Ok, so I couldn’t think of any better title, so forgive me for the bluntness!
Having began this business of trying to get published several months ago (after spending an entire year writing a book and editing another), I’m realizing a few things.
1.) Everyone is a writer. There are way too many people out there putting their pen to paper and drafting out a story, then trying to get it published.
2.) Due to large volumes of bad writers trying to get published, those that DO write well often are buried in the slush and stand a good chance of never seeing publication.
Now, by no means am I claiming my writing is “top-of-the-line”, or that it “sucks”, but I’m merely making an observation.
Writing is, unfortunately, just like painting — everyone wants to give it a “go” for fun. The only difference? Most people who paint a picture don’t run around trying to find a buyer for their work!
No, with writing, as soon as someone completes a book, they automatically assume that they have accomplished the impossible, and therefore the book MUST get published. It’s good . . . no, it’s EXCELLENT! Everyone will LOVE IT!
The problem is, they AREN’T a “writer” — they just write. If you are serious about being a writer, you crank out the long hours . . . wake up before the crack of dawn or stay up all night in a feverish attempt to RE-DRAFT that book you spent a year on. You constantly push to make it better and better and better.
Having been on enough writing website forums where people post their work for review, I’ve seen a lot of slush! You can instantly pick-out those that are not serious. First, their writing sucks (sorry). Second, when you offer helpful tips or ideas, they bite your head-off (it IS a forum for reviewing stuff . . . that’s why you post your writing . . .)! Others though, thank you kindly for your suggestions and re-visit their work to see how they can IMPROVE it.
Funny thing though . . . most writers DO SUCK. Even the good ones! Most published authors once sucked at some point in their writing career. However, through hard work, a million re-drafts, and sheer determination they were able to improve their writing to the point of being fantastic.
Here’s the problem . . .
How do you know if you will always suck, or just at the beginning? This is a tricky question. I’d like to say that endless hours of hard work eventually pay off. I’d like to say that by throwing everything you’ve got at your writing that you WILL become an accomplished writer.
Unfortunately, like many things in life, this one is a gamble. Much like any great idea or endeavor, it’s a risk you take to fail violently.
It’s the stories of success that propel you forward. Dr. Suess (famous children’s book author) failed repeatedly to get published. He wanted to do comic strips, but the newspapers thought he was too “off-the-wall”. When he tried repeatedly to publish his children’s book, it wasn’t until he basically lied to the publisher that he was finally published. His college buddy had just graduated with a doctorate’s and wrote the letter for him (hence the name Dr. Suess).
Stephanie Meyer also nearly failed. Her first YA book was nearly a flop, and publishers were leery about another go-around. The Twilight Series was born.
J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter Series) was living on welfare and an unemployed mother. With hardly enough to live on, she managed to garner interest in her first Harry Potty book. It was enjoyed so much that an entire series was created. Today, Rowling is the most accomplished children’s book author currently living.
As fantastic as this all seems, writing a good book and going-on to become accomplished is a bit like winning the lottery. Sure, others have done it, but how many millions buy tickets and don’t ever win a dime? Some buy tickets and win pocket change, but most don’t even get that.
However, with writing you hold the odds to be in your own favor. YOU control how good (or bad) your writing is, and YOU control who to submit it to. It’s not a total shot in the dark (although it feels that way).
And, while it seems to be taking MUCH LONGER than expected to get either book published, my picture book has only been submitted to 10 agents . . . out of nearly 100 that will consider Picture Books.
My Memoir, on the other hand, has been submitted to roughly 6, but this one I’m CHOOSING to re-edit (complete hacking job) to try to make it better, so I’m holding-off submitting it for a while. There are a few hundred agents that will consider memoirs!
I’m all set to dive into my newest book (fiction), but am trying to hold myself back. I don’t want/need THREE projects cluttering up my already crazy life. So I’m pushing the other two pretty hard.
A great writing can make ANYTHING BORING sound amazing. That’s where I AM at. Trying to make my Memoir amazing. Something so everyday but extraordinary.
Besides, I don’t want to look back on my Memoir in 3 years and say “man that writing is TERRIBLE! Why didn’t I pause to improve it?”