Helpful Tips for Struggling and Unpublished Writers…

I will be the first to admit that getting here was a collision of nerves and unexplainable struggle. Every writer who ever decides to make themselves professional will soon walk a very difficult, long and unimaginable line. I say ‘line’ because its not wide enough for a path nor is it as easy to walk.

The moment you decide that you want to be a professional writer, you are going to have to swallow some very hard things.

#1. If your out to be the next Nora Roberts or Steven King—get over yourself (laughs). It may happen and I am not trying to kill your dreams but you have to accept that it might not happen. Meaning, you will not find yourself rolling in a pile of money no matter how great a masterpiece you have. Every writer must struggle and realize that they have just hit the pavement of one of the most underpaid professions out there. So if money is your agenda—then sit down and figure out another reason why you are doing this because you are going to need it.

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#2. You will have to work your butt off, figure out how to do things which you never thought you would have to do; such as creating blogs, writing even when you don’t feel like it, working with an editor (more on that later) and selling yourself to the public by creating book trailers, advertising and soooooo much more!

So, I can not tell you what you HAVE to do but I can tell you what I have learned along the way.

A. Find someone who will give you constructive criticism concerning your work. This means you need to find someone you can trust and that someone needs to be able to tell you bluntly good or bad. THAT also means you need to simply swallow and accept what they say. I have had people ask me for my opinion and I have commenting on something as little as their grammar, finding them loosing their minds afterwards. I had one person scream at me, “I will not change or compromise my work!” After I praised his/her story and only mentioned that they forgot to insert a ‘period’.

You MUST develop a thick skin. If you ask for help, then respect the one who gives it and do not attack them after doing so. WHICH is why you need to find someone you trust—make it easier for you to swallow. You still need that thick skin though because if you are published, you will have plenty of people who look at your work and will rip you apart, not just praise you. Accept the good and bad.

B. Make connections—either purposely or grab onto the ones who just happen your way. I had a few published writers help me allot. They mean the absolute world to me, particularly one, Christopher C. Newman, who continues to help me to this day. That fabulous horror writer will never know how much I appreciated that. So never take for granted anyone who gives you advice and so forth. Leave the vanity at the door.

C. Stop using words like: I cant, I don’t want to, I don’t have time. You made the choice to make this your career. No one scooped you up and made you do it. So when opportunity knocks on your door, leave the lame excuses under the rug.

I can’t tell you how many people say those things to me and it really throws me for a loop. There are certain things that a publisher expects from you, that you must do just because you want to get your name out there whether your published or not and those things are being done by nearly every other professional writer…creating blogs, writing articles, doing reviews, joining groups, networking, building web sites, etc, etc, etc. Nearly every single writer I know has children, families, full time jobs, after school activities, school, and the list goes on and on. But every single one of them find the time, no matter what to write and do the endless list of other things that they must do.  So put your big boy or big girl bloomers on and get over it. It has to be done.

I didn’t know how to make a book trailer but my publisher needed one—so guess what, I learned. I have a hard time managing life, kids, family, and every other chore of my ‘real’ mundane life but I still find the time to see to my writing career. I am not trying to be cruel but I am trying to show tough love because believe me, no one who is taken seriously in this profession is going to baby you or look for excuses. And if they don’t, be thankful for it because they will bring out the very best in you!

D. Listen to your editor, publisher, PR people, and or agent.

THEY know what they are doing and you have to have faith and trust in them. Why? Because if you don’t look good and do good then they are out their investment. They can also get word spread around pretty quickly about how difficult you are—and there slams a big stain in your career.

1. Editors—I was very blessed to have received a hard core, no play editor. Helgaleena of Dark Roast Press. If she has a problem with something then she says so, flat out. Now I may explain why it is that way but if she says, nope, wont work—then its gone and I create something I hope is better. If it isn’t better—then we go right back to it. SHE LETS ME KNOW!!! She is the expert concerning words, grammar and everything else. I trust her because so far she has only brought out the best of me. Editors (good ones) can pick up what you may not see in yourself. They home in on what you are capable of and demand nothing less. So respect them. Don’t fight them if you have a good one. Your work will shine because of it.

2. Publishers and Agents– They took your work on and before you signed with them you should have had belief in them as they will now have belief in you. So don’t fight them either. Let them do their job.

3. PR people–if they tell you to write a BLOG and articles, then do it. If they tell you to submit to a reviewer, then do it and do it right. Again, this is their area of expertise so work with them and not against them.

E. Remember how much of a challenge it was to write that book? Well once your published, that will be considered the easiest thing you did (laugh). Again, touching base on what i have previously said, You are entering the world of the lowest paid profession out there and the amount of work you do for virtually no income is tremendous. So prepare yourself and focus on another award other than money.

F. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!! If you came into this business thinking you are going to land a $100,000.00 advance deal with one of the biggest New York publishers, then think again. get that out of your mind right now and choose a more realistic starting point. There are tons of options, Other publishers, E-publishers, small presses, magazines, etc. Choose one that is right for you. I chose a smaller press that does Epublishing/Ebooks. Next year sometime or another, they will go to print but right now, I am hooked on Ebooks because we live in an electronic age. I went with a smaller press that will probably be HUGE one day only because the woman who owns it knows her stuff and has the degrees to prove it. I wanted one on one attention and I get that. Reality in my mind was, I will have to start at the bottom and work my way up—just like all other writers do. I wanted to be somewhere that would grow with me, believe in me, praise me and scold me if needed. So decide what’s realistic for you.

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Again, I am not out to frighten you but prepare you in the same way people prepared me. I wouldn’t complain at all and haven’t because this is what I wanted. EVERY DAY I am challenged and I am eating it up.  Every day I am thankful no matter how hectic my world is now. For my children I did this…and for them I keep going.

C.H. Scarlett

http://chscarlett.net

November 22, 2008 | Categories: Articles, C.H. Scarlett, Entertainment, Free, Gothic, Legends, Lore, Myths, Pagan, Paranormal, Superstitions, Vampires | Tags: Calendar, Desktop Wallpaper, Regular, Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »