Editor's Note: Pikes Peak Writers has two of the most knowledgeable marketing people serving as our publicity volunteers. We are honored to have them because they often make sense of social media where some of us can't. S.M. Rose is one of these experts. Here's his first blog on Writing From the Peak.
By: S.M. Rose
With a series of thin plots and an extra
helping of ad-lib comedy, Hope and Crosby paired up in their legendary “Road
to” flicks, inevitably meeting up with the eye-catching Dorothy Lamour. Though
predictable, these movies provided more than a decade of entertainment that is
now entrenched in American film culture.
Prologue
More than four years ago, I began my own “Road
to” journey. Unlike Bob and Bing, there was no partner in crime nor fetching
femme fatale. These existed only in my manuscript. I felt the writing process was
one best served alone, or at least only shared with those shadowy voices inside
one’s head. I would close my man cave door, sit down, and start madly typing
away. Or I would sneak some “me” time, daydreaming about the next scene or chapter,
or maybe other books to be. Sound familiar?
Through this rite, I cobbled together more than
188,000 words in a little over nine months. In reading my family the
manuscript, we all agreed the story should sell so I promptly went to find an
agent.
Act I
Though green as moss, I was smart enough to
check the Internet first. I knew I needed a synopsis and a query letter, and I
attacked these challenges as I did my book. Alone.
From a local newspaper article, I found a list
of literary agencies and subbed to each of them, one by one. The 2013 Canadian landscape
was far different than its American counterpart. There were only about a dozen
well-known agencies, and most wanted exclusivity when it came to their snail
mail submissions. This made the process long, laborious, and frustrating. After
a year, I exhausted that list without success.
Undaunted, I meandered outside my comfort zone
and decided to submit to American agents, latching on to one in particular. She
was totally into Science Fiction and Fantasy, and what I considered the perfect
agent for my novel.
Unfortunately, she did not think so. I was
devastated.
Act II
While submitting to this agent, I stepped
further outside my comfort zone. I joined Twitter and began stalking her (in a
good way, of course! :-), finding out what she liked and didn’t like when it
came to representing an author. I later discovered this was a backwards
approach, but that pearl of wisdom is for another blog.
That decision changed my writer’s life forever.
I was no longer alone. I surveyed the digital landscape and found it filled
with other writers going through similar experiences. I began with baby steps,
connecting with a small group of writers and hiding behind an avatar of
Superman—whose creator was my second cousin twice removed.
I fell down the rabbit hole of social media
just as #SFFPit ended. In its aftermath, I found a tweet offering query
critiques for $10 a pop. Well worth the investment. I respected the woman, and
I learned a lot. She suggested I enter #PitchWars.
From there, I met hundreds of other writers.
Looking at them as colleagues opposed to competitors, I gathered followers by
the dozens, ending up on a communal critique board called GetOfMyLawnCon.
Here, I found the motherlode. Writers critiquing
other writers. A concept I had heard of but never invested in. Another mistake.
Venturing even further outside my comfort zone, I begin interacting with them
directly. Being green at writing, this was a big step for me.
Another aftershock from #SFFPit was the
formation of a critique group. Joining, I lucked out and was paired with a fantasy
writer. Unfortunately for me, but fortunate for him, three weeks into our
critiquing, his book was picked up by a publisher and he had to bow out.
My bubble burst. Deciding this was a sign from the Writing
Gods, I retreated back into my comfort zone. Alone.
Act
III
Then something amazing happened. In revisiting
GetOfMyLawnCon, I stumbled across two writers whom I had been tweeting with since
#PitchWars. We clicked, instantly becoming the best of friends. In another bold
move, I swapped manuscripts with the fantasy writer, then partnered with the
paranormal romance writer. These experiences improved both my writing and critiquing
skills.
From there, I left my comfort zone far behind,
contributing more and more to the writers’ community each week. I began by tweeting
learned advice, cheering on pitchfesters, to finally joining the Social Media
team at PPW. So here I am, expounding upon my journey in a public blog.
Something I would never have dreamed of doing a mere two years ago.
No, this is not an HEA story. My manuscript is
still undergoing revisions, but it is far superior today than when I pitched it
in #PitchWars of 2014. Dissecting and rewriting was difficult, but I now have
help. My goal is to be query ready once more by Christmas.
Denouncement
- Writing is best accomplished alone, but transforming that first draft into a sellable book is not. Find one or more CPs whom you trust with your literary life. Their brutal honesty will be more than appreciated. And when you trip over those potholes along your own “Road to Publication,” they will be there to pick you up, dust you off, and make sure you continue on to that bestseller’s list.
- Before you sub, research the agents. There are tools like QueryTracker and AgentQuery. I highly recommend checking out the Twitter hashtag #MSWL. Because, if you’re subbing to the wrong agent, you’re asking for a rejection.
- There are many online writers’ contests and pitchfests available. Contests help hone your craft, pitches help you find potential agents and publishers. Use both to your advantage.
- Check out your local writers’ convention. There are lots of workshops for the budgeted time. It’s also a great way to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones. I did both at PPWC2016.
- Above all, don’t become discouraged. There WILL be highs and lows along this road. Guaranteed. But you’re never alone.
- Nothing great happens to those who never leave their comfort zone.
