will be a rejection, with an outside chance of success. Caroline Stevermer, whom I got to know well this con, suggested that we could really look at this positively. I’d get Tor, I’d get an editor, I could approach an agent. That would be nice. That would be a dream.

I’ll savor that for a moment.

Okay, I’m back again.

What I’m really looking at this as is Good Practice (TM). It’s also the first time a major publisher has been interested in my work, so I find that sort of soothing, as well as a landmark. Ah, look! Baby’s taken her first steps! Or something like.

That’s it. The big reveal, and the story behind it. Between that, and getting to make some new friends, and being accepted as a published writer this con, well, it’s been a good con, and I’m not sure I’m ready to go back to the real world. I am ready to see Bryon, and I supposed I’d better get back to work. Still, it’s been a glowy weekend.

Catherine