Dive in the Deep End
I have the privilege of readng a manuscript by a dear friend of mine. He asked me to be brutally honest--I had years in this biz as an editor before I became a full-time novelist. And in my brutally honest opinion, it's brilliant. It's really, really, really good. And so now it's time for him to jump in the deep end and try to swim.
But . . . I just completed an interview with Sara Hantz (not posted yet, but visit her energetic and uplifting blog--and while you're at it, congratulate her on landing a great agent), and she asked what advice I had for aspiring writers. I said hone your craft. But that's really a double-edged sword.
I can tell you from experience reading manuscripts that a lot of writers are not "ready." They haven't honed their craft, they believe their dear old mom when she says they are the greatest writer since Shakespeare, they don't get their work critiqued . . . their manuscripts are laden with cliches and typos. I don't know what sort of thinking process the writers work under, what assumptions. I can guess that perhaps it's thinking "it's not that hard to write a novel" or "I read such-and-such a book and it sucked and so it's a snap to do better." Let me tell you, it isn't a snap.
But then, at the totally opposite end of the spectrum are a lot of writers I know. They are ready. I mean, they are READY! Their work is as good as anything out there. They are unique and edgy or funny and romantic or fantastical journeys through sci-fi worlds. But the writers won't jump in the deep end. Afraid of drowning? I don't know. But listen, it's TIME.
The fact is, a lot of brilliant writers are going to still get rejected. It doesn't mean you don't have the goods. It just means . . . timing, luck, not landing on the right desk at the right time, whatever. But you still can't be afraid to swim in the deep end. And occasionally, someone will throw you a life preserver. It'll happen.
The tricky thing is determining, by some internal barometer, which category you're in. Sometimes a good editor can steer you. Sometimes a critique partner, an agent. But it's scary standing on the top of that high dive.
Thoughts? Are you ready--but afraid to jump? Do you hone the same manuscript for years and years afraid to dip your toe in the baby end? How do you know when you're ready?!?
Peace,
E
But . . . I just completed an interview with Sara Hantz (not posted yet, but visit her energetic and uplifting blog--and while you're at it, congratulate her on landing a great agent), and she asked what advice I had for aspiring writers. I said hone your craft. But that's really a double-edged sword.
I can tell you from experience reading manuscripts that a lot of writers are not "ready." They haven't honed their craft, they believe their dear old mom when she says they are the greatest writer since Shakespeare, they don't get their work critiqued . . . their manuscripts are laden with cliches and typos. I don't know what sort of thinking process the writers work under, what assumptions. I can guess that perhaps it's thinking "it's not that hard to write a novel" or "I read such-and-such a book and it sucked and so it's a snap to do better." Let me tell you, it isn't a snap.
But then, at the totally opposite end of the spectrum are a lot of writers I know. They are ready. I mean, they are READY! Their work is as good as anything out there. They are unique and edgy or funny and romantic or fantastical journeys through sci-fi worlds. But the writers won't jump in the deep end. Afraid of drowning? I don't know. But listen, it's TIME.
The fact is, a lot of brilliant writers are going to still get rejected. It doesn't mean you don't have the goods. It just means . . . timing, luck, not landing on the right desk at the right time, whatever. But you still can't be afraid to swim in the deep end. And occasionally, someone will throw you a life preserver. It'll happen.
The tricky thing is determining, by some internal barometer, which category you're in. Sometimes a good editor can steer you. Sometimes a critique partner, an agent. But it's scary standing on the top of that high dive.
Thoughts? Are you ready--but afraid to jump? Do you hone the same manuscript for years and years afraid to dip your toe in the baby end? How do you know when you're ready?!?
Peace,
E
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:05 AM
14 Comments:
What a wonderful friend you are to read this guy's novel.
Lucky bum. :)
Sometimes it's hard to know if you're ready or not. We all have our doubts, our demons.
But encouragement from the right person can sometimes make all the difference.
A nudge from an angel is priceless.
Jude:
One carton of laser paper....$30
Rogaine for hair pulled out. . .$20
Coffee for late nights . . .$5
Advil for headaches cause by writers' block . . . $7
Knowing you're ready? Priceless.
$300... liquid courage to drown the doubts
$500...special 'demon hunter' bullets
$2000...sunscreen to delay shriveling for those by the edge of the pool but not diving.
Sorta running with this theory right now that if you don't know...you're maybe not ready.
Back to paddling in the kiddie pool of contests which you win or place in even though you didn't think you had a chance.
So what the hell do I know???
lainey:
I don't buy it--I mean, I get the need for the special bullets--LOL! But sometimes . . . sometimes . . . a person will be plagued by self-doubt forever. So I don't think it's necessarily that "you'll know." It takes a lot of really hard, honest looking at your writing--for all of us. I'm not saying "you" or "me." All of us.
E
The fact is, a lot of brilliant writers are going to still get rejected. It doesn't mean you don't have the goods. It just means . . . timing, luck, not landing on the right desk at the right time, whatever. But you still can't be afraid to swim in the deep end. And occasionally, someone will throw you a life preserver. It'll happen.
Ain't that the truth. I once heard Kathleen Gilles Seidel give a speech. She said that it took her many years to get pubbed. Finally, when it happened, it was when she couldn't even visit a bookstore because she wanted so, so, so badly to be published that it gave her actual physical pain to look at the stacks. And then, when she thought she was about to go insane with agony, BAM. It happened.
God, I'm not looking forward to the journey. But I know it'll strengthen me.
karm:
And life preservers are those people who believe in you--like me, Chick!
E
There's a Tim McGraw song about the music business that I think can apply here--How Bad Do you Want It (and I might have the title wrong). It's a great song though and I think you have to really and truly want it, whether you're ready or not. It's the only way you're going to someday BE ready--if you try, If you jump in with your heart, if you get knocked down, get kicked in the teeth and get back up again. I dunno...I was ready to quit a year ago, took down my website and everything and sold a month later...the funny thing was, little things would happen that would really keep me from quitting, little lifelines that kept me hanging onto that ledge by my fingernails. A year later, I still wonder what I'm doing sometimes. LOL
Since I'm already writing a book here...LOL. I think there are people who don't really want it, or don't want it bad enough or fear success so much, they can't take that leap of faith, and that's sad, encouragement yes, but you can't drag someone kicking and screaming into something their heart isn't in no matter how fabulous a writer they are.
amie:
Wow . . . great story (about nearly quitting). For me, I didn't dream big enough for a while--figuring the published short stories I had were enough. Some poetry. It never, ever occurred to me I could make a LIVING doing this. :-) But deep, deep down . . . I definitely wanted it. Still do . . . I wake up 99% of the time itching to get to my computer.
E
I can't wait to read the Lucky Bum's novel.
There have been times I have considered tossing out those in progress manuscripts and throwing in the towel.
But I keep plugging. Isn't that what we writer's do--keep plodding along, in spite of and despite of, the obstacles, distractions, and conflicts?
kathy:
I go through the wanting-to-toss-in-the-towel phase at least once on every novel. For Shiny New Idea. But then I realize each beat-up old manuscript was once a Shiny New Idea, too.
I'm amazed by the number of people who are just about to give up and they sell. And also how people just keep on going. In RWNZ there are a number of authors who were writing for 12 years before getting pubbed. And there's even one who took 20 years. I take my hat off to them, for sticking at it.
Ayou're so right when you say about timing. The book I sold, which is set in Australia, landed on my editor's desk just when he'd decided he wanted to give his readers a taste of a different culture. How lucky was I!!
sara:
You already know from my interview for your blog that serendipity played a massive part in my career. Call it karma, luck, whatever. The thing is, I had worked my ASS off for years studying my craft, so when "luck" came along, I was ready--BUT there was still a big element of pure and simple luck.
Ahhh, the "fooling yourself" versus "jump already" debate.
I started writing in 1993, targeting category. I wrote half a dozen books and a proposal that all got rejected. At one point I had an idea for a paranormal single title but wasn't "ready" to write it for four years. When I did, I KNEW that was it. It was what I was meant to write.
Except...that book didn't sell. I've written over 15 novels now. Some have sold to small press and been well received, so I continue to think with each book that THIS is it.
I've gotten feedback on just about every book I've written. I've been honest with myself about my strengths and weaknesses. I continue to learn my craft, and to hone it.
And still, no success.
In June I took the ultimate step, quitting my day job to write full time. The thing my mother always said that resonated with me the most was "leap, and a net shall appear."
I'm still falling.
So...since I've never failed to jump into the deep end, never feared the results of putting myself out there, that leaves the obvious.
I must be fooling myself, no?
(As tempting as it is to dramatically end this wayyyy too long comment there, I have to add that I'm not giving up, anyway. :)
natalie:
I did blog about the baby end vs the deep end, but it's really so much more. Timing, luck, resonating with the right editor, talent, craft, market . . . But if you don't play the game, you can't win, so never giving up, probably above a lot of the other things, is really an element. I am continually inspired by the stories of other writers and their paths to "the one."
And . . . when I quit my day job, it was a leap. I asked the universe for a sign. I got one. Unmistakable. May be weird, but I believe in magical thinking. I think ANYTHING is possible.
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