Debbie Alferio is the award-winning author of the Forever Love fictional romance series. She writes without outlines and is quick to say she hasn’t received
any formal writing training, and gushes about her crush on Country Music
recording artist Chuck Wicks, the inspiration for her books' main character.
Unapologetic about her aversion to outlines
and her self-published status, Debbie offers practical and encouraging advice
for other writers, and reminds us how important it is to remain true to yourself.
---
Q:
You’re the
Ohio rep for Authors Across America and a member of
the International Writer’s Association, American Author’s Association, OhioProfessional Writers, and Writer’s Ink. So you’re obviously steeped in writerly
advice. But, really, you’ve never used
an outline?
A:
I
know of a lot of authors who prefer to use outlines and swear by them,
and others who find them restricting. I fall into that latter
group. On the few occasions I have tried to outline, I've felt like, if I
didn't stick to the thing like glue, my finished product wouldn't be worth its
weight in salt. When I write, I like to let the muse take control, and if
the plotline or characters happen to change direction midstream, I can go with
it. For me, outlining means feeling too rigid and structured
with my writing. I enjoy the freedom to let the elements of the
story unfold as I go along. Luckily for me, it's worked very well so
far!
---
Q:
Please, tell
us what it’s really like working with AuthorHouse. (And don’t just say
“great!”) Do you act more like an entrepreneur than author? How does the
editing process work? What kind of marketing support do you get?
A:
Am I allowed
to say wonderful? How about fantastic? LOL. Seriously, my
experience with Authorhouse has been very positive. The company produces
a quality product, the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, and although
they're one of the larger independent publishers, I've never felt like I was just a
number to them. Authorhouse makes my books available through thousands of
online outlets worldwide, and they can be ordered via Ingram, Bowker's, and
Baker & Taylor. To be honest, I believe that all authors, regardless of the
method they use to publish, are entrepreneurs of sorts. Your book is your
business, and ultimately, no one can promote it the way you do. The
company does offer marketing support, and the advice I've received from my
Author Services Representatives over the years has been priceless in getting me
to where I am now. As for editing, the company does offer this service;
however, I preferred to use my own editors.
---
Q:
Would you describe your editing process,
then – and how you've found editors?
A:
Let me share a little story. When it
came time to edit A Forever Kind of Love, I was not in a financial
position to pay for professional editing services through Authorhouse or from the private sector. Knowing enough about the process to
understand editing is a must, I chose a group of close family and friends to
take on the job for me. I was very grateful for their help; and while
they spotted many of the more "obvious" errors like grammar and
punctuation, there were a few things overlooked which ended up getting
published in the book. Fortunately, those things are very minor so as not
to detract from the overall quality of the story or be picked up in most cases
by the reader. Do they bother me? Of course---no one wants mistakes
in their work, but it does happen, and sometimes even with big-name
authors.
Anyway, the second time around I guess you
could say I had "lived and learned" enough to find someone with more
actual editing knowledge. The lady, Arlene Towne, was one of my high
school teachers. Mrs. Towne worked over my 470-page manuscript for
"Waiting for Tomorrow" five times--word by word, line by line.
She not only edited, she also mentored me in the proper usage of commas (I tend
to be comma-happy!) as well as where dashes and semicolons can be used
instead. She took the time to make sure the work was polished before it
went to the printer. Her diligence paid off in one of the highest
compliments I have ever gotten--actually from a friend who is a freelance
writer and editor herself. She told me that "Waiting for
Tomorrow" was one of the most perfectly edited works she has ever
read! So, the moral of the story?
There are many ways to find a good editor; just
be sure that whoever you choose actually knows what to look for. Be sure
they understand the principles of sentence structure, grammar, spelling,
punctuation, as well as what sounds right to make the story flow. A good
editor is a great asset to you and the success of your work.
---
Q:
When
you conduct writing workshops, what’s the most surprising thing you tell new
(or old!) writers? What do you think is the “aha” moment for those listening to
you?
A:
New writers often are surprised when I tell them that I
make a higher royalty per sale being independently
published than some of the traditionally-published authors I know,
and that they often do as much marketing as I do. There seems to be
a misconception that traditional publishing houses automatically shower you
with money and publicity when you land a contract. I tell them sure--if
your name is Nora Roberts or Clive Cussler! LOL. Now, I'm not
knocking anyone's choice on how to publish--that's a personal preference.
Traditional publishing has its advantages, but in most cases for the new
author, don't expect to get rich or famous overnight. You still
have to work at it.
---
Q:
Promotion
is a tough nut to crack for most authors. You’ve shared some very helpful,
practical advice on your blog. Have
you done anything sort of quirky or unusual that really paid off?
A:
I'm not sure
if it qualifies as quirky, but I've developed a knack for incorporating the
phrase, "I'm an author" into just about any conversation or situation
I find myself in. I've been known to tell everyone from the UPS guy to
the clerk at the grocery store what I do, and in many instances, it's either
resulted in a book sale or sometimes even a speaking engagement. I
simply make sure to listen and watch for an appropriate window in the dialogue,
make a casual mention of my art, and go from there. It helps, too, that I
always carry brochures in my purse for those occasions so that I have something
to offer about my work. Word of mouth is still the best way to advertise!
---
Thanks, Debbie! Your advice is helpful and I'm sure it will be appreciated by many new
(and not-so-new) writers.
Now, dear reader, can you help me out? I’ve been lucky enough to post advice from Debbie,
Derek Taylor Kent,
Carmen Ambrosio, and Andrea Richesin so far this year and now, I’m looking for guest bloggers again. If you’re a published
author or professional copywriter, and would like to share a few words of
wisdom here, please contact me.
I’m also looking for guest writers
for my reading blog, where you can chat up your favorite (or most
disappointing) reads. I hope to hear from you soon!
Next up... what should a writer do for the holidays?
Who in your life has inspired you to write?
We ordered two
copies this morning. One of the books is to be a gift to the mom of a family
friend, whose son is being deployed with the USMC to Afghanistan soon. God
bless all the troops and their families.”
