Friday, August 13, 2010

Myths and lies that can turn into a horror story

It’s Friday the 13th and it’s a lucky day for us writers! That’s right! We’re lucky to get great tips from Matt Mikalatos, freelancer and author of the novel Imaginary Jesus (BarnaBooks, 2010). For those unpublished writers out there, forget 13 is an unlucky number. I say 5 will be your unlucky number if you don’t follow Mikalatos’ advice.

Mikalatos says that writers tend to be creative in many areas of life, so it's no surprise that they can get creative with the truth. Here are 5 lies unpublished writers tell themselves and the truths that can get them published.

1. THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO ME.
I write amazing first drafts. If there were a contest for first drafts, mine would win every time. So I told myself, "Writing is not rewriting." Other people might have to do multiple drafts, but my first drafts are so solid I could publish them as-is. For years I believed this. So if there are some rules that you think don't apply to you, think again. It might be the rule preventing you from getting published.

2. AGENTS AND EDITORS HAVE IT IN FOR ME.
Ah, those blood-sucking agents and editors. I'm pretty sure they have meetings in a secret underground lair where they talk about how jealous they are of my writing skills and how they should team up to keep me from being published. If you're getting rejected it's because you still have work to do either as a writer or as a marketer.

3. I'M NOT A MARKETER, I'M A WRITER!
Which is exactly why you aren't published yet. You have to do the hard work of writing a spectacular query and proposal. Notice that you have to "write" the query and proposal. You're not being asked to do an interpretive dance or draft blueprints to a rocket ship. It might not be your style, and it might be hard work, but being a published author is hard work, complete with e-mails you don't want to answer, deadlines, accounting and marketing!

4. I SHOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME FANTASIZING OVER WHERE I WILL BE PUBLISHED NOW THAT I'VE WRITTEN TWO CHAPTERS OF MY NOVEL.
It is way more fun to read Writer's Market over and over—memorizing the publishers and agents—than it is to write your book. And while this is good practice for when your book is ready to shop, if the fantasy-to-writing ratio tips toward fantasy, it's time to get back to writing. Unless you are writing a fantasy, in which case you are probably fine and keep up the good work.

5. I'M A BETTER WRITER THAN MOST PUBLISHED AUTHORS.
If you're like me, you love picking up a book from the "Top 10" rack, flipping it open and cringing at the terrible prose. But this author (who is, keep in mind, a worse writer than you) somehow got a contract, got published and is selling well. I said this most often before I had finished writing the first draft of my first novel. Perhaps it's just that the "hack writers" out there actually finish their books.

These are a few of the lies that I wish someone had confronted me with when I was an unpublished writer. Now, here's one last truth for you: You can do this. Work hard, keep writing, improve your craft and be persistent. We're all waiting to read your masterpiece!

14 comments:

  1. Hah! I think everybody falls prey to the "I write amazing first drafts" myth. Those who don't tore their manuscript off in frustration and accept the fact that many drafts are necessary will be the ones getting the contracts in the end.

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  2. Hi Ben,
    Yep! Some writers are guilty of this. I sometimes wonder if it's due to inflated egos. We have to learn how to ask for help and/or recognize when our MS is simply not working out.
    Cheers!

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  3. Love it, Claudia! This post is timely and I like how you relate it to the date! :-)) Thank you for an inspiring post!

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  4. Hi Claudia,

    Great post! Thanks for the advice :)
    I've awarded you with the Versatile Blogger Award as well. Come visit my site to see the details :)

    Ms. C

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  5. Hi Kelly,
    Happy to hear you found this post inspiring inspite of the date ;) I think it's a lucky number for me.
    Cheers!

    Hi Ms. C,
    Thank you so much for your kind words and for nominating my blog Versatile Blogger Award. That's lovely!
    I'll hope over your blog in a bit.
    Thanks!

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  6. Hi Claudia!

    Your blog looks great! Thanks for your comment over at my art blog! I will be following your blog as well! In addition to my art I am a first time published author still learning to navigate the publishing biz! I look forward to reading your posts!

    As you said....there are no accidents! :)

    Have a great weekend!

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  7. Dear Claudia, thank you so much for your visit to my blog today and your birthday wishes!! You are so sweet!! Actually, I love your blog - love to read and since I started my blog, I discovered I love to write as well. I never thought I was any good at it... I'll be back often!! Hugs, Silke

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  8. Dear Cathy & Silke,
    Thank you for your kind words. Cathy thank you for following my blog. Welcome ladies to my writing community!
    I'll be visiting your blogs as well.
    See you in the blogosphere!

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  9. These are so true! Well, not true, since they're lies, but... what I meant to say is, Good Point! :) Hope this makes its way around the internet for more writers to read!

    Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  10. Hi Shelley,
    Thanks for stopping by and following my blog!
    We can all learn from sharing each other's posts.
    So happy reading and I'll see you in the blogosphere!

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  11. I love it, great post! And thanks for these amazing reminders :)

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  12. These are great, Claudia - so helpful! Thank you!

    PS - Sorry it's taken me so long to make it back over to you! Your profile wasn't linking back to your blog so I couldn't find you again!

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  13. @WritingNut,
    No problem! That's my job, give tips & reminders to my fellow writers ;)

    Hi Talli,
    Great to see you on this neck of the woods ;) I always check your blog even if I don't always leave comments but I always stop by.
    Cheers!

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  14. Hey Claudia,
    Since admitting there's a problem is the first step...I...I...fantasizeaboutwhereIwillbepublished. I'm so ashamed! And I...I...fantasizeabouttheadvance.
    There, I said it. I feel better already!

    AZ

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