Still more questions from High School Visit
Maybe I'll actually get these done before the end of the year...
Today we have questions from Christina: Did you seek publication early in your career? If so, did you get any helpful advice? And what advice would you give us as young writers seeking possible publication?
I started submitting things to magazines in undergrad, but didn't get very far. My first story was published in 2002 in a very small fantasy magazine for children (they accepted a poem of mine as well, but ceased publication one issue before it was to appear!). A few basics I've picked up over the years:
Send nothing out until it's done.
Write every day (that's one school of thought). Write most days, but also give yourself time to recharge.
From Stephen King: Never a day without a line
From a friend of mine: stop writing in the middle of a sentence
Know your market very well and research the editor you're sending to. These days SO many of them have blogs and Twitter accounts it's easy to determine if your story is right for them.
Join a professional organization associated with your genre and attend meetings. I'm an active member in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Take lots of classes. I'm probably over-schooled, but I know that all the classes I took have made me a much stronger writer. You don't have to major in writing, but usually you're able to find classes even at a community college or a place like the Writer's Center which is in Maryland. Usually classes are taught by published authors, so it's a great chance to get that perspective. I've had a chance to study under some really good children's writers, such as Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Han Nolan, Hillary Homzie, and Alexandria LaFaye thanks to classes.
Join a critique group, not necessarily your friends (in fact, it's better if it's not your friends at the start, although they likely will become friends). Often the professional organizations have a critique group connection list. I found mine through SCBWI and it's been absolutely wonderful. We write a wide variety of genres, from edgy YA to picture books to poetry for children, but everyone knows their stuff and they've been one of my most valuable tools.
Don't get discouraged. A good way to realize that even the greats are human is to friend them on Facebook. When I saw Jane Yolen getting rejections, it makes me feel better.
Today we have questions from Christina: Did you seek publication early in your career? If so, did you get any helpful advice? And what advice would you give us as young writers seeking possible publication?
I started submitting things to magazines in undergrad, but didn't get very far. My first story was published in 2002 in a very small fantasy magazine for children (they accepted a poem of mine as well, but ceased publication one issue before it was to appear!). A few basics I've picked up over the years:
Send nothing out until it's done.
Write every day (that's one school of thought). Write most days, but also give yourself time to recharge.
From Stephen King: Never a day without a line
From a friend of mine: stop writing in the middle of a sentence
Know your market very well and research the editor you're sending to. These days SO many of them have blogs and Twitter accounts it's easy to determine if your story is right for them.
Join a professional organization associated with your genre and attend meetings. I'm an active member in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.
Take lots of classes. I'm probably over-schooled, but I know that all the classes I took have made me a much stronger writer. You don't have to major in writing, but usually you're able to find classes even at a community college or a place like the Writer's Center which is in Maryland. Usually classes are taught by published authors, so it's a great chance to get that perspective. I've had a chance to study under some really good children's writers, such as Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Han Nolan, Hillary Homzie, and Alexandria LaFaye thanks to classes.
Join a critique group, not necessarily your friends (in fact, it's better if it's not your friends at the start, although they likely will become friends). Often the professional organizations have a critique group connection list. I found mine through SCBWI and it's been absolutely wonderful. We write a wide variety of genres, from edgy YA to picture books to poetry for children, but everyone knows their stuff and they've been one of my most valuable tools.
Don't get discouraged. A good way to realize that even the greats are human is to friend them on Facebook. When I saw Jane Yolen getting rejections, it makes me feel better.