A friend and I were having a conversation about the conference. We were discussing the workshops and the messages they send to unpublished authors. Well, one of the messages they send to unpublished authors. Unfortunately, it’s a very dangerous message. The (subliminal) message is IF you follow all these steps you will eventually get published. If only that were true.
The truth is there will be some people who study hard, write a lot, produce good work, make connections and will still NEVER get published.
They don’t want to tell you that because they aren’t in the business of shooting down dreams. They’re in the business of helping you better your craft. This goes for any professional writer’s group. They want you to succeed. It’s just that there’s more to it than following the steps (or in the footsteps of others). There’s a luck factor that can’t be ignored. You can increase your ‘luck’ by writing and submitting a lot of work, but you can’t control it completely.
I know that’s hard to hear, but I consider that info as important as any ‘class/lecture’ you could ever attend. File it away accordingly.
In anything we attempt in life, it’s always a plus to know the facts about the endeavor. Rose colored glasses will give you cataracts.
by BernardL August 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pmThere’s no guarantee that anybody will make it in any field, and most new businesses don’t succeed over the long term, so it’s kind of funny that there’s such an assumption of success. Success is hard-won no matter what you choose to do.
by Charli August 8th, 2008 at 4:40 pmAlthough I have to say it’s refreshing after hearing a lot of gloom and doom about how it’s impossible and nobody ever makes it.
by Charli August 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pmAs Charli said, luck is an important element in any endeavor in life. Writing the best book you can with a fresh take on an old story with a fantastic, unique voice is only half the battle. All we can do is get that part right and keep submitting then cross our fingers.
by Suzanne Perazzini August 8th, 2008 at 5:08 pmBernard, Yes, the facts are helpful.
by Jordan Summers August 8th, 2008 at 8:07 pmCharli, You’re right. I think it’s oddly easy to forget that in this business.
by Jordan Summers August 8th, 2008 at 8:08 pmCharli, We know that’s a lie. *ggg*
by Jordan Summers August 8th, 2008 at 8:08 pmSuzanne, The book is the only thing we have control over. The rest is an illusion.
by Jordan Summers August 8th, 2008 at 8:09 pmDuly noted.
by raine August 9th, 2008 at 12:32 amOh, now that is so totally perfect.
Luck and timing, in this business, they are critical.
by Shiloh Walker August 9th, 2008 at 7:14 amRaine, *g*
by Jordan Summers August 9th, 2008 at 11:30 amShiloh, Yes, they are.
by Jordan Summers August 9th, 2008 at 11:31 amAlso innate talent never hurts.
by Cassandra August 10th, 2008 at 3:30 pmCassandra, No, talent helps, but it’s not everything in this business—nor in any other ‘artsy’ endeavor.
by Jordan Summers August 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pmCame across your blog on this subject and boy, you are sooooo, so right.
Denise A. Agnew
by Denise A. Agnew August 21st, 2008 at 6:04 pmHey Denise, Nice to see you here.
Yep, it is true sadly.
by Jordan Summers August 21st, 2008 at 6:29 pmHi Jordan,
It’s true. A lot of the people I’ve encountered thus far in my demographic–young, recently-graduated authors trying to make a mark and/or trudging off to get an MFA–have that quiet, desperate posture about them that anyone whose ego has just taken a blow carries. I’d like to say that everybody recovers, that they realize the only way you build muscle is taking damage, to keep trying, but a lot of them will, I fear, lose hope. An author I respect more after a Q&A sesh than before (Karen Joy Fowler) said that she knows very well that she’s not the best writer of her friends, but the main difference between her and the unpublished ones is that she was willing to take hits for her dream. That’s ultimately what it comes down to. And even then most don’t make it, but at least they go down in flames. I’ve begun an internship at Creative Byline, the manuscript-submission service that’s partnered with Tor/Forge, Globe Pequot, and St. Martin’s, among others. The advice that I’ve received from some of the staff on my own writing is the same: if you want it enough, you’ve got a fighting shot, but you might be headed into a hurricane on a skiff.
Thanks for the post.
Peter
by Peter Jurmu August 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pmHey Peter,
Everything you said is true. You have to be willing to start/stop, start/stop, start/stop, over and over again in this business. It will knock you down repeatedly. The key is getting back up each time and being willing to reinvent yourself.
I think the internship will teach you a great deal. When I used to write music and sing, I did an internship at a small record company. It was truly an eye-opening experience for me and helped me avoid a lot of pitfalls. Good luck to you!
by Jordan Summers August 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm