Here’s the advice I share with every writer who believes he or she is ready to pursue an agent or publisher:
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Get a copy of the “2010 Writer’s Market” and/or the "Christian Writers Market Guide 2010.” Depending on the type of book you’re penning, one or both are a must-have for the serious writer. You can find these books at most bookstores nationwide and through most online booksellers. These market guides give you a current listing of publishers, agents, the genres they represent and their contact information. Although the information is the most up-to-date as possible, it’s always a good idea to double check the information to make sure that the editor or agent you’re planning to pitch hasn’t changed positions or moved on to a new career.
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Attend a writers conference. Many successful writers got their break in publishing after investing in one or more conferences and taking the time to follow up with the editors or agents they met and apply what they learned. There’s no guarantee that you will achieve success the first, second or even third time you attend a conference, but along with having an opportunity to network, you’ll increase your knowledge about the publishing industry, hone your writing skills and meet published authors who can tell you first-hand the rewards and challenges of pursuing this profession.
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Read, read, read. Reading fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary work, and even the newspaper helps you develop an appreciation and skill for the written word that translates into your writing. Being well-read also helps you become more creative and broadens the experiences from which you can pull to craft compelling stories.
- Find an honest critique partner or group and be willing to revise your work to make it the best it can be. Don't choose your mother, your best friend or your neighbor who loves to read, unless this person is also an excellent writer who's not afraid to give you candid feedback. When you receive a fair and credible critique of your writing, take it to heart, but don't take it personally! Be objective enough to accept the comments and/or suggestions and use what you learn to make the next draft of your manuscript, or the next chapter in your book, stronger than the last. Don't let the feedback stop you cold. Finish your project so that at the very least, you'll have something to edit.
Numerous writing conferences across the nation offer opportunities to improve your writing skills, learn more about the publishing industry and meet with agents and editors. Search online for a reputable conference near you, but also check out these great conferences highlighted below.
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Most of us have a story to tell. If little else, we care about something so passionately that we long to share our perspective with others. Put your pen to paper and express yourself.
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The Bible (and the cliché) is correct – there’s nothing new under the sun. But no one can write the story you’re meant to write, in the manner that you’ll write it. There’s an audience for everyone, whether it’s family gathered around the kitchen table or a coliseum full of fans. Write the story that’s in your heart and you will have fulfilled your purpose.
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Whether you write for 15 minutes or five hours, just getting something on paper is important. It disciplines you and helps you view yourself in a new light – as the writer you have become.
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The words springing from your soul may be the balm someone else needs to laugh, heal or gain a sense of understanding about an issue that had seemed out of reach until they read your work.
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Tomorrow is not promised! If writing is your dream, buy a notebook or recorder, drown out the “buts, ifs, and can’ts” and treat yourself as worthy of living your dream.
© Stacy Hawkins Adams. Do not use without permission from the author.
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