A new work begun
About a month ago, I started a new novel while I waited to hear about the projects currently doing the rounds with agents/editors. It's a way of keeping myself busy so that I don't go crazy. The one thing that never becomes easy to endure in this business is the rejections. And there are always plenty. Even for the best writers in the biz.
This new book requires research, and I embrace it. I also embrace the fact that I have to learn new tricks -- as an old dog in a constantly-changing marketplace. Writing is writing and good writing is timeless, but the taste of the people who might read my books needs to be challenged. Knowing I need to rethink some of my works, I have sought out some help.
That help has come in several forms: one is a book doctor who has helped me craft some pitches for the books I'm sending out to agents/editors. It's the first time I've paid money to a professional to help me with that process, and it was money well spent. The polished pitch I ended up with for the Izzy book taught me volumes about what to do for the other books. I learned a lot and will go forward with a much better idea of how to pitch my books.
Secondly, I have bought several books to add to my shelves, and one of the best purchases I made was one of Donald Maass's books. He's a rock star agent who knows exactly what it takes to make a bestseller happen. His WRITING 21st CENTURY FICTION made me think long and hard about the problems in my novels and how to fix them.
Each chapter is followed by questions that task the writer to go back through his/her novel and rethink characterization, plot, tension, description, dialogue, and everything that creates a complicated and complex book that can easily take up space on any bestseller list.
Today I didn't write. Today I thought about what kinds of complications I have not yet used in my novel. Today I 'cooked' some ideas. Tomorrow, I'll put them into action. And I think my writing will be better as a result of knowing I needed help in the first place.
This new book requires research, and I embrace it. I also embrace the fact that I have to learn new tricks -- as an old dog in a constantly-changing marketplace. Writing is writing and good writing is timeless, but the taste of the people who might read my books needs to be challenged. Knowing I need to rethink some of my works, I have sought out some help.
That help has come in several forms: one is a book doctor who has helped me craft some pitches for the books I'm sending out to agents/editors. It's the first time I've paid money to a professional to help me with that process, and it was money well spent. The polished pitch I ended up with for the Izzy book taught me volumes about what to do for the other books. I learned a lot and will go forward with a much better idea of how to pitch my books.
Secondly, I have bought several books to add to my shelves, and one of the best purchases I made was one of Donald Maass's books. He's a rock star agent who knows exactly what it takes to make a bestseller happen. His WRITING 21st CENTURY FICTION made me think long and hard about the problems in my novels and how to fix them.
Each chapter is followed by questions that task the writer to go back through his/her novel and rethink characterization, plot, tension, description, dialogue, and everything that creates a complicated and complex book that can easily take up space on any bestseller list.
Today I didn't write. Today I thought about what kinds of complications I have not yet used in my novel. Today I 'cooked' some ideas. Tomorrow, I'll put them into action. And I think my writing will be better as a result of knowing I needed help in the first place.
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