Out of Control
Yesterday's post got some great conversations going. How do you know when you're ready to start an agent or publisher hunt?
But the stories shared of people on the verge of quitting because of the rejection, well, it got me thinking.
It's too easy for outsiders in this biz to think you write a great book and the right publisher will snatch it up. We all know that's not true.
There is a long list of things you can't control: The cyclical nature of what editors buy (paranormals are hot right now; chick lit, not so much); editors leaving--I can't tell you how many authors I know who were assured a deal was going to come through . . . and within days that editor was fired, left, decided to have a baby, whatever; lines and imprints closing (Bombshell; the Judith Regan fiasco); the list goes on and on.
Not giving up is absolutely the surest way to stick in long enough to get a deal. But I think it's also almost harsh to think that's all. There is a HUGE element of luck and timing, good karma, whatever.
So accept there are things you can't control. And concentrate on what you can: network like crazy; read what's out there; watch for trends; know who's buying what; subscribe to PW; hone your actual craft--grammar, dialogue, scene setting, showing not telling (HUGE one)--and if you can't wrap your brain around one area of writing or the whole ball of wax, join a writers' group, take a college class, find a decent critique partner, hire a GOOD editor; learn what a good query looks like, sounds like; go to conferences--within reason (they cost a lot of money, pick and choose the best networking ones for your genre).
Anyone else? What can you control? What can't you?
And remember . . . don't give up.
But the stories shared of people on the verge of quitting because of the rejection, well, it got me thinking.
It's too easy for outsiders in this biz to think you write a great book and the right publisher will snatch it up. We all know that's not true.
There is a long list of things you can't control: The cyclical nature of what editors buy (paranormals are hot right now; chick lit, not so much); editors leaving--I can't tell you how many authors I know who were assured a deal was going to come through . . . and within days that editor was fired, left, decided to have a baby, whatever; lines and imprints closing (Bombshell; the Judith Regan fiasco); the list goes on and on.
Not giving up is absolutely the surest way to stick in long enough to get a deal. But I think it's also almost harsh to think that's all. There is a HUGE element of luck and timing, good karma, whatever.
So accept there are things you can't control. And concentrate on what you can: network like crazy; read what's out there; watch for trends; know who's buying what; subscribe to PW; hone your actual craft--grammar, dialogue, scene setting, showing not telling (HUGE one)--and if you can't wrap your brain around one area of writing or the whole ball of wax, join a writers' group, take a college class, find a decent critique partner, hire a GOOD editor; learn what a good query looks like, sounds like; go to conferences--within reason (they cost a lot of money, pick and choose the best networking ones for your genre).
Anyone else? What can you control? What can't you?
And remember . . . don't give up.
posted by Erica Orloff at 6:11 AM
18 Comments:
Another thing you can control is your attitude. I've learned that being pleasant and reasonable, and behaving professionally, goes a long way in any business relationship. Personal relationships too!
Jude:
Having seen cringe-worthy behavior at a conference or two. And having met a true diva at a publishing dinner, and having WORKED with some real ugly-behaving people in publishing when I was an editor, yeah it goes a long way.
I'd say you've got it covered. When listed in black and white, there are really so many things you can control, it seems almost silly to obsess over the things you can't.
The final thing I can control is learning to accept the fact that to some extent, I'm placing myself in the hands of Fate.
Time and place. Not sure about time...but I know for a fact the shelf in my cellar-dwelling office is definitely NOT the right place. ;-)
Give yourself permission to have downtime and balance. I think those are things we can control (at least to a degree).
lainey:
I think a huge step is also allowing your mindset to be "I'm a writer now." Go for it!
amie:
Definitely. I have had to work on that one a LOT this last year. Prayer helps me. Walking. Knitting. Giving up coffee (God, that was hard). I really worked at trying to achieve some downtime--though I'm not there yet.
I think that giving yourself permission to fail is important. All tings being equal, you write a great book, your craft is clean and pure, your story is refreshing and unique, and you still can't get a bite... giving yourself permission to fail and not make it a 'wrong' will go very far in allowing you to pick up the pieces and continue to write.
What I am trying to get across here is that being a writer is who you are, getting published is something you do with what you write.
The act of not getting published does not diminish who you are in the world nor does it do that for who you are for yourself.
The distinction lies in the difference between who you are being, and what you are doing. What you do in life does not dictate who you are as a person. Who you are as a person does dictate what you do in life, and how you do it.
You can see the difference in the people who write. Being a writer is a different person than someone who writes.
You have the choice every minute of every day to choose who you are going to be about your life and the people and circumstances that occupy it. If you choose to be someone who writes, then the act of getting published or not will not change who you are, just your circumstances.
So, who are you going to be today?
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E!!! Awesome! And thank you :)
Yes, exactly. If you own who you are being, then you take responsibility for who you are being about your life. It gives you the freedom to choose how to act, what to do, and sometimes more importantly, what not to do or say.
If you are willing to own who you are, and who you are not, then you are free to create anything you want as a possibility and take the steps to make it happen.
Or, as Erica stated so well, ask the universe.
If who you are being about yourself and your life is "writer", then everything you see and experience, everyone you meet, is filtered through that way of being. It can, if you own it, fundamentally alter how you live your life and what you allow to happen in your life.
I think we can all agree that Erica is a prime example of this.
ewoh:
I want to smoke what your smoking. (Just kidding.) You have the most amazing zen way to look at writing.
I blogged ages ago about when do you start calling yourself a writer. I, too, believe that being published isn't the line of demarcation. You have to "own" being a writer as who you are. Published or not.
E
Ewoh:
You're a peach. Thanks!!!
E
Erica... thank you for your nice words :)
I often fail in the "who I am being" area. What helps me out, brings me back to a place where I can choose who I am being again, is talking to my wife (who is the most amazing person), IMing/talking to my closest writer friend Stacia, and reading your blog.
Any one (or a combination) of them will regularly bring me back. The more often I can see where I'm who I am is not being a writer, the better I get at creating that space again.
Thanks for providing such a great and constantly thought provoking place to come.
Wow! *lengthy pause*
Wow.
I had to read this a few times to process, but I've definitely had a 'light-bulb' moment.
I've been running around saying things like, "I write a bit," or "I'm trying to become a writer," Almost like I feel ashamed for confessing I'm presumptuous enough to attempt to write a book.
I've been waiting for someone else--an agent, an editor, a publisher...to TELL me I'm a writer :( As though another opinion will make the words I've strung together anything other than what they are.
I write.
I am a writer.
Thank you, Erica (and Ewoh)
Lainey:
Own it, girlfriend!
E
Jude, I totally agree with you. If there's one thing that really annoys me it's authors (well anyone) who are really up themselves.
I went on a writing course once and one author in particular spoke to those who were published in a very different way from the way she spoke to us unpubbed! I've never forgotten it.
sara:
Oh . . . have so been there!!! I never went to a conference except as a published author, but I have both seen authors behave differently to unpubbed authors, and I have had one pretty well-known author say something vicious about me--when she had never ever met me. Don't get it. Karma's a bitch.
I write, therefore iamb.
--Shakespeare? ;)
Jude:
GROAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:-)
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