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Persistence is Pivotal for Publication

You’ve just printed the last revision (and you mean it this time: this is it) and your book is ready to be sent…where? Can you get published without having an agent? Can you get an agent if you haven’t been published? Ask a dozen published writers and you’ll have a hung jury. I’ll break the deadlock: try both.

I started small and close to home. Getting some confidence after publishing three short stories and an essay in local magazines, I pounded out my first serious attempt at a YA novel. I entered it in the Delacorte Contest for a First Young Adult Novel. Out of over 300 entries there was no winner, but there were four finalists: and I was one of them. The executive editor, Wendy Lamb, contacted me. We spoke about my story and she told me she’d e-mail more specifics. Ms. Lamb sent me a letter detailing the strengths of my book, offered specific revision suggestions and asked if I’d send her the revised manuscript for a second read.

My foot was in the door.

To make a long story short, after a summer of revision efforts, she still said no. But, there was some good news: her second letter had different reasons for not accepting the book. I asked a writer friend (with 12 published novels under her belt) why Ms. Lamb wouldn’t have asked for those changes initially. She told me it meant the revised book was most likely sent to the marketing table: a good sign. I sent Wendy a thank you note explaining that I had learned a ton about the writing and revising process over the last year and was busy working on my next project. I also told her how appreciative I was to have an editor spend so much time trying to help an unpublished writer. She wrote me back again, thanking me for the kind words. She strongly encouraged me to approach other publishing houses with my book directly and – here’s the kicker - she asked to see my second book when it was done.

During all of this, I’d made contacts with two agents, using the ‘finalist’ credential as my leverage. Both declined representation (only after Delacorte did), but both also asked to see more of my work. I sent them thank you notes as well and promised each a look at my second novel.

That’s how I got started.

What to do while you wait…and wait…

If you want to be published, you have to be persistent. And there are lots of things that you can (and should) be doing while working on your writing. Study the market – agents and publishing houses; read, especially within the genre for which you want to write; master the query letter; stay organized and set goals; and branch out a bit, be willing to try different styles of writing. Let me show you what I’ve learned…I’ve got some time, I’m still waiting to hear from another publishing house on my first book.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

So says Stephen King in his latest book On Writing. I couldn’t agree more. I write for the young adult market because, when I was a kid, those books meant the world to me. And now I teach teenagers; I know the sorts of books they pick up on their own and why they put others back on the shelf without even opening to the first page. I read YA fiction - constantly. I show my kids things I’ve written and get their feedback. I borrow their conversations, steal their ideas …I pay attention.

No matter what you write, there are great resources out there to help you. I think the Writer’s Market is invaluable. For around $30, you get a complete listing of every publishing house, agent, and periodical existing in the Free World. For $5, get one that’s a year or two old and compare the information you need to the current one on reservation at the library. Give them a look at www.writer’smarket.com. Another great resource is The Writer. This monthly magazine is filled with in-depth articles and interviews; it includes updates on publishing information and has listings of current contests. It, too, has a web site: www.writermag.com. But, like Billy Crystal’s character from the movie Throw Momma From The Train says, “A writer writes.” Don’t get so caught up in ‘how-to’ articles that you don’t take the time to write. Reading is important, but only actual writing will take you where you wan to go.

Master the query letter

My first query letter took me days to write and revise. I read articles about how to write them and I sent lots out there - to publishing houses, agents, magazine editors - and I kept copies. Those that came back with “thanks, but no thanks” I compared to those that came back with a positive response. I compared letters, looked at what I did and learned what works. Know your audience: I can’t be more helpful than that. Your queries will change depending on whom you are approaching. Read about the publishing houses and what they publish, find out what books the agent you’re contacting likes to work with, understand the readership leafing through the magazine for which you want to write. Let’s face it, it’s a business; learn to work it in your favor. Yeah, you’ll get some ‘no, thanks’ at first. But the more you write queries, the fewer of those you’ll get back. Oh, and if you get ANY kind of a rejection that’s not a form letter, write that editor/publisher/agent back right away and thank them for responding to you personally. Keep that door open…you never know!

Stay organized and set goals

I’ve been accused of having a mild case of obsessive-compulsive disorder, but it’s helped where writing is concerned. Here’s what to do: find an extra calendar (use the one the paperboy leaves in your mailbox) and record any letters/queries/responses you’ve sent or received. Know what’s floating out there so you can follow up if you haven’t heard in a reasonable amount of time. Set deadlines for yourself – “send for submission guidelines from three magazines by Friday” or “have first draft of short story done”. Take a writing class: sometimes, having ‘assignments’ can help even the biggest procrastinator stay focused. And keep folders. I have three (novels, short stories and magazine articles) in which I keep submission guidelines, queries, ideas and notes.

One quick comment on submission guidelines: send for them and follow them. Being cute and creative will not get you noticed; it will get you in the slush pile. Be professional and respect how the editors want material sent to them.

Remember Robert Frost: “Way leads on to way”

You may be in the middle of the Great American Novel, but if you get stuck or need to take a break, try something new. I never considered nonfiction writing initially, but now I love it. It’s relatively short; it’s about things I know and it’s not as gut wrenching as fiction can be. This is where you can capitalize on your strengths (or weaknesses…). I love to backpack and camp (these are good things), but I get cold very easily and have asthma (these are bad things). But throw them together and I have two short articles. Behold: my first sales to Backpacker magazine. Here’s another example: I went to Yellowstone National Park on two separate volunteer gigs to help study coyotes and wolves. I wrote an article about it and one of the guides I met at the park has a web site so now my piece (part I of II) is on the web at www.wolftracker.com. I also teach English to kids at risk of dropping out of school. I sent a proposal to the Alternative Network Journal and they asked for a feature length piece (with photos) about my teaching strategies. It’s coming out next issue and they’ve asked me to do a future article. Not all of this gets me money, but it gets me tear sheet credits, gives me more experience and will help get the attention of a future agent/publisher.

I read somewhere that getting published takes 80% persistence and 20% talent. I hope I have a tad more of the talent wedge of the pie, but I have to agree with the ingredients. For me, writing is just darn fun. It’s problem solving, it’s exploration, it’s discovery. And if I can find an audience…well, that’s just the Cool Whip on top.

One last bit of advice…

Pay no attention to anything I’ve said. A lot of what I’ve done, published writers will tell you never to do: enter contests, branch out, write for free. But, for me, it’s working. You’ll find your way. Read. Write. Follow your interests and listen to your instincts. I have a Ben & Jerry’s bumper sticker that sums up this whole writing process: “If it’s not fun, why do it?”

First appeared in Writer Online 2001

All speeches and articles are copyrighted by, and are the property of, Laurie Thurston, and may not be reprinted without permission of the author.