Writing, writing, and more writing…

At least, that’s what I’d like to have been doing the entire time I’ve not been posting here. Truth is, being the man of the house, I feel compelled to provide my family with a few niceties such as food and shelter – writing, most unfortunately, doesn’t yet enable me to do that.

So, for the past few months I have been focusing on a business venture that will provide me with a large amount of residual income each month, thereby enabling me to spend the time I need to focus on writing exclusively. And even though I haven’t been spending much time writing recently, there is a silver lining to this cloud – having not worked on my manuscript for a few months, I can now take a look at it more objectively and will be able to see it in a new light, much like one of my readers will. This is great news, because so many authors become greatly attached to their work and are unable to bring a fresh perspective to it when that is precisely what’s required to move onto the next step.

So…killing two birds with one stone. Creating a residual income stream for myself, while also taking the time away from my manuscript needed so that I can whip my ms into shape when the time comes. Marvelous!

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Distractions

So I was sitting in front of my laptop last night, working on a new site I had dreamed up, and suddenly realized I’d spent the better part of the last week working on it with no real progress, and without getting even so much as five pages of writing done.

That’s when I realized, and it really and truly hit hard, that I’d fallen trap to a major distraction. I’d almost forgotten about writing entirely, despite my earnest and heartfelt desire to finish my first book and get it out to agents and publishers as soon as it is ready.

Fortunately, I’m back on track. But that week is gone and I’ll never get it back. Being a positive sort of person, I like to think I’ve learned something from this experience, and you can be sure I won’t easily fall victim to the same mistake again.

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Holy mackerel!

Yes, that’s what I said when I realized it’s been over a month since my last post. Amazing, really amazing how time zips by when you’re caught up in the many intricacies of daily life.

Not much to update you all on regarding ms progress. Still working on the dictionary copyediting job, which should get finished by the end of this month or shortly thereafter. Technically, I could still make time to work on my ms, but I’ve realized recently that I don’t like to be stretched too thin in regards to the number of projects I’m working on at any one time. So until I finish this frigging dictionary my ms will sit on my desk collecting dust.

That’s not all bad, though. When I do get back to it I’ll be able to look at it with a new, fresh perspective I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to without this time away from the revision process. Even so, the writing bug is itching something awful as I haven’t written anything for close to two months now…*ouch* Yes, I know, criminal of me – especially since I am an aspiring author, but….

But there are no buts, no excuses.

Very well. Back to work.

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No Excuses

That’s my motto in life, so I have no excuse for not posting here before now — I just haven’t gotten around to it. I’d like to blame it on the fact that I’ve been working like a madman on this most recent copyediting job that got tossed my way, but truth be told I could’ve made the time to put something up. So, no excuses.

And that is an important mentality for any writer, I think. When it comes to this industry, getting published is essentially only a matter of time as long as you keep at it and constantly strive to improve and learn as time goes on. Making excuses, and I’m sure you’ve heard them before, just doesn’t help at all.

“I just haven’t had the time to keep writing.”

“Well, I gave it my best shot and it just didn’t work.”

“It’s not my fault editors didn’t see how wonderful my manuscript is.”

The problem is, these kind of excuses probably make sense to most people, to the point that they wouldn’t be considered excuses at all. And this is where being brutally honest with yourself will really help. You really haven’t had time to keep writing? I wonder how you had the time to watch a few minutes of TV, or read a newspaper, or any of the other million little things that take up so much time everyday. Did you really give it your best shot? Taken writing classes, joined critique groups, attended conferences, worked on improving your craft on a daily basis for many years? Success is rarely, if ever, overnight – regardless of whether it looks that way or not. So editors didn’t like your manuscript? How many did you send it to? Did any leave constructive comments that you brushed aside as being irrelevant? Have you set your ms aside for a couple of months and then come back to it and realized what you thought was so great actually needed a lot more work?

I could go on and on ad naseum, but I won’t. You get the point.

No excuses.

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SCBWI Goodness

So here I am, two weeks out from the summer conference, still trying to wrap my head around everything I learned.

Wow.

Chances are it’s going to take me a while to really absorb everything. I made copious notes, almost enough to fill a book, and will be perusing through them at my leisure. But until then, for those of you who simply must have a golden nugget, here’s something to chew on.

The biggest thing I took away from the conference was that you have to write really, really well to get published. Before you huff off somewhere, waving this aside as a cliched platitude, I urge you to really think about it. If you wanted to play professional sports you know you have to be an amazing athlete with tremendous skill to get to that level; yet everyone and their dog think they can write a book and get it published. Is it any surprise then that well over 90% of all manuscripts submitted to agents and publishers are rejected? I don’t think so…

So where does that leave us aspiring writers? We have to write something amazing, something uniquely ours, something that only we could write. And here’s the catch – it’s probably going to take you a long time to figure out how to do that. Longer than you are expecting. Longer, possibly, than you are willing to committ to.

The key, of course, is to never give up. There’s an old axiom that’s often heard in this industry: There’s a word for a writer who never quits…

Published.

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SCBWI Summer Conference

As I write this I am in Los Angeles, the day before the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators summer conference begins. This will be my first writer’s conference ever and I am very excited about it! I look forward to learning a great deal and rubbing shoulders with some of the best and brightest in the publishing industry.

Who knows…maybe even an agent there will ask to see my book!

In any case, I will be quite busy over the next four days. I will absorb as much as I can and definitely share what I learn with all of you.

Keep writing~!

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Waiting…

Alas, there is but one great joy writers yearn for – but on the road to that elusive goal there is much waiting. And that’s where I’m at now. I wish there was something exciting happening for me to gush on, but such a miracle will have to wait for another time.

I know agents are busy people. I knew, even before getting into this, that much waiting was involved. But that doesn’t keep me from hoping that they’ll get back to me faster than ‘other’ people. After all, my writing is so much better than everyone else’s, why should I have to wait? (Hrm…sound familiar?)

Rest assured I will inform you all when that great moment comes and the literary agents and publisher’s alike are all clamoring for my attention….

Wake up, Jonathan, wake up – it’s only a dream…at least for now.

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Agent update

So far I’ve sent queries to a total of five agents and one publisher. Surprisingly, not everyone has rejected it. Three agents and the publisher did, but one agent asked to see sample chapters, and that itself is rather encouraging. What’s more, this particular agent was on my list of top three agents I hoped would be willing to represent me

Now, it’s far too early to make plans for retirement seeing as how she hasn’t even asked to see the entire manuscript yet (she will…I know she will…), but the fact remains that an agent asked to see it. Already I’m ahead of the curve, for it’s common knowledge that agents reject over ninety percent of the queries they are sent

Maybe I’m doing something right

Of course, she could write back and say she’s not interested. But if one agent is interested in it, chances are others will be, too. And among those that are I’m sure to find someone who’s as passionate about my work as I am

Here’s hoping!

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Slogging through the No’s

Yes. My time of rejection has come. I’ve now sent out my book to five literary agents and one publisher. The good news? There are still two literary agents who haven’t rejected my novel yet. Even better news? I still have over ninety names on the list of agents to whom I will send a query letter.

I always knew this was how the game played. Every reference book, website and other source I’ve seen has stated that literary agents and publishers reject close to 100% of the manuscripts/queries they get sent. Ouch.

But, as I often remind myself, even bestselling authors were at one point unpublished, and there is an axiom often heard by aspiring authors: there is a word for writers who never give up…published.

So here I am, ready to brave the coming onslaught of form rejection letters. I won’t paper the walls of my house with them, but I am going to keep them – just so I know which unfortunate souls were stupid enough willing to reject my writing.

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Site overhaul

I am an author. My finished book is now out in the hands of literary agents and publishers galore. My sweet, darling baby is out in the open, and who knows what dangers it might endure in the hands of overworked, underpaid editors and agents. But that is the way of the publishing world, and as a professional author I thought a redesign of my website would help to reflect this important time.

It’s often said that finding an agent and/or publisher for your book is the single hardest step for aspiring writers. I certainly believe that is true. Already I’ve gotten four rejections; three from literary agents and one from a publisher. Chances are I’ll get many more before I find someone who is willing to represent my work.

So be it! I’m here for the long haul, and won’t let anything prevent me from reaching my goal of becoming a published author.

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