Literary Matters

Ten Tips for Aspiring Writers 

1. Never Give Up! - No matter how many rejections you receive, or how many doors seem to close when you’re looking for a publishing company, don’t allow yourself to become discouraged. Surround yourself with positive people! There were plenty of times when I wanted to throw in the towel, but I family and friends pushed me to stay on track.  

2. Adhere to submission guidelines - Each publishing company has a set of guidelines that writers must follow when submitting their work. Be sure that you have carefully read all of the guidelines and have all of the required materials before sending your work. Most publishers will toss your work aside if you haven’t taken the time to respect their guidelines. 

3. Identify the appropriate publishing companies - Determine which genre(s) your book belongs to. Once you have identified that genre(s), only submit your query letter and sample chapters to publishing companies that are interested in your targeted genre(s).  

4. Revise and Edit - If you have received a large number of rejection letters (which is common), revisit your query letter and sample chapters. Try writing a different query letter. One that is a little more creative than the one you’ve been sending. Also look at your sample chapters and determine if there are places where you can add more detail. 

5. Ask for feedback - Ask friends and family to read your work and give you constructive feedback, both good and not so good. They should be able to determine if your work is easy to read and clear. Jot down all of the feedback you receive and put them away for a day or two. Some comments may be difficult to digest, but keep an open mind. Get a second opinion if necessary. After a day or so, return to the list you made and determine how you can, if appropriate, incorporate the comments into your work. 

6. Writing Groups - Create or join one or two writing groups. Make sure you feel comfortable with the group(s) you choose. You will be sharing your material with a number of people, so you want to trust each member. I found it helpful to be a part of a diverse group of writers. It was a group of about eight people. Many of us were interested in different genres. Their feedback was often from a different point of view. They came up with ideas that I would not have normally thought of.  

7. Volunteer - Contact your local newspapers and magazines to see if they could use an intern or volunteer. If you belong to any organizations, extend your writing services as often as you can. The experience you gain will be invaluable and you never know what one of the internships or volunteer experiences can turn into. 

8. Take writing classes - Although family and friends told me I was a good writer, I took various writing courses. Although I knew how to write, these classes challenged me in many ways and strengthened my writing skills. Community centers and park districts are great and inexpensive places to find courses that may interest you. If writing courses are not available at your local center, you may be able to request that a course be offered.  

9. Attend local literary events - Keep a calendar of local and state competitions and events. Participate in as many events as you can. These are great opportunities to network with published and aspiring authors. This is actually how I met my editor at Urban Christian. After listening to my editor present at a writer’s workshop, I introduced myself and talked a little about the material was working. Two months later, I received a book deal. 

10. Keep a journal handy at all times - Ideas for a book can come at any time of the day, even in the middle of the night. Sometimes ideas come to me in a dream. So that I won’t forget the idea, I keep paper and a pencil on my nightstand. You may see something funny or unusual on the ride home from work or sitting on the bus or train. These ideas could also be a jumpstart when you are experiencing writer’s block.