PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD

7 Things I’ve Learned So Far by Heather McCorkle

via blog of Chuck Sambuchino  September 19, 2011

This is a recurring column I’m calling “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far,” where writers at any stage of their career can talk about seven things they’ve learned along their writing journey that they wish they knew at the beginning. This installment is from YA writer Heather McCorkle.

1. Start improving your craft right away. Attend writers’ retreats, workshops, or take classes. This is the number one thing I wish I would have known from the beginning. It’s never too early or too late to start and there is always room for improvement.

2. Edit until that baby shines like a diamond. Don’t think just because you write ‘The End’ that the novel is finished (see number one). When I wrote my first novel I revised it a tiny bit and then thought it is what it is and either they like it or they don’t. Oh yeah, I actually did think that!

3. Reading your novel aloud makes all the difference in the world. Try it and you’ll see what I mean. I now have a strict editing process that seems bullet proof. Yet at the end of it when I read my novel aloud I catch so much it blows me away.

4. Join and utilize a good critique group. They’re hard to find but they’re worth the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to seek them out. The right critique group has helped me improve more than I can say. They are worth their weight in gold.

5. Start your social networking early but stick to what you’re good at. It can be tempting to try everything out there and end up spreading yourself to thin, leaving yourself no time for writing. Work off your strengths when it comes to networking. Not every avenue of social networking is right for everyone. Understand that when networking it isn’t about what people can do for you, it’s about what you can do for them.

6. When you’re ready to query agents, do your research and choose carefully. Read their website and submission requirements very closely. This is not the time to rush. If they have a blog you need to read it. If they’re on Twitter you need to read their tweets or follow them. The more you know about an agent the easier it will be to determine if they are the right one for you. That way when you submit to them you will be educated about them and can personalize your query to them.

7. Understand that having an agent doesn’t guarantee that your manuscript will sell. The market is tougher than it’s ever been and even agents get rejected. Give your agent ample time but be sure to keep the lines of communication open. Be prepared by writing another book, and another. Don’t hang your hopes on one novel and don’t give up. There are a lot of options opening up in the changing market and it’s good to keep that in mind.

Best of luck!

I agree with all of these, though I write specifically for electronic publication.  I have conducted many workshops over the last twenty years.  Though "social networking" has changed greatly over that time, the first four items have not and will not.  I want to add emphasis to number three.  Not only will it aid in finding errors you may just read over, you will hear if prose flows and  dialog expresses the character.  It's also good practice for public readings of your work.