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GalleyCat contributor Jeff Rivera interviewed bestselling novelist Jackie Collins for mediabistro.com’s So What Do You Do? feature.

Collins revealed her plans to self-publish an updated version of her 1979 novel, The Bitch, as an eBook. Collins (pictured, via) will continue working with her traditional publisher for other books.

Follow this link to read the whole interview. Here’s an excerpt: “If it ends up doing very well, I will continue to self-publish books probably because I’ve got a series of short stories that have never been published. And I’ve always said to my publisher, ‘I’d like to do a book of short stories.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, short stories don’t sell.’ And dealing with publishers, it might be fun just to deal with myself. I always say, ‘If you have faith in something, do it yourself.’”

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Yesterday marked the end of NaNoWriMo. Congrats to everyone who has a complete manuscript to show for it. Being surrounded by writers, I know how hard it is to conceive and then write a full novel.

I have one warning for those writers who now have a manuscript burning a hole in their hard drive: I'd better not see queries for any of them in my inbox this month or in December.

I can guarantee that no matter how accomplished you are as a writer, you won't be able to present this to an agent or an editor. Even if they like your idea, they're going to send you back to your computer to tighten and revise what you've written. Save yourself (and us) the trouble by choosing to revise before showing your work to us. There are a few ways you can do this:

1. Put the novel in the drawer. Forget about it for at least one month (though usually more time has to pass before you can look objectively at your novel). Take it out after that month, read what you've written, and make notes for yourself on what to revise. Then dive in and start your rewrites. Drawbacks to this method: Can you really objectively look at your work and identify weak spots in your novel?
2. As soon as you type the words, "The End", hit save and send the file to your critique partner. Ask them to be kind, but honest about your work. Drawbacks to this method: Does your critique partner know how to guide you in a way that will benefit your novel?
3. Tell your critique group that you need their feedback on your novel. Share with the group and meet online or in person to learn what they think about your work. Drawbacks to this method: Will there be too many opinions on the best way to strengthen your novel?
4. Scout out freelance editors and choose one to read your novel. Wait eagerly for their editorial letter that gives you a road map on how to revise your manuscript. Drawbacks to this method: Do you have enough cash for this kind of revision process? Also, will a freelance editor know how to guide your revisions so that you will strengthen your book in a way that attracts an agent or editor?

Obviously there isn't one method to the process, but the point is that you aren't done in the writing process. You're just beginning so don't pitch your book too early.

I have to admit that this year I've been extremely lax about blogging. It isn't that I don't love to do so. I just loaded my plate up with so many tasks that I had to let some things go, blogging being the first. I'm happily returning and with great news too since there are two agency events to mark on your calendars.

The first is an online event hosted on our agency's Facebook page. On December 9th, from 7pm to 9pm EST we'll be hosting a Q&A session. Come ask us questions about the industry, questions about our agency, and anything else publishing related. Keep in mind that this is not a pitch session so any pitches will be turned away. You can send your queries to Elana or Katie as both of them are open to new projects. Kara and I are not looking at new queries at the moment. Remember to check what they're looking for BEFORE sending your query. Nothing is more frustrating for us than to get an email from someone who clearly has not checked the guidelines.

The second is also an online event hosted on our agency's Twitter page (@cjlitagency). On January 6, 2011, from 7pm to 9pm EST we'll be hosting a pitch session. All of us will be answering your pitches in real time and either requesting to see more material or telling you why something just wasn't for us. You may only pitch one of us and you may only pitch one project. We're not looking to get a list of everything you'd written in the span of your writing career, just one project that you think is going to really knock our socks off. Check our guidelines for what we're looking to rep. We'll be updating them one month prior to the pitch session so you can prepare accordingly. When pitching us, use the tag #Jan-pitch along with the name of who you're pitching to so we can properly respond.

I'm looking forward to adding some great blog entries to the ones already here so stay tuned. And good luck to all of those participating in NaNoWriMo. Just remember that an agent wants quality and quantity, not just one of those elements in a story.