Ready, Set, Go!
Making It as a Writer.
What does it take to break in to professional writing? That’s the big question isn’t it? When I ask participants in my writing classes and seminars this question, these are their answers: (a) a good idea; (b) an agent; (c) a “contact” in a big publishing house; (d) perseverance. What would your answer be?
Here’s my answer, and it’s the most important answer as far as I’m concerned: absolutely perfected, professional writing skills. Writing skills. Let me say that again: Writing skills.
That’s what this blog is mostly about. I’ll do other things with it–like give you a book recommendation or a reading list. I’ll even have entries from other people about the business, the craft, and the art of writing. But primarily you’ll be hearing from me about the craft of writing. Stick with me, and you’ll learn everything you need to know about becoming a writer. And by that I mean becoming a published writer.I’ll be writing a weekly column about the craft of writing, and if you miss any, you’ll find them in my “ Becoming A Writer” category. The first column starts now, in the left-hand column. And by the way, I’d pick “perseverance” as a second choice.
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The information you are sharing in your Writing blog about writing tips is really valuable insight. The 15 Point Self Editing Checklist has started the juices flowing in the right direction…No more wanderlust on the page..clear and concise writing for me. Thank you
I’m glad to hear this is helpful for you. Keep checking in. Each week I’ll post a new writing lesson.
Eva
Dear Eva, I am really happy of having the chance to get your wise teaching. I admire very much the way you have to communicate your valuable points for a better writing.
Victoria
Thank you, Vitoria. And thanks for that great story you submitted in “Try This One on for Size.”
Eva Hunter
Hi Eva,
Firstly, I wanted to thank you for the 15-point self-editing checklist you sent out. I found it very helpful.
I also wanted to congratulate you on your website. It’s got a lot of really good ideas and information. However, as it doesn’t address my specific area of interest I thought I’d write and see if you had any ideas for me. My main interest is in writing for children. I know a lot of writers in San Miguel but no one who is writing kids’ books and I’m feeling in need of some feed back. So far I’ve completed two picture book manuscripts. I’m still waiting to hear back from publishers although I did get a personalized rejection letter from one which I understand is positive.
In the meantime I’m writing lots but would love to form a group or soemthing to give each other feedback. Do you have any suggestions on how to do this? I know I could post something on the civil list but I’m worried with what that would turn up.
Thanks so much, Eva, and have a great day!
Joanna Francis
Dear Joanna,
Thanks for your kind comments about the website. I appreciate that. Now let me try to address your questions. First of all, I have a comment for you. Childrens’ stories have the same requirements as far as the craft of writing is concerned as do any other stories. So the left-hand column in my blog, which advances writers through the process of building story every week, is very much applicable to what you are doing.
In the last six months, I’ve had two people come through my “Style…” or “Beginnings…” class with childrens’ stories, which they revised in class.
The point I’m making is that all stories have the requirement for conflict/resolution, defined organization, scenes, dialogue, etc. that you will find week after week in the “Craft of Writing” part of the blog. I do not have specific classes for specific genres, except for non-fiction articles. All of my workshops contain a mix of fiction writers, nonfiction writers, memoir writers, childrens’ writers–all genres, as long as it is prose.
So I have several suggestions for you.
1. You could take one of your stories and put it to the test of the left hand column in the blog, “The Craft of Writing.” We are fairly much at the beginning of the series, since what is posted now is week two. (week one is in archives) Or you could start a new story, taking it through the steps you will learn in the left-hand column. Although steps one and two may seem that you won’t be moving all that fast, by step three, you’ll have plenty to handle.
2. I don’t recommend that you advertise for a feed-back group. Feedback groups, unless very carefully chosen, advance the writer very little. It’s kind of like a bunch of laypeople trying to diagnose a friend for cancer with no doctor participating. In writing, except in guided situations, amateur opinions amount to very little. If you want to learn to write for publication, you need to work with someone who is already sucessfully professionally published. Again, working through the left-hand principles of craft column will accomplish that for you. And check the responses to all columns. You’ll get a lot of information about writing in my individual responses.
3. Take a class with a professional writer. You are welcome to investigate my classes. Look under “Writing Workshops” on the blog. Since I’m here in San Miguel, and teach for approximately eight months out of every year, it’s fairly easy to set up a writing coach situation. I also do one-on-one consulting. But any writing class where the emphasis is on the craft of writing should help you. There are, of course, on-line classes, too. You should interview any prospective writing coach. These are some of the questions you might ask: What is your publication background, and in what venues? What is your professional “writing coach” experience? What are the specific elements of craft you teach in your courses, and what is your method of teaching them? How many of your students have had their work professionally published as a result of working with you?
What many new writers don’t realize is that few–if any–of us do this on our own. Those of us who are successfull are so because we found a master to work with. Look for yours!
Please feel free to ask any further questions. I’m happy to answer them.
Eva Hunter