Comments on: It’s Easy to Get Published

By: Brian Higginson

Brian Higginson — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:01:12 +0000

On the sin of impatience. The only one to suffer is the writer him/herself. I had what I thought was an amazing YA book (still do think it coulkd be an amazing YA book) but I was impatient. First, I submitted before it was ready, second I thought I had to get it in while the Beowulf and Grendel rush was on (it’s a modern version) third I didn’t research the publisher .who offered to print it (PublishAmerica: wail, wail, gnashing of teeth) All these conspired to create a self publsihed book that has great potential for a whole series but is tied up with a shyster “publishing” company at a price per copy that you would have to take out a mortgage to afford. DON’T BE IMPATIENT.

By: Kristie

Kristie — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:51:11 +0000

I’ll take that as a pep talk. Thanks Mary! So glad to have discovered your site!

By: Jean Ann Williams

Jean Ann Williams — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:17:38 +0000

Like Karen, I’ve learned to let my work simmer. I am at the stage where I relish letting it sit. I don’t question that. It HAS to sit. I always find more to tweak after the work simmers.

Time has proven this is the only way.

Great article BTW!

By: Katherine

Katherine — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:52:30 +0000

This is such a realistic yet positive article – love it. I wasted time sending my book to a few agents before I’d had any feedback at all. Now the beginning has changed hugely and I wish I’d waited. Sometimes fantasy takes over from reality – “it would be so wonderful to be published” – which means you can’t wait to send it out. Plus fantasising is so much easier and enjoyable than editing your work – as you put it, the “hard and dreary and time-consuming” process. So true.

By: leslie

leslie — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:37:41 +0000

Brilliant word choice with the use of “slogging”! Gotta admit I’ve slogged a time or two. A solidifier I will hence forth be. Not only do agents want amazing books, as a reader and writer I want nothing less either. Thanks Mary!

By: Erica Christensen

Erica Christensen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:21:11 +0000

Well said. I LOVE that it’s just about the writing. There’s nothing that seems more fair and more wonderful in this world than to say it isn’t about the person, but the product. To read a new book and cheer “YES! They got it right!”, to dance around the bedroom in a fabulous funk, to notice the coolness of the drool congealing on my chin as I relive the final scenes inside… it all shouts what the author CREATED.

And there are only a few in my stash that sing like that to me. Have I sent them out yet? No. I will. I’ve had many encouragements to submit and watched friends get agents and publishers, but all I can feel is “I’m not ready yet!” Maybe I’m too perfectionist but when the time is right, I’ll just know. Until then, I’m gonna write. Write and love writing. Take opportunities to learn, finish each project, grow stronger and more assured.

You are so on the money. Thank you.

By: Patricia Puddle

Patricia Puddle — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:40:07 +0000

What a wonderful post. Great information, Mary.

I’m a little OCD and I keep editing and editing until I get to the stage where I drive myself crazy. Only then will I send it out. I’m still editing manuscripts that have been submitted to publishers and agents. I can’t seem to stop. One manuscript has been with a publisher for six months. I haven’t heard back yet, but I’ve edited it quite a bit since then and I had already Rewritten it many, many times before that.

Now I see that’s not a bad thing.

Trish.

By: Connie Washburn

Connie Washburn — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:46:59 +0000

Great post and fun comments. Yes – it all boils down to just that. How strong and marketable is your project.

I might also add many wonderful, marketable works go unnoticed because the writers are so afraid of rejection they never send anything out. You’ve got to risk it – send it out. If it doesn’t sell and you’ve done your homework then – Revise, revise and revise again.

By: AE Rought

AE Rought — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:59:51 +0000

Honing the craft. It’s sounds like work because it is–but like my dad taught us, hard work carries great rewards. Even if some of my books never reach publication, I can see a progression, an evolution in my writing since I first put finger to key, since I published with ebook publishers, since my first novel went to print. Hard work? Hell yes. And totally worth it.

Of course, waiting is in someways harder, because, we the authors no longer have control. When we write, we control it all. When we query and (prayerfully) submit partials, we let that control go to the agents and editors. Scary indeed!

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:22:12 +0000

Thank you so much, this is hopeful. Your blog is wonderful.