Write. Edit. Repeat.
post by Michelle Griep
I hate to be the one to rain on your parade, but perhaps you might want to reach for your big black umbrella. As much as you'd like to think there's some secret formula to getting published, the truth is actually quite simple . . .
Write. Edit. Repeat.
That's it. No glittery sprinkle of fairy godmother dust. No particular This-Is-How-It's-Done book for you to read. Not even a "Psst! Hey buddy! Step over here and I'll whisper in your ear the surefire way to get published."
Persistence is the key. You write a great story. You edit it. If that one doesn't sell, then you write another. Edit it. And if that one doesn't sell, flip open the lid of your laptop and write another. Keep doing this until the publishing world can no longer ignore you.
How long will that take? It's different for everyone. We all learn at different rates. Plus there's a fair amount of being in the right place at the right time with the right book. You could get published next week or maybe not for another ten years. Who knows? It doesn't really matter, though, because you'll be too busy writing, editing, and repeating to get stressed out about it.
Write. Edit. Repeat.
That's it. No glittery sprinkle of fairy godmother dust. No particular This-Is-How-It's-Done book for you to read. Not even a "Psst! Hey buddy! Step over here and I'll whisper in your ear the surefire way to get published."
Persistence is the key. You write a great story. You edit it. If that one doesn't sell, then you write another. Edit it. And if that one doesn't sell, flip open the lid of your laptop and write another. Keep doing this until the publishing world can no longer ignore you.
How long will that take? It's different for everyone. We all learn at different rates. Plus there's a fair amount of being in the right place at the right time with the right book. You could get published next week or maybe not for another ten years. Who knows? It doesn't really matter, though, because you'll be too busy writing, editing, and repeating to get stressed out about it.