Ceara Nobles's Blog, page 8

Stuck on your latest novel? Just get your oil changed!

Need some inspiration? ... If you're like 90% of writers (I may be fudging the numbers a bit, but let's be honest here), you're probably looking for some. Inspiration is a writer's lifeblood, after all! (If you're not looking for inspiration, are you even a real writer?) Whether you're stuck on a draft, slogging through edits, or anxiously querying, I guarantee I've got something good for you. All of us have those days where we're staring at the blinking cursor on our computer screens. All motivation is gone. We don't even know how to spell "the" anymore. Is it "your" or "you're?" It's every writer's worst nightmare. If that happens to you, here's what you need to do... Go get your oil changed. ... Now wait a minute. Don't call me crazy and click off the page just yet. Instead, take a peek at this awesome story. Meet Amy. She's a writer who was struggling on her latest book. One day, she decided to boost her word count at Tires Tires Tires while she waited for her oil to be changed. She was only expecting 500-ish words -- it was busy, crowded, and there were a lot of distractions around. Instead, she cranked out 4,000 words! Obviously, TTT was the muse she'd been waiting for! So she went back with her sister's car. Then her second car. Then her friend's car. Before she knew it, she was out of reasons to visit! That's when something awesome happened. After a conversation with an employee during her last visit there, she got this message from the store manager: Shortly after, Tires Tires Tires named Amy as their "Writer in Residence!" Amy is now a recurring visitor to the store... and she doesn't have to interrogate her friends to see who's due for an oil change! Moral of the story? Next time you need inspiration, ask yourself this question... "Is it time to get my oil changed?" Where is the strangest place that you've cranked out the words? Let me know in the comments below! Happy writing, and don't forget... FINISH THAT BOOK! :)

How Ireland Reignited My Passion For Writing

Welcome! This week’s blog post is a bit different from my previous ones. You’re going to learn more about me. (Gasp!) If that doesn’t interest you, that’s fine. Continue with your day and tune in next week for your regularly-scheduled programming. But if you’re like me and you like a good story, then buckle up and let’s get rolling! My name is Ceara, and I’m a writer. I’ve been writing novels - not good ones, but still - since I was 12 years old. I LOVE the written word and stories of all kinds. I’m an avid reader, movie-goer, and storyteller. I’m in the querying process for my completed romantic suspense novel, SAFEKEEPING, and in the process of writing another in the fantasy genre. As a writer, I spend a lot of time working on my craft. I’m in the throes of editing SAFEKEEPING for the billionth time and drafting my fantasy novel. When you’re in the trenches on a story, sometimes it’s hard to keep that spark alive. You know, the spark? When you first have an idea and it’s shiny and fresh and new. Your stomach is aflutter and you eat, sleep and breathe the story. Conversations with the characters, sketches of the settings, and So. Much. Outlining! And then you start writing, and you’re slogging through the hard scenes to get to the ones that make your heart beat just a little faster. And sometimes you’re stuck and you’re wondering, “Why, oh why, did I decide to be a writer?” No? Just me? I took a 2-week break from writing (and blogging) to spend 9 days in Europe. More specifically, 2 days in Paris and then 7 days in Ireland. A little background on this: Ireland has been on my bucket list for YEARS. Something about it has always called to me --the endless green rolling hills, the crumbling castles, and the lilting accents. It was the trip of a lifetime. I can’t even explain to you what I felt while I was there. If there was ever a place that was meant to be my home, it’s Ireland. I told myself that I wouldn’t write while I was there. I wanted to spend my time soaking up the scenery, absorbing everything and committing it to memory. Sometimes a break from writing can be a good thing. We writers can get bogged down in our work and the creative outlet can become plugged. If that happens to you, I highly recommend a “writing vacation.” That doesn’t mean you have to fly to Europe. Maybe it means you put away the laptop for a few days. Go outside and play in the yard. Read a new book in a different genre. Clean your house. Go on a road trip. Find something (besides writing) that sets your soul on fire and dedicate some time to it. I promise you that fire will translate right back into your current writing project. How do you find inspiration when you’re feeling stuck? Let me know in the comments below. Happy writing!

The 5-Part Recipe to Becoming an Author

We writers are poor, tortured creatures. Our days are spent hunched in front of a computer screen, lost in our own imaginations. We sip inordinate amounts of coffee and keep oddball hours. Our uniform consists of three-day-old sweats and oversize T-shirts because - hello - comfort is everything. However, like most aspects of life, not all writers fit neatly into this category. We writers come in all shapes and sizes. Some extroverts, some introverts, some in-between. Some shouting from the rooftops about their latest stories, and some typing away in secret when nobody’s looking. Some skilled writers who have been doing it for years, and some who are just dipping their toes into their creative talents. There are two things we all have in common: we love the written word, and we have a DREAM. If you’re like me (and, I dare to assume, all other writers), you have a dream to see your name in print one day. To walk past a bookstore and see your story - you know the one - sitting on a shelf for all the world to experience. Some may tell you it’s an impossible dream. That you’re better off pursuing that profession that will guarantee you a solid income. I’m not against that at all -- in fact, that’s a topic for another time. But it’s also important to know this: It’s not a pipe dream. You can make it a reality. It won’t be easy. Anyone in the publishing business will tell you that it’s one of the most difficult fields to break into as an aspiring author. But again, not impossible. In order to see your dream come to fruition, there are a few important things you must do. First, you must believe (and name) yourself a writer. This is step one, my friends. The first hurdle to jump on your way to becoming an author. I wrote a post a few months back and discussed 7 rules to follow to be a real writer. It’s vital that you believe yourself a writer before you proceed. Now let me clarify -- this does not mean you have to believe yourself a good writer. If you do, more power to you! But if not, just know that you’ll have plenty of time to improve. I’ll even give you some good tips to get you started! Second, you must finish that book. Every writer has fallen into the quagmire that is the middle of a draft. It’s about that time when the initial excitement of the Big Idea wears off and you start to wonder if you’ve got what it takes to pull it all together. Many writers (myself included!) start to self-edit previous chapters. The self doubt creeps in. The first half is garbage and how on Earth are you going to finish the draft now? You must go back and change everything and rewrite --- STOP. Just stop right there. Don’t fall into this trap. FINISH THAT BOOK. Every bit of “garbage” in your first half can be fixed in the editing stage. Make a note on a separate document and resolve to come back to it later. 100% of writers who quit will never see their names in print. Tune out the self editor. Shove him in a closet. Lock the door and throw the key out the window. You can let him out once you’ve gotten to the all-important “The End.” Third, you must SHARE YOUR WORK. Most people think writing is a solitary art form. They’re not wrong - at least during the drafting process. But once the draft is done and your self editor has done his best work, it’s time for the truly terrifying part. It’s time for you to put a piece of your soul out there and let people comment on it. There are lots of ways to do this. You can use social media. Facebook has wonderful critique and beta reader groups that you can join to find an “anonymous” pair of eyes. You can join a local writing group. I’m a member of the League of Utah Writers and I LOVE IT. My chapter meets once a month to learn about a writing topic and critique each other’s work. Everyone in my chapter writes different genres at different skill levels, so I have a broad audience to give me feedback. It’s hugely helpful! You can reach out to friends and family. This is an excellent way to get started if this is your first time sharing your work. Your friends and family are more likely to share your same values and standards and they’ll be able to give you some positive feedback to bolster your confidence. An important note: While this is a great way to get started, don’t stop here. It’s important that you share your work with a broad audience, so don’t forget to explore one of the two options above as well! Remember, sharing your work is a vital part of the writing process. You wrote (and rewrote, and re-rewrote) this thing. After a while, you become blind to it. Letting others read it will help you know what needs to change. Not only that, but it will help you grow as a writer! Fourth, you must network. I wrote an entire blog post with great advice on how (and where) to network. The publishing business is becoming more and more competitive. With the introduction of e-books through companies like Amazon, everyone's an author these days. That being said, agents and publishers are looking for prospective authors who already have a base to stand on. Whether it’s connections to other authors, ties to agencies or publishers, or simply a large following on social media, it’s important to have a presence in the community. This may be outside your comfort zone, but it’s a necessary step in the road to fulfilling your dream. Fifth, you must SUBMIT. You’ve done all the hard work. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your manuscript, received feedback from people you trust, and you’ve networked like you’ve never networked before. Don’t miss this last step. Too many authors make it all the way through the process and then freeze when it’s time to query agents. Fear of rejection can be like a five-hundred-pound monster sitting on your back, but SHRUG. HIM. OFF. Do your research. Query the manuscript. Read the rejection letters (you’ll get plenty of them) and then keep querying. This is your dream. You’re standing at the doorway to the life you’ve always wanted. All you have to do is raise a fist and knock. Or pound on it. Or ram it open with your shoulder. Whatever you gotta do. Remember, 100% of writers who quit will never see their names in print. Any other tips and tricks to become a published author? Share them in the comments below!

How to Network as an Aspiring Author -- Even If You Hate People

Now, after months (even YEARS) of toiling away, you’re ready to release your book into the world. To dip your toe into the publishing business. This is big. It’s scary. You’ve spent all your time crafting this piece of your soul, and that wasn’t even the hard part. Now you’ve got to sell it. But guess what -- you’re not just selling your work. Oh no, that would be too easy. You have to differentiate yourself from all the other aspiring authors out there. Agents receive thousands of queries a week. More than a thousand books are self-published each day. How is it even possible to stand out from the masses? All right, I’ll tell you. Networking. Networking is the key, people. Most writers (myself included) are introverts, so the thought of trying to meet new people might make you want to run screaming into the sunset. I’m with you, friend. It’s okay to feel that way. But it’s time to button up your britches and get to work. Your book isn’t going to emerge from its cocoon as a beautiful published novel if you don’t give it a mighty kick in the tush. But don’t panic yet. I’ve compiled a list of five easy ways to network for even the most anti-social aspiring authors. Let’s get to it! Get On Social Media You want to dip your toes in the water? This is the way to do it. Social media is the BEST way to market yourself as a writer, especially if talking to strangers is terrifying for you. Let me throw some numbers at you: 78% of Americans (all ages) say they use Facebook on a daily basis. In case you didn’t know, that’s a lot of Americans. 71% use Instagram and 48% use Twitter. They say you should go to where the people are. This is the way to do it. A few pointers here: I recommend starting a separate page for your writing pursuits. You can create a Facebook Business page and link it to a separate Instagram account (that’s the way I do it). Invite all your normal friends to like your page, and use that page to connect with other writers and potential readers. The biggest thing here: you must post regularly. Remember, users are logging onto their social media sites daily. You don’t have to post that often (unless you want to), but at least once a week is a good goal to shoot for. This is the easiest, least stressful way to connect. Once you’ve landed an agent and your book is on the road to publishing (think positive thoughts here - it WILL happen!), you can use these platforms to advertise your book and drum up interest before its release. Go to Writing Conventions Ah, writing conventions. I went to my first one last year (League of Utah Writers Fall Conference). It was the most terrifying, most rewarding experience I’ve ever had for my writing career. I heard about it through Facebook (social media, people, I’m telling you!) and bought myself a ticket on a whim. I didn’t know a soul there and I showed up by myself on a sunny Friday morning. For two days, I wandered through the classes and presentations with my phone recording audio and my head on a swivel. There was SO MUCH information available to me. Live pitch sessions with agents (which I actually did, and it was amazing), panels with agents and published authors, presentations on every topic imaginable. I was like a sponge, absorbing everything until it started leaking out of me. (Literally, I was so excited that I cried when it was over.) Not only did I learn a lot, but I met some amazing people. Everyone was so friendly and they welcomed me with open arms, even though they were probably having an internal anxiety attack like I was. I learned who the big writing names in my area were, and I even ended up in the same writing group as some of them. Writing conventions are VITAL. If you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend it. It’s an exhausting 2-3 days, but it will change your life. Build a Website Are you even official if you don’t have a website? Look, when you start querying to agents, you need to have a digital presence. Social media pages are fine, but it looks so nice and professional to have an entire website that’s completely yours. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and they’re not hard to make. Mine is powered by Wix, and it was extremely easy to set up. If you’re feeling fancy, you can add a blog, but it’s not necessary. A simple author introduction page and a resume of your works is good enough. Often agents will do a Google search for your name if they’re interested in you. The more opportunities for your name to pop up on that search, the better. Hand Out Business Cards This is a bit old school, but it’s something I learned at the writing conference I attended last year. I attended a presentation about building a brand as an author. The presenter highly recommended crafting a business card. (You can have them printed for like $25, guys, it’s not expensive.) She said that she carries around a stack of her business cards and whenever she meets someone new, she hands them one. It simply has her email address and her website on it. It’s an easy way to network, and you meet people all the time. Hand one to the cashier at the grocery store as you’re chatting. The bank teller. Your dentist. Anyone who asks about your personal life. Encourage them to follow you on Facebook or Instagram. It’s an excellent way to build a readership. Join a Group If you take nothing else away from this post, please do this. I joined the League of Utah Writers about a year ago. Their different chapters have meetings once a month where they present about different topics and critique each other’s writing. Previously, it was only my family that read my writing, but it’s so valuable to receive feedback from other writers. Not only do they understand the writing process, but they offer different perspectives on the same piece of work. It’s a great tool to gauge how your work would be received by a variety of audiences. Most writing groups are small; I prefer it that way, since it’s more personalized. If you’re not sure how to find one near you, do a Google search. There are several Facebook groups dedicated to beta readers and critiques too, if you’d prefer to do the whole thing digitally. The Bottom Line I cannot stress this enough -- even though it’s scary to meet new people and socialize like a human being (we’re writers; it’s just not in our DNA), it is VITAL to your success. It’s okay if you don’t master these all at once. Pick one or two and try them out. Your manuscript will appear a lot stronger if you have a digital following in place before you start querying agents. If you’re querying right now, that’s fine too! Keep at it, and build your following in the background. The writing community is amazing. The more involved you are, the more you’ll reap the rewards. And you’ll meet some amazing folks along the way who will be important milestones on your path to publishing. What ways do you network with readers (or future readers)? Do you have a favorite social media platform? Let me know in the comments below!

10 Creative Ways to Outline Your Novel

So you’ve got a story idea. It struck you like lightning in the middle of the night (or in the shower, or while you were driving). It’s the next Harry Potter; you know it. Anticipation has you running to your computer at the first opportunity. This is going to be the best book that’s ever been written. History will remember this moment. You sit down at your desk, turn on your computer… And stare at the blinking cursor on the word document. The idea is still there, floating above your head like a storm cloud. But you have no idea how to get it down on paper. It’s time to outline. Should I Outline My Novel? Some people turn up their noses at outlines, while others cower in fear under their desks at the mere mention of it. Whether you’re a plotter or a "pantser" (meaning that you like to fly by the seat of your pants), you should definitely outline your novel. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of time on it. You don’t have to write down every detail (unless you want to!) or follow complicated plot structures before you write Chapter One. What if I’m a Pantser? If the idea of outlining your novel sounds like it will put your creativity in a steel cage, allow me to put you at ease! There are lots of different methods to outlining. Some of them are geared for pantsers like yourself. Try a few different ones and you might be surprised! Okay, How Do I Outline Though? Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff. I’ve compiled a list of Ten Creative Ways to Outline Your Novel. Through the years, I’ve tried every one of these methods myself. They’re all great! The method I use depends on the needs of my WIP (work in progress). Here we go: 1. The Snowflake Method The Short & Sweet: This method was designed by Randy Ingermanson. It involves starting small, with a simple elevator pitch that sums up your story in 15 words, and expanding outward until you have your entire story outlined. My Take On It: Randy’s 10-step outlining process is simple, and it leaves lots of room to get your creative juices flowing. Step one involves a one-sentence pitch that boils your entire premise down to 15 words. This is hugely beneficial for the later stages of the writing process, when you’re writing your query and pitching your project to agents. After that, you’ll explore characters, plot points and overall structure. By the end of it, you’ll have about a 4-page outline that you can use while you draft. Randy claims that this process will allow you to write your first draft in half the time. If You Want To Learn More: Randy’s method is a little more extensive than I can describe here. If this method sounds like it might work for you, take a look at his website. 2. Pure Summary The Short & Sweet: This method involves writing down a summary of your story, from start to finish. It’s similar to the back cover of a book. You write down the big ideas and use that to guide your drafting. My Take On It: This method is great if your idea came to you fully formed. If you know your basic plot points and you like to discover your character motivations and side plots along the way, this method might be for you. If You Want To Learn More: It’s pretty simple. Read the back cover of a few favorite books to get an idea of how it’s structured. This is a quick way to get outlining out of the way and get to drafting! 3. “Academic” Outline The Short & Sweet: Remember those hated academic outlines from high school? You know the ones. They have numbers and roman numerals and the like. This is the same thing, only with plot points instead of essay points. My Take On It: This is a great bare-bones method to get outlining out of the way and get to drafting! For all you pantsers out there, this will give you a rough guide but leaves a lot of details up in the air for you to discover as you go. If You Want To Learn More: You already know everything you need to! Thank you, high school English teachers. 4. Free Writing The Short & Sweet: Developed by Peter Elbow in 1973, this method is very similar to the summary method (see above). Instead of writing a logical, clean summary, sit down at the computer and write what comes to mind. The key here is to write without stopping, and allow your mind to wander where it will. Ask yourself questions. Speculate. Let the word vomit spill onto the page, then sort through it later to see what gold you can find. My Take On It: I use this method for every one of my stories. Usually I’ll have a small speck of an idea and I’ll spend about an hour coming up with all sorts of scenarios, characters, and settings that I can think of. Often I don’t use all of it, but I always find little nuggets of information that surprise me. I highly recommend this method for all writers, pantsers or plotters. Even if you never refer to it again, it allows your mind to go into a meditative state and bring obscure ideas to the surface. If You Want To Learn More: If you’ve never heard of free writing, click here to learn more. (Side note: this method isn't limited to outlining. It's great for all sorts of writing projects, including journaling!) 5. The Visual Map The Short & Sweet: This method involves using a visual medium to plot your story. There are several ways you can go about this. Experiment and develop a system that works for you. You can use sticky notes. You can write on a whiteboard (hint: this is from my WIP and it's actually a combination of visual mapping and KM Weiland's story structure outline). You can use note cards arranged on your office desk or floor. My Take On It: I’ve used this method many times before and I love it! There’s so much room to be creative here. This is perfect for people who are very visual. I have a whiteboard in my office and I spend a lot of time sketching notes onto it. I also have a Pinterest board with inspirational pictures for my WIP. You can paint, take photos, sketch, whatever gets your creative juices flowing. If You Want To Learn More: The options here are endless. If you like the sticky note idea, click here. How about the note cards? A simple Google search will bring up tons more tutorials and explanations on this one. 6. Outlining Software The Short & Sweet: There’s a lot of outlining software out there, like Evernote and Scrivener. This takes the outlining process and simplifies it. It gives you an easy way to keep all of your notes organized. My Take On It: I used to think this method was overrated… and then I gave Scrivener a try. It has changed my life when it comes to the writing process. Down the road, I’m planning on doing an entire post about Scrivener and the benefits of it. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but if you put in the effort, it is so worth it. If You Want To Learn More: There are a ton of great Scrivener tutorials on YouTube. I particularly like this one - it's the one I used to get up and running. If you want to learn more about what Scrivener is and what it can do for you, take a look at this video. 7. A Workbook The Short & Sweet: This method uses a workbook that’s already been created. Just follow the prompts, fill out the blank spaces, and you’ve got yourself a fully-formed outline to use when drafting. I personally like the Pre-Write Project, which uses a combination of free-writing and thoughtful responses to create a powerful outline. My Take On It: This is another method that I love! Earlier this year I came across the Pre-Write Project and my outlining will never be the same. I spent two weeks going through the workbook for my WIP and I gained valuable insight into my characters and plot points. This is great for very detail-oriented plotters. If you’re a pantser, this will most likely be too much detail for you to handle, and that’s okay. If You Want To Learn More: To pick up a copy of the Pre-Write Project, click here. Once you download it, print it off and follow the instructions. It’s as simple as that. 8. The Reverse Outline The Short & Sweet: This method involves outlining after you’ve created your first draft. Pantsers, this might be for you! Once you’ve written a first draft, you’ll go back and create a detailed outline. This will bring all your work’s flaws to the surface. It’s terrifying, but so worth it. My Take On It: When I first began writing, I was a pantser through and through. I would sit down at the keyboard and write for hours with no clear destination in mind. As I was writing, I would fall into a kind of writing trance. Ideas would tumble forth and I would think, “This is GOLD!” Then came the editing. Sure, the ideas looked great during the first draft. But when I made an outline afterwards and tried to get my meandering plot to fit some kind of narrative structure, I found that I was way off the mark. If you're determined to remain a pantser forever, the reverse outline is great to help point out those flaws and whip your plot into shape. If You Want To Learn More: C.L. Polk describes it best on his website. If this is the method for you, check it out! 9. The Bookend Method The Short & Sweet: In this hands-off method, you’ll figure out the beginning and end of your story, leaving the middle for you to “pants” your way through. My Take On It: This is another method that might work really well for you pantsers out there. If you know where your story is going to begin and where it will end, you can meander your way through the middle and see where the story takes you. This will allow your creativity to spread its wings, but with a clear destination in mind you won’t lose your way. If You Want To Learn More: This is pretty self-explanatory. For the beginning and end, you can either write those first or keep notes for what they’ll look like. 10. K.M. Weiland’s Story Structure Method The Short & Sweet: K.M. Weiland’s story structure is a formulaic approach to outlining. It breaks the story down into major plot points at specific points in the story. My Take On It: I stumbled on to K.M. Weiland’s book in my quest to improve my craft. It’s another one (my favorite) that has changed my life. You can use it as an editing tool after you’ve already written the draft, or you can use it as an outlining tool to brainstorm the major points of your story. I’ve used it for both, and it has changed the way I approach story. If You Want To Learn More: Visit K.M.’s website here. You can either buy a copy of her book (which I highly recommend) or see the outline points on her blog and go from there. What’s Your Number? So you’ve seen the 10 Creative Ways to Outline Your Novel. What do you think? Which number will you use in your approach to outlining? No matter which method you use, your writing will be stronger if you use an outline to guide your way. You pantsers might not believe me, but I promise it’s true. Give it a try, even if it’s the most bare-bones outline there ever was. You’ll thank me later. Happy writing!

How To Recover From A Rejection Letter (Or Twenty)

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could write a book, email it in, and see it in print without any fuss? Unfortunately, that’s not the way the world works. If you’re an aspiring author and you’re determined to go the traditional publishing route, then you know that rejection is inevitable. Even the best writers (think JK Rowling, Stephen King, and Ernest Hemingway) received plenty of rejection letters before they saw success. I’m convinced that writing is synonymous with rejection. Once you’ve slaved away on that book, shared it with your beta readers and critique partner, and edited feverishly, you’re ready to start the publishing process. You find some agents and email your manuscript over. Then you wait, fingers and toes crossed, for the response. And the rejection letters (or emails, in most cases) inevitably arrive. Whether you’ve received one rejection or a hundred, it can be hard to bounce back. You might wonder if the agents are right. Maybe there is something wrong with your book. Maybe you’re talentless, luckless, and worthless. STOP IT. Instead of drowning your sorrows in your vice of choice, take a look at some other (arguably better) options to recover from a rejection letter - or twenty. Take the Personal Feelings Out of It As a writer, it’s important to know that rejection is inevitable. Each person in the world if vastly different from the others, which means each person has his own opinions, likes, and dislikes. Not everyone will love your book. That’s okay. You’ll get a lot of criticism when you start sharing your work - from agents, editors, readers, and publishers. A lot of people will share their opinions with you. It’s important to know when to consider their advice and when to let it roll off your shoulders. Advice about your manuscript (underdeveloped characters, plot holes, pacing issues, and description needing work) is the kind you may want to consider. It’s important to know how your audience views your work. Some of this criticism may be based on personal preference, but if you’re getting the same remarks from multiple readers, you may want to reexamine your manuscript. Attacks on your merit as a writer (writes like a child, lacks talent, horrible storyteller) are a waste of your time. You have other things you can be doing, and it’s not worth your worry. Stop Writing Not permanently - don’t panic! Writing is just like any other pursuit; you can burn out. A heaping pile of rejection letters is enough to dip any writer into a funk. It’s important not to wallow there, however. Consider taking a break from your writing. Instead, do a lot of reading. They say that avid readers make the best writers, and they’re not wrong. Read inside your genre and explore other genres as well. The more widely-read you are, the more informed you’ll be as a writer. While you’ve got some free time, try researching the market for the genre you’re writing in. Start paying attention to the new titles coming out that are similar to yours. Who are their agents? Add them to your list for your next round of queries. The more you know about the market, the more you’ll see where your novel fits into it. Learn Something New You could be a ten-time bestselling author at the top of your game and there would still be room for you to grow and learn. That’s a hundred times more important to realize when you’re just starting. There’s always room for improvement. Always work on expanding your knowledge and skills. Read books on craft and style. Go to writing conventions. Explore YouTube’s vast database of writing craft videos. Research your characters, your setting, and your plot points. Learning new things keeps your passion alive. Even if it doesn’t seem relevant, that knowledge will work itself into your writing at some point. It will make your work more believable. Find Your Tribe This is really hard for a lot of writers. By definition, most of us are introverts and we like to stay in our cozy corner of the world. Believe it or not, though, writing is a community. Social media has a huge network of writers in Facebook groups, Instagram hashtags, and Twitter feeds. Writing groups meet regularly in a city near you. They converge on writing conventions to meet new people and network. No matter how you do it - virtually or IRL - it’s important that you find your tribe. Fellow writers give unparalleled support and advice. Most of them have gone through the same thing you’re going through, and they can offer insight you wouldn’t consider on your own. From this pool of people, you’ll find beta readers, critique partners, and confidantes. No matter what stage of the process you’re trudging through - plotting, drafting, editing, or submitting - there are huge benefits to finding your tribe now. Query Again. And Again. I’ve heard the same advice again and again when it comes to querying: whenever you get a rejection, send another query out that same day. I never understood it. Why query a couple at a time when you can query all the agents on your list at once? A broader audience means that you’ll have a higher chance of someone giving you an offer, right? So, so wrong. When you send your query out to your entire list at once, a couple of things happen. First, you get a wave of rejection letters at pretty close to the same time. There’s nothing that can crush your self-esteem faster than an entire pile of rejection letters in your inbox at once. Not only that, but you’ll get a sinking feeling in your gut when you realize you just got twenty rejection letters and there’s no one left on your list. Second, you don’t allow yourself any room for improvement. If you send a couple queries out at a time, you’ll have time to fix your query or edit your manuscript before you submit to the next few. It also keeps the hope alive that if you didn’t get it with this round, you’ll get it with the next one. The Bottom Line If you take nothing else away from this blog post, remember this: rejection is inevitable, but it’s not the end. Querying (publishing in general, actually) is a long process. You can’t rush it, so you might as well enjoy the journey. I love my rejection letters. Some of them really hurt and I couldn’t even bear to read others all the way through, but they’re proof that I’m on my way. Each one is a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I won’t give up until I see my name in print, and I hope you won’t either. What’s the worst rejection letter you’ve ever gotten? How do you recover when you get a rejection? Let me know in the comments below! #amwriting #rejectionletter #amquerying #writerslife #writetip #pubtib #querying #howto