So you
wanna write?

Honolulu Writers
Conference convenes

By Nadine Kam
Features Editor
Star-Bulletin

Just as every would-be novelist suspects, the road to publication is often blocked by the "capricious" whims of agents, editors and publishers, one Hawaii-based agent confirms.

Just as often, failure to break into the publishing world is the result of plain old bad writing.

Determining which of these circumstances applies to your literary efforts will save you time, trouble and heartache, and one of the best places to find out where you stand is at the Sixth Honolulu Writers Conference.

The conference takes place 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Jefferson Hall. The aim is to temper dreams of Pushcart and Pulitzer prizes with a dose of reality.

Forget the "me, me, me" nonsense, consider the dilemma of publishing professionals, and you may actually get somewhere.

Most ignore the first rule of writing, which is to read. "All writers do," said Hawaii-based literary agent Roger Jellinek, former editor at the New York Times Book Review and editor in chief at the New York Times Publishing Co. Among his clients is Gardner McKay, whose recently published first novel, "Toyer," was given the biggest national launch ever by a Hawaii-based author.

Following another rule for landing an agent -- have an outline, synopsis and sample chapters ready -- McKay had already completed "Toyer" and was known as a playwright and actor when he met Jellinek.

Without the name recognition and promotability factor, Jellinek said no one has the right to ask a publisher to plunk down $50,000 to $100,000 for a book that may be of little interest to those outside one's circle of family and friends.

"People seem to think all they have to do is write the book and it will be published," Jellinek said. "We're in the rejection business in a big way. Each author is rejected at least once."

And unfortunately, it's difficult for authors to get a clear answer as to why their work is rejected. Jellinek said capricious judgments are a norm.

"It's still a highly personal decision. I wouldn't take on a book that I'm not interested in," he said. "I won't turn down a book if it's going to be a best seller on how to suck your thumb. But my credibility is connected in part to what I represent.

"I've been in this business since 1960. I'm a known quantity. If I start representing something that's peculiar or rubbish or exploitive, I would have a harder time with the people I deal with."

Although 90 percent of Jellinek's business comes from first-time writers -- half from Hawaii and half from the mainland and abroad -- he said that figure is "hard to justify unless you're building something.

"You depend on the occasional home run to finance the rest. Anything that doesn't seem to build or contribute to the process I tend to cut away.

"Eventually people get the idea that you're trying to run a business, and you can't make a living by being a good guy."

Even if one succeeds in capturing an agent's attention, one must still contend with editors.

"You don't know what has gone across an editor's desk for the last month. There may be a book we see as really hot, exciting, and the editor will say, 'I've seen three of these.' Issues arise simultaneously and there's nothing we can do about that."

Jellinek has never written a book himself, saying, "I have much too good an idea of what good writing is."

Stringent standards aside, he offers encouragement to writers, saying every story is valuable, even if not meant for a mass audience.

Rich Budnick, a Hawaii book consultant, author and self-publisher who is also participating in the conference, said he recently helped one author complete a small run of 500 books that will be distributed to his family.

"Memoirs are big now (among writers)," Budnick said, "But if you're looking to sell a zillion copies, it isn't going to happen."

Meet the publishers SIXTH HONOLULU WRITERS CONFERENCE Where: University of Hawaii Jefferson hall When: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday Admission: $99 general; $70 for students. Reservations can be made in advance and participants may pay at the door Call: 395-1161 Notes: Bring a brown-bag lunch SPEAKERS AND TOPICS "How to Attract a Literary Agent" Roger Jellinek, former editor at the New York Times Book Review and editor in chief at the New York Times Publishing Co. Ken Atchity, literary manager, script consultant, screenwriter and producer of 30 TV and movie films, and author of "Writing Treatments that Sell" and "A Writer's Time." "How to get Your Novel Published" Kati Steele, editor at Harcourt Brace, publisher for such authors as 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Jose Saramago and David Guterson, author of "Snow Falling on Cedars." "How to get Your Non-fiction Book Published" John Loudon, executive editor, Harper San Francisco, a division of HarperCollins, one of the world's largest book publishing companies. Mariah Bear, editor, Lonely Planet Books, publisher of 450 international travel guide and lifestyle books. "How to Get Your Children's Book Published" Bruce Hale, author-illustrator for five "Moki the Gecko" children's books, who recently signed a three-book contract with Harcourt Brace. He is regional advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. "How to Self-Publish and Sell Your Book" Rich Budnick, book consultant, author and self-publisher of the "Hawaiian Street Names" series and "How to Get the Job You Want in Hawaii."

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