Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "agent"
Writing with Flaws
Why is it so hard to find an agent or a publisher? I think one of the reasons is because writing is thought of as an independent undertaking. Yes, when I wrote my last book, I did spend most of my time... alone... writing. But, the process of putting ones thoughts down on paper (or word doc.) is just one part of it. Here are some other key steps to becoming published:
I can't say enough about editing and what I'll call, “basic rules for writing a book.” They include no head hopping, don't repeat words, show vs. tell, and no intensifiers like "very" and "really." There's also marketing. An author has to put together a list of agents and publishers that are open to queries and are interested in their genre. This requires research.
So, why did I title this blog, Writing with 'Flaws'? I wanted to point out that it's unlikely that anyone is an expert on everything above. Your story telling may be great, but you need help editing, or your writing is grammatically perfect, but the action in your story starts way to late. Being able to pick out what you need help with is key to improving your work. The best advice I can give any writer is to open yourself up to criticism. Seek out anyone that will tell you the truth. This is usually not family members and friends. They are more likely to point out what they like, as a means of encouragement. If you're lucky enough to find your "flaws," seek help from professionals in the field. Keep working on your novel, and don't give up.
Finding an agent or publisher is not easy, but it is doable. Always submit your best work. Be open to suggestions along the way. Writing your story is often a solitary experience, but getting published can be a team sport.
I can't say enough about editing and what I'll call, “basic rules for writing a book.” They include no head hopping, don't repeat words, show vs. tell, and no intensifiers like "very" and "really." There's also marketing. An author has to put together a list of agents and publishers that are open to queries and are interested in their genre. This requires research.
So, why did I title this blog, Writing with 'Flaws'? I wanted to point out that it's unlikely that anyone is an expert on everything above. Your story telling may be great, but you need help editing, or your writing is grammatically perfect, but the action in your story starts way to late. Being able to pick out what you need help with is key to improving your work. The best advice I can give any writer is to open yourself up to criticism. Seek out anyone that will tell you the truth. This is usually not family members and friends. They are more likely to point out what they like, as a means of encouragement. If you're lucky enough to find your "flaws," seek help from professionals in the field. Keep working on your novel, and don't give up.
Finding an agent or publisher is not easy, but it is doable. Always submit your best work. Be open to suggestions along the way. Writing your story is often a solitary experience, but getting published can be a team sport.
