Don’t you wish people would post neutral news on social media? I’m not talking about what someone ate for dinner. But lately, my Facebook feed is filled with a monopoly of good news.
Maybe it’s because we all need to hear some right now.
I just saw a commercial talking about the joy of seeing the bright side of things and then I saw it was an ad for wine. The message was mixed. Do we need alcohol to see sunshine these days?
Hopefully not.
Here’s some neutral news. The publishing industry is getting flooded. I know that sounds like terrible news, but hear me out. It means if you receive weekly rejection emails like me, this is likely the reason. Agents are having a difficult time getting a hold of editors, which means they’re becoming even more discerning about the manuscripts they accept. It could be amazing news if you recently signed a contract-look how many hurdles you needed to overcome and you did it anyway!
But you’re here for writing tips. And I’ve been collecting more from conferences I’ve attended, writing classes I’m taking and books I’m in the process of reading. Here are a few to take note of.
Free write as your MC.
When you spend at least 10 minutes a day on a random topic say the weather (a topic given in Natalie Goldberg’s The Way of Writing class) as your main character or any character in your book, you get around your inner critic. Instead, your smackdab in your character’s head and this gives you a bird’s eye view of who they are and what matters to them. I’ve done this twice now and it’s added depth and beefed up my on the low side 26,000-word middle grade.
Differentiate between a plot and your story.
In Charles Johnson’s The Way of the Writer, he quotes from Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster where a story follows the question and then, but in a plot, the question to ask is why?
Envision your day/year.
When you wake up in the morning, spend time thinking about what you truly want to accomplish for the day. Pick out 5 things you’d be amazed to complete by the end of the day, 3 things that would make you feel proud to do, and a few things that you must get done. Tackle the must get done first. When you envision the end of 2021 and hopefully at a New Year’s celebration, what do you see yourself telling a new acquaintance or friend you achieved this year? Last year, I started interviewing authors, I published all the essays wasting away on my computer and also hit my goal of being published in new publications. What do you plan on sharing in 2021? I got this tip from a parenting writer’s conference last weekend where panelists are busy full-time parents and thought it was such a smart way to feel in control in an otherwise difficult year.
For every rejection you get, send out another query letter.
It’s taken me a phenomenally long time to realize I shouldn’t be sitting around waiting to hear back from editors and agents. It takes months to get a response and the majority will be negative. I’ve heard other writers who send out 5 new queries for every rejection they get. While I’m not that ambitious, I realized I need to start sending out more manuscripts. The year is already a third done.
Lastly, I wanted to let you know that if you’re feeling discouraged about your writing, you’re not alone. Rejections are hard in a normal year, but during a pandemic and everything going on in the world, it can be excruciating. I’ve learned to cut back on social media. I’ve enacted daily self-care practices and make sure that I always make time for my writing. When the rejections come, and they do, I give myself time to feel and vent, and then I remember the reason why I write.
I strongly believe in my purpose to support women and children, to create books that pass down our cultural heritage and to let my kids and other kids know that they matter.
Why do you write? I’d love to know.
