The Most Often Overlooked Piece of Writing Advice
There is a classic Old School Comic joke that goes something like this:
A guy goes into a doctor’s office and says, “Doc, it hurts my arm when I do this.”
The doctor says, “Don’t do that.”
<Rimshot>
When I give this bit of advice on how to be successful in your writing, I feel like Henny Youngman or Jackie Mason… and that I am going to need a drummer with a snare when I deliver the line.
The secret to publishing success as a writer is to publish. <Rimshot>
Really? That is the big secret?
Before you dismiss this as nothing more than Nancy Reagan saying, “Just Say, No!”
Let me explain that there really is a great deal of wisdom in that overly simplified remark.
What do first dates, your first day of school, a job interview, your wedding day, meeting your significant other’s family, and publishing all have in common?
You want to make the best impression possible.
Let me ask you directly. And be honest with yourself. What is stopping you right now from submitting your work to an agent who represents Random House, Harper Collins, Penguin, or any major New York Publishing House?
Seriously, take a moment to answer that question. The possible answers might be:
· I am not skilled enough
· I am not sure I am talented enough
· I don’t have original ideas
· I haven’t practiced enough
· There are still areas where I am weak
· I am having trouble getting clear on some of my ideas
· I can’t seem to finish a project
· I am just not ready to be judged at that level
Yeah…submitting to an agent is…well, frickin scary. It is. No judgement here, I promise.
I was a professional writer for many years; I wrote ad copy at the Washington Post; I wrote PR material at the US Embassy in Moscow; I was a magazine editor for a national publication; I was a Communication Director for an international organization, and I edited dozens of books before I felt confident enough to submit my material for scrutiny.
But what if… and this is something I wish I had heard thirty years ago. What if you submit to some place that was not so intimidating?
· Send a copy of your work to your friends
· Submit articles to a local literary magazine
· Submit to a local newspaper
· Write a blog
· Write web content
· Post on social media
· Contribute to your church newsletter
· Help with non-profit fundraisers
It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering. Perfection is unnecessary. It doesn't have to be life altering or mind expanding.
Just treat it like a job interview or a first date. Put your best foot forward and learn as much as you can.
There are tons of ways to practice the most important skill all writers need. Every writer must overcome the fear of rejection.
Every writer must get used to the idea of being reviewed, judged, evaluated, scrutinized, critiqued, and possibly denied.
As soon as you master that skill, your career can truly begin.
To become a writer, you accept you not writing for yourself. You write for the reader. Feedback and dealing with rejection are part of the process.
You need to submit to begin that learning process. And to grow your base of fans.
The key to becoming a published writer is to publish. Anywhere… in any form… as often as you can.
You can start by sending a friend your latest chapter.
Here is a secret from Cognitive Psychology.
Your mind does not really care or even recognize the difference between submitting to a friend, posting a blog, sending something to a magazine, or submitting to a literary agent.
Those are all different in degree, yes. But to the human mind, they are all perceived as identical in that they present your work to be approved or rejected.
There is no difference from a Cognitive Psychology perspective. If you have success with the church newsletter, and with your friends, and with a few social media posts, your brain will easily believe that you will have success with a literary agent.
The key to publishing success is to publish. It is true.
Eric Myers
submissions@warpspeedediting.com
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