This be the email

A short one today. And a little bonus.

The bonus is that I’m doing a FREE webinar today at 12.00. The theme is elevator pitches and specifically how to:

1. Build a pitch that fully expresses the DNA of your novel;
2. Use that insight to help your novel fully express the delicious idea at its heart;
3. Use that work when it comes to selling your book

I’ll give you a clue right now: Part C is the easy one.

If you’re a Premium Member, you may already have done our Take Your Novel From Good to Great course. If so, you can ignore this offer as the content of the webinar is very similar to module one of that course. If you aren’t a Premium Member and haven’t done that first lesson, then this is a good opportunity to scope it out! As I say, it’s completely free – just sign up here to register.

Now then…

Last week, I ended a long series of emails on selling with a question to you all, via Feedback Friday. Or four questions in fact:

• What matters to do you in writing?
• What do you want to get out of this?
• What do you think the biggest obstacles are?
• What would help?

It’s really worth taking a look at how people answered.

On the first two questions – what matters – people mostly agreed. “Just seeing my books out there in some form or other would be cool.” Entertaining readers was a near-universal goal. People often wanted to be able to sustain themselves by writing, but no one had dreams of vast wealth from it.

Other comments that spoke to me:

• A lot of people spoke about “the pure joy writing inspires, the fun we have putting pen to paper.” That’s true for me too. It has remained the one absolute constant through my career.
• “Recognition. The biggest buzz of all is when readers tell me they laughed or cried, or felt that constricted feeling in their throat — the feeling of something that *really* matters.” And yes, same here.
• “I want to be traditionally published and have a readership that likes my stories.” A lot of you were in that rough area, although I noted an increasing awareness of the various upsides of digital-first and sel-publishing options.
• “I’m already getting what I want out of this. It may sound crass, but all I ever wanted was to get my stuff out there. I’m achieving this now [via self-pub].”

And a special mention for this comment, which we can all relate to:

• “What matters to me in writing? I love it. Even when I hate it, I love it.”

On obstacles

Comments that struck a chord were:

• “It is my first time writing, and turning a passion and an interest into something commercially marketable with no prior knowledge of the industry, standards, expectations, process, etc. – it’s terrifying.”
• “Second guessing every decision is really slowing things down and stopping me writing fresh stuff.”
• “Time. There is never enough time to write, to research the market, do the marketing, without all the things that Life throws at me.”
• “The system. Agents are the gatekeepers and agents are human. They pass certain things I would throw out. The publishers publish certain books I would never buy, but they regard as commercial. Thank goodness there are Indie Press and self-publishing routes.”

On what would help

Some really good feedback here:

• “A little marketing genie would be good.”
• “Time. Money … But also actionable advice, feedback, safe spaces to ask questions. Knowing I’m not alone … Community has been more of a help than I realistically ever thought it would be.”
• “Help would help. Much like people who climb Everest, I would really appreciate the help of a Sherpa. Someone who’s seen and done it all. Someone who knows the secrets and can guide my feet over the dangerous terrain. I’m happy to do the hard yards. I want to get to the peak and plant my flag. But I can’t do it alone.”
• “A guide on what makes a good story and how to slice and dice away nonsense.”
• “Blue skies and sunshine …Someone to do all the advertising. Marketing, promotional stuff.”
• “What do I think would help? A kick up the arse. I’ve had some wonderful feedback on my work from some lovely people here. I’m deeply grateful for their kind words. They inspire me enormously.”
• “Access to professionals at a reasonable cost to those of us who are struggling to find the spare cash. I think JW already do this with their [premium membership service].”

And look, we know where you’re coming from.

We’ll use your insights to shape Jericho Writers Premium Membership for the coming year. We have a strong sense of what you want, and will be making some really huge improvements in 2025. We won’t announce anything until we’re closer to launch, but we’re aiming high.

If you’re not already a Premium Member, remember: today is Black Friday: a day of dark commercial magic, where we try to make your wishes come true! If you join us today, you’ll do so at the best price we’ve offered all year – and your writing, as well as your chances of publication WILL improve. We’d honestly love to welcome you, because this community gets better, the more voices it has.

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FEEDBACK FRIDAY: An Especially Lovely One

And because it’s a special Friday, let’s have an especially lovely Feedback challenge.

So: I want a passage of yours (about 250 words) that you really love. Give us any context we need, and tell us why you love it. That’s it.

Post yours here when you’re ready.

***

My two daughters are, just possibly, turning into writers. They love starting novels – all called “Murder in the Stableyard”, or rough variants on that. Then they write a cast list, which involves perhaps half a dozen individuals, notably girls 2-3 years older than my two. Then they extend the cast list by adding about four horses. Then they ask me to praise them. Then they write a first sentence or two. Then … they start again with a new novel.

Some of you giving comments on Feedback Friday last week, noted that writerly procrastination did at least deliver a very clean house and a punctual approach to on-coming chores.

I have not noticed the same effect with my kids.

Till soon,

Harry