tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post522679008118000095..comments2024-03-29T05:54:33.136-04:00Comments on Authoress: Exclusive Interview and Q&A with Elayne Becker--and a Big Tenth Birthday Book Giveaway!Authoresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-66222879820344227962018-04-09T16:41:18.627-04:002018-04-09T16:41:18.627-04:00Thanks, Alyssa! Happy to.Thanks, Alyssa! Happy to.Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-36434164016294034922018-04-09T16:40:52.458-04:002018-04-09T16:40:52.458-04:00Thanks, Betsy! Thanks, Betsy! Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-70019205435385790352018-04-09T16:40:03.041-04:002018-04-09T16:40:03.041-04:00Hey Janet! Great to find a fellow Goose Girl and M...Hey Janet! Great to find a fellow Goose Girl and Marillier fan. When examining pacing, its important to keep in mind that each chapter should be advancing the story. Look at your scenes and consider: what's the conflict in this scene? How does its resolution drive the next part of the narrative? I find that having an outline, even a rough one, at the start helps to streamline the process and cut down on some of the fluff. And, the more you work on this, the more intuitive it'll become. That's the hope, anyway! Good luck!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-41577565052931765172018-04-05T19:56:29.677-04:002018-04-05T19:56:29.677-04:00Thank you! Very helpful. :)Thank you! Very helpful. :)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16483065655433571698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-51686444829594389942018-04-05T09:22:11.566-04:002018-04-05T09:22:11.566-04:00hi! not a question, I just wanted to say thank you...hi! not a question, I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to answer everyone else's questions <3 Very cool interview!Alyssa Carlierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995554896786109238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-48774341378202617672018-04-05T07:59:13.351-04:002018-04-05T07:59:13.351-04:00That is so interesting, thank you for sharing :) !...That is so interesting, thank you for sharing :) ! Loie Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401248986730044338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-12348261617744431582018-04-05T04:20:27.071-04:002018-04-05T04:20:27.071-04:00That's great advice. Thank you!That's great advice. Thank you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349535249542932186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-23315751599866168632018-04-04T23:19:11.312-04:002018-04-04T23:19:11.312-04:00Great interview! I see a ton of agent interviews, ...Great interview! I see a ton of agent interviews, so one from an editor is a real treat! Thanks for taking the time.Betsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15172083170208857228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-21592039223894953642018-04-04T19:29:41.322-04:002018-04-04T19:29:41.322-04:00Hi Elayne. Thanks for this thoughtful interview. I...Hi Elayne. Thanks for this thoughtful interview. I was especially interested in how your life as a writer influences your life as an editor. And you named some of my favorite books! Love Goose Girl and I've read Daughter of the Forest numerous times. Juliet Marillier's series influenced my Wilde Island series. Pacing is my biggest problem. I write fat then have to lean the novel down. Do you have any recommendations on how to approach pacing? Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer all our questions. Janet Lee Careyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15097883379365834554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-45185818453123611762018-04-04T16:38:36.857-04:002018-04-04T16:38:36.857-04:00Hey Jen! I always recommend reading within the gen...Hey Jen! I always recommend reading within the genre you’re writing, and reading actively. This means paying attention to what the author is doing, both stronger and weaker points. Do you love their characters, and if so, why is that? Are you always immersed in their narratives, or do you find your attention drifting? What do you admire about their books, and what do you think is working? Conversely, what isn’t working? I believe reading actively in this way helps you polish your own writing, and polish always adds a lovely shine to submissions!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-65432309441240455332018-04-04T16:36:52.035-04:002018-04-04T16:36:52.035-04:00Rochele don’t ask me the hard questions!!Rochele don’t ask me the hard questions!!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-73574931124425241232018-04-04T16:36:21.433-04:002018-04-04T16:36:21.433-04:00Hey Maggie! I think you can do it, but it can be w...Hey Maggie! I think you can do it, but it can be wise to write within one genre, at least for a few books. This is so you can build your audience, who would hopefully then follow you if you do switch genres.Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-18361967686674460142018-04-04T16:35:16.750-04:002018-04-04T16:35:16.750-04:00Yes! They’re amazing. Definitely look up Ruta'...Yes! They’re amazing. Definitely look up Ruta's work!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-33644377928893839782018-04-04T16:34:46.964-04:002018-04-04T16:34:46.964-04:00Hey Tiffany! Good question. This really varies on ...Hey Tiffany! Good question. This really varies on a case-by-case basis and depends on a few factors, including how extensive the desired changes are, how good the writing is, how drawn to the premise I am, and how much potential I believe it has. All manuscripts need work, so the main reason I ask for R&R’s is to see if an author can revise. If they can, I’ll be more inclined to take a chance on their book!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-42345726278598681872018-04-04T15:59:53.608-04:002018-04-04T15:59:53.608-04:00Hi Elayne. Thanks to you and Jillian for an insigh...Hi Elayne. Thanks to you and Jillian for an insightful interview. Is there one thing you would recommend authors read for before submitting a full MS? Something that gives the submission an extra sparkle and shine?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10431235733322139548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-31808365271621747002018-04-04T15:45:43.718-04:002018-04-04T15:45:43.718-04:00Which book is your favorite? ;) Thanks for the opp...Which book is your favorite? ;) Thanks for the opportunity! Happy 10yrs!!!RocheleSmithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07769957298267400904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-13898834958515454722018-04-04T14:33:26.464-04:002018-04-04T14:33:26.464-04:00Hi Elaine! Thanks for a great interview. I have a ...Hi Elaine! Thanks for a great interview. I have a question! What are your thoughts on changing genres once you're published? Can it be done or should you stick to what you're successful with/your main audience?Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16651851706186463400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-40130487114294082352018-04-04T14:18:38.464-04:002018-04-04T14:18:38.464-04:00Thank Jillian and Elayne for the great interview! ...Thank Jillian and Elayne for the great interview! My question: if a book is subbed to you with some great elements you enjoy but something's not quite right about it (maybe pacing is off or a character arc isn't working), will you ask for an R&R or take a chance on it or are editors generally too busy/the market too competitive to do that?Tiffany Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08886386535104627513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-39121993757095168802018-04-04T13:40:06.680-04:002018-04-04T13:40:06.680-04:00Great interview. I don't have a question but w...Great interview. I don't have a question but wanted to say thanks, especially for the book recs. Since LOTR and Daughter of the Forest are two of my ALL time favorite books/series, I'm super excited to look up Ruta Sepetya. Thanks again Elayne and Jillian!sbjameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06986950185596914217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-33074932720312017372018-04-04T13:07:26.199-04:002018-04-04T13:07:26.199-04:00Hey Cristin! Generally speaking, one of the bigges...Hey Cristin! Generally speaking, one of the biggest pieces of advice I end up giving is, don’t rush through the revision process! Take your time and give it the thought and planning it requires. To touch on something more specific, I’m big on character arc and often push writers to really identify their intention with their protagonists. In what ways do you want them to develop and grow throughout the novel? I’ll give my own thoughts on where the characters should be heading, and ways to refine what’s already introduced in the narrative into something stronger, and this can spark some really interesting conversations with the authors. Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-89138985765814169412018-04-04T12:59:40.413-04:002018-04-04T12:59:40.413-04:00Hey Sethia! My advice would be to seek internships...Hey Sethia! My advice would be to seek internships where possible, whether in a publishing house or a literary agency. I interned with an agency prior to working on the editor side, and I found it very educational! She can also try to set up informational interviews with publishing professionals she has a connection to, for instance alumni from her school. Read a lot in the genre she’d like to work in, but also be open to working in different categories than she has in mind. And, persevere! It’s a tough job to secure, but not impossible. Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-62665220164841137582018-04-04T12:57:18.045-04:002018-04-04T12:57:18.045-04:00Hey Krista! I’m going to borrow from my #MSWL prof...Hey Krista! I’m going to borrow from my #MSWL profile and say that I’m always looking for good historical fiction and fantasy. I’d also love to find a unique twist on a classic fairy tale or myth! Right now, I’m particularly interested in finding more protagonists with disabilities, invisible or otherwise, because that’s a subsection of the We Need Diverse Books campaign that I’d love to bring more attention to. Also, HORSE BOOKS. I want all of the horse books!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-17565660680153444162018-04-04T12:52:15.614-04:002018-04-04T12:52:15.614-04:00Hey Heather! Good question. This can be a tricky p...Hey Heather! Good question. This can be a tricky process for editors as well, so you’re not alone! You’re already on the right track, knowing that you shouldn’t only toss out the mega-bestsellers. I recommend spending some time in a bookstore, browsing the stacks for the genre in which you’re writing. You can also do some internet research; Google is your friend! You don’t want to get too bogged down in details or go too obscure, but one technique is to pull from more than one comp. For example, say your book has the complex worldbuilding of X with a kickass protagonist in the vein if Y. I think finding comps that strike a similar tone/share overall building blocks is more important than latching onto similar settings or plots. Good luck!Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-20565081903610385802018-04-04T12:42:24.242-04:002018-04-04T12:42:24.242-04:00Hey Marie! Interesting question. I can’t always di...Hey Marie! Interesting question. I can’t always discern a writer’s process by evaluating their manuscript, but I can tell when characters, plot points, etc are lacking complexity and depth, or when solutions have been thrown in to more or less slap a band-aid on the issue. Whether this is due to lack of planning, or simply planning that needs to go deeper, I can’t say for sure. But personally, I recommend plotting over pantzing; it often leads to a smoother revision process when certain issues have already been worked through from the beginning.Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-35996016314467719032018-04-04T12:41:06.354-04:002018-04-04T12:41:06.354-04:00Hey Loie! That's exactly right. I have to conv...Hey Loie! That's exactly right. I have to convince several departments throughout the process that my projects have the potential to sell, and generating selling points/finding comparable titles that have done well are useful tools for building that case. This practice begins at acquisition, but carries on for many months, and lays the foundation for when we present titles to our sales team.Elayne Beckernoreply@blogger.com