Genres

We read samples from nearly every genre—from middle grade magical realism to chick lit—but the majority of entries were young adult paranormal fantasy, pointing to a popular trend right now. (We had no non-fiction entries this year.)

Whatever your genre, avoid regurgitating it and instead look to broaden it by adding some originality, something freswh. Good writers pen works that reach far beyond the genre readership, “bursting open the doors to what the savvy may find old had but newbies find intoxicating,” as Sarah Weinman of NPR wrote in a brief article about James Hall’s new book, Hit Lit.

Literary Heroes

We enjoyed getting a glimpse of the array of literary heroes that entrants would choose to write endorsements for their books. These gave us a lot of insight into what authors value in their own writing. These esteemed writers ranged from Josh Whedon to Hannah Moskowitz, Richard Scrimger to Suzanne Collins, and Robin McKinley to Neil Gaiman.

Writing levels and goals

The writers who entered ranged from newbies to published authors. Most were seeking publication by sending query letters to publishing houses, and we were happy to see that many writers are also actively building their online presence through personal websites, blogs, and social media.

We were surprised that we didn’t receive more entries from authors specifically looking to self-publish their work. With respect to the stigma of self-publishing and the newness of e-publishing, one thing to keep in mind is that with the advent of e-readers and digital publishing, the traditional definitions of “book” and “publisher” have been shattered, and the possibilities for writers seeking publication are more diverse than ever before. Digital hasn’t killed paper-and-ink books or brick-and-mortar publishing houses, but it has opened more doors for aspiring authors. In one past blog post, we talk more about the publishing options available to writers as we write our own adventures, and  in another post, we bust several of the myths that some writer’s have about the publishing industry.

Overcoming Writer’s Block

We were especially impressed with how people overcome writer’s block. Here are some of our favorites:

“Write something else…”

—Kate Larkindale, author of Chasing the Taillights

 

“I remedy writer’s block by reading and taking walks.”

—Chrissy Rand, author of Dogchow and Divination

 

“I don’t really feel blocked very often, but the big challenge is trying to get into the right place after staring into two computer monitors for an 8 hour work day. Generally, reading, taking walks and listening to The New Yorker Fiction Podcast and This American Life or anything where there are great stories that allow me to reflect about how they made their story “go.” Sometimes Twitter is good because I try to think up jokes in 140 characters—a lot of times they’ll lead to funny premises for short humor stories that I never end up writing—but obviously Twitter is a double-edged sword when it comes to productivity.”

—Jeff Schmidt, author of Another One of Me

 

“Three ways: I reread what I’ve written to see if it triggers the next part. I swim laps and let my imagination wander. I work on something else for a while.”

—Bonnie Ferrante, author of Burning Questions

 

“I write through it. Sometimes I change my physical location or the music I’m listening to. Whenever my main character stops talking, I write the scene from a different character’s POV, which makes the main character jealous and start talking again. Sometimes, I’ll switch POV from third to first, or vice versa until I’m able to visualize the scene. Reading has also been known to inspire me to write.”

—Natasha Hanova, author of Blink

 

“If a scene simply doesn’t seem to want to written, it’s usually because I’m approaching it from the wrong angle— starting too far away from the main action, or employing the wrong character point of view. Sometimes a few quick rounds of trial and error will do the job; other times, I may have to force my hands away from the keyboard and reassess exactly what I’m trying to do with this chapter. If active brainstorming doesn’t seem to be un-sticking the wheels, letting the thoughts brew in the back of my mind while I work on another project might be just the ticket. A writer’s brain is a temperamental gadget, but a little patient fiddling can go a long way.”

—Danielle Shipley, author of Inspired

 

“I have learned that if I try to fight through writer’s block, I lock up even more. However, if I put my writing aside for a while and don’t worry about it, the next time I come back to the story I am able to pick up where I left off without any trouble.”

—Amy Bardwell, author of Blood Rose

 

“Take a break from the project, read a lot, review what has already been written to see if any new ideas or breakthroughs emerge.”

—E.B. Eaklor, author of Draconis Rex

 

“I keep writing through it. The writing doesn’t have to be in my current project and it doesn’t have to be good; it just has to be words on the page. The action of writing opens up ideas. When I don’t allow myself to be open to the ideas, they won’t come.”

—Kimberly Workman, author of Heaven and Hell Alike

 

“I sit in my chair and type until I’ve met my word count goal for the evening.”

—Christine Canada, author of The Lies That Bind

 

“By battering down the wall. I stay at it, I write something, anything. If I’m having trouble with the continuation of a chapter, I come at it from different angles and toss what doesn’t work. Sometimes the solution comes immediately, sometimes it takes days. Or I’ll work on a completely different project. If I’m really having trouble, I’ll write a random scene from before the book started, or a spin off from the life of a secondary character. Sometimes, I’ll even indulge a raw idea for a handful of pages, all to get the creative juices flowing. That last one gave birth to another book I’m working on.”

—L. L. McKinney, author of Coveted

 

“Would you believe me if I told you I don’t suffer from writer’s block? My problem is always finding time to write as much as I’d like.”

—Adam Gallardo, author of Zomburbia

While some claimed that they didn’t suffer from writer’s block, we found that the majority of authors said that writing something else was their best remedy. We liked these answers in particular:

• L. L. McKinney’s suggestion to “spin off from the life of a secondary character.”
• Natasha Hanova’s recommendation to write the troublesome scene from a different character’s point of view.
• The idea of listening to music or podcasts for inspiration help get over difficult scenes that refuse to be written.
• The advice to simply write through writer’s block, no matter how slow and painful the process. “The action of writing opens up ideas,” as Kimberly Lynn Workman wrote.
• Regardless of your method of choice for overcoming writer’s bock, patience is key, as Danielle Shipley quite aptly explained, “A writer’s brain is a temperamental gadget, but a little patient fiddling can go a long way.”

We couldn’t agree more with what everyone wrote and would add that with time comes wisdom in one’s writing—through all the stumbling blocks that we must hurdle on our quest to getting published.

More to come

Thanks again to those who participated in our contest! Stayed tuned for more next week, as we cover some of the burning questions you all had about the publishing industry—from the most effective way to pitch publishers, when to find agents, and the myths of self-publishing.

Drum roll, please…

Winners of the free editorial consultation

INSPIRED by Danielle Shipley, an imaginative romp through the magical mechanisms of imagination itself that blends YA with literary fiction, as if Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series started hanging out with Salman Rushdie’s Luka and the Fire of Life behind the bleachers after school.

ZOMBURBIA by Adam Gallardo, the story of a sixteen-year-old outsider trying to negotiate burgeoning love in a world infested by zombies, a refreshingly morbid take on a popular theme for the YA audience, and Gallardo paints with words in a crisp writing style that borrows from the comics and graphic novel world as well as pop culture.

DOGCHOW & DIVINATION by Chrissy Rand, a delightful, laugh-out-load murder mystery about a sexually repressed do-gooder and her life as the proprietor of The Rapturous Rest, a boarding house  with some of the most enchantingly odd characters we’ve read in some time, pushing the boundaries of what chicklit can and should be.

 

Honorable mentions

BLOOD ROSE by Amy Bardwell, a modern retelling of the classic tale Beauty and the Beast that turns this world on its head and spins some originality into an old yarn, picking up on a very popular trend right now.

BURNING QUESTIONS by Bonnie Tittaferrante, a MG mystery about a passionate, precocious preteen girl turned gumshoe, her quirky archeologist uncle, her annoying brother, and her more than bizarre bicycle, which seems to have a mind of its own. It’s Nancy Drew meets the Flavia de Luce Mystery books.

COVETED by L. L. McKinney, a young adult urban fantasy that takes readers through a mystical world populated by angels, sins, secret societies, and wittily sarcastic characters.

Please stay tuned in the coming days, entrants, winners, and other writers alike! We’ll be blogging about the different trends we saw in the contest, addressing some of your burning questions about the publishing industry, and sharing tips on overcoming writer’s block.

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It seems like there’s a lot of name-calling going on in the publishing industry today. Publishers, agents, and self-publishing enthusiasts are at odds, touting the benefits of their own services while discounting the others. Who should writers trust when seeking publication? The answer is about as complicated as the publishing industry itself. There is no right way to be published, but certain methods work better for various authors and each path towards publication has its own advantages and disadvantages. It’s time to put some nasty rumors about publishing houses, agents, and self-publishing to rest.

Myth #1: Publishers rip off authors

Many advocates of self-publishing believe that publishing houses are money-hungry and disconnected from authors and readers. J. A. Konrath, a fiction writer whose books have been in the Kindle Top 100 bestselling e-books, claims that publishers “screw authors” by denying them the royalties they deserve, assuming too much control over their work, and inadequately editing, marketing, publicizing their books. Although Konrath has had experience with publishing houses (Hyperion published his Jack Daniels thriller series), his low opinion of publishers is biased. Unlike many self-published authors, Konrath has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling his own books. He has an already-established following of readers, many of whom discovered him when his Jack Daniels series was published. Konrath also hires out the editing and designing of his books to freelancers. Many writers do not have the resources and experience that Konrath does.

Even the most successful don’t; after making millions by self-publishing, Amazon superstar Amanda Hocking recently signed a book deal with St. Martin’s Press. While self-publishing can and does allow some authors to earn more than those who work with publishers, writers who publish traditionally get the benefit of working with professional editors, designers, and marketing experts who have experience handling both the creative and financial aspects of producing books. Publishers rely on authors, and many are dedicated to treating writers well, says Jeremy Greenfield, editorial director of Digital Book World.

Myth #2: Agents aren’t relevant

With the popularity of self-publishing increasing exponentially, many people wonder if literary agents will become extinct. Some authors complain that literary agents don’t return their calls or, more importantly, don’t sell their books, so why should writers seek their services? The truth is that working with an agent is a risk-free investment for authors who want to be published traditionally. An agent’s primary concern is to improve a manuscript’s chances of being acquired by a publishing house. Agents work for authors by negotiating deals with publishing houses and receive a fixed return of 15 percent if the manuscript is acquired. Agents handle the business side of writing; a facet of publishing that bewilders many authors. They can decipher the legal and financial jargon in contracts so that authors can secure the best deal possible. Most importantly, agents are the most tangible form of human contact that many authors experience in the publishing industry. Authors often form long-lasting relationships with their literary agents.

Together, agents and writers share the ups and downs of publishing. In the midst of the publishing industry’s digital revolution, agents are more relevant than ever in helping writers get their voices heard.

Myth # 3: Self-publishing is just a fad

Those who are reluctant to embrace self-publishing and the digital revolution claim that these methods of publishing are fads that will soon be forgotten. Many consider e-publishing to be a bubble: quick to both rise and pop. Self-publishing is no ordinary bubble, however; it continues to swell and isn’t likely to pop anytime soon. In 2009, a little over 764,000 self-published books were produced while more than 288,000 titles were published traditionally, and the numbers continue to rise.

There are more options and tools than ever before for self-published authors every skill level. With services like Smashwords, Lulu, and CreateSpace, writers can produce, print, and distribute books from home, and more tools for self-published authors are constantly being developed. Companies like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple have all embraced the digital revolution as well by creating services for self-published authors and their readers. If other multimedia conglomerates and booksellers want to stay relevant and accommodate the millions of readers that use digital reading devices and support self-published writers, they must also follow suit. The question that publishers, authors, and readers must ask is not will digital self-publishing last, but how will we adapt to it.

Other references:

“Literary Agents, bah! Who needs them?“ by Jeff Rivera, MediaBistro

“The self-epublishing bubble” by Ewan Morrison, The Guardian

Image courtesy of Lauren B Photography. Thanks, Lauren and Lincoln!

I love to play Scrabble. Probably like many writers and literary buffs, I enjoy Scrabble because it gives me yet another way to use my extensive vocabulary. It appeals to my love of words.

The problem is I almost never win.

I remember on my honeymoon my new husband and I got into a fight over Scrabble. It was one of the first times we’d played the game together, and I went in absolutely confident that I would win. I’m the reader and writer. He likes sports and finances. I thought I had it in the bag.

Wrong.

My husband beat me by a landslide. Needless to say, my writer ego was severely deflated. He still beats me more often than not, but now I’m able to give him a good fight. I’ve learned what his secret is.

The secret is his strategy. He doesn’t waste time racking his brain for the longest word he can make. He doesn’t go for obscure $10 words. He sticks with short, sometimes incredibly simple words. He knows that the long or brainy words don’t get you the points.

It’s a secret all good Scrabble players know.

When asked in an interview what his longest Scrabble play was, Scrabble champion Andrew Fisher said, “I don’t have any recollection of long words played, perhaps because I don’t strive for them or think them unduly remarkable.”

Scrabble strategy consists more of the proper placing of words, going after those triple-letter-score or double-word-score boxes.

Of course, there’s more to Scrabble strategy, but I think there is a good lesson here for writers to learn.

As writers, we are masters of language. Of course we want to show off. But our readers don’t always appreciate our extravagant diction. What reader wants to have to look up every other word in a dictionary? It’s frustrating for your reader, and it doesn’t help you get your point across. Better to stick with words that work in everyday life. In fact, I would argue that sometimes it takes a better master to create powerful sentences using plain, ordinary words.

We have to remember that words do not exist as separate entities; they are only as good as the other words around them. Our goal is to write compelling phrases, sentences, and paragraphs in which the words work together like interlocking pieces of a puzzle to form a coherent picture. Words are merely the tools we use to build meaning.

Don’t get me wrong. There are times when “happy” simply cannot replace “halcyon,” and I understand if “fading” isn’t quite as apt as “evanescent.” There is immeasurable value in being able to command a vast vocabulary. Even so, there is no reason for circumlocution.

I hope as you write your manuscripts or articles or whatever it is that you write, you are able to strategically position words to make your writing even more powerful.

And don’t forget to enter our contest! We look forward to reading them.

~Ariel

Images courtesy of Lauren B Photography. Thanks, Lauren and Lincoln!

Today there are more options to getting your book published than ever. Figuring out which route is best for you is a lot like a Choose Your Own Adventure story: no author travels the same path, and there are as many roads to publication as there are writers. Whether your goal is to pitch your book to a publisher, acquire an agent, or self-publish (digitally or conventionally), we want to help you find the route that best suits you and your writing, so we’ve designed this writers’ contest to do just that.

Here’s How It Works

You fill out our brief 10-question survey about you and your book (see below). In this questionnaire, you’ll be asked about the basics of your book and what path you’re hoping to travel to publication. Then we ask for a 25-page sample. That’s it.

Based on your answers and sample material, we’ll award three writers with a professional consultation tailored to each individual that will help equip each of them with the editorial tools they’ll need on their quest to finding a publisher, obtaining an agent, or self-publishing. We’ll also be giving away books from our title list to runners-up.

Interested in taking your next literary leap? Here are the rules and details:

• The contest begins March 1^st and closes March 31^st. One entry per person.
• Copy and paste the questionnaire into your 20- to 25-page sample, fill it out, and email it all, preferably as a separate attachment (double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman or Cambria), to us at contest@cogitatestudios.com. Type “Cogitate WYOA Contest” in the subject line.
• Our winners will be announced on April 13^th on CogitateStudios.com.
• Honorable mentions will receive a choice of one book from any of the books on our title list.
• Awesome answers, editorial insights, and interesting experiences from contest participants will be posted periodically on CogitateStudios.com, Cogitate Studios on Facebook, and our respective Twitter feeds (@editorStet and @cogitweeter).
• Follow our Twitter #WYOA hashtag and Facebook for updates on the contest and more quick tips and strategies on how to navigate the different routes of the publishing terrain on writer’s quest for the Holy Grail: publication.

Questionnaire

1. What is the title, word count, and genre of your book?

2. Is your goal for this piece to:

a) Find a publisher

b) Pitch an agent

c) Self-publish

d) Other (Please elaborate)

3. What stage of the book-publishing process are you in? Are you:

a)     Still writing and tweaking

b)     Finished but need professional editing

c)     Pitching to agents or publishing houses

d)     Ready to typeset for publication

e)     Other (Please elaborate)

4. Describe your book in one or two sentences.

5. How do you remedy writer’s block?

6. Now pretend your book has already been published. What review or endorsement would grace the cover and who would be its author?

7. Keep looking into the future, please; if your book were on bookshelves today, what would be its one- to two-paragraph description on the back cover?

8. Describe your strengths and weaknesses as a writer.

9. Do you have any of the following:

a)     Website

b)     Blog

c)     Twitter

d)     Book proposal

e)     Query letter

f)      Book club membership

g)     Writer’s group membership

h)     Shirt with a famous book cover or favorite author on it

i)       Marketing swag for your book (bookmarks, business cards, book trailer, etc.)

10. Have you had any experience with the publishing industry? For example, have you had your work professionally edited or have you published before? (Please elaborate if yes.)

11. Do you have a burning question about publishing houses, agents, or self-publishing?

Thank you for filling out the questionnaire. Please know that although we’ll be using some answers from participants for blog material, we of course won’t be divulging any proprietary information. We’re just interested in learning where people are on their journeys, and helping them get there.

Thanks for participating and best of luck to you on your publication adventure!

This year, 2012, is a leap year, and not just in the sense that this February has a 29^th day. This could be your leap year, the year when you make a leap and accomplish those writing goals you’ve been hiding in your closet.

Making a leap can be scary. But the whole reason we have goals is to accomplish great things, improve our lives, and fulfill our grand potential. What is the leap you’ve been wanting to make? It could be publication, finding an agent, or simply finishing your manuscript.

As any successful resolution keeper (they’re rare, but they exist, believe it or not) will tell you, the key is taking small steps. Many small steps = one big leap.

As editors, our job is to help authors reach their full potential, and we have a list of small steps you might want to consider taking in order to make your leap this year.

1.    Join a writing group.

If you’re like me, the thought of showing your writing to others makes your heart race, and not in a good way. We are not alone. There are others like us, who want helpful, supportive, truly constructive feedback on their writing. You can find local writing groups on websites like Meetup.com. If you really can’t handle meeting face-to-face yet, join an online group—but after that, try to find people to meet with in person.

2.    Take a class.

Writing classes are much like writing groups, but you learn straight from a professional writer who has already accomplished what you’re trying to accomplish. It’s always a good idea to learn from someone who’s already done it. If you’re envisioning your life as a well-known author, you might also want to take a public speaking or improv class. Though those words give some of us the shivers, being interviewed and giving talks is a large part of what modern authors must do.

3.    Start a blog.

Starting a blog is not just the cool thing to do—it’s actually a hugely helpful tool if you’re pursuing publication. Having a well-known blog that attracts lots of readers assures a potential publisher or agent that you are someone who knows how to communicate with people well, and that people are receptive to what you have to say. It also gives you a built-in platform for marketing your book.

4.    Submit articles for a newspaper or online journal.

This is a great way to build your resume. When agents and publishers take you on, they want to see that others have also believed in your work enough to publish you. Just like with starting a blog, this assures them that taking on your book will be worth it.

5.    Get a reader’s report.

Maybe you haven’t finished your manuscript yet, but you want some feedback on what you’ve done so far. Maybe you’ve hit a mental roadblock and don’t know where to go from here. Maybe you just want another trustworthy, unbiased opinion on your story. For a reader’s report, we read your entire manuscript (or what you have so far) and provide you with 7+ pages of detailed feedback on your work. We cover overall plot, character development, your introduction and conclusion, and grammar mechanics (syntax, diction, punctuation, etc.).  We tell you what needs fixing, but we don’t do it ourselves. We think deeply about your manuscript and try to give you the most helpful advice we can for improvement.

6.    Get your manuscript edited.

Many agents and publishers require manuscript submissions to already be edited before you submit. This can range from light fixing of occasional grammatical errors to overall content development and fixing of major grammatical issues—whatever your manuscript needs. We respect your voice and desire to see you succeed. See more information about having your manuscript edited here.

7.    Enter our writing contest.

To get your manuscript accepted by an agent or publisher, you have to write a query letter. This can be stressful—maybe more so than actually writing the manuscript! It’s hard to know what to say and how much information to include. While we would always be happy to provide a reader’s report on a query letter, starting March 1 we will be holding another one of our contests to help writers take that next step toward publication. All you have to do is fill out our quick questionnaire and submit 25 pages of your book, and you might be chosen to receive a tailored editorial consultation of your work. That’s an amazing offer. We’re looking forward again to reading many wonderful entries. More info on our contest will be coming shortly.

Whatever your writing leap is, we hope that you accomplish it and we would love to be part of that process. We will support you, encourage you, and give you the respect you deserve as an author.

Good luck!

~Ariel

It doesn’t take an industry insider to realize that publishing is evolving. The advent of e-readers and digital publishing has shattered traditional definitions of “book” and “publisher,” and the possibilities for writers seeking publication are more diverse than ever before. Digital hasn’t killed paper-and-ink books or brick-and-mortar publishing houses, but it has opened more doors for aspiring authors.

Pitching to a publisher, working through an agent, and self-publishing are all viable options that have been successful for a number of authors. Not sure which path to take yourself? Take these three shining examples, who all went in different directions in their journeys toward publication.

Ursula K. Le Guin, steady as she goes

“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

Le Guin is a Portland local who has been publishing her work since 1960. Margaret Atwood has called her “one of the reigning monarchs of the science fiction and fantasy form.” Although she now works with an agent, Le Guin originally pitched her writing to publishers herself with positive results. One of her earliest novels, The Left Hand of Darkness, was published by a small press called Walker & Company, and several of her poetry collections have been published by the independent Shambhala Publications. By pitching her books to independent and less-prominent presses, Le Guin avoided receiving rejections letters from large houses. Working with small publishers allowed Le Guin to develop her repertoire of published material as well as cultivate niche markets for the unique genres she works in, like feminist and anarchist science fiction. Although she has worked with big publishers like Harcourt, HarperCollins, and Orchard, she started small in her publishing journey, a choice that benefitted her work and her readers.

J. K. Rowling, the juggernaut

“My parents — both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college — took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension.”

Rowling, the first author to become a billionaire from her writing, successfully published her Harry Potter series by working with an agent. The manuscript for the series was rejected at twelve different publishing houses when Rowling tried pitching her work on her own. Determined to obtain a deal from a large publishing house, Rowling tried a different approach and sent the manuscript of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to several prospective agents. The Christopher Little Literary Agency saw the rich possibilities in the manuscript that the publishing houses that rejected Rowling’s work did not and signed the author on as a client within three days. Christopher Little not only helped Rowling successfully secure a contract with Bloomsbury and later Scholastic Inc., but the agency also managed the author’s billion-dollar literary career. Although Rowling initially wrote the Harry Potter series in order to pay her gas bills, she had high prospects for her manuscript and working with an agent was the key to helping her attain literary success.

Amanda Hocking, the work-around

“Anything worth having is worth fighting for.”

Hocking is a young-adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy writer who has self-published over ten books and sells thousands of e-books a week. Although she is now the poster girl for self-publishing due to her overwhelming success, she originally sought publication through traditional routes. When Hocking tried to publish her first book, My Blood Approves, a vampire novel she wrote in fifteen days, she queried both agents and publishers and received piles of rejection letters from both. The abundance of young-adult vampire fiction seeking publication prevented her work from standing out in the slush piles at traditional publishing houses, so Hocking decided to use the popularity of the genre to her advantage by publishing My Blood Approves herself. She sold the novel for a low price on Amazon and watched in amazement as her sales grew to numbers previously unheard of for self-published authors. To date, Hocking’s books have earned her over two million dollars. Due to her success, Hocking now works with a literary agent and has recently signed a two-million-dollar book deal with a conventional publisher for her next series, Watersong. It might appear that Hocking has taken a backward route in publishing her work, but the tides have changed in the world of publishing. Just as pitching directly to presses worked for Le Guin and being represented by an agent boosted Rowling’s career, self-publishing has helped Hocking sell millions of books.

As you can see from these three examples above, the path to publishing doesn’t follow one simple formula. There are as many paths through the literary labyrinth as there are authors.

Taking Your Next Literary Leap

How can you figure out which route toward publication is best for you? Finding the best path depends on the goals you’ve set for your book, the materials you have to help your writing get published, and finding the people who can help you do it. Although you don’t need to be an industry insider to write a book, being assisted by one can be the deciding factor in whether or not your work is successful. An editor can help you gain clarity on how to distinguish your writing from the multitude of voices—whether you hope to work directly with a publisher, pitch through an agent, or self-publish your book.

Serious about venturing further into the world of publishing with a seasoned editor as your guide? Tune in to the blog next week:

• Monday, we’ll have another post from Ariel Price on the 7 steps you can take to make your literary leap this year. They’re simple, easy, and fun.
• Wednesday, we’ll be posting the details for our new writing contest that we’ve specially designed to help writers get to that next level. It’s called “Write Your Own Adventure,” where you can enter to win a free editorial consultation from us on your book (in whatever route towards publication you’re headed).

All of it designed to help you dust off those writing goals you’ve been hiding in your closet and kick your editorial spring into gear.

Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love. As writers, editors, and readers, we know that one of the most important relationships is the relationship between a person and a book. It’s not that we’re crazy about paper, ink, or binding (though some of us might be)—it’s that we love a good story. Why do we have classics? Why have the same stories been told for thousands of years? And with newer books, what is it that causes us to read them and become attached? There’s something that draws us emotionally to them, linking us to them forever. What is it?

What makes us fall in love with a book?

Of course, the answer is not simple, nor is there even one answer. In some ways, it’s as ineffable as the love between two people. But I’ll try to describe it anyway:

1. We fall in love because we see ourselves in the characters. They are imperfect, flawed people, just like we are. Yet they are able to attain the goals we ourselves would like to achieve. Maybe they’ve been through the same trials we’ve faced. We cry for their pain; we celebrate their victories. In short, they ignite our strongest sympathies.
2. We fall in love because we get lost in the story. When reality seems too restricting or disappointing, a story can give us a glimpse of a world where everything is as it should be. We are given eyes to see things we could never behold otherwise. Time stops—or speeds up. We stay awake all night to read it, and if we must put it down, we still think about it.
3. We fall in love because it challenges us. We learn from it and come away feeling enlightened, or touched, or inspired. We are given more insight into ourselves and each other.
4. We fall in love because it holds a mystery for us. I don’t mean simply that the book is in the mystery genre. One of the most alluring aspects of a good book is the feeling that you haven’t learned everything the first time. Now that you know the ending, you’re sure to notice new things in the middle and beginning next time. As I’ve shared in my personal blog, I read Jane Eyre every year because I always learn something new. I know the book has more to offer, and I crave to know it.
5. We fall in love because it is unique. The book offers something that no other book can offer, whether it is an insight, a plot twist, or simply a new take on an old theme.
6. We fall in love because it creates a community. If you’ve been to a Harry Potter party, you know what I mean. Books like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter, and Pride and Prejudice have been able to reach and become dear to the hearts of so many people. But a book doesn’t have to inspire fan fiction, movies, or Ron Weasley bobbleheads in order to be loved. A book read by parents to their children, by teachers to their students, or by spouses together can create a long-lasting bond between those people. Our love for books can mutually strengthen and be strengthened by the relationships we have with others.

In the midst of celebrating your love with a special person today, I hope you take some time to remember the special connection you have with a favorite story. Better yet, take this opportunity to share these cherished tales together to grow in your love for your books and for each other.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

With both of us juggling multiple projects right now, it’s been particularly hectic around the studios at Cogitate these days. Plus, we’ve been working extra hard on some exciting events for this spring—when the book season here in the Rose City really blossoms. Given all that’s going on, we decided we needed some help around the office to get it all done. So, we’re proud to announce that we’ve taken on two editors to assist us: Ariel Price and Miranda Rabuck.

When we first met Ariel, a recent Portland transplant hailing from sunny SoCal, we were impressed with the worldly editorial experience she’s had in her relatively short career. Plus, the writing on her personal blog was stellar. So, not only will Ariel be helping us out with some of our book projects, but we asked her to be our guest blogger on all things books and writing on our website. In fact, her first blog is due out tomorrow. It’s called “For the Love of Books,” a celebration of love for Valentine’s Day, literati style, and the perfect way to kick off working together. To learn more about Ariel, visit her page on our website.

Miranda, a recent Portland transplant from the dry climes of Tucson, Arizona, will be helping us coordinate our second annual Cogitate Writers’ Contest, which we’re quite excited about. Miranda is a member of PSU’s Ooligan Press, and, after meeting her, we saw immediately that she has editing skills, social media savvy, and the eye for detail that we need to run this contest. We can’t wait to unveil more about the contest in the coming weeks. To learn more about Miranda, visit her page on our website.

Welcome to Cogitate, Ariel and Miranda. We’re elated to have both of you. Prepare to get your nerd on.

~Henry & Gretchen

We are pleased to announce the recent publication of a book we both worked on earlier this year called Impossible Loves, a collection of essays by Erin McNellis, out this month in paperback from Paper Rock Tiger, an emerging press based out of Seattle. Henry copyedited the manuscript and Gretchen handled the permissions for the publisher and created a customized house style guide for its editors.

All in all, the book was not only fun to work on, but also fun to read. McNellis is purposeful with her prose, and focused with the intent of this book: “Nearly every paper in my academic career has the secret or not-so-secret message of ‘please, please try to love one another,’” she writes, “and I think it would not be exaggerating to say that many, if not most, works of art have exactly this message as well.”

The book doesn’t disappoint either; it’s a delightful, engaging, insightful yarn that weaves through a tapestry of topics, including: the morning wisdom of Richard Hugo, the self-sacrifice of Simone Weil, the extinguished selfhood of the Bhagavad Gita, the libertinism of Georges Bataille, the tragic Grizzly Man of Werner Herzog, the weasels of Annie Dillard, the orchards of Pablo Neruda, the author’s own experience at Burning Man, and ultimately, how love (really and truly) is the (terrific and terrifying) answer.

Indeed, with the caliber of thoughtfulness and insight in Impossible Loves, readers are given both clarity of thought and quality of writing, while at the same time, the author manages to sneak in her underlying message throughout this work: that love is deeply woven into this this collection of essays.

Both of us highly recommend checking out Paper Rock Tiger’s website and picking up a copy if you get the chance. Their next book, an unhinged, braided novella about terrorism, personhood, and tragedy in contemporary Canada, will definitely cover vastly different territory but also promises to be just as intelligent and well-read as Erin McNellis and her Impossible Loves.

Congratulations to all those whose were involved with the project on a job well done!

Happy reading,

Henry & Gretchen

As editors, readers, and writers here at Cogitate, we’re concerned with the integrity of the news and entertainment many consume every day. We’ve always advocated for critical consumption, and there has never been a more important time than now to be aware of the sources of our daily info and entertainment diets because today most of our media is controlled by one of six companies. To understand the modern lay of the media land, here is a  helpful graphic below from Frugal Dad, which very elegantly demonstrates the state of media consolidation in the United States:

Source: Frugal dad

Of all the non-fiction authors we’ve worked with over the years, writer Susie Pearl has one of the most buoyant, can-do attitudes we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She’s always happy, and this is why we’re so over the moon about the recent news that her upcoming book made the cover of The Bookseller in the United Kingdom, a true coup for any writer, and for us too—because like Vidal Sassoon says, “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.” Well, Susie, darling, your book looks really good. And as two editors who’ve already had a sneak peak between the covers, we know it reads just as well.

Susie brings a lot of experience from the world of music, TV, entertainment, and business to her writing. She’s worked with famous artists, entrepreneurs, and business people all over the globe, including Paul McKenna and NLP founder, Dr. Richard Bandler, so she had the platform to start writing about her method for success. She found our little pocket of the editorial universe in the spring of 2010, after a referral from a past client. She had already written the brunt of her karate-chopping self-improvement manual on how to find  happiness, success, wealth, health, and vitality, but the manuscript and book proposal needed some developmental assistance and feedback.

After taking a gander at the material, it was immediately obvious that Gretchen would be perfect for the job, and she was. It didn’t take long for her and Susie to work together to pump out a finished ms, ready for agents’ eyes—and in no time, Susie nabbed one, who got her a book deal with Quadrille Publishing (publisher of the Gordon Ramsay cookbooks, no less, who we love). This last week, with her publication date right around the corner, she made The Bookseller magazine.

Congratulations, Susie! You deserve it.

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About the book: Instructions for Happiness and Success is packed with ancient wisdom and the latest research in the science of mind. Celebrities, entrepreneurs, and top business leaders have followed this method to happiness and success. It is simple, fast, and foolproof — and boasts a 100% success rate when used correctly. Designed as an interactive personal workbook, Instructions for Happiness and Success is divided into three sections: Part A, How it works — an explanation of the combination of wisdom and science; Part B, The instructions — a set of simple instructions to bring positive outcomes using Susie’s CREATE system; and Part C, The tool kit — loaded techniques for creating happiness, abundance, and wealth. With its mix of wisdom, instructions, practical exercises, and absolutely stunning design, Instructions for Happiness and Success opens up infinite new possibilities in this increasingly popular field.