How badly do you want to be a writer?
By Marcella Simmons
"You must want to enough. Enough
to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price of
disappointment and discouragement while you are learning.
Like any other artist, you are learning your craft – then
you can add all the genius you like." ~ Phyllis A.
Whitney.
During the beginning of my writing
career, I thought I had mastered something no one else on
the universe could do except me (and maybe Phyllis
Whitney, my favourite author of all time). That was a silly
notion! There were many great writers in addition to Mrs.
Whitney out there doing exactly what it was I longed to
do; writing books and making a living at it. For the
longest time, I had an old word processor and pecked out
endless stories that were rejected faster than they were
mailed! Or it seemed like it, anyway...
Somewhere along the way,
my writing improved and occasionally some of my stories
were published. Later, I landed a job at the local
newspaper as reporter and wrote feature stories and front
page news every day.
Years passed, and my yearning
to be a writer stayed with me. My stories became less
frequent, but when I did submit one or two along
the way, they were usually accepted. Payment for my work
was minimal if any, yet I stayed with it.
Getting
rejections became second nature to me, and the
disappointment made me more determined to succeed as a
writer. As rejections poured in, they were divided into
two categories: when an editor scribbled on the form
letter or took the time to write a letter to me, I filed
those separately from the cool unfriendly form letters.
Later on, I took out the manuscripts that were rejected
with a note from the editor, and I revised and rewrote
some of them. They eventually were published, earning me a
credible bio that looks good on my writing resume and
cover letters. The others still remain in a filing cabinet
somewhere in the storage shed.
The key to success
is to stay with it: keep on writing and submitting
manuscripts even when rejections fill your mailbox as
quickly as you send your stories out. Once you've mastered
marketing techniques to some degree – marketing your
stories, articles, books or poetry – then half the work is
done. The other part depends on you, the writer. Like
Phyllis Whitney said: "Like any other artist, you are
learning your craft – then you can add all the genius you
like..."
And the rest depends on just how badly you
want to be a writer...
My first novel, Anywhere But There, is available at the following locations:
To search over 700 fiction
magazines for places to submit your own stories,
click here
Editor's pick: New
literary agent, publisher and magazine listings in June
New Magazine Listing
Publishes: Articles;
Features; Fiction; Nonfiction; Reviews;
Areas
include: Erotic; Lifestyle; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult
Literary
lifestyle publication about sex and sexuality aimed at
sophisticated, intelligent and mature readers. Print
version has been retired and is now online only. Publishes
features, articles, short stories, and reviews. See
website for full submission guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1976
New Literary Agency Listing
Handles:
Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas: Autobiography;
Biography; Culture; Finance; Historical; Humour; Women's
Interests;
Markets: Adult; Youth;
Treatments: Literary; Popular
Send query describing your
project in a paragraph, with brief author bio and any
publishing history. Prefers queries by email with first five
pages pasted into the body of the email (no attachments).
Also accepts submissions by post with SASE and first five
pages. No fantasy, science fiction, romance, poetry,
screenplays or children’s books including middle grade
fiction. Will consider young adult and graphic novels. See
website for full guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/Agents/agents_details.cgi?RecordNumber=1117
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction;
Areas include: Fantasy;
Markets: Adult; Youth;
Preferred styles:
Commercial; Contemporary; Cynical; Dark; Experimental;
Light; Literary; Mainstream; Popular; Progressive;
Satirical; Serious; Traditional
A Fantasy Fiction short story
anthology, and sister publication to a Sci-Fi anthology.
Published bimonthly exclusively through Apple’s Newsstand
app and Google’s Play Store, it will be available to
billions of iOS and Android users.
The aim of the
anthology is to bring cutting-edge fiction to an eager and
discerning global Fantasy Fiction audience.
We
welcome fiction submissions from around the globe (please
refer to our submissions guidelines), and we look forward to
publishing brilliant and astounding Fantasy Fiction to a
worldwide readership.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1977
New Publisher Listing
Publishes:
Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry;
Markets: Adult
Publishes fiction, nonfiction,
and poetry, but shies away from YA novels, vampires or
zombies, and poorly written science-fiction and fantasy.
Accepts queries by post or via online form. See website for
details.
https://www.firstwriter.com/publishers/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1976
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction; Interviews; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reviews; Scripts;
Areas include: Autobiography; Culture;
Literature; Nature; Politics; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult
Publishes a wide range of
fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Offers open and ambiguous
guidelines: "Don’t send us too much and don’t make it too
long". See website for more details.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1979
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Quarterly e-zine. Submit flash
fiction up to 500 words; fiction up to 5,000 words; creative
nonfiction up to 5,000 words; or up to five poems. See
website for full submission guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1982
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction; Interviews; Poetry; Reviews;
Areas
include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Magazine produced by a writers
group to help showcase local writing, and to publish
commissioned items and competition winners. Publishes
fiction, poetry, reviews, and interviews.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1983
New Publisher Listing
Publishes:
Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Nature;
Science;
Markets: Children's
Graphic novel and children’s
book publisher, publishing books focussed on science and
natural history. For picture books submit complete ms;
otherwise send query with one or two sample chapters.
Include SASE for reply. No submissions by fax or email. No
approaches by phone. See website for full submission
guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/publishers/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1981
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult; Youth
Magazine publishing short
stories and graphic novel storytelling in the genres of
science fiction, fantasy, and horror. No profanity or
graphic scenes. Send submissions as Word documents by email.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1986
New Magazine Listing
Publishes:
Fiction;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Publishes flash fiction up to
360 words, including the title. Send up to four pieces per
issue. Attach submissions to a single email. See website for
full submission guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/magazines/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1987
New Literary Agency Listing
Handles:
Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas: Adventure;
Business; Cookery; Current Affairs; Finance; Historical;
Lifestyle; Mystery; Photography; Politics; Psychology;
Science; Sociology; Thrillers; Travel; Women's Interests;
Markets: Adult; Children's; Youth;
Treatments: Commercial; Literary
Send query by email only with
first five pages pasted into the body of hte email (no
attachments), or the full ms for picture books. See website
for agent interests and individual email addresses, and
contact one agent only. No screenplays, romance fiction,
science fiction, or religious fiction.
https://www.firstwriter.com/Agents/agents_details.cgi?RecordNumber=1118
New Publisher Listing
Publishes:
Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Arts;
Science; Sociology; Technology;
Markets:
Academic; Children's
Publishes educational materials
for grades K–12, specialising in reading, mathematics, and
test preparation materials. Also publishes fiction and
nonfiction leveled readers and other materials that support
early literacy in kindergarten through to second grade. See
website for full submission guidelines.
https://www.firstwriter.com/publishers/details.cgi?RecordNumber=1985
Articles from around the
web this month
Literary agency seeks full time
assistant Literary agency seeks full
time assistant to work closely with an Executive Vice
President and a children’s book agent. Applicant should be
interested in commercial fiction, commercial non-fiction,
and children’s/YA, as well as other varied genres.
http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/jobs/view.cgi?job_no=10760
The writing workshop glossary
Most writers, at some point in their lives, join a writers’
workshop, a weekly gathering of a dozen or so scribes who
read one another’s work and offer constructive criticism in
a group setting. They hope that by sharing their material
and receiving feedback they will improve their craft. But
take it from me, putting your work out there for critique
can be a difficult – and even mysterious – process. Here is
a glossary that can help you understand the terms you may
hear in a workshop.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/the-writing-workshop-glossary/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1
The rejection letters: how publishers
snubbed 11 great authors After nine
years of rejection from publishers, Eimear McBride's debut,
A Girl is a Half Formed Thing, won the 2014
Bailey's Prize on Wednesday. But the Irish writer won't be
the last to laugh in the face of those publishing houses who
won't take a punt on an experimental or challenging novel.
Male author talks writing female
erotica There's an episode of Family
Guy in which portly protagonist, Peter Griffin, decides to
write male erotica. "Oh my God, you
shoulda seen this one hot chick," it begins.
"She was totally Italian, or some kind of Spanish."
While it's never wise to try to explain a joke, the
invention of "Peterotica" is funny because it spoofs the
idea that men are unwaveringly literal about sex.
John Purcell would have to disagree.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-2652550/Male-authors-talks-writing-female-erotica.html
Writing contest seeks entries
The Astra Arts Festival is accepting entries to the
festival’s first-ever writing contest. Categories include
original poetry, short fiction, short memoir, creative
nonfiction and flash fiction. http://cjonline.com/news/2014-06-13/writing-contest-seeks-entries
Lleucu Siencyn: real writers can
create anywhere I have a confession. I
sometimes find these columns hard to write. I’m staring at a
blank screen and wondering how the hell to begin.
What news from the world of writing and books can I weave
together in a fresh new way?
I find myself writing
these weekly columns in all sorts of places. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/lleucu-siencyn-writers-like-dylan-7253506
How to become a literary agent
Literary agent Juliet Mushens began her publishing career at
HarperCollins after reading history at Cambridge. She now
works for The Agency Group. Here, she shares her 10 tips for
breaking into the publishing industry.
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/546705/how-to-become-a-literary-agent.html
Writing a novel as a college-aged
human: a guide For those of us who
aren't Stephen King or Donna Tartt, which should be
everyone – unless you are reading this, Stephen or Donna, in
which case, hello! – writing a novel is a strange,
complicated, and occasionally ridiculous undertaking.
Writing time has to be balanced with other obligations.
There is no certainty that there will be some kind of payoff
in the end. And, when you are between the ages of 18 and 22,
there is the added complication of Not Sounding Like a
Douchebag when you tell people you are writing a novel.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-sarner/writing-a-novel-as-a-coll_b_5500080.html
Creative writing competition launches
on the theme of "searching" To mark
International Day of the Disappeared on 30 August, the
British Red Cross has launched a creative writing
competition on the theme of "searching".
http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/News/2014/June/Creative-writing-competition-launches-on-the-theme-of-searching
What writers can learn from successful
business leaders about marketing their story
Many writers I know including myself are somewhat
introverted and shun the idea of marketing at the expense of
losing precious writing time. Because I'm both a writer and
a business owner, recently I've been noticing how savvy
business leaders are marketing their products and services
with a "story mindset" that is part of their marketing
efforts. Writers are expected to do their own share of
marketing, even if they have a traditional book deal, and
unfortunately, this demand is not going away anytime soon.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dorit-sasson/what-writers-can-learn-fr_b_5496357.html?utm_hp_ref=books&ir=Books
Resources for
writers at firstwriter.com
Go to firstwriter.com
for the following invaluable resources for writers:
To advertise
on this newsletter for as little as $30 / £20 click
here
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