50 simple rules for making it as a writer - The Writer Magazine

50 simple rules for making it as a writer - The Writer Magazine

Yes, we've all read all the rules and tips on the art and craft of writing, getting an agent, dealing with rejection, marketing, persevering etc. But here is one of the best and simplest list of tips by Harvey Rachlin to help any writer, aspiring or established, get on track and stay there. Often we become distracted, confused by advice on what to do, how to do it, and other angles we feel might be worthwhile. A lot of time can be wasted chasing the wrong rainbows, hoping they will turn into great leads (or pots of gold!).

There are a number of tips I have read before, but I hadn't given much thought to them. An example is the possiblity of foreign rights.

Tip #15. Write books with international appeal. Foreign publishers buy books they believe will be of particular interest to their countries’ readers, so keep that in mind when planning or writing your book. (Harvey Rachlin)

Is your thriller/romance/mystery/adventure set in a foreign country or an exotic location? Does your story have an interesting French/Italian/other culture flavor? An overseas publisher might just open the right door for your work.


This is just one tip that sparked my interest.


As for the rest? This is a list I shall print out and stick on my wall!


Harvey Rachlin is an award-winning author of a dozen books. His most recent book, Scandals, Vandals and da Vincis (Penguin), was published in June 2010 in Poland, following other foreign editions in Korea, Spain and the U.K.

A Tribute to Bree O'Mara

Who is Bree O’Mara? I do not know Bree O’Mara personally but I too am a South African author and was shocked and dismayed to hear of her untimely death. South Africa's award-winning author Bree O'Mara is one of at least 10 South Africans who died in a plane crash in Libya on Wednesday.

Ms O'Mara, who also had Irish nationality, was reportedly on her way to London to sign a second book deal. It seems so unfair that at this incredible turning point in her career, a point where she was poised for a richly rewarding writing career, should have been cut short. This was her second attempt to get to London, the first being delayed by the ash cloud from Iceland’s volcanic eruptions. She is among 103 people killed when the plane from Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport travelling to London's Gatwick Airport via Libya exploded in Tripoli. "[She was an] absolutely fantastic woman who was just full of life and was trying to get to London for quite a while to do some presentations at book shows there," said Radio 702's Eyewitness News sports correspondent Les Faber, who was in her book club.

Ms O'Mara won the 2007 Citizen Book Prize for her book Home Affairs. The award is voted for by the South African public. Her next work, Nigel Watson, Superhero is scheduled for publication in 2010.

So often we take life for granted, never imagining that it could be cut short. When young, we also never imagine growing old, never imagine being unable to realize our dreams and potential. Let us count our blessings, live each day in rich fullness, and make every moment count.

What is Home Affairs all about? For South Africans, the words 'home affairs' conjure up a myriad number of visions. Let's see what Bree's thoughts were in this very witty, brilliantly South African book.

In the Underberg village of Hillman, population 237 (it would have been 238 except the mayor, Dewaldt "Pompies" van Niekerk, was not at home at the time of the last census; he was apparently seeing to some rather pressing matters concerning one of the town's citizens that evening), something has disturbed the peace in the hilltop hamlet. Situated 199½km from Durban (the extra ½km being of critical importance when you wish to distance yourself from city folk), Hillman is having an identity crisis. A debate is raging about whether or not to change the name of the town in line with current political trends. The mayor, surmising that the position of authority he has held since 1982 could be in jeopardy from one Ephraim "Oubaas" Mthethwa, decides to embrace the debate and campaigns to change Hillman’s name to 'Dingaan Berg' in order to win votes on both sides of the fence. Mthethwa wants to change the name to Dingiswayo, stating correctly that Dingaan never actually visited Hillman at any point in history. Sheep farmer and pillar of the community, Kobus van Vouw, wants the town name changed to Jacobusville, in honour of his forebear who brought sheep-farming to Hillman in 1900. Plus he fears that if Mthethwa gets his way the town will become known as "Dinges". Mrs. Eleanor Lambert-Lansdowne, widow of a local sugar-cane baron, wants to keep the name of Hillman because some reminders of a kinder, gentler time must surely remain in this chaotic new world, she argues. Tienkie Groenewald, the postal clerk, doesn't really care so long as the postal codes don't change. Embroiled in a hotbed of infighting and political one-upmanship, the town becomes a dorp divided. When a rumour goes round that wealthy developers are coming to Hillman to build a Sun City-style resort on the mountain, the town is thrown into chaos. Newspaper reporters from as far as Pietermaritzburg and Estcourt descend en masse, and the townsfolk of Hillman have to choose between progress and prosperity or self-preservation.

South Africans will find this book particularly poignant and funny, South Africa having what is often euphemistically described as a 'unique kind of society.'

“I laughed out loud, often and as long as I read my way through this cleverly constructed silliness, enjoying it thoroughly.” – Alan Swerdlow (Actor)

Interested to read more? Home Affairs is available on Amazon.

Publisher: 30 Degrees South Publishers

ISBN: 9781920143190

The ABC of Agents

Rick Frishman always has a clear, concise way of explaining things and when I read this information in his newsletter, I thought, "What better way to explain agents?" The role of the agent seems to be a complex one and many authors are not quite sure exactly what their role is. Some authors even end up being ripped off by unscrupulous individuals. Read on and be advised.

How Agents Work:
Literary agents fill two primary, and often overlapping, roles. They serve as both their clients' Sales representatives and as their literary advisors. In order to sell their clients' work, agents read it, assess it, and advise clients on its quality and market potential. They also create strategies for its sale for publication. Agents identify potential publishers and offer their clients' writing to publishers, negotiate publishing contracts and monitor publishers' contract compliance. Good agents constantly position their clients and work with publishers and the media to build their clients' careers.

Agents' Compensation:
As compensation for their services, agents receive a percentage of the gross income from the publishing agreements that the agents obtained. They essentially function as commission salespersons who act as middlemen or vendors to sell their clients' writing to publishers. What does this mean to you? At present, the standard percentage for literary agents is 15 percent of all income that authors receive from the sale of the book and its subsidiary rights. Unless otherwise stated, this amount is calculated on gross sales on the book's cover price. Agents also usually receive 20 percent on foreign sales, and some are getting more. They receive more for foreign sales because they have to co-agent with colleagues abroad.

Reasonable and Unreasonable Charges:
Many literary agencies also charge for certain expenses such as photocopying, postage and long-distance telephone calls, which are reasonable. However, some may charge for marketing, travel and administrative expenses, which can be expensive. Reasonable expenses that you should expect to pay are those that your agent must lay out to represent you and submit your work to publishers. The expenses you are charged should be the same that all of your agent's other clients pay. Before you sign with an agent, get a list of all the expenses you will be charged and try to get an idea of how much they should run.

What To Do About Expenses?
Here's a good tip: When you negotiate a contract for an agent to represent you, insist on a provision that gives you the right to approve all expenditures over a stated sum, say $50. Unless unusual circumstances exist, you should not agree to pay for ordinary phone calls and other basic administrative expenses. If a provision is included in the contract that requires you to pay a percentage of the funds you receive for office, administrative or managerial expenses, think twice, because those tasks are normally part of the agent's job. If the agent insists, put a dollar cap on those expenses. And whenever your agent requests or deducts expenses, request an itemized statement of those costs.

Contracting with an Agent
At a certain point, most agents will insist that you give them the exclusive rights to sell your writing; they will ask you to sign an author/agent agreement. This point varies from agent to agent, but many won't give you much of their time until you sign. Your agreement with an agent should specify that it applies only to a particular book or project. It may contain an option for your next book. If you create spin-offs or new, revised, or updated versions of the agented book, the agent who negotiated the original deal will be entitled to share in revenues received.

Reprinted from "Rick Frishman's Author 101 Newsletter"

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Before You Sign On The Dotted Line
My tip: If you don't understand what you are reading then get some legal advice. Caveat Subscriptor...