You've completed
a manuscript. You've entered it in contests. You've sent it off to an
agent or editor or both. So now what? What do you do while you are waiting
for The Call?
Don't waste your time waiting!
It's out of your control at this point, so stop worrying about it and
use your time wisely. There are lots of things you can do to move you
closer to your goal while that manuscript is being considered.
Write another story.
Don't wait for an answer on the first manuscript before you start working
on the next one. Ideally, when you do get The Call, you'll have more
than one thing to offer them. Hone your craft. Take classes and write.
By improving your craft you increase your chances of publishing.
But you can't write all day, every day, at least I can't,
so what else can you do with this time to move you toward your goal
of becoming a published writer?
Critiquing.
You can gain valuable insight into your own writing from critiquing
someone else's. If you pay attention, you'll discover what your strengths
are from what you find in another writer's work and what your weaknesses
are from what others point out about your work. Look for patterns in
your own comments and those you receive. Use this information to focus
on those areas you need to work on and to respect those areas that are
your strengths.
Contests.
Target your entries so you get the biggest bang for your contest buck.
Do you need feedback? Are you ready to get in front of an editor? Is
the agent you really want judging the final round? If you final, can
you go to the meeting/conference where the winners are announced so
you can meet the editor or agent face-to-face? Use contest deadlines
to help you stay motivated to get that next project done. Wallow in
the validation that comes when you make the final rounds or, even better,
win.
Workshops and Conferences.
Study, learn, teach. Apply what you learn to your current project and
don't forget to network. Smaller conferences are particularly good for
networking with editors and agents and for meeting other writers who
may hold the key to a critical piece of craft or business knowledge.
Meet as many agents and editors as you can, even if you
don't have anything to pitch to them.
Interview them. Get a feel for what they look for in an author or a
manuscript. Sit with one at dinner or strike up a conversation at the
bar. Talk about anything EXCEPT the book you want to pitch (save that
for appointments). Get to know their likes and dislikes. You can quickly
get a feel for who you'd like to work with and who wouldn't be a good
match for you.
Read, and not just romance.
Ask a friend for a suggestion, or better yet, ask an editor or an agent
for a suggestion. This gives you a great way to differentiate yourself
from the crowd in a query letter: Dear Agent, Thank you for recommending...
Even if you don't like the book, you'll learn something about what the
editor/agent likes.
Keep yourself motivated.
Set short term goals and when you achieve them, celebrate. Give yourself
presents. Take yourself out for lunch or dinner. Promise yourself a
trip to the movies, the theater, the bookstore or an hour on the phone
with your best friend. Reward yourself with a trip. Treat yourself to
a conference.
Most importantly, surround yourself with positive, highly
motivated people. A positive attitude is easier to maintain if others
around you share it. These people don't have to be up all the time -
we're all human and we all suffer from life's set-backs and hormone
wars - but find people who are able to bounce back from adversity quickly,
who can find the silver lining in the blackest cloud, and who write.
There are a lot of wannabes out there. Associate yourself with writers
who are seriously pursuing their dream.
No one - okay, hardly anyone - publishes without years
of work. The trick is to make those years work for you so that when
The Call does finally come you're prepared to step into the next phase
of your writing career. Write. Learn everything you can. Meet as many
people as you can from every aspect of the business, and keep a positive
attitude. That's what you do while you're waiting!
Laurin Wittig put all those years of waiting to good use.
Her award winning debut novel, The Devil of
Kilmartin, was released from Berkley/Jove in September, 2002.
Her second novel, Charming the Shrew,
was released in May, 2003. Visit Laurin at www.Wittig.com/Laurin.
Permission to reprint this column is given
to Romance Writers of America® local chapter newsletters.
