Write Again!

7:30 AM Elizabeth Seckman 13 Comments

It's the happy Ms. Leigh!!!! :)
I'm a busy girl today!!! I'm also over at the amazing Leigh Covington's blog answering some questions...so...head on over by clicking HERE!!! (I added extra !'s for the ever cheerful Leigh!!!)

And since my smiling face is on Leigh's blog; I figured her smiling face should be here!!

Now...back to your regularly scheduled programming...

June 6th I published my very first novel.
 Squee!!!
I can hold it and hug it and call it my best friend.

Now that I am PUBLISHED, my inbox has been graced with new writers asking for advice...which is awesome... cause that proves I'm NOT a newbie anymore!

I'm seasoned. Certified professional. 

Not Debbie Macomber, Nicholas Sparks, or Nora Roberts pro-level, but I am totally way smarter than this newbie who wrote her first manuscript in three months, typed  The End on the last page and thought she was done. So, she put together her first query package, even though she probably couldn't even spell query. Instead of research, she winged it, believing her stellar  story and obvious greatness was all she needed to break into one of the toughest markets around. It was a handsome package. She stapled each chapter then compiled them into one big stack. She corrected some mistakes with a ball point pen and wrote a few notes in the edges and on post-it-notes. If all this wasn't eye-popping, mind-blowing awesome enough, she jotted a quick query on some butterfly stationery and shoved the whole thing in the mail addressed to "Dear Editor" and to the address in the front cover of the latest book she was reading.

Yeah. What a goof.

She got a form rejection. Which was nice considering whoever opened that behemoth probably wanted to give her a slap to the head.

Fortunately, she wanted to succeed badly enough, so she studied...writing blogs, agent blogs, books on craft, books on self -editing..she devoured them all. Then she made friends. Good friends who would provide feedback and support so she never again sent a query out into the world with spinach (or staples or post-its) stuck in its teeth.

I'd tell you her name (Elizabeth Seckman) but I'd hate to embarrass her. She was a real doofus, but she's come a long way.

And you there...yes you...you reading this post...you've come a long way too. Don't worry if you haven't signed on the dotted line...yet...keep studying, keep learning, and for Heaven's sake, keep writing!

One day you will be holding your book in your hands and some wide-eyed newbie will ask, "I want to publish a book. Do I have to have it completely finished before I can sell it?" 

And you will say...study fresh little grasshopper...and be patient. Cause you are now wise enough to know the journey is long and only the hardy will prevail. 

To make it, you must understand...if at first you don't succeed, write, write again.





13 comments:

  1. Inspiring post, Elizabeth. You're proof that hard work pays off. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, one can go from idiot to published. All it takes is work. :)

      Delete
  2. See! This is why you're so brilliant! We can all relate and you're super cool about. Aww - love my doofus moments!!!! :) Thanks again for doing the interview on my blog! It rocks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always figured if I admit my doofusness right up front, no one can point it put later!!

      Thanks for the wonderful visit to your blog. :)

      Delete
  3. Congrats on being newly published!!!! I found you from Leigh's blog and you cracked me up so I had to stop by:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, I'm glad you did!!! And yes, I am cracked...but you know what they say- the cracked pots let out the most light.

      Delete
  4. Congrats on your book Liz! Will check out Leigh's site and love your post. Yes writing keeps the hope alive. Never give up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. Just keep working and working and working...well, you know what I'm talkin' bout!

      Delete
  5. Congratulations! What an exciting time for you! I'm so glad you shared your story. Just today I was thinking pretty poorly about my first submission - I have hope now that it'll be okay! Just keep swimming, like Dory says!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you like that...you will enjoy the time I got a rejection because I didn't know how to attach a word document? Editor wanted a full and I didn't know how to send it. Good times. Good times.

      Delete
  6. Congratulations Elizabeth! I love your first submission story :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I was so crushed by that rejection! Took it the most personal of them all. Silly girl.

      Delete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...