FOR ASPIRING WRITERS

I’ll keep adding information to this page, so stay tuned!

I have a great idea for a book. I just haven’t had time to write it. What do I do?

I have great ideas for books all the time, and, well, often the ideas fizzle when I try to turn them into novels. I’m not an expert, but I’ll tell you what I think. You won’t know if an idea will work until you write. You can think about ideas for the rest of your life, but if you don’t write, you’ll never get published. If you write only a page a day, that’s 365 pages a year. Write when you first wake up, write before bed, or write on the ferry or the bus. But find a way.

And read, read, read. Read widely. Read whatever you can get your hands on. Romance, mysteries, horror, literary fiction, children’s books, young adult novels.

I want to write a novel. How do I begin?

I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Write. Write your truth. Write for yourself. Write because you love writing, not because you want to become a writer. As a child, I typed mysteries on a rickety, toy typewriter, because I loved the sound of the clacking keys, loved creating stories. If I never have another book published, I will never stop writing.

Don’t worry if the writing is terrible. For inspiration, read Anne Lamott’s book, Bird by Bird. Also try Stephen King’s book, On Writing and Janet Burroway’s Writing Fiction. Remember, writing is about rewriting. You can’t revise a blank page, but you can fix a lousy first draft.

When you feel confident enough, try joining a writing group. Inquire at your local library or bookstore, attend local readings and signings, and you’ll find a community of writers.

How do I get published?

Can you perform brain surgery before going to medical school? Writing is like any other profession. You learn through practice, research, networking, and education. I started by taking the Writer’s Digest School correspondence course on short story writing. I learned about characterization, story arc, point of view, and so on. Then I joined two critique groups, and I’m self-taught. I’m always studying and experimenting, trying to improve my writing with each book.

If you’re ready to market your work, try reading the Writers’ Market, Publishers Weekly, Poets & Writers, and Writer’s Digest Magazine. Research the Internet, browse www.publishersmarketplace.com.  

How do I find an agent?

First… finish writing your book! Rewrite your book, and rewrite again. Share your manuscript with a couple of trusted critiquers. Be willing to work hard at revision. When you feel you have a publishable novel, begin your research. In the bookstore, look for agent names on the acknowledgments pages of books you’ve enjoyed (preferably, books similar to yours!). Research the agents online. Try the Association of Authors’ Representatives, www.aar-online.org. Research the agent’s background and credentials before approaching him/her. Write a concise, outstanding, one-page cover letter. Don’t ever pay an agent a fee to read your work! Legitimate agents and publishers earn money from selling your work, not by collecting fees. (Freelance editors and other professionals may charge a fee for working with the text, but they aren’t marketing your novels.)

I’ll keep adding information to this page, so stay tuned!