You Do Not Have The Luxury of “Waiting”

Per the discussion yesterday of what to do while you’re “waiting” for agents, editors, etc. to get back to you.

Here is my list:

• Network. It has been pointed out that this is a dreadful word that conjures images of cold-blooded business card collectors (I know Randy Ingermanson has talked about this on his Advanced Fiction Writing Blog at one point. I wanted to send you over there, but can’t seem to find the right archived entry. It’s worth wandering around his site either way. After your done reading this post.) I agree that the term has gotten a bad wrap, but the concept behind it is valid. As a writer you need a network of other writers to learn from and grow with. And to use for referrals, reviews, and help finding that perfect word that you can’t seem to put your finger on. How do you go about getting this amazing network? I myself am a fan of the pay-it-forward methodology. Give of your time and your unique genius. Help others grow and succeed. Build relationships with other people. Then, when you need help or advice, you’ll feel confident asking your friends and colleagues for some.
  • Find a critique partner. Try Michelle Diener’s Critique Partner Exchange or look on the website of whatever writer’s organization caters to your genre, like RWA. Meet other writers on Twitter… pick some funny, talented ones and recruit them to be in a Crit group with you.
  • Contribute online. No matter how many page views you get with a post, it alway feels a little better to have someone respond. Leave comments.
  • Go to a conference. I haven’t tried this one myself yet. I’m waiting until I have a completed manuscript, but everyone I talk to swears by them and if you’re a little farther along in the process than I am this might be just what you need to get fired up and make some great friends.
  • Think local. Don’t underestimate your local writing community. There’s a special kind of arrogance in thinking that just because you live in Backwoods, MN there could not possibly be another such talented, insightful writer outside of New York for you to connect with. Google your town and terms like critique group, writer’s group, writing classes, etc. Or for the more intrepid writer, get out and talk to people. Librarians, bookstore clerks, and college professors are all great resources that may be able to point you in the right direction.
  • Conduct information interviews with people in the publishing industry. Local authors, small press editors. You don’t have to live in New York to be near some great resources. And everyone loves coffee, right? So send them an email. Invite them to coffee. Flatter them a little and then shamelessly pick their brains. You’ll have fun and learn a lot.
• Make yourself more attractive to publishers.
  • Build your writing credentials. Get your voice out there. You’ll meet great people in the process (networking, again…pesky word) and you’ll demonstrate several things. First, you’ve written something that someone somewhere thinks is worth distributing to the masses (this is the most common, but least important, justification for writing for smaller publications). Second, you build credibility as a writer who can enter into a business relationship and deliver what you promise. Third, your potential editor will appreciate anything you do to make it easier for them to sell you to the rest of the publishing house–think marketing people, bottom-line people, etc. Finally, writing and editing your own work for shorter pieces will sharpen your writing and editing skills. There isn’t much room for fluff in a three-hundred word article.
  • Build an audience online through blogging and social networking… if it’s in line with your personality and skill set. The value of a well-maintained and wide-reaching social network cannot be underestimated. On the other hand, neither can the time, commitment, and creativity it takes to build on. So if you don’t see yourself giving consistently of your own time and talents to build and assist a network, you’d be well-advised to skip that particular step and focus on the other items on this list. A half-hearted blog and a series of sporadic twitter interactions are not a business asset to you as a writer and more than a few pieces of wood and some nails you got from the hardware store. You have to build something. If you think you’re willing to try your hand at a little carpentry, then head on over to Christina Katz’ blog for some free advice or pick up her book ‘Get Known Before The Book Deal‘ for some not-so-free advice.
  • Keep Writing! Start working on the next book today! In the unlikely event that a publisher decides to invest anything more than the bare minimum in pushing a new book by an unknown voice, they need to know that they’ll see a return on their investment. That means that the current book sells well, creating a fan base for the author who will then provide this fan base with a great second book to buy. Soon. Before they forget about said author. In about three point two nanoseconds.
• Get some exercise.
  • Seriously. Save your latest work of art. Power down the laptop. Okay, you don’t have to turn it off. Just close the lid. Go to your closet, find those unattractive shorts you bought a year ago when you thought about going to the gym. Now go outside. Start walking. Don’t come back for at least thirty minutes. You’ll be surprised how much the change of pace and scenery will rev up your creative processes. And that unsightly butt-dent in your leather couch will fade a bit. I personally get bored fast when I’m running so I alternate timed writing sessions with a lap around my block (which happens to be about a mile around). Physical motion often inspires creative motion. If you need a metaphorical crowbar to get off the couch, check out Jean Adams’ article from Write Attitude here.
• Seek out new experiences.
  • Go see a play. Take a vacation. Join a secret society of tree huggers. Try spelunking. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that writing is living. If you absolutely need a writing-related justification for your extracurricular activities, think about something that your main character does in your novel. Go do it in real life. If it’s legal. Or if you won’t get caught.

That’s all I’ve got for now folks.

Advertisement

---