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How I Write: Susan Neal

September 13, 2021 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Writers love to write, and many of them write in different genres. Sometimes, however, it takes some trial and error before we find just the right genre for our talents and passions.

That’s how author Susan Neal stumbled into a genre that’s helping her reach tens of thousands of people with life-changing books.

Thank you so much for being here today! How did you pick your genre?

I write healthy living non-fiction books. It took me a long time to figure out my genre. I tried to write fiction, short stories, and devotions. But I received rejections with everything I submitted. I think all along God wanted me to use my nursing background and experience with losing my health to write books to help others improve their health and weight. I feel as though I had a Divine-led genre path.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? 

Research is the tough part. I read clinical research articles and search valid websites for pertinent information. This takes time and effort, but I want the most accurate information for my readers. My book, Solving the Gluten Puzzle: Discovering Gluten Sensitivity and Embracing the Gluten-Free Lifestyle required loads of research regarding the four gluten related disorders, how to diagnose them, and treat each one. If you would like to discover if you may have an intolerance to gluten, take the quiz I created at glutenintolerancequiz.com.

I can’t imagine the work, but I’m sure your readers appreciate it! How long does it take you to write, edit, and finalize a book? 

Five months. About halfway through each book, I send several chapters to my professional editor. She helps with the development of the book. We go back and forth the last two months.

How did you find/pick your agent?

Cyle Young was my agent for three years. I found him at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC). I sent him my unpublished Star Wars Bible study to critique. (If you plan to attend a writers conference, be sure to send a submission for a literary agent or publisher to critique, so you get that extra appointment and they get to see how well you write.) At the BRMCWC, my Star Wars Bible study won third place in the awards contest. The next morning, Cyle offered to be my agent. Entering contests is essential to an author’s writing career. When you win, other people notice.

If you self-published, why did you decide to go that route? 

The first manuscript I self-published was Scripture Yoga. I could not find a publisher to publish this book since it had such a small target market. Therefore, I chose to publish it on my own because I felt compelled to provide a safe environment for Christians to perform yoga. I went on to self-publish six other healthy living books. My best seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates sold 17,000 copies in its first three years and won the Selah Award at the BRMCWC.

Congratulations! Since then, you’ve also dipped your toe into traditional publishing. What led to that decision?

Elk Lake Publishing published my latest book, Eat God’s Food: A Kids Guide to Healthy Eating. I did not feel qualified to self-publish a children’s picture book, so I found a traditional publisher.

What’s surprised you most about the publishing process? 

At first, the self-publishing process was difficult—just like riding a bike for the first time. But after I published a second book, it became easier. Therefore, I was most surprised that the publishing process was easy after I found out what to do—just like riding a bike. I became a certified writer coach, so now I help other authors self-publish their books. You can find my coaching services at https://susanuneal.com/authorcoaching.

What advice do you have for new authors? 

Understand that whether you are self-published or traditionally published, the author is responsible for book marketing. I recommend joining the Christian Indie Publishing Association to help you figure out how to market your book. Learning about the publishing industry can be overwhelming. So why not get help from an association. 

If you’ve ever worked with a freelance editor, how did you find that editor? How would you describe the experience?

I asked the Director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference, Eva Marie Everson, to recommend an editor. Eva Marie had critiqued my work at a small conference, so she knew what I wrote. She matched me perfectly with a Christian, nonfiction editor.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with my editor. I learned so much from her and even took some extra coaching sessions to develop my writing further. My writing improved with each chapter and book. I’ve now published eight books.


As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of eight healthy living books. Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Excellence in Marketing Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. Susan is the Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and Christian Indie Awards.

You can follow Susan on:

https://www.facebook.com/ChristianIndiePublishing
https://www.pinterest.com/SusanUNeal/_created/

Tweets by ChristianIndie2

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Christian Indie Publishing Association, CIPA, nonfiction, self-publishing, traditional publishing, writing, writing kids' books, writing nonfiction

From Tradition to Self-Publishing by Yvonne Anderson

February 11, 2019 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Ack! Another rejection!

Every writer knows the feeling. Beating our bruised heads against a closed door is part of the game we all play. We’re not only rejected by publishing houses, but also by the agents needed to even approach most publishers.

For an unknown writer, it can seem an insurmountable barrier. That’s why, when I had the opportunity to publish my debut novel through a small press in 2011, I took it. By that time I’d been honing my skills for years, and I thought I knew a thing or two.

Then I got back my edited manuscript. Every page was slathered in red. Every. Single. Page. It was dripping. But after the initial shock, the experience turned out to be beneficial. After working with a professional editor on that book, and later the next title in the series, I‘d gained a practical education.

But, alas… Book sales were not what we’d hoped, and the publisher and I parted ways. He returned my rights for the first two titles, and I published the whole four-book series myself—and then another series. I learned to format both print and e-books to create a product that does not scream, “Amateur!” Professionally designed covers have been my only out-of-pocket cost for the eight books I have now released through my own imprint, Gannah’s Gate.

Like everyone else, publishing houses have to make money. That requires making hard decisions about which titles to invest in. Acquisitions editors must keep a finger on the pulse of the market to recognize what’s likely to sell and what’s apt to be a losing proposition. I don’t blame them for this.

I am happy, though, that I no longer have to knock myself out trying to woo them. Now, I only have to convince readers and potential book buyers about the worthiness of my work, not agents or editors.

If you’re considering self-publishing, I hope you’ll find these five suggestions helpful:

1) Make sure your writing is ready for prime time. Study the craft. Interact with other writers—not only wannabes like yourself, but those who have succeeded in what you’re striving for. Never stop improving.

2) Before jumping into self-publishing, submit your manuscript to traditional publishers. During that process, be humble, teachable, and open to suggestion. Learn all you can from the professionals.

3) Be aware that however it’s done, getting your book published does not guarantee anyone will buy it. Publishing is not a Field of Dreams; you can build it, but they won’t come if they don’t know it’s there. Promotion is your responsibility.

4) Don’t skimp on quality. You may not have to impress an agent, but you do want to impress your readers—and you don’t want to impress them with your sloppiness. A manuscript cannot be edited too much.

The same goes for the formatting and the cover. If you don’t have the skill set to produce a professional-looking product, hire someone who can. A beautiful cover might not sell books on its own, but a tacky-looking one will turn readers away faster than you can say, “Ouch!”

5) I don’t recommend surrendering your rights to subsidy publishers (those that require a fee for publishing your book for you). Instead of paying for their services, hire your own editor, cover designer, etc., and keep the publishing rights for yourself. It’s your book, after all.

Yvonne Anderson made her publishing debut in 2011 with The Story in the Stars, Book #1 in the four-title “Gateway to Gannah” sci-fi series. Stars was a finalist in the 2012 ACFW Carol Awards.

In 2018, she released a three-book extraterrestrial autobiography, “The Four Lives of J. S. Freeman,” self-published under the Gannah’s Gate imprint. Her latest publication is a friend’s memoir, Dancing on Stones: A Quest for Joy, in which the author shares her journey out of depression.

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Dancing on Stones: A Quest for Joy by Edith Harrington (edited by Yvonne Anderson)

Are you suffering?
Are you depressed?
Does your heart cry, “Where are you, God? Why did You let this happen to me?”

When Edith Harrington’s world suddenly crumbled and her life lay in ruins, unanswerable questions shook the foundations of her faith.

Follow in her steps on this quest for answers—satisfying answers, not mere platitudes. As you learn practical tools to help overcome depression and anxiety, her fresh insights will touch your heart and lead you to the joy of deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Filed Under: publishing, Uncategorized Tagged With: book publishing, how to publish a book, publishing tips, self-publishing, traditional publishing, Yvonne Anderson

How to Write a Novel: You Wrote. You Edited. Now What?

October 1, 2018 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

A lot of people dream about writing novels. Some of them even talk about it. Not many people, however, actually have the fortitude to sit down and write 80,000 words. Of those who do, it’s an even smaller number of people who invest in the self-editing and editing process, so if you’ve made it this far, CONGRATULATIONS! Finishing your novel manuscript is a big enough reason to celebrate. Polishing it deserves a round of applause!

Now that you’ve created the best version of your story, what’s next? It’s time to think about publishing.

These days there are lots of publishing options. I’m of the opinion that there is no right or wrong way to publish your book, there are just different ways. The best option for you depends on several factors. Today, I’m going to focus on the two broadest definitions of publishing options: self-publishing and traditional publishing.

Self-Publishing

Self-publishing is anytime you (the author) take on the full responsibility of publishing your book, including the cost. There are a lot of options out there and people define them differently – print-on-demand, vanity publishers, etc. The one thing all of these publishing options have in common is that they author foots the bill (e.g. if you’re paying for it, it’s self-publishing).

Who should consider self-publishing?

If you’re an author who wants to be involved in everything – editing, formatting, cover design, scheduling, marketing, and book distribution – self-publishing is a great option. When you self-publish, you get to make all of the calls (which is why you pay all of the expenses). If, however, you only want to write, this probably won’t be a good fit for you.

Why should you consider self-publishing?

This is a great option for authors who write for specific niches, i.e. a city manager who’s written a how-to guide for other city managers. Those books won’t have general market appeal, but the author may have the right connections necessary to sell books.

Self-publishing is also a good option for authors who’ve gotten good reviews on their manuscripts but can’t find a publisher willing or able to take on their books. For example, a modern-day marriage-of-convenience story that’s written well, but publishers may not be sure how they can market (i.e. sell) the book. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with the author’s writing style or voice, but the story doesn’t fit into a publisher’s schedule or brand.

In both of these situations, it’s not that the manuscripts are poorly-written, but the publishing houses aren’t willing to take on the risk of investing money into books that may not recoup the cost. In those cases, the author can take the risk and self-publish.

When shouldn’t you self-publish?

I’ve heard lots of different reasons why authors decide to self-publish, and these are some of the worst:

  • I’ve submitted to every publisher and they all said no.
  • I’ve been submitting for a year now, and no one has offered me a contract yet.
  • The publishers don’t understand my story.
  • I don’t want anyone to change my story.

What’s wrong with all of these reasons? None of them consider the possibility that the story isn’t ready for publication. Here’s the hard-to-accept truth: if you wrote a great novel, people would be interested in it. Instead of assuming that everyone else in the publishing industry is wrong, put your manuscript away. Keep learning. Then go back and see if there are some changes you can make to strengthen your story.

Traditional Publishing

There are dozens of traditional publishers, from large publishing houses who print hundreds of books a year to small publishing houses who print just a handful of books. Some traditional publishers might have better book cover designers and others will have better connections for distributing their books, but they all have one thing in common – they absorb all of the cost of publishing your book.

Traditional publishers provide some level of editing and/or proofreading, cover design, and distribution. The author does not pay for any of this. The author also, however, doesn’t have much input. Publishers might ask for your opinion, but the decision is ultimately theirs, and you may or may not be happy with everything. It won’t cost you, though.

Who should consider traditional publishing?

If you’re willing to turn over creative control of your story and work on someone else’s schedule, traditional publishing is a good option.

Just to clarify: turning over creative control does not mean the publisher is going to change your story! It does mean, however, that the publisher will edit it as necessary. If the publisher suggests changes to your plot and characters, it’s not because they want to change your story, it’s because your story needs those changes. Publishers aren’t in the business of writing or rewriting stories, but they will help you polish yours to make it the best version of itself (so they can increase their changes of selling more copies).

Why should you consider traditional publishing?

If you don’t know how to run a business and have no desire to learn how to run a business, consider submitting to a traditional publisher. If you aren’t willing (or able) to figure out how to publish a book well, then put your faith in the professionals and trust them to make the best decisions for your book. Otherwise, you might have written the best story of the year, but people will overlook it because of amateur-looking artwork (or they won’t know where to buy it).

There’s no real reason to talk about who shouldn’t consider traditional publishing because, when it comes to this option, it’s not really in your control whether or not you get that book contract. Unlike self-publishing, which you can do at any time, authors have to submit and wait to find out if they can secure a traditional publishing contract. That means it can take years before you find a publisher, but the wait will be worth it if you want to focus more on the writing and marketing and less on the behind-the-scenes decisions.

As you can see, neither of these options is “right,” they’re just different. Only you can decide what’s best for you and your writing career. Just make sure you do your research before you sign anything so you’ll know for sure whether or not you’re working with a respectable, reputable publisher. 

My debut novel – Summer Plans and Other Disasters – released September 15! Sign up for my monthly newsletter and you’ll receive the unpublished prologue: find out what inspired Calista Stephens to make those summer plans. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates about my debut release!

Filed Under: publishing, writing Tagged With: book publishing, How to Write a Novel, self-publishing, traditional publishing

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ABOUT ME

Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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Substantive Fiction Editing: A substantive edit looks at the big picture. Start here to tackle the big issues before moving on to the nit-picky details. Substantive edits not only point out … [more]

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