Monday, February 6, 2012

Secrets



An aspiring writer asked a publisher “What’s the secret to getting published?”
The publisher said, “You won’t believe this, but you just need to show up.”

Huh?

Show Up – as in:

• Write consistently.
• Show up to writing classes, conventions and seminars, etc.
• Improve your writing to a professional level, and then keep improving.
• Query and submit until you get picked up - even if it’s years.
• Keep your deadlines.
• Be reliable.

Also, Be a Finisher.

• Finish that scene you’re avoiding.
• Finish the manuscript.
• Go back and revise. Take the steps necessary - which requires time and a lot of effort - to make your book shine.
• Send it out.

Now a few words on The ‘Why’ of Writing:

Recently I listened to Christopher Loke, editor of Jollyfish Press, speak. The first question he asked was, “Why do you write?” Everyone in the room grew quiet, and you could hear their mental wheels spinning. Before anyone answered, he said, “Please don’t say you write because you love it.”

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one there who looked shocked. Seriously? Don’t we spend the countless hours scribbling on any writeable surface, pounding our keyboards, and thinking through plotlines, because we love it?

I can’t quote his words exactly, but this is the gist of what he said next:

“I hope you write because you’re envisioning your story on a shelf in a bookstore one day. I hope you write because you want lots of people to read your stories. I’m a business man. I don’t want a writer who is just happy writing. I want and need someone who’ll bring me business, keep bringing me business, and keep my company healthy and successful. I really hope you see it as a job.”

Okay. That makes sense. They don't want someone who 'plays' at being a writer. They want people who show up and finish their stories.

I don't know about you, but I'd definitely love to see my book in print in a real bookstore. Sure, seeing writing as a job may take the glamour out of it, but who doesn't envision that glorious finish line: their own sweat-and-blood book in a Barnes and Noble?

I guess if we truly love writing, we’ll be willing to take the steps necessary to get our stories there.

So to close, I’ll be brief.

• Show up.
• Be a finisher.
• Aim high.

And then not only you, but your publisher and all your readers will love it.

14 comments:

  1. Being a self-published author, it doesn't take much imagination to envision people reading my book! Which is both terrifying and exhilarating, but most definitely makes me treat this as a job with deadlines. And I've never been happier writing. ;)

    Great post!!

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    1. Way to go, Susan! We all have fears when it comes to putting our material out there - and that's probably the number one reason most writers don't follow through. I'm glad people like you are brave enough to work through it! And I'm with you. Writing (and reaching my writing goals) makes me happy. : )

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  2. I really like that the editor said he hoped we, as writers, were doing this for more than the love of writing. I've always thought it was strange that so many professionals in the writing industry say we shouldn't be doing this for the money. Then they follow that up with a talk about the business of writing. The fact I really like my chosen field is a huge bonus, but I truly hope to see some money from all this time planted in front of my computer. :)

    Great post.

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    1. So true, Leisha. There's sure a lot of confusing advice out there, but this made sense. We hope to share our stories with others, and hope they enjoy them. Agents, Editors, Publishers, book stores, and readers all want that, too. If we stick with it, everyone wins. And making money from it - well - that's the icing on the cake.

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  3. So true, Leisha. There's sure a lot of confusing advice out there, but this made sense. We hope to share our stories with others, and hope they enjoy them. Agents, Editors, Publishers, book stores, and readers want that, too. If we stick with it, everyone wins. And making money from it - well - that's the icing on the cake. Who wouldn't want that?

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  4. I write because my mind is full of stories that make children giggle. I write so that I can improve, tighten, revise them until they will make editors giggle, too. I have a silly little picture book getting published and coming out this summer. If I make enough money to pay for the materials I use when I write and illustrate, that is a wonderful bonus. I enjoy this post. Off to tweet it and link it to facebook.

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    1. Alison, congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment. I've heard how hard it is to publish picture books! Best of luck and thanks!

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  5. Excellent post, Jonene! I can vouch for that concept of just showing up. That's how I got into "The Sound of Music!"

    I never look at a Scholastic Book Club flyer without seeing, in vision, my own book staring at me from the page, right between the latest Percy Jackson adventure and the Lego comic books...er, graphic novels. It's been that way for ten years now. I won't rest until everyone else can see it there too.

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  6. Rebecca, now there's vision! It's great you know your exact audience, too. It will happen, and I'll bet it's very soon. I got a peek at your opening page (entered in Throwing Up Word's first page contest). I voted for you, too, then was told after it was yours. I loved it!

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    1. Thanks, Jonene. It will be even sooner if I can stop messing with the internet and get to work this morning. I'm setting up a facebook page for my Irish Band: https://www.facebook.com/pages/South-Wind/327560663955069?notif_t=page_new_likes

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    2. Not sure that link is going to work. Just go to facebook and type in South Wind.

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  7. Rebecca, the link worked just fine. Congrats on the performance, the band and the new facebook page!

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  8. Yea, Jonene! That is so true. The people who show up again and again are the winners. President Monson's First Presidency message last month was fabulous. He said that courage sometimes is that when we're knocked down to say to yourself, "I'll get up and try again tomorrow!"

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  9. Elizabeth, so true! I'm so glad my favorite authors kept getting up - and I love hearing their stories. None of them were 'instant successes'.

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