On Wednesday, July 22, at 6pm, Emilya Naymark leads a workshop for writers on finding your publishing path. Where do you imagine your book being shelved? How strongly do you feel about traditional publishing or self-publishing, and what are the available middle grounds? What do you envision for yourself as a published author? Emilya is an old writing friend of Donna's, so we were delighted to catch up with her for a sneak peek at what might arise in the workshop. Along the way, she talks about the joy of being among writers as the best part of her journey.
Donna:
I've loved watching you go from community writing circles to published crime fiction writer to award-nominated novelist! And I've loved discussing the multitude of publishing paths with you. That's why I'm so excited for your event, "Exploring Your Publishing Path." Where are you right now on your path?
Emilya:
Thank you and great question! I'm currently out on submission with what would be my third published novel. I've had some rejections and some publishers are still considering it, so fingers crossed. One of my friends said, "It's hard to get published, and it's hard to stay published." That is true. There are always upheavals in the publishing world, but between the consolidations that have been happening and AI, the traditional publishing business is going through a "thing." There are always opportunities to pivot, and I will discuss what this means during the workshop.
Donna:
From your website, it's clear that part of your path has involved the fellowship of groups like Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. Can you share what sparks you've taken from the support of your fellow writers?
Emilya:
Oh, that's the best part of writing! Hanging out with other writers and meeting new people who love the written word as much as you do. In addition to meeting kindred spirits, meeting writers opened up my horizons about all kinds of things. I have many historical fiction writer friends, and through them I've learned about all kinds of history. Fascinating stuff. I've befriended writers I never met in person who live on the other side of the country or even the world. We share our publication stories and lessons learned, and we support each other by beta reading, helping with promotion, and attending readings and launches. But mostly, I found writers to be a very smart and funny batch of people to be around. Highly recommended!
Donna:
Wonderful to hear about the importance of community to a great writing life! By the way, I loved your recent Substack post on "high-concept fiction." What are you working on right now and do you think you'll be able to cram it into that high-concept box?
Emilya:
Yes, that post is my most popular. None of the other posts have gotten even a tiny fraction of interest that that one got. I think it's because it's what everyone is asking for. If you read posts from editors and agents, all you hear is "high-concept, high-concept, high-concept, with a pinch of high-concept." And yes, I used my hard-researched formula to come up with my high concept. Let's just say there's a lot of Jersey Shore, missing (dead) bodies, and partying (undead) bodies. For what its worth...