Publishing your books, short stories, and poems...
July 20th 2008 10:19
Publishing is the dream of many, many writers. Including myself. Publication can be difficult; to be a successful writer borders the 'pipe dream' line. It isn't quite a pipe dream-it's doable with enough work, persistence, and talent-but it isn't easy or for the weak of heart.
Take, for example, JK Rowlings. She's an incredible success story, worth billions upon billions of dollars. She was a single mother who submitted to over thirty different publishers. And now she's a rich woman known the world over for her books. I'm not going to comment on their quality; this post isn't ABOUT quality of writing. It's about determination.
Let's talk about Stephen King. Who made a pittance from his writing and lived in a trailer, poor as poor can be, for many years. He almost threw out the novel that made him a name-Carrie-but his wife saved it. With a combination of her determination and his, and his love for writing, he became a big name.
There are many others I could name. But now I'm going to talk about the lesser-knowns. People like Garth Nix of the Abhorsen trilogy. People who are just starting to get somewhere. People who have been published for the first time just recently. People who, odds are, will never be famous-like Andrea Spalding. Like Sidney Sheldon. People who will be known to real bookworms, but not to the masses.
You know why I'm going to bring them up? Because they are no less determined. They are no less talented. Maybe they aren't a lucky. Maybe their stories aren't of as wide appeal. But they do what they love, and they work at it, and work at it, and people know who they are. And they do get fanmail, and they do have websites, and they do survive off their writing, and if they don't they at least get something financial from it.
And some of them are really nice people. Take Andrea Spalding for example; I once sent her an email telling her about how much I loved her books. We corresponded briefly... and she sent me two autographed bookmarks, which are my prized possessions to this day. Take, for instance, the Nanowrimo authors that have gotten their Nanowrimo novels published-and it has, actually, happened.
I am always happy for them. I am happy to see the short story writers who make it somewhere with anthologies and story after story. I am glad to see the poets who are known or at least getting somewhere. I am so eternally grateful that everywhere there is proof that this can be done.
And on the same token, I am utterly determined. I have submitted quite a few stories; a number of poems. I have been published only once, but for that one time, I am grateful. With every rejection my first thought is 'this story is free; time to send it somewhere else'. With every acceptance my heart beats a little faster and I celebrate.
Why? Because all the hard work and determination paid off. The edits, the writing itself, the submissions. Finally, something has paid off. And I am so glad. This gives me the motivation to write on, to try, try again-because you can't always fail.
And this is why I receive newsletters with opportunities. This is why every two months I check my directories and see if anything new has popped up. This is why I make an effort to submit something, to write something, on such a frequent basis. I make the effort because I know that someday I will make it.
Someday, I will be known. Someday, one glorious day, my voice will be heard.
Are you determined enough?
Take, for example, JK Rowlings. She's an incredible success story, worth billions upon billions of dollars. She was a single mother who submitted to over thirty different publishers. And now she's a rich woman known the world over for her books. I'm not going to comment on their quality; this post isn't ABOUT quality of writing. It's about determination.
Let's talk about Stephen King. Who made a pittance from his writing and lived in a trailer, poor as poor can be, for many years. He almost threw out the novel that made him a name-Carrie-but his wife saved it. With a combination of her determination and his, and his love for writing, he became a big name.
There are many others I could name. But now I'm going to talk about the lesser-knowns. People like Garth Nix of the Abhorsen trilogy. People who are just starting to get somewhere. People who have been published for the first time just recently. People who, odds are, will never be famous-like Andrea Spalding. Like Sidney Sheldon. People who will be known to real bookworms, but not to the masses.
You know why I'm going to bring them up? Because they are no less determined. They are no less talented. Maybe they aren't a lucky. Maybe their stories aren't of as wide appeal. But they do what they love, and they work at it, and work at it, and people know who they are. And they do get fanmail, and they do have websites, and they do survive off their writing, and if they don't they at least get something financial from it.
And some of them are really nice people. Take Andrea Spalding for example; I once sent her an email telling her about how much I loved her books. We corresponded briefly... and she sent me two autographed bookmarks, which are my prized possessions to this day. Take, for instance, the Nanowrimo authors that have gotten their Nanowrimo novels published-and it has, actually, happened.
I am always happy for them. I am happy to see the short story writers who make it somewhere with anthologies and story after story. I am glad to see the poets who are known or at least getting somewhere. I am so eternally grateful that everywhere there is proof that this can be done.
And on the same token, I am utterly determined. I have submitted quite a few stories; a number of poems. I have been published only once, but for that one time, I am grateful. With every rejection my first thought is 'this story is free; time to send it somewhere else'. With every acceptance my heart beats a little faster and I celebrate.
Why? Because all the hard work and determination paid off. The edits, the writing itself, the submissions. Finally, something has paid off. And I am so glad. This gives me the motivation to write on, to try, try again-because you can't always fail.
And this is why I receive newsletters with opportunities. This is why every two months I check my directories and see if anything new has popped up. This is why I make an effort to submit something, to write something, on such a frequent basis. I make the effort because I know that someday I will make it.
Someday, I will be known. Someday, one glorious day, my voice will be heard.
Are you determined enough?
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
It's what I love *shrug* and nothing, I repeat nothing, will stop me from doing what I love, until the day I die.
~Dianna
Comment by Wilson Pon
Health 2 Know
Techno Stuffs
Just keep the faith on yourself, Dianna and I think you'll be on the road of fame someday...
I'm still have a long journey to struggle with, if compared with your here
Wilson.
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I'm glad to hear so many encouraging words!
~Dianna