Algonkian Writer Conferences, in their study guide for the workshops and Write to Market, includes a really helpful piece on why passionate writers fail to publish. Though kicking and screaming, I was forced to admit I found myself included in more than one of these (not all seven, but enough to make me nervous):
"INADEQUATE WRITING SKILLS OR STORYTELLING/ STRUCTURE PROBLEMS. In the case of the former, the writing itself does not display the energy, creativity, and polish necessary to convince an agent to go deeper."
Well, I have to say this was true during the early years of DAUGHTERS OF THE DREAMING LAND, but the problem was I didn't realize it. My little writer's group (not my group from Algonkian Park), despite their wonderful nature, didn't know the difference between really competitive prose and adequate prose. I realized later that I had to write better than I had ever imagined. I checked out the Algonkian Writer Conference syllabus for answers to this issue and signed up. Their narrative assignments were challenging and bizarre, but it was a huge wake up call for me.
"MISUNDERSTANDING THE MARKET. Writers don't have a clue as to what types of first novels are currently being published in their genre."
This was true of me also, especially with my first novel which was a cozy mystery. I loved cozy for years and cut my literary teeth on badly writing my first cozy called The Big Julianne Murders. Not only was the title poor but my arrangement of the plot and other things was awful. I learned only later that I had gone about it all wrong, regardless of the number of cozies I'd read. You just have to dive into the art of plot creation and concepts for your genre. It will not absorb into your brain parts unless you do.
"BAD ADVICE. Whether the source is an article, a friend, or a writer's conference, the writer has been told something that steered them wrong, or built a false expectation, or made them believe a man-bites-dog story will happen to them."
I think the worst advice I ever heard that nearly ruined me involved manuscript editing. A couple people told me not to worry about proofing so much because the publishing house editor would fix that. Also, same with my title. Don't worry about the title, they'll change it anyway. Big mistake. A bad title is a clear sign you are unfit for duty. Fortunately, I wasn't that stupid. My title has opened doors for me.
"IMPATIENCE = LOST OPPORTUNITY. The story is pretty good, fairly original, and the writing likewise, however, the writer is impatient and sends out the ms too soon. "
OMG, is this is me all over!!! How I regretted sending out certain ms way too soon. I cringed later when I realized what I had done. I thought I might even have to change my name.
"NO EDGE. The vast majority of first novel writers have not yet published work in viable short fiction markets."
Course, this isn't always important, but for the type of work I write (upscale fiction), it certainly is. Only now have I begun working on lots of little short stories and I am sending them out, peppering the offices of short fiction journals. Algonkian Writer Conferences taught me that publishers and agents want those creds for my type of genre. No question!
Wish me luck, guys.
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