Pre-Q&A
Tips:
Cut out pictures of potential characters from magazines and start asking them questions, i.e. “Are you allergic to peanuts?” “Are you jealous of your younger sisters?” Keep a binder of your pictures with answers to your characters questions to reference while writing.
Select a specific month when your story starts and a specific month when your story ends. Clip pictures of places that are similar to your intended setting. You can use them as aids while describing them.
Always keep a notebook because one idea can spark another.
Remember, deadlines are our friends. Do not call yourself a writer if you’re not writing. The world needs books and you have been created to express these stories. Even if you have a contract, an editor, and/or an agent, it is up to you to get the writing done.
Writing is an art form and you will be your own worst critic. Don’t be discouraged with rejections. Robin has had 75 books published and still gets them. It’s a constant push to keep moving forward.
Question and Answer Session with Robin Jones Gunn
1) Do you have an agent?
Robin did not need an agent with her first publisher. When her initial publisher sold to a bigger publisher, things became complicated and she needed an agent to help negotiate contracts. Robin signed with Janet Grant at Books & Such Literary Agency and she has been with the agency for about five years.
According to Robin, having an agent has helped her with the following: stay on schedule, act as a liaison between her and the publishing house, negotiate more monies on her behalf, and bring her project opportunities. For Robin, it has been much better having an agent.
2) Have you ever worked with Harvest House?
Robin has not worked with Harvest House, but she has known people that have had their books published with them.
3) Have you ever done nonfiction?
Robin has written five gift/devotional books. Currently, she is under contract for a nonfiction book with Zondervan. The working title is Victims of Grace.
4) What do you think the future of publishing will be (traditional publishing, online publishing, self-publishing, etc) for would-be authors?
As far as traditional publishing, authors have to do as much work promoting their work as spending time writing it. Would-be authors must have an already established connection to their potential audience in some way. At this time, marketing is a huge element in convincing publishers to purchase manuscripts. Instead of publishers finding the audience, would-be authors must bring their audience with them.
With regard to self-publishing and online publishing, Robin believes there will be more of each.
5) How did you handle copyrights before an agent?
Robin did not have to file her own copyrights. Publishers file copyrights as a general rule.
6) When you publish a book, do you retain all rights?
You do retain all the rights when the copyright is in your name, but the publishing contract will specify what the publisher plans do with the book.
7) What sort of self-publishers would you recommend?
Believers Press based out of Minnesota. John Deprey, who worked with Bethany House, heads the press.
If you plan to self-publish, keep in mind that many people have paid thousands of dollars to self-publish their work. Do not ever publish with anyone who wants that high a payment. It doesn’t cost that much to publish and you shouldn’t pay thousands to do so.
8) How hard is it to break in to the Christian Market?
The Christian market is not a closed, exclusive club. There is always room for better and better books. If you write a compelling story and capture a publisher’s attention, then there is a chance you will be published. Even though the market is changing, many publishing houses are still going strong, so keep knocking.
In the end, heed the call for excellence, write the best you can, and pray that you will be led to the right place.
9) Is there a perception that you have to be a better writer to publish with a regular publisher than with a Christian publisher?
Some authors have commented that it has been more challenging in the Christian market.
Robin gave a brief history of the Christian market:
The market started with Grace Livingston Hill in 1920. By the 40s and 50s, there were Christian novels here and there, but it wasn’t until Jannette Oke’s novel, Love Comes Softy (1979), that new ground broke for inspirational fiction.
Love Comes Softy was extremely well received and it demonstrated to publishers that readers wanted novels with romance and faith elements.
10) Do Christian books have to be heavy in Christian messages, i.e. bible passages, quoting bible verses?
Some Christian publishing houses have rejected books that were “too Christian” and others that are not “Christian enough”—comment by attendee.
Every publishing house is subjective about this issue, but the “preachy” books are becoming fewer and fewer in the last 30 years. The stories and characters in Christian books must ring true. It doesn’t matter if there are swear words, violence, etc., as long as it fits the story. Keep in mind, there are always ways to get the point across without offending your audience. In the end, just write the most compelling book you can.
Dale Krammer is a good example of an author who writes Christian books that are not overtly religious.
Robin Jones Gunn’s last words:
Don’t give up on writing and find ways to make friends with it and fall in love with your craft. Be a victim of grace! Don’t let the small things defeat you and don’t let the negative voices discourage you. Your words will go around the word to places you will never go and change lives. Writing is a worthy endeavor.
