KISMET - THE STORY BEHIND THE SUBMISSION

I posted a status on facebook a few weeks ago where I admitted that I had sent a manuscript to a publisher back in May but have heard nothing from them. A few people messaged me saying they would never be brave enough to admit that, especially on Facebook, as they saw it as a 'failure'. I don't see why, as that is the journey all writers face and I am happy to share my failings as well as my successes...and here is why.

I submitted a story to a publisher and that is something to be proud of. Some people can't even finish a novel but I've completed 16 since October 2009 and have several in progress. My work has been read millions of times on-line, been number one in Romance, Chicklit, NonTeenFiction charts. It had received both good and bad feedback. That prepares me for the critics.

One of those stories is made it to the top 25 of Harlequins SYTYCW (So you think you can write) contest on Wattpad, where there was a chance to win a 3 book deal. Regardless of whether I 'won' or not, I still entered. I wrote the story in 23 days and designed my own book cover. People enjoyed reading it and it received over a million reads in a month.

The same goes for my story 'Kismet'. I had a story in my head, I typed it out and let people read it for free so I could get feedback. I designed the book cover for the entire series and that is another string to my bow.

So I've decided to share this books journey in the hope you will see why anyone who submits a story should be patting themselves on the back and not hanging their heads in shame. For the record the only time I hang my head is to look at new shoes, talk to small children and animals... or when I am drunk ;)  

Where it all began:

I started posting draft work on a writing site called Booksie in October 2009. At the end of 2010 I started to write a story called 'Kismet'. It was written in the style of a soap opera and in first person so the readers could feel like they were the character and become emotionally attached. I updated it several times a week, writing a couple of chapters after work and posting them. A bit like telling a tale around a camp fire before bed. Every morning I would find comments from readers all around the world who loved it and begged for more. They started to call themselves 'Kismet Junkies'.

I wrote 4 books in the series between 2010 and 2012, along with several other stories. It became one of the most popular books on the writing site I was using. This led to the site owners contacting me and expressing an interest in publishing it. As well as owning Booksie, Booksie Silk (adult), they also own 'The Next Big Writer' and have laughed a publishing company. However, I declined as it wasn't ready yet and I didn't feel that they were the right publisher for the series. At the same time I received offers from other publishers of the same standard, who I felt were again not aiming at my target audience or offering me anything I couldn't do for myself via self publishing.

(For those who don't believe, here is proof with anything that could identify people blurred out)

Instead of accepting the offers, I started to edit the series in-between writing other stories and working full time. I wanted to be ready to publish if a deal came along worth accepting. I also started to post Kismet on another writing site called Wattpad for more feedback. I started receiving offers on that site from Independent publishers, and again I said no. I want a romance publisher as that is my target audience and the editor would be one with a passion for romance and not figures. For the record publishers are not allowed to create accounts to contact members on Wattpad, so were quickly tapped on the shoulder and asked what they were up to when I received mine. They soon disappeared which speaks volumes for their professionalism. Eeek!

In September 2012 I was given the heads up that Harper Voyager were looking for submissions. Unfortunately I was in hospital having surgery so didn't have time to meet the deadline. I hadn't finished editing Kismet and wasn't sure which of my novels they would prefer given the publisher was more sci-fi, fantasy than romance. I asked them to choose and they chose 'Marriage Made in Heaven' a Supernatural Romance. They told me not to worry if I couldn't get it through to them as a submission as they would take a look at it on Wattpad. I couldn't believe my luck. What a lovely thing to do!

Unfortunately, that didn't happen as they were inundated and obviously the submissions took priority. However, a couple of months later I received a message saying 'Just to give you the heads up, we are launching a new brand called HarperImpulse and they are looking for Romance submissions'. There was no deadline so I shared the news with all my writer friends and gave Kismet the once over.... deciding it needed more editing.

I set about editing Kismet and stopped writing anything else. I booked time off work and got my head down. Unfortunately everyone who said they would help me with editing got caught up for whatever reason, in other aspects of their life, and I was left to do it alone. The wasn't the first time that has happened so I figured 'you wrote it alone, you can edit alone,' and that is what I did.

I spent a week editing, sitting up until god knows what time in the morning. On one occasion I noticed it was 7:00am as I was going to bed but my phone alarm went off and reminded me I had a 9:00am appointment so I went without sleep that day, and was still up editing at 6:00am the following morning. I would go to bed for 4-5 hours and get up to start again. I also redesigned the book cover, and for the first time ever put my 'real name' on the front, as apparently 'Maria' is far more romantic... but I'm not sharing my full name on this blog.

Things were coming together but like most amateur writers I can't afford an editor. Plus they would need to be British, as I use English Dialogue and UK spelling. There is nothing worse than sending off a chapter and getting it back weeks later... Americanised! 

In May I finally submitted it to HarperImpulse but by this time, they were inundated with submissions from authors who were far more prepared.Some were already signed with other publishers, others were self published or ready to click submit the day submissions opened. They were 'polished' and could helped launch the brand immediately. That meant Kismet had to take a seat in the email box gathering dust in HarperImpulses office.

I was happy to leave it there and started talks with Avon Books, Harlequin, Beachwalk Press etc. The only issue was my stories were too long. They had to be 50,000 words or 65,000 max. We agreed I would write something for them instead as I didn't want to cut my current stories in half. Also Harlequin US were referring me to the UK branch but the UK branch replied saying they only accept series from their 'own' office. In the end I spent far too much time trying to get one office to talk directly to the other and gave up. I decided to focus on writing new stories to the 50K word count instead. 

The word count started to niggle at me and got me thinking about Kismet and how I wasn't happy with the end of book one. I discussed it with others and agreed a new place to end book one which would lower the word count. That meant I had to withdraw it from HarperImpulse but I didn't think they would mind, as it had been sat in their inbox for 5 months... it was now September and I'd bet a case of wine they hadn't even looked at it. 

I advised them that I wanted to change the end of the first book and transfer it to the beginning of the second. This would lower the word count. They agreed, I fixed it, formatted it with the help of another author and sent it back. I also had 4 other stories ready to go. I wasn't sure if they wanted them so asked and they said 'Ooo yes please'. I got them ready and sent a quick email asking if they needed to be one email or separate. They were 'excited' to receive them and each was sent separately. I felt better about this submission... until my laptop connection went 'tits up' and I wasn't sure they received them. Lucky for me I received email confirmation. Job done... move on!

It has been 8 months since my initial submission and 4 months since my resubmission, with the 4 additional works. I have not heard anything from HarperImpulse other than the automatic email response. I haven't sat back and worried about it or convince myself they don't like it, as I know they will. That is not to say they would ever publish it, just that I have confidence that should they take the time to read it they would probably wonder why they left it there so long. 

Kismet is realistically still sat in an email box with a pile of other stories... 4 of which are mine, and the chances of it being read this year, zero.  I know authors who HarperImpulse have already published, who have sent through their next novel as requested and been told don't expect to hear back for a few weeks as they are a small team and very busy. I know other who have been given 'the call' and are busy working with the publisher to get their novel released. 

KISMET will have it's day! (As will my other stories), at the moment it is 'my friends' day. 

I don't sit on my bum worrying about it. During Kismet's stay in the HarperImpulse inbox I've wrote three new books, finished two others, carried out reviews and entered writing competitions for the first time in my life. I've met hundreds of other authors on line and built wonderful friendships. Been given advice to help me becoming a better writer and been read millions of times. 

HarperImpulse have published some great stories this year. To do that they have had to read countless submissions, agreeing offers, cover art design, editing, marketing, attending lush award etc. I bet there are days when they don't want to see another bloody submission. They want to go get drunk and talk about anything so long as it isn't 'Romance Novels'. 

I am not sitting waiting on them to open my email and read my story. That would be foolish and unambitious. I am carrying on as normal. Writing, editing, cover designing, entering competitions, researching other publishers so when they are looking for submissions I am ready like the others were before. Not forgetting my personal and work life that demands attention and isn't as easily sated by 'wifi' as my writing life.

I am not putting all my eggs in one basket either. Next week I have two more stories going to a publisher one of which took me a weekend to write and is about to be featured on a writing site, it is called 'Love In Bloom'. I wrote it in the space of one weekend. 

A few weeks ago Harlequin asked for the full MS of 'Do Not Touch' for SYTYCW which took me 23 days to write. I let readers chose the names etc... all except one. Annie, as the book is dedicated to my aunt who passed away a short time before I started to write it. The story didn't win SYTYCW but Harlequin are going to send me 'feedback' and were impressed with the high standard. That in itself makes it worth the submission.

I also participated in NaNo again this year and won with over 70k word count, despite a late start due to SYTYCW and designing covers for others who were taking part in NaNo. Wattpad have a competition where you can win £2k for being part of NaNo and sharing your story on their site :) I'll have some of that thank you.

So as you can see there is nothing for me to feel a failure about. Plus I have received this from Wattpad! Mae Day has achieved a 'milestone' as one of their 'Most Read' in 2013 with nearly two million reads. I didn't even know there was such a thing but I still screamed and clapped like a sea-lion when I read it. It made my day! 

Then I received another email from them announcing I had achieved another Milestone. 'Love is in the Heir' was also one of their Most Read of 2013. It has over two million reads and was used to celebrate the Royal Birth, which made me one proud Brit!

I was so proud of my stories success that when I received the next email congratulating me on being one of Wattpads Most Active Members e.g. Followed, posting stories and interacting with users via comments sections on my stories etc, I was stoked!

In reflection, Kismet may be sat in that 'Inbox' waiting to be read but it is also on Wattpad users phones, tablets, Laptop etc all over the world. It is being read at this very moment by someone who doesn't care if it is sat waiting in a publisher inbox. They are just happy to read it for free as some of them don't have access to libraries or money to buy books. That is why I post on writing sites like Wattpad because now I can truly say I have been read by millions of people, worldwide from every background. At present I have nearly 12,000 followers (fans) and that is the best focus group any writer can ask for. :)

Here is to another successful year! (Pats self on back and holds head high!)

UPDATE: I still hadn't heard anything by the end of January 2014. As such I figured it's been 9 months and that is long enough to leave a story in an email box, let alone the 4 other stories. I didn't receive a reply to three emails asking if they had been received ok. Also enquiring if the time to hear back was still 3 months', one in November, December and January.

I spent a sleepless night pondering over a decision I had wanted to make the previous week but held off as I didn't want it to be 'knee Jerk' reaction. The next morning I was absolutely positive I wanted to do it and withdrew my submissions.  I've had no reply to my email to withdraw them either.

I felt much better for the decision. I was taking the power back instead of waiting and waiting... it was like exam results. Was your work up to scratch? When I made the decision I shared it on my social network, several authors congratulated me on being brave enough to do it. Some even shared their own experiences and it confirmed I have made the right choice.

I am now going to use my time to edit and consider serial publishing. It is far more productive than waiting in an email box. Wish me luck! 

WHICH WRITING SITE DO I RECOMMEND?

I have been using on-line writing sites since late 2009, anything from fanfiction.net, Authonomy, Booksie, Mibba, Webook, Quizilla and most recently Wattpad. People have been asking me which I would recommend and why... here goes nothing. This is my opinion, based on my personal experiences. 

Booksie and The Next Big Writer are one in the same as they are run by the same person. Big writer is a 'paid' service 'not free' like Booksie. I was fortunate to receive a publishing offer from them in relation to KISMET but declined as I would like a more established publisher. The offer was made due to the books popularity on the site so it is well worth you using them.

 Having said that, Booksie falls way behind its competitors, as it fails to keep up to date. It has been over a year since they had issues with uploading images, this is still not resolved and the server has lost work, reads, comments etc which they couldn't retrieve. It has really fell behind these past two years and I fear that it will just disappear off the internet at some point and writers who have work on there will be freaking out, so I have recommended to all my friends to save their work, if not on their computer then use Google+ or something similar. Don't expect help from the helpdesk as 'Booksie Guy' as he calls himself goes awol all the time. His attitude to users has made my jaw drop and was a huge reason I rarely use the site now. 

  

Authonomy is a great site but when I used it two years ago it was full of 'literacy snobs' who took great delight in telling me in over worded flowery comments that I am not a professional writer and never will be. I never professed to be and reminded them that they weren't either.

It was a bit of culture shock as I was used to other sites like Booksie where people either commented to say they liked your work or don't bother. I found people on this site a bit too short and curt in their critique and over keen with the red pen and 'CAPS LOCK'. If I had stayed on the site I would never have continued writing as they had me convinced I was totally shit and had no chance of developing my skills, let alone someone wanting to read my 'made up stories'. 

If there is a 'typo' in your work, they claim you have no editing skills or because you didn't describe a tree over the space of four paragraphs you are nor descriptive. If I wanted to write about a tree for a few paragraphs I would be writing a gardening book not a pirate series and since when are there trees in the sea? Not forgetting the comments berating me for writing a historical piece of fiction using modern day colloquialisms intermingled with historical essence, which is apparently against the writers guild law... who? 

The fact that is it marked as 'Very draft novel' was no safeguard to the sting in the tail of most wordsmiths on there, who are just waiting on Harper Collins to give them a book deal, as Harper give feedback to competition winners. I was told in no uncertain terms via comments from users that I would never win the feedback from them.

Within my first month on there, they were proven wrong. I had some brilliant feedback on the first book in the Pirate series 'Stowaway' from an 'Editor at Harper Collins'. She said it was a truly original piece and stopped her from reading other work, she didn't care it was draft as she had seen far worse submitted as finished pieces. She was drawn to my work after reading a negative comment from a 'jumped up twat' who berated every ones work in the hope of raising his own profile. I hadn't won feedback but I was being given it as she liked my story. She told me I had a gift for storytelling, it was refreshing to read, emotional and readers could relate to my characters even though they were from another time. I was to carry on as she would like to read the finished piece someday. It spurred me on and I left the site to save my pride getting battered by over inflated egos. 

In hindsight I was far too amateur for Authonomy, and looking back two years later, I am grateful to that lady from Harper (Julie, Janet or Jessica, sorry I can't remember the name) for telling me to continue with my hobby and ignore the literacy snobs as publishing and writing changes everyday along with peoples taste. Today one pirate book has turned into a four book series which is loved by all who read it, even in draft form. I had forgotten about her email until recently when Harper Voyager called for submissions and a 'professional author' told me about it. The lady at Harper probably doesn't even work there now and I can't find the email as I closed my account. >:O( but I know one day she will read the finished item and think 'ahhhh the pirate girl good on her for retreating, coming back stronger and proving them wrong'.

The other sites I mentioned like Quizilla just didn't grab me as a user, they were very teen or not offering me anything new. 








Mibba for instance was poorly managed and they even removed the close account button as everyone was leaving. You have to put a job on the helpdesk asking them to close your account! 





WeBook was just not suitable and I kept forgetting I had it. I wasn't getting any feedback or reads so decided to jack it in.

FanFiction.net was the site where I read 'Master of the Universe' which is now 'Fifty Shades of Grey', along side lots of other Twilight fan fiction. I found it as I wanted more Twilight and there wasn't any so I read about Fan Fiction and checked it out. There are some very talented fan fiction writers out there. it was very basic as a site, cut and paste and looks like a forum. I didn't stay on for long but I got to read, comment and chat back and forth via comments with people like Erica James about writing so when I see them getting a publishing deal I raise a glass of wine with pride as I know the journey they had getting there. They also remember me and are now nagging me to get a publishing deal. 


 I had initially joined in late 2010 but my work is 'Adult' and as such was not supported, which mean no reads or comments and defeated the objective. I started using Wattpad again in March 2012, as fans advised me it developed an RRated category where you could post your work. That is true but it is still not searchable or available to the public. RRated work is not allowed to enter the Watty Awards (their book awards and charts as only PG13 and below can enter). Any chapters that are considered too risqué are marked private by Wattpad and not the user, people have to become a fan to read your 'private work' as Wattpad have put a padlock on it.  Literally a little gold padlock appears on it. :O(

Life as an 'Adult' writer is not easy on Wattpad but their users base is mainly age 13 and up, no one wants to corrupt young minds... well I don't. There have been petitions to ask for the work to be searchable as users D.O.B. is used to create an account so it was suggested they could use that as a way to allow over 18's to access mature content but Wattpad are a Canadian based company and apparently Canadian law means that is not going to happen. Many writers either edit it down to PG13 or leave it RRated and get less reads. Wattpad have implemented a 'mature' button with it is no good unless you know the name of the book or author you are looking for, otherwise it comes up blank. I am sure they will improve it but for now RRated writers are at a disadvantage from others, not searchable, work marked private so people have to be fans to read it, can't enter awards and there is no other recognition for RRated writers on there.

Being an RRated writer isn't so bad.... I've still had more reads, votes and comments on Wattpad since March than I have in two or three years on the other sites. It is far more advanced and is like Facebook for writers. The team behind it are lovely, human and have a great moral compass which was lacking on other sites where I was concerned that young users were accessing material which I found shocking. Wattpad have wonderful user engagement and even arrange meetups around the world so readers and writers can meet each other and them. They have over 5 million users, 2.5 billion minutes are used on Wattpad a month which proves they are the worlds largest community for sharing and discovering stories.

As such I recommend Wattpad for all round general writing from G to PG13, Poetry, Short Stories and Novels. There are so many talented people on there making book covers, book trailers, let alone the readers and writers who make it worthwhile logging on everyday to escape into a world of imagination. You can even share between facebook, twitter etc and the helpdesk actually 'help' which is a godsend. 

If you are an adult writer e.g. Erotica I would recommend Booksie as Wattpad don't allow pornographic content. 

I hope this has helped and I will do a follow up piece of Wattpad to show why I chose it but this should help get you creating a free account. Why use Wattpad? It is a brilliant writing site, since March 2012 my work has received 732,317 reads, 11,065 votes, 2,446 comments, 1,388 fans! What you waiting for.... http://www.wattpad.com

PIRATE CAPTAIN FAN FICTION - KATHERINE COITIER

As many of you are huge fans of the 'Pirate Captain Series' I thought I would share this with you. 

A fan of the series, and an aspiring author, Katherine Coitier, has penned a fan fiction based on the pirate series with Shadow as the main character. It is not finished and is draft, but I know a lot of you will enjoy reading it... and who knows you may be inspired to write one yourself. 

http://www.booksie.com/fan_fiction/novel/katherine_coitier/captive-shadow-and-light

Katherine has a passion for reading and writing that we can all relate to but she also loves a bit of LARPing (Live Action Role Play). She loves arts and crafts so much she even made her own wedding dress. If you haven't got her on your friends list... add her as she is amazeballs. Did I mention she likes cats?... No wait she LOVES cats! You can send her all your funny cat pictures and swap recipes as she likes to cook. 

On Wattpad alone, Kat has over 5000 fans! Nearly 38,000 votes on her stories! One of her stories has received over a Million reads. Congratulations Katherine! 

http://www.wattpad.com/user/Katherin3Coitier

This is what Katherine has to say about herself. 

I'm one of those creative people. Highly creative people. I can paint, draw, sew, etc. Anything artistic and to express myself in any way possible. Writing just seems to be an extension of that creative spirit.

You can call me Kat, but please no Kathy. That just doesn't suit me at all. Just to let you all know... This is a pen name and not my actual name. I made it up in middle school. I told myself if I ever start writing seriously, then that's what I wanted my name to be.

My works are first drafts, so if there are mistakes, that's why. I've gotten many complaints from readers who are a bit picky and others that just ignore it.

For those who want more about me... Websites to check out and info about me.

Writer's site- http://www.Booksie.com/katherine_coitier

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/katherine.coitier

Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/#!/kat_coitier

Email- katherine.coitier@gmail.com

Website- http://www.coitier.com

She truly is a wonderful friend and has sent me several stories or scenes she writes based on my novels. Sometimes its a scene with Monkey Man from The Secret of Monkey Island. Other times it 'Love is in the Heir' and occasionally her own work. 

Katherine, thank you for your support these past three years and for nagging me into posting on Wattpad and testing it out for me haha. I really do appreciate everything you do to help support my work and pimp me to your fans ;o)

Keep those creative juices flowing as you never know where they might lead.