This month’s theme is about beginnings in the writing world–how to begin a story, how to begin as a writing, and how to begin pursuing publishing. Below are things I’ve learned in the last nine years when I began to seriously researching publishing and what I wish I knew as a rookie writer. I’ve been writing since I learned the alphabet, but I didn’t know beans about it or publishing until a decade ago.
Writing Is Not a Talent.
Of course, there are some people who seem to have a gift for writing. But that doesn’t mean a thing if a person doesn’t develop and practice the art of writing. I’ve always looked at the world as writer, tucking away in my mind faces and settings and circumstances I thought I might be able to use later in a story. But that didn’t mean I could write. Thinking up stories and constructing them into something other people want to read are two very different activities.
You’ve probably met people who talk about a book they want to write. And that’s as far as they get–they just talk about writing. Writers write. They read books like the one they are writing. They analyze their favorite stories to figure out why they like them. They read books and posts on the craft of writing. They listen to podcasts about writing. They ask for advice from more advanced writers. They seek constructive criticism from readers and other writers. All of these actions have nothing to do with talent.
Writing is an Art. Publishing is a Business.
I can write the best novel ever written. Agents and editors tell me that to my face, saying how much they love it. But they will turn the novel down because they don’t know how to market it. That’s the difference between writing and publishing.
The best written books don’t always get published, although traditional publishers expect a certain level of competency and skill. But sometimes, so-so books get published because the author has a huge online following. Or the book meets a need in a particular publishing house. Or the publishing house knows just how to reach readers who would love this book.
As a children’s librarian, I saw picture books written by celebrities get published because parents would recognize the famous name and be more likely to buy the book. If those picture books had been written by a new author or an author who specialized in picture books only, I don’t know if the book would have been published because the quality wasn’t that good.
Persistence and Flexibility are Key.
I pursued publishing with the idea that landing an agent at a conference would make or break me. After failing to do that at two national conferences, I figured I had blown my chance of ever being published.
Then my local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers decided to publish an anthology of stories set in Ohio. I worked diligently to write and polish a mystery short story. It was accepted and I got my first publishing credit. When I heard about another anthology, I spent two weeks writing a Christmas mystery short story. The publisher liked that and said they would like to look at any more stories I wrote with the characters from the Christmas mystery. So I wrote A Shadow on the Snow. After another short story and novel, I’m getting ready to start my third Rae Riley mystery novel.
I could have given up after that second conference. Or I could have stuck with my notion that I had to land an agent and ignored the opportunities to write short stories. By being persistent in my pursuit of publishing and letting go of old goals to accept new ones, I finally achieved getting novels published.
Writers, what do you wish you knew when you were a rookie writer?
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my younger self to always write from the heart, be honest with what you have to say, and never write for money or fame.
Unless you want to make a career as a writer, it doesn’t make sense to write what you don’t like. Even then, I’m sure career writers have certain things they write for money, like magazine articles, and then work on getting published the stories they love. I couldn’t write anything but mysteries because first, I don’t know any other genre well, and second, I wouldn’t enjoy it.
Yes, it doesn’t make sense to write what you don’t like, but I had a writing instructor push the class to do just that. It wasn’t fun. As for writing for money, I’ve sold a few articles, but I meant the times I tried selling my fiction. That’s an industry that is too large and exclusive for its own good. I’m happiest self-publishing my fiction and selling my books face to face with my customers. Probably because of my gallery experience as an artist.