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WINSTON-SALEM—“How do I get a book published?”
If that’s not the most common question Network staff hears, then it’s “How do I get my book in bookstores?” or maybe “How do I sell more books?”
The most honest and tempting answers* we could give would not be very helpful. A helpful and thorough answer would take hours to share, and would be full of caveats and exceptions.
Now, NCWN staff can direct members to our new webpage, Book Business Basics, on www.ncwriters.org.
This webpage is filled with links to materials and resources on the publishing process, from starting to submit short work to journals to advice on conducting a successful author tour.
These materials all come from classes taught at recent NCWN conferences, and are available only to current NCWN members.
“Learning all the ins and outs of the book business is the work of a lifetime, but these resources are a great place to start,” the webpage’s introductory text says. “They will give you an overview of the literary industry and community, introduce you to key players and terminology, and cover the basics of how to approach publishing like the business it is.”
The Book Business Basics web address is www.ncwriters.org/index.php/members-only/book-business-basics. You must be logged in as a current NCWN member to reach the page.
“Publishing isn’t every writer’s goal, nor should it be,” NCWN Executive Director Ed Southern said. “But for writers who do want to see their work in print, this new resource will give them essential information and guidance.”
* “Nobody really knows for sure: If you figure it out, please tell us,” and “Write better.”
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SOUTHERN PINES—The North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame will postpone its induction ceremony scheduled for this fall to Sunday, October 17, 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have no way of knowing what phase of lockdown the state will be in come this October, and we’d rather go ahead and postpone the ceremony now than have to cancel it at the last minute,” said Ed Southern, the executive director of the North Carolina Writers’ Network, which oversees the NCLHOF.
The five Tarheel authors selected for the NCLHOF this year—Anthony S. Abbott, Charles Frazier, Bland Simpson, Max Steele, and Carole Boston Weatherford—will join the other inductees in the Hall this fall. Their profiles will appear on www.nclhof.org, and their portraits will be hung as soon as possible in the Weymouth Center in Southern Pines, which houses the NCLHOF.
“Though the induction ceremony traditionally takes place outside, we could not keep a safe social distance between the attendees without severely restricting their number,” Southern said. “We decided to wait and hope to hold a full ceremony next year, rather than hold a half-ceremony this year.”
Since 2008, a collection of North Carolina literary organizations has helped the NCWN coordinate the NCLHOF and its activities: the North Carolina Center for the Book, now a part of the North Carolina Humanities Council; the North Carolina Collection at the Wilson Library of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill; and the Weymouth Center for Arts & Humanities.
“Every other year, the NCLHOF induction is a family reunion for North Carolina’s writers and readers,” Southern said. “We’ll miss it this year, but next year the reunion will be especially joyful.”
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ONLINE—Hopefully you've been taking some time during quarantine to submit to literary journals, anthologies, and contests. Maybe you even have a manuscript you feel is ready for a publisher!
On Tuesday, August 25, at 7:00 pm EST, the North Carolina Writers' Network will host "BYO Query: An Open Source Event."
This event is free and open to the public; one does not need to be a member of NCWN to attend. However, space is limited.
Registration is closed.
Once you've registered, you'll receive the official event invitation, including log-in information, by e-mail.
"BYO Query: An Open Source Event" will be broken into two 45-minute sessions. During Part I, attendees can read their query-letters-in-progress to the group and receive "open-source" feedback on what's working and what might still need a little help. Part II will be a free-flowing conversation about submissions in general. Got a question about something you've run into, or a question about best practices? Someone may have the answer.
The event will be moderated by NCWN staff. Anyone with an internet connection can participate, or you can even read and listen over the phone!
NCWN launched its online series in 2017. These ninety-minute events have proven surprisingly effective in terms of bringing writers together from all over the state of North Carolina and beyond. In fact, during an online reading in July, NCWN had our first international participant join us all the way from Brazil!
The non-profit North Carolina Writers’ Network is the state’s oldest and largest literary arts services organization devoted to all writers at all stages of development. For additional information, visit www.ncwriters.org.