Great Writers Might Help You Become a Great Writer - Part I

They say that sharks have to keep swimming or they'll die. I feel the same way about the writing process.  I have to keep writing -- it's my air, but I have to get some response.  I have to feel I'm accomplishing something.  I have to feel that there will eventually be a stopping point.

Lord knows, the process of trying to get my work published has gotten to me time and again.  It's so easy to get discouraged when the words aren't coming, or when the rejections won't stop. But it can only take a few well-chosen words and a pair of fresh eyes to pull me back on track.   I've been very lucky in that just when I think I'm kidding myself,  suddenly someone really gets what I'm trying to say and they see the potential in my efforts. Sometimes, they give me a real direction to head in that not only lifts my spirits, but kicks my motivation into high gear.  I owe my writing equilibrium to the people I consider my personal writing gurus.   Instead of buttering me up, they get my attention, and say, "Do this, this, this... and consider changing that."  Hey, I'm all for flattery, but I'd rather have a story that isn't scattering to the winds because I'm a tangent-hopper.  I wish there was a way I could have these folks on permanent speed-dial  in my head, so that I could get their advice anytime I needed it.

This is really one of the greatest things about being a part of the Writing Community. So many successful authors, agents, and editors go out of their way to help struggling rookies accomplish their writing dreams.  Since I've benefited from their advice; I'm paying it forward to anyone else looking for tips and tweaks. From time to time, I'm going to make a point of promoting some of the good people who have been especially helpful to me, and who could be very helpful to you.

Today, I'd like to draw your attention to:

·         1st Five Pages Workshops (monthly)àcheck out the rules here

And to                                                                                                            

·         “I'll be giving away query crits, partial crits, and books. Lots and lots of books. :) And all this will culminate into the awesomest of awesome contests (to celebrate the awesomest of awesome things--the finalization of my book deal)”.  ~ J.A. Souders author of  RENEGADE à check out the rules, here

Hunting the Elusive Literary Agent In It's Natural Habitat

They say that to be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid. If that's true, then the last several months have been quite the life lesson. As writer hoping to attain the coveted "Agent-ed" status, I have successfully made every mistake a newbie can make. So, rather than bury myself in a gallon of Salted Caramel Ice Cream (because, well, we're out of it at the moment), I have decided to pass my literary foolishness on to the rest of you, so that you may fare better.

1)      DO Look up Nathan Bransford and Chuck Sambuchino on the interweb. Seriously, these guys have more working, viable knowledge about seeking, querying, and snagging agents than anyone I’ve come found so far. 

2)      And with that, DO follow literary agents on Twitter or Face Book (There seems to be a vast swarm on Twitter.)  Pay close attention to what irritates the hell out of them, and then don’t do what irritates the hell out of them.  This means following their guidelines.  This means addressing your queries properly. This means check your spelling.  This also means CHECK YOUR ASSUMPTIONS AND DELUSIONS OF GRANDUER AT THE DOOR.

3)      DO Pay heed to the  snapping teeth of the QUERY SHARK http://queryshark.blogspot.com/  

4)      DO try really hard to keep your queries to 250 words. 

5)      DO NOT submit more than one manuscript to one agency at a time.

6)      DO NOT think that just because you have self-published that you’ll be taken seriously as a published author. That only happens if you have a massive (and by massive, think the army of orcs from LOTR) following online, and have sold several thousand books.

7)      DO NOT think that most agents/publishing companies are going to see most of your writing accomplishments as “valid” accomplishments.  Unless your work is more than a blip on the literary radar (which means you have to keep getting your name out there), you may not register on theirs.

8)      Don’t just throw your stuff out at random. Use QueryTracker.net http://querytracker.net/

or AgentQueryConnect http://agentqueryconnect.com/  to  (A) Find a great community of helpful gurus  (B) narrow down the agents that would be right for your work. 

9)      I learned late in the game that you need to break your agents down into three lists, in order of priority.  I also learned that you should start with the agents lowest on your lists first, so that by the time you get to the Agents you would consider selling your first born to sign with you really, really want… you have tweaked your query to the point where the gods themselves look down upon it with rapt approval.  *Sigh* I did not do this.

10)  Take a break. From writing. From querying. All of it.  If you write for hours, and try to query for hours, your eyes will get screwy…you’ll miss crucial guideline-info or just make random stupid mistakes…and all you’ll get out of it is an automatic rejection.

11)  Suck it up and keep moving.  Rejection letters come in all forms for all reasons.  Maybe the agent’s had a bad day. Maybe your query just wasn’t enough of a snag. Maybe you need fresh eyes and re-tweaking.  The trick seems to be to keep plugging away. If you aren’t willing to give everything you have to promoting your book, even in the face of a great wall of “NO!”, why should an agent kill him/herself on your behalf?

12)  DO surround yourself with enthusiastic, sagacious folk who know about the travails of writing and agenting.  Do this whether you plan to move forward with your work, or even if you just want to hide your bad couplets under the bed where no one will ever read them.  Knowledge really is power. 

13)                       DO REMEMEBER:  Even if you miss out on an opportunity, that doesn’t mean a better one isn’t around the corner.  If you are willing to learn from your mistakes and keep trying.

Kristen Lamb's 1st 5 Pages Critique Contest

There is a great contest going on at Kristen Lamb's Blog.  She's offering her expertise in critiquing your first five pages (1250 words).  She also gives very helpful writing advice when she's not running contests, so please keep her mind as your work on your novels.


From her blog:

My best-selling books We Are Not Alone–The Writer’s Guide to Social Media and Are You There, Blog? It’s Me, Writer .  are ON SALE for $4.99!!!! And both are recommended by the hottest agents and biggest authors in the biz. My methods teach you how to make building your author platform FUN. Build a platform and still have time left over to write more great books! I am here to change your approach, not your personality.

Follow Me on Twitter!

In an effort to learn more about the publishing world, I have finally joined TWITTER.  Check out my much-abridged life   @KimS_Author

--> "Hum A Few Bars..." A Compilation of Short Stories and Poetry --> Now Available on Amazon!

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"Hum A Few Bars...": A Compilation of Short Stories and Poetry

is my first attempt at self-publishing and my first collection of poems and short stories. 

CLICK THE TITLE TO BUY THIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF!

 

• There are six short stories in this book, including "Once Upon A Time" -- a little piece about love, hope, and LISTS
• There are also 39 of my best poems, including "Inhale" and "Humboldt (or Squid Dreams)"

*Please keep in mind that I'm still learning how to create the preview option for these books, so the format they show is not  how the stories and poems are actually written in the books.