Andrea Hurst & Associates

AUTHORNOMICS Interview Series with Renda Dodge

By: Andrea Hurst

With a publishing industry that is ever in flux, it can be hard for an aspiring author to figure out what information is relevant and what she needs to do to be successful. Recognizing this, literary agent Andrea Hurst and writer and blogger Katie Flanagan present a series of weekly interviews with publishing industry specialists. The AUTHORNOMICS Series features literary agents, editors, authors, marketing experts and more talking about their opinions on the publishing industry, writing, and what a writer needs to know.

If you have questions for upcoming guests on the AUTHORNOMICS Interview Series, email them to authornomics@andreahurst.com.

Interview with Renda Dodge, Founder of Pink Fish Press

Renda Belle Dodge grew up in the Pacific Northwest as part of a typical, fractured family, and she currently resides in Seattle, Washington. Writing has always been a part of her life, and she began telling and illustrating stories when she was a child. She loves to read any interesting and quirky fiction. Her favorite authors are Plath, Cunningham, Chopin, Eugenides, Oates, Vonnegut and Bukowski. In her spare time, Renda spends a lot of time with her camera. Renda is the author of Inked andThe Indie Writer’s Workshop and the managing editor of Pink Fish Press and Line Zero. Find out more at thepinkfishpress.com.

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1. You are founder and managing editor of Pink Fish Press, an independent publisher, and Line Zero, a literary magazine. What inspired you to start your own publishing company?

The publishing industry is changing and there are a lot of writers who are writing remarkable books, however in terms of traditional publishing there aren’t nearly as many publishers. I’m looking to publish those people. The people who write amazing, off-culture books that can’t find a home in New York. There are a lot of them out there and their stories need a home. We consider Pink Fish Press an “art press”. We see writing as an art form, on par with sculpting, painting and photography. We’re in this to publish literary art.

2. Can you tell us what your mission statement is for both projects?

Pink Fish Press tries to reflect our core values in all of our publications, especially Line Zero. Our core values are:

• We recognize that all writers are artists.
• We believe there are multitudes of talented voices unheard by the big publishing industry as independent writers struggle against an ocean of outdated practices.
• We strive to shatter the stigma of poor quality that is often attached to independent authors.
• We work to bring undiscovered and gifted writers to the forefront of popular culture.

3. For Line Zero and for Pink Fish Press, what are you looking for in the way of entries and how can a writer submit their work to you?

We’re looking for well-crafted, well-written pieces. With our focus on the art of writing, we’re not specifically looking for the “guaranteed sell”. We’re able to take risks, but we’re only able to do so on pieces that we love. My biggest piece of advice for writers who are querying, small press or otherwise, is to have a near-perfect manuscript. Write because you’re passionate about what you’re writing, not because you think “psycho-zombies from space” is the next big thing. It’s evident in a manuscript when a writer knows, understands and loves the craft.

Reflecting our core values, we read the first three chapters of every full-length manuscript that comes in. Writers aren’t really the best at writing queries or synopsis. Selling your work isn’t always an inherent quality. So, due to this we give every author’s writing a chance by reading their art. We have a team of readers and each piece is read by at least two people.

Line Zero is a handled a little differently. As it’s a quarterly publication, we run a contest for each issue in both literary and poetry. As we grow, we’ve started to receive hundreds of entries in each category. Every entry is read by our Literary Content Editor, Bailey Shoemaker Richards. Her 10 favorite poems and 8 favorite short stories are then read by the editorial team and we decide two “Editor’s Choice” and one Winner per issue.

All of our submission information can be found on ThePinkFishPress.com or LineZero.org.

4. What have been some of the challenges you’ve faced in breaking into the publishing industry?

There are a lot of small presses starting to form due to the increasing availability of POD (print on demand) services and e-publishing. This means that many of these publishers can put out a lot of books in a very short timeframe and without any sort of litmus test for quality. Because of this saturation, it can be tough for authors to find the press that works for them.

Another tough challenge has been adjusting expectations in the current economic climate as well as the rapidly expanding market of small publishing. There’s an inherent “dream” to get a big publishing deal and be an eccentric writer with a big advance. However, this isn’t always the way it goes (and often isn’t) anymore. Helping authors learn and grow as they come to understand all aspects of the publishing industry is part of the process.

5. How has the rise in self-publishing impacted smaller houses like Pink Fish Press?

In reality, it hasn’t and I don’t see that it will. There are so many writers with voices to be heard and so many options for publishing. I believe that different books have different destinies. Some books go to agents and big-publishers in New York, some go to small publishers like us and others are self-published. The type of publication doesn’t reflect on the quality of the book itself.

6. As a small press, how do you see ebook publishing affecting the way you do business?

E-books are here to stay, but we’re also not all traveling around in our flying cars. I don’t believe readers are ready to completely give up on bookstores and print books. Pink Fish Press offers print books as well as e-books and will do so for the foreseeable future. We want to bring all of our works to readers in all available forms.

7. What are some of the common mistakes you see writers make when submitting manuscripts or articles?

I see a lot of manuscripts that simply aren’t ready. It’s up to the writer to make sure that their story is well-crafted, free from typos and grammar mistakes, and the strongest story you can write. You only get one chance to make a first impression. We remember the manuscripts we read and once your piece has made an either a good or bad impression we’re not likely to forget. When working on a final piece to submit, remember to read and re-read.

While platform is important, I think that the singular thing that lacks in most queries is craft. Sending in a cover letter with links to a blog and Twitter followers is important, but more important is an interesting, immersive story. People won’t love a book because 2,000 people friended someone on Facebook, they will love it because of the writing and storytelling.

8. Why did you decide to open a press in Seattle when publishing has traditionally been centered in New York City?

The Seattle literary scene is huge; this city is home to many amazing authors, writers and artists. With an established community and as an art-based, independent press we tap into the indie vibe so prevalent here. We’ve been able to attend many writing conferences, groups and festivals bringing our books to a wide audience as well.

Also, Seattle is my home. I love the culture, the weather and the landscape. After living in Atlanta a couple of years ago, I realized that this city will always be home.

9. You are also the Seattle Area Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which takes place in November. Can you talk about the benefits of this program and what a writer can do to prepare in these months before NaNoWriMo begins?

The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write at least 50,000 words in 30 days. This challenge may not be for every writer, but the benefits can be amazing. In one month, with a strong, like-minded community a writer can have a book, or a chunk of a book, written and ready to edit, revise or rewrite in the months after. A writer’s greatest enemy can be their own inability to make time for their art, and NaNoWriMo gives one less excuse to get “black on white.”

For prepping: I plot. If I don’t, I can’t find the end of a book I’m writing, and the story is loose instead of tight. In the months prior to NaNo I plot out major story arcs, characters and beef up my backstories. I also practice writing sprints and short stories beforehand, a habit I suggest for all writers throughout the year.

10. You run free writing workshops for authors. Can you tell us about what you teach and the focus of these workshops?  How can a writer find out how to enroll?

I run several types of workshops, but the most popular classes have been focused on plotting and pre-writing. I also have facilitated classes on editing and revision, prepping your manuscript for publication and publishing options. I offer these because I love teaching and helping writers grow and develop their stories and voices.

Currently all of the workshops for 2011 are full, however there will be some more scheduled in Spring of 2012. ThePinkFishPress.com has a “Workshop” link.

11. As a writer yourself, what are some tips you can share that work for you?

Keep writing. All the time. Write what you’re passionate about, and always keep in mind that your art deserves your attention. If something doesn’t work for you, try something else.

12. Do you have any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for?

I recently released The Indie Writer’s Workshop, a workbook for writers on plotting and publication. On October 1^st, Pink Fish Press is releasing a second edition of Terry Persun’s Guidebook for Working with Small Independent Publishers. And in January of 2012, we’re very excited to release Stripping Down – a memoir of one woman’s journey through her past as a stripper, her daughter’s first steps and her mother’s last months.

Andrea Hurst has over 25 years experience as a published author, developmental editor for publishers, and skilled literary agent. She works with both major and regional publishing houses, and her client list includes emerging new voices and New York Times best-selling authors. Andrea represents high profile Adult Nonfiction and well crafted fiction. Her clients and their books have appeared on the Oprah Show, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Good Morning America, National Geographic network and in the New York Times.

Katie Flanagan is a fiction major at Northwestern University. She is currently an editor with Booktrope and a reader for Pink Fish Press. In the past, she has interned with Andrea Hurst Literary Management and the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. Her favorite genre is women’s fiction, but she reads any fiction put in front of her. Check out her blog about the writing life at katieflanagan.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter at @K_Flanagan.