Why You May Not be Published

Serious wanna-be-published-more-than-anything writers must look at the quest for publication like they are  unemployed looking for a job. This article taken from US News & World Report is modified only slightly to meet your current publishing needs.

7 Unknown Reasons You’re not Getting Hired Published

1. You have unreasonable expectations. Everybody wants the perfect job agent, publisher, editor, spouse, car, home, vacation condo, body shape, whatever. But if your criteria are too high, if you're being too demanding, you may well remain unemployed unpublished. Nobody wants to be told to compromise, but the fact is that much of life involves just that, at least temporarily. Analyze your wants and needs. Which are must haves? Which are negotiable? Which can be put on hold?

2. You're relying too much on one search technique. Maybe you are only applying online sending out the same query to everyone, or only networking polishing without submitting or only using employment agencies  submitting to the top six, or only approaching companies agents that you know are hiring accepting submissions. Don't limit yourself to just one job agent/editor search method. Try them all. Cast a wide net, continue to build your connections, get creative.

3. You use the word "I" too often in your cover letter. The most effective way to endear yourself to potential employers  publishers is to put the focus more on them than on you. Show you've done your homework and understand what your target companies kind of books they are publishing. Then tell them how you can fill those needs.

4. You are not demonstrating long-term potential. We get caught up in the moment. We need a job to be offered a contract now. But employers agents and publishers, the good ones at least, tend to think long term. They want to know not only how you will contribute what you have written now but what you’ll be writing in the future, too. That "Where do you see yourself in five years?"  "What's your genre and what else have you got?" question is not just for drill. They really want to know.

5. You are unknowingly repeating mistakes. After interviews rejections, are you taking the time to review and analyze them? Many times the reason you don't get a job  a contract is beyond your control, and, in fact, has nothing to do with you, but not always. Trying to understand why the answer was "No" may help you to fine tune your approach.

6. You have not rehearsed no pitch or promotion plan. You may hesitate to rehearse answers to the most common questions. You don't want to sound canned. You want to be yourself. But consider the benefits of creating great answers to those questions you hear the most (what’s your book about? What makes it different from all the rest? Who's your demographic? How will you promote?)--short, vivid, three-sentence answers brimming with examples and facts--and practicing them until you can speak with conviction and confidence.

7. You put your job search writing on hold while waiting to hear back. Don't we all fall into this trap at one time or another? You've had a super couple of interviews emails with your dream employer agent. You just know you're going to get "the call" any day now. You think, I'm going to hold off until I hear back; after all, I deserve a little break. Well, no doubt you do deserve a little break--but don't. Keep on networking writing, applying submitting, interviewing attending writer conferences and researching agents & publishers until you have a firm job contract offer in hand.

Looking for work a publisher is an enormous project. In many ways it's more difficult, and takes more energy, than even the most demanding job writing the damn novel. So, in the midst of it all, find a way to nurture yourself. Keep on fine tuning and strengthening your approach manuscript. And hang in there.

With thanks and apologies (please don’t sue me) to:

Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs at www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com

Insomnia Issues

The daughter's wedding went beautifully, thank you all for your well wishes. It was a long weekend and isn't over yet. Wish I could sleep but insomnia reigns due to sensory overload. The emotions with their highs and lows. The fatigue which for me is always trumped by nerves. The comedy, the tragedy, the tears of joy, relief, sorrow and basically the entire human experience thrown together and wrapped up into one incredible event.

I can't wait to see the pictures, yet what camera could capture all that was my daughter's wedding. Nor song either, although opera might work in some instances.

And now that it's over, I'm left with an intense desire to write a story. To express my emotions with words like this man does with music.(Result--music combined with story results in 4 minute clip rich in the pathos of human existence, viewed millions of times on You Tube.)

Thought question: Can books move us like music?

Fairy Cakes and Cupcakes or Gratitude Part 2

I received this cute cupcake or is it fairycake? award from Alexandra Crocodile. I love her blog and her comments. She's clever, funny, and super smart as well! Go check out Friends and Crocodiles if you aren't already following.

And I must apologize for all flakiness with awards. I know I've gotten some I forgot to acknowledge. I know that someone else gave me cupcakes recently but I have completely blanked on who it is. I blame it on-- oh, I could blame it on a million things but today I pick-- the wedding!! As my daughter is getting married Saturday and well, you all know what that does to a mother's brain.

I award this to all of you wonderful writers/bloggers who put yourselves out and take lots of time to read blogs, write posts, comment on blogs and generally give of your time and talents to this writing community!! Please go to my sidebar and look at all those awesome blogs ("The Writers") and help yourself to some new friends. (I'm showing the most recent 25 until Monday, and after that it will go back to most recent 10.)

And grab a fairy cake while you're at it!

Gratitude for Readers & Writers

Susan at Inkspells made this comment: "the act of bravery that writing truly is." How true that is! Writers work hard to create, to communicate and then put the words out there where they are open to rejection, criticism, harsh judgment, along with (we hope!) praise and positivity.

I'm trying something different with my blog list, now putting every blog I follow on my sidebar. But to keep it manageable, only the most recent 10 show up. Doing this reminded me how grateful I am for all of you who enrich my life daily.

I want to say a big thank you to those talented writer/bloggers who write those amazing posts that enlighten me, make me laugh, inspire me and generally make my day! And thank you to those who visit my blog! It is humbling to know that people are reading even the sometimes silly posts I write.

And if you're a follower here but I've not been to your site please let me know so I can follow in return. Just say "Yo, come on over and click the button!"

Deleted Scene-- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

This is my first ever blogfest, the deleted scene sponsored by My Literary Jam and Toast. I hope you'll pop by and check out all the entries. My deleted scene is not from any particular of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but a scene of one that might have been written, shall we call it "The Story of the Sad Young Man" ?



Holmes stood by the window motionless, looking outside rather than at our visitor. I watched the young man as he sat awkwardly in his chair, apologizing for this unexpected visit.

My friend stared out the window, his aquiline profile stark and intelligent. "Tell us why you are here," he said. "You have my attention. What is your concern?"

The young man mangled the hat in his lap. "I'm getting married, you see, in just a week." He paused, and I congratulated him. Holmes remained quiet and aloof.

The man continued, "My mother and sister are reclusive, and quite unfortunately addicted to opium, a situation which has caused me untold grief and embarrassment. So much so that I can hardly stand to visit them in their abode."

"Where is this abode?" Holmes asked sharply.

"Near the wharf," the man said with apparent shame that his mother and sister would live so poorly. "They had better lodgings, but the opium..."

I nodded in sympathy, understanding the evils of this pervasive addiction.

"Wanting to invite them to my wedding, I stopped by and spoke to their servant, Douglas, a very kind and attentive man who has been with my mother ever since she began her decline. Douglas assured me that, although my mother was ill and unable to see me, that he would give her the message and make sure she attended the marriage ceremony. I wanted to speak to my sister, at least, but Douglas told me she had just gone out. He suggested I return at a later hour."

"Have you seen or spoken to either your mother or sister since then?" asked Holmes, now restlessly pacing the room.

"No, neither one since then. When I returned, Douglas said they were both quite ill. Not wanting to bother them, I retreated. That was last month, and I have had similar experiences every time I go to visit."

Holmes lit his pipe. "When did you last see your mother and sister?"

Our visitor looked down sheepishly. "Not since they moved to this unpleasant location. It's been quite difficult, as you can understand."

"Have you received letters from them?"

"Only a few. And sometimes a message from Douglas. He is quite concerned about their well-being. And since my mother wants nothing to do with me--"

Holmes interrupted to ask, "What kinds of messages?"

"Notes from Douglas that have put me off visiting, apologizing for my mother's refusal to see me. Or information about my sister-- She is in the country for her health. She is indisposed. She feels better but continues to suffer-- Sometimes the letters are in my mother's hand, sometimes my sister's, sometimes penned by Douglas himself."

"And when you do stop in to see them....?"

"Douglas invites me in, and then retreats to tell them of my visit. Sadly, they will never see me. They are indisposed, or in no mood for visitors, or some such excuse. I have left them quite alone for some time now, since neither seemed interested in my visits, and of course you understand how painful it is to see the degeneration of my family in this way."

Holmes puffed on his pipe for a moment, gazing at the young man. My friend knew only too well the problems of these elements. He kept his own secrets.

At last he spoke. "My dear young man, I insist that you go at once to the home of your mother, no matter how painful it is for you, and do not be put off by the man Douglas."

"But, but, I have tried before--"

Holmes hastily cut him off. "I beg of you! Go at once. The welfare of your mother and sister are at stake. Time is of the essence. Begone now. Watson and I will be meet you there shortly."

The man looked confused, but gathered his hat and cane, leaving with all promptness. Holmes then gestured to me. "Come, Watson, we shall make one stop on our way to the wharf."

What if?

Reading Mary McDonald's blog post this morning got me thinking. (Her blog's on my sidebar if you want to check it out.) What if you knew there was a publisher waiting to publish you as soon as you got that current wip done and polished? What if there were no agents, no query letters or rejections to worry about?

Imagine this process: the writer creates the story with all his talent and skill, passes it off to the publisher (and I'm NOT talking vanity press here) who welcomes it with eager smiles--then comes editing, typesetting and printing-- to create the masterpiece that is every author's dream. A book.

And what if there were thousands of people eager to read your book? To pay money for it?

We're writers. We are good at imagining and saying what if. So imagine this scenario. Pretend it's real. How does it change you? How would it change your approach to writing? What would you do differently than you're doing now?

The Joy of Editing a Brilliant Writer

Last year, my publisher asked me if I would consider taking on a few editing assignments. Well, sure, why not? And lucky me landed one that is probably the easiest editing that could have come my way.

This manuscript was a rewrite and resubmit. It originally was over 100,000 words, with a story line that should have been YA but veered into adult territory. The acquisitions editor wanted to know if the author would rewrite and resubmit it as a YA adventure and get it below 100,000, the ideal being 80,000. The author was willing and eager to do so.

The resubmitted manuscript got passed around and approved, and I was so excited to get to be the editor! It's a fantastic story. I want to talk about it but I can't. I've been editing this week and really getting into this story. He's done an incredible job with his second rewrites. It's down to 80,000 words, the narrative goes at a fast, exciting pace and I just can't wait to see this in a book!

The author lives on the East Coast, so who knows if I'll ever get to meet him. But he's a super-talented guy who deserves every success with his writing career!

I'm no longer 32. Can I still crush it?

The book I ordered came. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk, the one I post about here.

I've got several questions after reading it. Like, how can such a little book be so loud? I felt like the author was yelling at me the whole time. His photo on the back flap-- dark, intense eyes staring out at the reader-- unnerved me, and I almost took off the cover. But I couldn't, because I always use the flaps as bookmarks. Even though I didn't need a bookmark with this one. It was so short, I read it in one sitting, while Gary stared me down the whole time. Okay, I get it already! Stop yelling at me!

But do I get it? Do I know how to crush it? Do I even want to crush it? His whole philosophy is to build your personal brand through social media so that advertisers will come find you and throw money at you and you will then be rich beyond your wildest dreams.

Like that scene in the movie, Julie and Julia, where she comes home to a zillion messages on her machine from agents, media moguls, Oprah, Walt Disney...pretty much everyone wants to throw money at her because of her cooking blog.

So apparently that can happen to me if I build my personal brand here on this funky giraffe blog. Oh yeah! I want to be rich beyond my wildest dreams! Then I can do stuff I don't do now. Like check into a really cool hotel-- the third floor, Soda Springs-- and write my next novel.

Still, I don't really believe it. I don't believe ad people will throw money at me and agents will leave messages on my phone. I'm not sure I even want that. My blog title "Reclusive Writer" is there for a reason. Because I really am reclusive!

So if I don't believe it, then why am I up blogging at midnight? Isn't that what loud, intense Gary told me to do? Was I hypnotized? Or maybe it was that diet Coke I drank at 9 p.m.

Crush it? I'm not even sure what it is I'm supposed to be crushing. And I still haven't figured out how to brand myself, or tattoo myself, or whatever the heck it is. I'll sleep on it and think about it tomorrow. Peace Out.

Library Fun & Games

Last night another author (David J. West) and I did a presentation at a local library. It was geared toward families, with me presenting Farm Girl for the kids, Uncut Diamonds for the moms and David presenting his debut novel, Heroes of the Fallen, for the older kids and the dads.

Several families, lots of kids, and a great time. Having raised ten children of my own in an environment of reading, books, writing and telling stories, I loved doing this event. It was the kind of thing my husband and I would have really liked coming to with our own kids.

It wasn't that successful sales-wise, but that didn't matter to me. Sales come and go, you win some you lose some. (Like followers lol, which I have just lost 2 in one week. What's going on with that?) What mattered was sharing the story of the little farm girl and the different life she had, with the country school, the differences in culture between then and now, and all that. What mattered was seeing how attentive these kids were to this story.

When I switched to the mom's part, I shared the story of how the cover of Uncut Diamonds came to be, then I asked how many were Irish? (None.) Raised Catholic? (None. And they're wondering what the heck I'm getting at. Good, I have their attention.) Then I say, "Looks like you're not my demographic. I've learned my demographic is Irish women raised Catholic. So you may not like Uncut Diamonds, but you can try it if you want." (Punchline. A lot of laughs.)

I'm here to tell you that this job (paid or not) can have unexpected rewards. There's more to it besides sales, selling books, money, success, fame, being on Oprah, having tons of followers on your blog (gosh, why did 2 leave me? What did I do? What did I say? Oh, please come back!) Wait-- where was I?

Right..uh...unexpected writerly rewards...and last night I experienced one of them at the community library in American Fork, Utah.

The Writer Brain and the Blogger Brain

When I left for the weekend, I thought a retreat from the internet would be a nice break. It was a lovely weekend, but what do I do as soon as I get back home? Catch up on blogs, and write posts. I tried commenting on a few blogs and then stopped when I noticed how lame and weak my comments came across.

I think there's a blogging part of the brain and a writing part, and never the two shall mix. This weekend, in the quaint environment where we stayed, transported me to another world, (I write about it here if you're curious)--my writer brain came alive and my blogging brain went to sleep.

The blogger brain still feels groggy. I'll get back to my regularly scheduled programming soon enough, but meanwhile, I'm going to steep myself in the reading of some great fiction and go to bed early.

Writer's block is when a writer's brain isn't functioning properly. Is it blogger block when your blogger's brain falls asleep? Is this even a problem? Or maybe it's an opportunity?