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Welcome to another #AskMeAnything session! In this series, I'm responding to your questions about the publishing industry and how to write a better book. Leave me any additional questions in the comments and I will add them to my list for future videos!

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GREAT BOOKS ABOUT WRITING/PUBLISHING:

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS:

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MORE BOOK EDITOR Q&As:

RELATED VIDEOS:

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TODAY'S #ASKMEANYTHING :
00:55 - Should you mention in your query that English is not your native language?
01:44 - Can you start a thriller with a flash-forward scene?
03:38 - Is it bad if your book is similar to other published books?
05:31 - How do you pitch a book with a big plot twist?

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ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey—whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.

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MUSIC:
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[aaronhunyady]

People are going to most notice "borrowing" from the big three elements: character, setting, and plot (meaning the specific events that occur, not the general plot structure). If you want one of these three to close track another novel, then make sure the other two elements look different. Narrative structure, theme, tone, or mood can also be similar to another novel but I think they're less noticeable. Some genres are expected to have similar components, like a detective mystery or romance. You might get creative with character or setting, but the plot development is narrowly defined by the genre.

[briannewman]

I recommend against having a prologue as described in the second question because it can ruin suspense if you aren’t careful. The reader is informed ahead of time that certain things will be present up until the climax. You, as the writer, can’t convince them that these things are in peril until right before the climax.

[jimgilbert]

That third question made me think of all those filmmakers who were inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (Indiana Jones vs. Uncharted), John Ford, Francis Ford Cupola, and others.

Look at how many thrillers are referred to as "Hitchcockian."

Look at all the movies and TV show episodes that have used the big gimmick from It's A Wonderful Life of having the MC get a glimpse of what the world would have been like without them in it.

Books do that, too. I've lost track of the authors who use hyperspace as the means by which their characters' spaceships get from one solar system to another. Even before Anne Rice, how many sexy vampire stories were out there, inspiring others? How many werewolves struggling to fit into modern society loped through the pages of books?

As long as writers don't rip off other authors, using the others' writing and putting their name on it, inspiration is fine by me.

[soccerguy]

Great video Alyssa, but Gone Girl would not be a suitable comp, would it? As it was published in 2012 🤔

[phillipsmith]

Question: I anticipate being "finished" with my current project by year's end. I want to try the traditional publishing route which means I need an agent. At what time do I need to start researching agents and start working on the query letter. Also, I would like to start locally as far as an agent goes. Is that wise, or are all the "good" agents in NY? I live in the D/FW area.

[kentharper]

You always dish out the Best Tips to Plagiarize Successfuly: pay attention people! This is why I love this Channel ❤

[TheEccentricRaven]

Another tip I would give to the writer who asked about giving away a plot twist midpoint that sounds like it's genre defying: Outside of querying, there is a risk to the story itself if there's a twist at the midpoint that defies the genre. The reader might feel deceived and put the book down if they feel they thought they were reading another type of book. Brandon Sanderson has told the story of a new writer who wrote a fantasy that seemed to be the typical traditional quest driven fantasy, until the end gave a plot twist that reveals the story is actually a nontraditional genre defying fantasy. The result was that readers weren’t interested in the book because they felt cheated to realize they weren’t getting the book they were presented with in the beginning. Genre defying stories are great, but the reader wants to know from the beginning what they are getting.

[franklinmoya]

Hi Alyssa ❤🙋‍♂
I'm gearing up to query agents with a Middle Grade book that was self-published on Amazon last year. Since then, it underwent developmental editing, resulting in significant changes – including most character names. While the story's core message remains the same, it's now a much smoother read. Additionally, it was originally written in Spanish but has since been translated into English. Will its prior self-publication affect my chances with agents?
Thanks for your insight, and I'm a huge fan of your work! 😊
Best regards,
Franklin

[createdby_justus]

Omggg...This has been my fear for so long. I love writing high fantasy about fae...its super discouraging wondering if ppl are going to call you a copy cat.

[joevaldez]

Two super topics this week, Alyssa. I've read thrillers where because nothing exciting happens in the first half of the story, the author teases with a scene of high tension and then moves back in time. _Who Is Maud Dixon?_ tries this as a workaround because chronologically, the story is a slower build. I see this in movies too, like _Mission: Impossible III_ . I didn't think my manuscript started as strongly as it could and after considering a few workarounds, inserted a new Chapter 1--not a prologue--that starts the story off with more visual elements and tension.

[andeeharry]

Stories are always similar in some way, and as long as it isn't directly copied, it is fine. You get to see what works, what doesn't and change it. Being similar is fine, as you know how it is

[jeweetzelf]

Should you make an agent aware, in a query letter, of the statements you want to make with a book if you think they are a selling point?

[Lachgummei]

When writing a book with multiple POV's and keeping in mind, you're writing a series, do you think every POV character needs to have a completed characterarc at the end of the first book?
Sure with room to evolve, but does every character need to be able to say: That is how i changed? Or can some characters stay in the middle of their developement, without the reader being able to tell: this character evolved.?

Also, thank you for putting your knowledge out there.

[miahandwrites]

oh my GOSH, alyssa, why why WHY have i only found your channel now??? i wish i knew you all my life!!! i am in love with everything about your channel like what? how are you even real? and how can someone be so effortlessly, charmingly ARTICULATE, like, your wraps around my ears like melted butter on a baguette🥹🥹 you literally allure me, not exaggerating. where are you from? just to know what my favorite accent is)) i just admire eloquent people so much, it's such a weakness and insecurity of mine and i wish i were more like you. gonna go watch all your vids asap. btw, what microphone do you use for your videos? would you recommend it? im currently looking for one

[samfowler]

Wow this is timely I am concerned my current WIP is too close to an existing work that I was planning on using as a comp title.

[AOXavier]

Alyssa, will you have a video on KDP publishing?

[ebattleon]

About the second question; if I remember correctly, Twilight was fan fiction based of Anne Rice novels... so I don't think the readers really care too much about similarity.

[ourdivinemouseoverlord]

Hi Alyssa, my current WIP is a hybrid between a novella/short story collection. Basically, there's a novella length narrative that gets interrupted at times with flashbacks starring the MC, and those flashbacks are short stories with their own plots. Is such a concept for a book completely unmarketable for a debut author? I want to get formally published, but I feel I'm not putting my best foot forward with this WIP. Thank you.

[LordOz]

I had to stop reading Kevin Hearne while working on my urban fantasy series to mitigate unconscious cross-pollination.

[andeeharry]

Are my stories similar to something? They could be. I have been told that Ii have blended Harry Potter with Brother's Grimm while matching Lord of the Rings vibes. I suppose because of the themes, but that was so unplanned.