My Top Advice for Prospective Authors

I've got a plethora of advice for other writers.

Heck, I've got a plethora of advice for everyone on almost any subject. Ask my friends!

If I could offer up one piece of advice on getting published it would be this:

Get better before sending your stuff out.

I've been writing for publication for about eight years now.
I spent most of that time spinning my wheels.

I started writing non-fiction articles and got a couple of things published. But, mostly, I got rejected.

Why?

I didn't know my craft well enough. It's been said by others and I'm paraphrasing here: it takes eight years to become a doctor. Four years to get just a basic bachelor's degree. Why do people who want to be writers think they can just scribble something down and send it off for publication?

Don't know, but that's the way I did it. For Six years! Now, I wasn't a complete idiot. I did read lots of how to books and articles, but the truth be told, I didn't take all the advice literally. I was going to be the exception. I sent my stuff out with typos because, well, it didn't make that much of a difference, did it?

Eight years later, I can tell you, YES IT DOES!

My first eye opener was at the 2004 Blue Ridge Mountain Writer's Conference. I sat down next to (my now very dear friend) Ane Mulligan. She looked at my MS (manuscript) and pointed out some no-no's. Yeah, yeah I thought, whatever. She smiled and said, "okay, you keep it that way, but you'll see).

And see I did! I finally got to the point where I was tired of form rejection letters and I did something about it. Better late than never.

I joined an on-line writer's critique group and they tore my work to shreds.

I was in a state of shock. I thought I was good. I thought I had talent. How could they do this to my baby?

I did have talent, but I wasn't good. I licked my wounds, made the changes and reread my work to see if they were right.

Surprise, surprise. They were. I've since left that group to go on to a tougher group. The crits don't hurt anymore, believe it or not. The tougher the critique, the more grateful I am to the critiquer for taking the time.

Now, I'm still waiting for my big break and my first book contract but there's a big difference. Two years ago, I recieved form rejection letters, nearly every time out. I don't anymore. I'd like to say never but that wouldn't be completly honest, I'm sure I've got one or two of those still lying around without dust. But, almost never.

Now, I get phone calls or handwritten notes on what the prospective agent, editor would like to see or why they can't buy it. I get compliments and smiles and requests to see more.

While those things don't pay the bills, they do keep one going.

So, to recap, my advice: Join the toughest writer critique group you can find and hug the cactus. (That means embrace the painful critiques).

And don't just embrace them: Do what your team suggests. Of course, sometimes advice is wrong, but if 2 people say the same thing, take notice. If 3 or more do, they've probably got a point.

Just like I did when I started this. Though, now I can't remember...oh yeah, before you send your stuff out, get better and let others help.

Or, you can do like I did and wait for a pile of rejection letters and then take my sage advice. Either way. Your call.