A Little History about My Writing
I’ve been away for a few days and busy playing catch-up since my return. I hope I still have a few readers left! Thanks for being patient. Today I continue with one of the questions submitted to me by Kathy N.
Kathy N: Could you tell us about something in your writing career that has been especially fulfilling?
Nick: Like most writers, I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ll share one “down” with you first. About fifteen years ago I was out of a job, but wanting very much to make it as writer. I prepared a proposal and sample chapters for a novel I felt strongly about. I then went to the expense of flying to Atlanta for the annual CBA trade show. My major goal was to meet with the then premiere editor of Christian fiction and ask that person to take my proposal home to review.
It was hot in Atlanta, my budget allowed for only a cheap room quite far from the convention center, but at least I was there. And at long last I met with the editor of my dreams. But the meeting did not go according to my fantasy. The editor was kind, but firm about NOT taking my manuscript. The editor was heading for a vacation immediately after the trade show and would only see my manuscript when I sent it in through the proper channels.
The editor was right of course. Editors are constantly besieged by aspiring writers such as I was at that time. They have to learn to say no. And this editor certainly did. I left the appointment crushed. I’m somewhat embarrassed to tell you that I made my way to the men’s room, found a stall, and shed a healthy number of tears behind that closed door. It was a heart-wrenching experience. To this day, when I teach my workshop on succeeding as a writer, I give each student extra points if they have literally shed tears over a rejection. That too is part of the process.
Okay, now on to happier times. Only a year or two after that sad experience, I broke another rule. In my desire to make it as a writer, I chose my six favorite publishers and sent a letter to an editor (by name—I did my research) at each publishing house. Basically, I said I was a writer looking for a project and did they have anything for me?
I hope some of you right now are rolling your eyes at how unprofessional that was. I would never in a million years recommend you do such a thing. And yet I did it. I knew better, of course. But what did I have to lose, really?
And to my happy surprise, the editor at my number one choice was an editor I had interviewed for an article a few years earlier. To be honest, I had not remembered that interview. But she did. And she graciously responded with the suggestion that they were looking for a men’s devotional book to tie into the just blossoming Promise Keepers’ movement. She asked if I was interested in submitting a proposal. As the guy says on the Geico commercials, “Did the little piggy cry ‘wee, wee, wee’ all the way home?” YES, I was interested. I did the proposal lickety-split and the Monday after Thanksgiving I was offered a contract. The book was due February 1. I worked very hard and was only a few days late. You can see the book on this page: It’s called Promises to Keep. And the one that followed (also on my home page) was 365 WWJD (which is now my bestseller at more than 75,000 copies sold).
That led to other books, one of which has a more recent highlight attached to it. My two devotionals for Zondervan are Magnificent Prayer and His Victorious Indwelling. They are far deeper than my first two books and the sales confirm that. People do not apparently want “deeper” books. But for those who have bought my two Zondervan books, the letters I get are wonderful (as are the unsolicited Amazon reader reviews). Even more wonderful, in a way, was the news that pastor Chip Ingram has been mentioning Magnificent Prayer both from the pulpit and on his radio broadcasts. The excitement about this turn of events is that he did not know that he’s pastoring the very church in which I became a Christian more than forty years ago. Wow! When I heard what he was doing, I was amazed that God would so bless me in that way. It was like a word from God confirming what He’s doing. And when you’re a writer and there’s a desolate space between book contracts, it’s especially wonderful when God sends along little surprises like that.
If you’re at a low point in your writing career now, take heart. Keep writing, keep looking for opportunities, and start planning which writer’s conference(s) you’ll go to in 2011
Kathy, thanks for asking. Next time I’ll be answering Jan’s question about writer’s conferences, and then BJ Hoff’s question about my own reading preferences.
Finally, I think I’d be remiss not to take note that Chip MacGregor has decided to end his active blogging. I highly recommend you look through his archive if you’ve not followed his blog already.
A great story…but I find it hard to picture you crying in the restroom. If it had been me, I most likely would have had a melt down in the hallway in front of everyone. Thank you for sharing this – it’s encouraging to hear such success stories. I really never think of editors as having gone through what the rest of us writers have. It’s nice to know you can feel our pain 🙂 Im looking forward to your take on conferences, since I am in the process of putting one together for March 2011. (a shameless plug)
And yes, Chip will be missed in blogsphere.
Have a great weekend.
Jan
http://www.inwchristianwriters.webs.com (Conf. website)
I’m wondering if more theology books could be written after the pattern of “The Shack” and “Pilgrims Progress” where the plot line not only drives, but compels the theology. People don’t seem to have any problem with huge doses of theology in such situations?
Nick, Thanks for making yourself vulnerable and sharing these stories with us. All of us have been rejected, and as you know, it doesn’t stop even when you become a published author…or an editor.
Sorry you went into the stall and shed some tears, but at least you didn’t follow the editor into the rest room and slip your proposal under the door of his stall door. (Is that story apocryphal, or do you know for certain if it happened? I’ve heard it for years now).
Blessings, friend.
Hello, Nick! Loved your blog. It’s always encouraging to hear of other writer’s struggles and successes. Makes me feel encouraged to know I’m not the only one. I love the look of your website! God bless your efforts and your successes. But it sounds as though he’s already doing that! 🙂 Joyce
Jerry, that can be done, but must be done very, very carefully or the reader will feel like the novel he’s reading is no longer a “story,” but a sermon. Actually, you handled that well in your third Hannah’s Heart book. The issue of our assurance of salvation is made evident, but not with preachiness. You made it flow rather well, it seems to me.
[Note: I edit Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction books]. Check them out on Amazon or the Harvest House website]
Richard, I think that has really happened.
Joyce, welcome to the world of my blog. You’re an excellent writer. Email me at work next week. I still have a proposal of yours.
Nick, thanks for sharing this blog. It helps to know that those that I respect in this industry have gone through the same struggles I have. Your post is encouraging.
Question: Do publishing houses look on devotionals posted on your blog as being published? What would be the best way to present devotionals to an editor if you have used them on your personal blog?
Judy, it depends on several things. If a publisher is convinced the book will sell, they may allow previously blog-published devotionals. However, they will likely ask you to include a lot of new material as well.
Just be upfront about this when you prepare your proposal. You might say something like “40% of these devotions have been previously published on my website.” I think it’s a strike against you, unless your website is getting very high traffic and, as I say, the publisher thinks there will be a market for a print version of your devotions.
Thanks. Interesting and encouraging.
Nick, thanks for the advice. This helps me decide whether or not to include some of my devotionals on my blog.
Judy
Thanks for such an eloquent response to my question. I’m encouraged to press on.