Steps to Being Published by Bronwyn Storm

When I was an unpublished writer, struggling not just to see my name on the cover of a book, but also trying to navigate the choppy, seemingly ill-charted waters of writing and publishing guides, getting myself into port—finding that glorious harbor known as ‘contracted writer’ seemed a mythic journey. I felt like a lost sailor, tossed and battered by unreliable crafts, lead astray by ill drawn maps, and everywhere I turned it appeared, “there be monsters.”

It was the unknowingness that drove me the most crazy. There are no true writing schools, no certificate you can hold in your hand and say, “Let me into these hallowed halls, I deserve to be here.” Writing isn’t like medicine—there aren’t ivy covered buildings where you go, learn the tools, do your apprenticeship, then set off on your own. And worse than not having a building is the fact that writing constantly changes. By the time I bought a book on ‘how to write’ from my local bookstore, it was already out of date.

What was I to do? What is any writer to do?

Well, a few years and several contracts into this non-traditional industry, this is what I’ve learned:

1) Be humble. You don’t know everything and your writing isn’t sacred. If it is, put it in a drawer. If you give your story to ten people and four of them have the same issue with your undeveloped characters or unusual plot, FIX IT. As soon as you utter the words, “Yeah, but” or “Let me explain,” you’ve confirmed the story is faulty. If you have to draw diagrams, the problem isn’t the interpretation. It’s you. Or more precisely, the writing. Go back. Fix it. Get them to re-read it. Keep doing this until the story is smooth and developed.

2) Take criticism like an adult. Editors and publishing houses have years and money invested into knowing their demographic and streamlining the stories that work. Just because they reject your story doesn’t mean they reject you. The story doesn’t work for their house. Sure, go ahead wail. Call them names, whatever soothes your ego, because that’s what it is. Ego. Grown up writers take the rejections, read them over. If the suggestions make sense, they edit and either resubmit or move on to another house. If they don’t make sense (and they may not. Stories are subjective and we all bring our personal biases into it. They’re suggestions may not make a lick of sense. Editors are editors, they’re not all-knowing gods). Professional writers do not send hate mail or argue with the editor. That just confirms the editor made the right decision in not accepting your work.

3) Write. True writers don’t talk about writing. They do it. Consistently. You don’t have to devote five hours or shut the world out, but figure out your bare minimum then stick to it. I have a friend who says, “Half and hour a day. That’s my writing time.” Another one has an eight page a day routine. As long as she gets those in, she’s golden.

4) Surround yourself with people who support you. I owe a great deal of my success to the people in my life who just didn’t say, “Good for you, wanting to write,” they followed up, took it for granted that not only would I write, but publishing was a ‘when it happens’ not an ‘if it happens.’ Find those kind of people in your circle. If they’re not there, find a new circle. Writing is hard enough without having to justify and fight for support.

5) Network. Find other writers and make friends—they’re not only a great base for support and knowledge, it’s just plain fun to get together with people who share your passion.

6) Stay on top of the industry. Even if the books are outdated, there are universal constants to writing: tight plot, developed characters, great description, lots of emotion. Find books that teach these skills. Read them, re-read them. I have a list of my favorites and before I start writing any new story, I re-read those books. They remind me what I need, what I’m aiming for.

Writing is hard, unforgiving and not for those seeking an easy path or guaranteed riches. If that’s why you want to write, put down the pen and go try something else. But if you’re writing because there’s a story dying to come to life, then grab that pen and hold tight. And when you get those rejections, your inner doubts tell you to give up, hold it even tighter. Write despite the fears, write to spite those fears and breath into existence something that’s all yours.

Good luck and happy writing!

Bronwyn Storm

Reprinted with permission. Bronwyn Storm is a super-hero in training—hey, one day being a klutz will be a superpower…if she doesn’t break anything vital in the meantime. When not tripping over her feet, she writes for The Wild Rose Press and plays butler and cuddler to her four furry boys. Check out her website www.bronwynstorm.com and drop her a line, she could use the excuse to stop petting the dogs and cats.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.