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"The Indefinite Why of Success"
By Gary Presley
I recently signed a contract with the University of Iowa Press to
publish a memoir, and, of course, I mentioned it to writer friends.
Who doesn't like to brag, if only a bit? My happy news sparked an
unusual question.
"Do you know what went right in landing this publisher? It would
help to know what the magic bullet was to get the acceptance."
I've published numerous articles and essays, but this will be my first
book. Frankly, I'd been too excited to understand the "why" of it.
Pin me down, and I'd say the process for a memoir is akin to meeting
the person you eventually marry. Falling in love is neither rational
nor based on objective fact. It's an intangible connection. That's how
my adventure played out, even though I did all the right things first.
First, I contacted people who had published memoirs. I asked if their
agents were open to queries. I'm also a long-term recipient of Funds
for Writers. I quickly scanned Hope's offerings as soon as her
newsletter pinged my email box. Simultaneously, I sought the assistance
of our friend, Mr. Google. By varying query words, I found several
sites like AgentQuery <
http://agentquery.com/default.aspx >. I even
found a lawyer/agent who had represented books on disability issues.
Since my memoir rolls across the 47 years I've used a wheelchair, I
thought I'd stumbled upon literary eHarmony – a perfect match!
Not so. In fact, I had about a ten percent success ratio in securing
agent requests for the manuscript. None agreed to represent me. I soon
added independent presses into my query queue, concentrating on
companies with memoirs in their catalogs. Along the way, I noticed a
participant on an email list I monitor was a PhD working in a
university's "Disability Studies" department.
"Universities have university presses," I told myself.
Turning on that light bulb sent me back to Mr. Google. I soon had a
dozen or more query candidates, but The University of Iowa Press only
popped up because I serendipitously added the word "memoir" to the
search string. That press publishes a series of memoirs based on "life
in the Midwest."
"Do it right the first time!" said our school teachers. When seeking an
agent or a publisher, a smart writer follows guidelines and submits
standard book proposals. But, by the time I queried the University of
Iowa Press, I'd tired of doing it "the right way." Thirty or forty
rejections will inspire a writer to do something – anything! –
to attract notice. I packaged up my first and last chapters, along with
a cover letter that stepped outside the boundaries of good business
sense. I let some of my "attitude" shine.
I mailed the package on Thursday. The following Tuesday the
editor-in-chief emailed asking for my manuscript. Two weeks later
another email raved about parts of the manuscript but offered neither
a contract nor a rejection. I reread the note several times, finally
concluding what the editor didn't say was its most important aspect.
Neophytes jump in where experts realize the water isn't safe. My
reply said "What you're really asking me is, "Are you so invested
in the manuscript you won't change it?" and "Are you willing to
work on those changes without a contract?"
I cannot recommend my choices. I didn't follow guidelines. I made
changes without promises of publication. I took a chance because I
thought the editor grasped the quintessential core of my story. Such
a unique approach may work for a memoir, or even a novel. I doubt a
similar tactic would work for a standard nonfiction book. That was a
year ago. The manuscript has evolved from a series of connected essays
into a narrative. Tentative publication date is the fall of 2008.
What does my adventure illustrate? We write because we write, but it
takes imagination, persistence, and luck to find an agent or an editor
who understands and shares our dream. And, maybe, sometimes letting a
little personality shine through will get you in the door.
---
The writer's essays have appeared in publications ranging from The
Ozark Mountaineer to Salon.com. His memoir is tentatively titled
"Riding Lessons: Learning by the Seat of My Pants," but his favorite
editor doesn't like it. Follow his trek toward publication at
<www.garypresley.net>.
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