Rosemary O'Brien has a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. She is a member of the National Writer's Union and has been published in several magazines, both online and in print. As an avid scrapbooker, Rosemary is hoping to include her passion in one of her novels. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and her sons.
Would you tell us how you began your writing career?
I was studying to be a high school English teacher when I found it was not for me. I loved writing instead of teaching about writing, so I switched my major. I then went to a university in San Diego where I met my mentor, a European writer who was my professor. He was patient, read a number of my manuscripts, and offered tons of encouragement. Flash forward a year or two when I was working in Washington, DC. While working for a non-profit writing organization, I had an "Ah-hah!" moment. I asked myself why I was working for writers when I really wanted to BE a writer. Luckily, I was able to quit and focus my energies into what I truly loved - writing full time.
What stumbling block was the hardest challenge in order to write and publish your book?
Agent rejections. When they started getting more personal with more constructive feedback, I knew I was getting close.
Do you have a special writing environment you write best in? If so, would you expand on what kind of area works best for you?
I write in my home office. Most of the time there is silence or classical music so I don't notice lyrics. I write when my son is out of the house at preschool, which is only two days a week at the moment. Obviously, not a lot is being written at the moment!
Did you give much consideration on whether to obtain an agent or not and what were your reasons for your final decision?
I think an agent is invaluable. I happened to have gotten lucky with my publisher. One of my publishers is a writer himself. We were part of a very prolific writers critique group a few years back, and he asked to see some of my work when he started his publishing company. He and his editorial board liked the novel, so they offered me a contract.
Now, back to the agent question. An agent can do the legwork for you, get you a good publishing deal, and afford you the time to write rather than market your unpublished novel(s). I am very lucky I have such an honest, accessible publisher. A lot of networking has to do with my success with this book, but if I had not gotten this lucky with a publisher, my search would have continued.
What are your views on whether a writer should self publish, hire a print on demand (POD) publisher or go with a traditional publisher?
I think self-publishing is a bad idea, frankly. Anyone can publish this way. Though many of these books are wonderful, some are not which is the reason publishers/agents did not accept them. My publisher is a new publisher that is doing very well. They are POD publisher due to warehouse constraints and find it easier to let Amazon, B&N, indie bookstores, etc., warehouse copies themselves. As far as traditional publishers, I would like to publish with one of them as well. A small publisher, however, has much more time for its authors, and is much more available. My publisher set up an online group where we can all keep in touch with each other. We offer hints on marketing, complain when we're blocked, etc. Some authors have even gotten together at book festivals and sold their books. It's a much smaller world.
From your own experience, what advice would you offer other writers on how to market their books?
Read, read, read. First, learn to write well. Read about writing, study writing, and write all the time. Then, when you have written the best book possible, read about marketing, getting an agent, what publishers can do for you, etc. You have to know what you are doing before you can call yourself a professional. My first book has never seen the light of day. It's terrible, but I learned how to write a book from writing that one. I worked at a writer's organization in Washington, DC, and picked every publisher author's brain I could. One woman, whose name I cannot remember for the life of me, told me her first published book was the FIFTH book she had written. FIFTH!!! Imagine that? I figure I'm doing pretty well by having my second published, though part of that was sheer luck and networking, aside from the fact that the book is written well, or so I am told.
How did you choose your publisher? If you self-published your book, why did you choose this route?
I met my publisher in a writing critique group a few years ago. He was a very talented poet and fiction writer. I knew he was going places, and he apparently felt the same about me. We have kept in touch, and when he was starting his publishing company, he asked to see the manuscript - one of the manuscripts we had work shopped in the group. He and his editorial board accepted the book, offered a contract, and here we are.
What are your usual writing habits?
Right now, I work two days per week. Unfortunately, I don't write as much as I should, but I have reasons. Marketing the new book takes up a lot of time as does keeping in touch with my readers. I am a work-at-home mom of a toddler (he is three-and-a-half at this writing), and I can't write when he's conscious, quite frankly. ;) So I write during the two days he is in preschool.
How much money do you advise a writer set aside for marketing per month?
You can do it very cheaply. I don't have a budget, but I do a lot of free marketing. I mention my book on message boards of which I am a member, I sent out postcards when this book first came out, and my brother and sister-in-law hosted a publication party for me. That allowed me to sign and sell books for about two hours straight. My hand was sore, but these readers are telling others to buy my book. I also attended a festival in my hometown (for free) where I promoted my book before it was published. I have an online printing source from which I can order collateral materials, such as postcards and business cards, inexpensively. Those who tossed my postcards on the ground at the festival provided someone else with an advertisement for the book. It worked well.
I am also not afraid to call people and ask if they will interview me. The mayor of West Haven interviewed me on his public access show. Thousands viewed it and bought my book. I read a review of another local author's book in my town's newspaper and e-mailed the writer. The editor who handles all of the local papers in this area of the state asked if she could review my book. I just met her a half an hour ago, handed her the book, and probably gained a reader let alone those who read her review in the newspaper. Of course, that is if she likes it, right?
Do you write in formats other than for books? (For example, columns, articles, book reviews, etc.)
I started as a freelance article writer and still write articles when I can scrape together the time and if the pay is decent.
When starting a new book, how do you prepare for it?
I think about the story for weeks, jot down ideas, then outline it from beginning to end. The outline can change, but I need to know where I am going with the story before I write.
Who inspires you and why?
I have eclectic tastes. I love novelists such as Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher. I also adore John Irving. If I have an interest, I enjoy stories that portray that interest or use that interest as an element in the story. Quite frankly, people who tell a good story are my idols. It boils down to that. I don't like stories that seem silly or whose story lines or elements are not feasible to me. I also have a wonderful mentor who spires me. He is a European writer and a former college professor of mine. He has taught me a lot and provided a lot of critique of my work. His help has been immeasurable and I am very grateful.
What writing books/courses have helped you or that you recommend writers obtain to enhance their writing?
Writer's Digest magazine and many of their books were helpful at the beginning. Jeff Herman's book, Writer's Guide To Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents is a valuable resource when it comes to finding an agent or publisher. Writer Magazine is great as is Poets & Writers, both their print magazine and their online tools and message boards.
I also recommend a writing critique group, but a good one. They can be small or large, like my group in Virginia. Right now, I'm a member of a two-person group, but we're both so busy we haven't had time to meet in months. It's helpful to have people who will give you helpful feedback, not just tell you it's wonderful or awful. They have to tell you why to be helpful. Apparently, I'm very straightforward in writing groups, but I expect nothing less. Anything less is wasting my valuable time.
How did you decide on the price of your book?
My publisher did that. I had nothing to do with it.
Do you rewrite as you go along such as by chapter or page, or do you write the full book and then go through it again?
I write the entire book, then go back and revise the hell out of it. I think I've read First Saturday at least 7 times through.
Given the opportunity to inspire and help another writer, what would you say?
I help other writers all the time. I'm happy to provide tips and ideas, but I have very limited time. I usually prefer to give lectures or small seminars, either online or at adult education schools. As you can probably guess, I barely have time to breathe these days, so I'm very limited in what I can teach others. If I think someone is talented as well as driven, I tend to find time for that person. Most people read about writing, but hardly write. When they do write, they write for themselves and not for publication, and then they complain when their book has not been picked up. You have to keep your audience, your readers, in mind when you are writing a novel. Good writing will always get published. It may take a while, but it will happen.
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