Just Words

By Julie Wright

Yesterday, Miss Snark showed a rare moment of tenderness. If you don’t read Miss Snark’s blog, then I can only assume you aren’t serious about writing. http://misssnark.blogspot.com/ The post from yesterday is “It’s just words.”

Just words . . . An entire industry balances on the point of those mere words that we authors write. Entire generations morph and grow on the point of those mere words. Revolutions are started, wars tamed into peace, lives changed all for the sake of a few silly words.

It’s the cool part of being a writer. I know I will live in the pages of my books long after I am dead and strumming my harp (or shoveling coal in the eternal hot place . . . you never know with me).

There should be a lesson learned here in this blog I’m writing and so the lesson for today is: if you love words and want to write, then do it. I am here today, published, and not too shabby because some absurd little English teacher in tenth grade told me I never would be. I had to prove him wrong.

There will be lots of people to tell you how hard the road is (it is hard). There will be lots of people patting you on the head and giving those twisted little patronizing smiles where you know deep down they don’t believe you’ll succeed (but they're wrong).

I am honestly telling you that if you want it, then you can have it.

As an informal poll, I am curious how many writers out there write because someone told them they couldn’t?

Here is the formula to becoming a successful writer:
Sit in a chair in front of a computer or in front of a desk with a pad of paper and a pen.
Write one word
(do not stop here to check your email)
Write another
(wait a little while to get your snack)
Write a few more until you feel justified in closing the sentence with a period.
(ignore that ringing phone)
Repeat this until you feel justified in closing the novel with the words “the end.”
It’s that easy.

Take a chance on yourself and find out what you can do with mere words.

Miss Snark

By Precision Editor

Has anyone read her blog? Several of my author friends have recommended reading her stuff--she's a literary agent who tells it like it is.

http://misssnark.blogspot.com/

Today she replied to a question from an author who is querying agents and publishers. She told them to stop querying the publishers and focus on the agents.

I agree to a point. But several authors I know found a publisher first, then an agent. Sometimes it's easier that way. Also an agent is more likely to sign you on if you have a contract pending. Who wouldn't? 10% of something is more than 10% of nothing.

In another blog http://mywriterslair.blogspot.com/ (April 3, 2007), I recapped a presentation given by fantasy author, Brandon Sanderson. He also found a publisher before his agent signed him. Obviously there are some publishers who don't accept unagented submissions, so you can't query them. But be smart. Don't mass query publishers. If an agent does take you on, it wouldn't be good if all the publishers he/she wants to submit to have already rejected your work.