Press On Writers!

Everyone’s path to publication is different. We’ve all seen the success stories–author’s publication tales–tweeted out to the world, where an author shares their journey to publication. I like to think of it as the Chilkoot Trail during the Klondike Gold Rush.

Some adventurers make it over the pass, find a parcel of land, strike gold, make it rich and head home. I’m not naïve enough to think they didn’t sacrifice and work hard and have in equal measure talent and good fortune, but that isn’t every prospector’s story.

There were also many of those who encountered every misfortune as they attempted the pass; injury, starvation, illness, their horse dying, theft and then the devastation of never finding gold once they made it to Alaska. Just as there were defeated dreamers back then, I’m sure there are innumerable authors who can share a similar story.

What I keep reminding myself of, is that the path to publication isn’t all that different. I naively set out from my home, clueless and across the country, to chase this dream of becoming a published author. I started writing my novel, never having spoken to a published author or having done any research into the publishing industry. I didn’t know what a synopsis was. I had never heard of a query letter and I certainly didn’t know the recommended word count for a commercial fiction novel (my first draft was at least twice the recommended word count). Hell, I could hardly use a contraction correctly and I’m sure half my novel flipped point of view like a pinwheel in a windstorm and was mostly in passive voice. I cringe now thinking of it.

I virtually left home, for Alaska, with a dream and no supplies.

Now, many, many years later and four novels completed in varying stages, I’m starting to feel the seasoned adventurer, but I don’t think I’ve yet reached my plot of land. I’ve had many detours along the way. I had to stop to build a boat, I settled in Skagway for a while to work and acquire new skills.

I succeed by setting small goals that keep pointing me in the right direction and then, when I reach the peak and look out over the vast horizon of mountains still ahead, that I never even knew existed, instead of turning around and admitting defeat, I sigh and look out to the next goal, and start again.

I recently read something eerily timely for me, as if Jessica Faust, of Bookends a Literary Agency, was speaking directly to me. Her blog, Querying Two Books at Once, helped me to understand the journey from mountain to mountain.

“I assume you wrote the two books at different times and have been querying the one while writing the next. Once the Next is ready to query it’s time to put the First away. It’s a sign that you should move forward.

Now write the Third, query the Next, and let the First sit. Once the Third is done, if (hopefully not) the Next hasn’t sold, put that one away while you write the Fourth and query the Third.”

I see each novel now, as one of those mountains between me and my plot of land. Writing the first draft gets you part way up the mountain, editing and polishing gets you almost to the top and finally, having a polished query package gets you to the peak and then you are ready to query. You finally have everything ready and can journey down the other side as you wait for the responses to your queries. However, this isn’t a single mountain quest. You need to rest, regroup, plan, pack again and then start writing the next book to hike up the next mountain.

Sometimes the other side of the mountain is the other half of the adventure you didn’t expect. Kristi Belcamino shares in her blog, Don’t Give Up Until You’ve Queried 80 Agents or More, how long the road to snagging an agent can be (and that’s still not published… but that’s a whole other blog).

She lists out four things every author needs to be successful, just as I am sure there was a list of essential supplies to make it to your stake.

Kristi lists out;

• perseverance,
• work,
• Teflon-mentality and
• patience.

A friend’s son has gained the attention of next level hockey scouts. It would be easy for a parent to tell their child all the reasons why they can’t do it and how most don’t make it. However, I can guarantee, if he gives up now and stops playing hockey, he’ll never make it.

If I stop writing and give up on this writing journey (that I happen to love), I might as well pack up my gear and head home. You can’t strike gold if you never make it to your stake. You can’t get published if you don’t put yourself out there.

Years ago, when I dreamed of becoming an owner of a veterinary practice, a friend gave me this mountaineering bear ornament. The following poem is carved on the cliff face;

Press On:

Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than the unsuccessful men without talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Press on!

~~Calvin Coolidge

 

I chose to pick the advice I’m going to follow.

I know it isn’t going to be easy.

I know there will be sacrifice and injury and joy along the road. But I’m going to query 100 agents, learn as much as I can, pack up my things and head for the next mountain top.

I’m going to write the next novel and then do it all again, until I get to my stake and strike gold.

I choose to PRESS ON!