Unpublished and Doing Better Than You Think

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<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-fareast-language:JA;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:0in; mso-footer-margin:0in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style>--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I got into a brief conversation on Facebook with a young writer who posted that she had finished her first novel and was “saving up to have a professional editor go over it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So I suggested she consider submitting the novel to a few New York publishers (one at a time, of course) before going the self-publishing route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I didn’t claim that was the only way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But there are a lot of advantages to going with a publishing house, including the fact that they provide the editing free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>And, of course, pay you an advance.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The writer replied that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>she’d assumed she would have no shot without a well known agent backing her.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is not true, I told her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Go to a few science fiction conventions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Attend the panels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Politely speak to published writers, tell them you've written a novel, and ask for advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Most fantasy and science fiction writers are far friendlier and more approachable than you’d suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I’m guessing that you’re planning to self-publish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Don’t do so until you’ve talked with some writers who have successfully done so and listened seriously to their advice.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don’t have the time (I am reminded by various editors who are figuratively frowning over my shoulder and tapping their watches to remind me that I do have deadlines) to correspond with this young writer and give her all the useful advice she requires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But I will say this to her, and to all of you who find yourself in a position analogous to hers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’ve already done the hard part.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>The overwhelming majority of those who want to be writers never do finish a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>So stand up and take a bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>You’re part of the one percent.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The whole business of learning how to find a publisher looks daunting to you now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But it’s far less difficult than what you’ve done already.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And up above . . .</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I was at <b>Pook & Pook Auctions </b>the other day and discovered that the National Clock is going up on auction sometime in January.  This astonishing piece of folk art -- something like six feet tall -- has hundreds of little figures, both religious (the Crucifixion) and political (Uncle Sam and his monkey).  Apparently it was one of those strange things that made the rounds in the nineteenth century, supporting its owner on the contributions of awestruck yokels.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Just thought I'd share. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">*</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com...' alt='' /></div>