tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post568339454061052106..comments2024-03-19T03:14:35.228-04:00Comments on A Good Blog is Hard To Find: Ready, Set …Wait! 10 Tips for Getting PublishedA Good Blog Is Hard to Findhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13823958967965785849noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-11822513947901403262010-09-02T13:27:18.536-04:002010-09-02T13:27:18.536-04:00I couldn't fault one word of your post. The tr...I couldn't fault one word of your post. The trouble will be for those of us who are late bloomers. My first short story was published when I was over fifty. Now I have no way of attending writers conferences even if I could afford them. I don't know a way to meet with an agent to whom I might make a pitch. I'm tethered to the Internet. Long since, I lost count of the queries I've sent out--finally resorted to POD, then I hired an editor for my third novel. He was marvelous; I took virtually all his advice and rewrote my fifth draft. And here I am, basically back to square one.<br />Thank goodness I'm published every month in an excellent webzine (Seniorwomen.com). Where I live, there is no one with any inclination to read critically.<br />So if anyone out there has suggestions for the likes of me (I know I'm not alone), let's hear from you!JLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14417274472131471333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-55033810194720446382010-09-02T09:32:58.054-04:002010-09-02T09:32:58.054-04:00Thank you for the tips, Annabelle. The advice “wri...Thank you for the tips, Annabelle. The advice “write what you know,” is helpful – and, yes, we’ve all heard it for years, but it can only get you so far. Your clear, cut-to-the-chase list of what to do is very helpful for us wannabe fiction writers. I have been published in magazines and business publications, but haven’t yet tackled fiction. I hope to take a shot at it someday soon with a few book ideas I am developing. I agree that reading about writing will help to hone the craft. Reading great fiction (including the classics and your favorite genre) is probably some of the best advice around. As a student in a Masters in Professional Writing Program, business owner, single mom and overall, busy girl, I find your 10 Tips For Getting Published to be exceptionally clear and helpful. <br /><br />I will adopt your “Writers Write” sign and place it above my desk, too. It reminds me of when I first started to write feature articles years ago. After dreaming of it for decades and talking about it for years, someone said to me, “So do it. Write.” And I did. I utilized your #10 Tip, Persevere. And it worked. I contacted publishers, gave suggestions on topics for articles, and actually did some “volunteer” sales work for magazines. I worked like crazy and that year I got several pieces published. Getting an agent and a book published must be ten times more difficult than that. <br /><br />As you noted, Rita Mae Brown’s observation, “It takes as long to learn writing skills as it does to become a neurosurgeon,” is probably truer than we’d like to think. While I don’t believe writing is something that can be mastered easily, I have entered the graduate program with an open mind, a willingness to learn new skills, discipline and perseverance. I just wish I had more time in the day.Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09626293535859497836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-44087672168042249562010-09-02T09:21:23.281-04:002010-09-02T09:21:23.281-04:00Wonderful, well-thought out post.Wonderful, well-thought out post.Karin Gillespiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13526466399023966816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7917245635820611026.post-23411047006388117212010-08-31T17:56:25.157-04:002010-08-31T17:56:25.157-04:00Great post - and I agree with all your points. Num...Great post - and I agree with all your points. Number 8 in particular, though - be open to criticism. When I took the first draft of my novel to the person who I am now delighted to say is my agent, she spent an hour explaining what I needed to change. It felt hard. Brutal. As though she was tearing it to pieces. I felt totally demoralised at the end of it, and it was all I could do not to say, 'But you do like it though, don't you?'<br /><br />Of course what she was actually doing was saying - you've written the novel you wanted to write<br />and now I'm telling you what it needs to make it a book I can sell. I could have ignored her and tried to find a different agent to represent me. But, as you say, I embraced the criticism. I did what was necessary. When someone tells us something needs work, we should listen. It's the only way.<br /><br />Steven<br /><br />http://stevenjwatson.blogspot.com/S J Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07346448461669119485noreply@blogger.com