Mentoring writers

[pegkerr]

I'm going over a novel manuscript right now that a young writer has sent me at my invitation. This is something I have to be careful about doing: I don't want to spread myself too thin by giving too much attention to too many people. To be blunt, it's not worth my (woefully small amount of) time if the person isn't really good, and serious about bettering their craft. But once in awhile, I'll run across something written by someone who isn't published yet who seems to have potential. I do love finding a writer in that particular stage, one you can easily see has worked hard and has honed his or her craft, right before actually starting to sell. Encouragement is so critical for a writer at this stage, saying something like: "yes, I see what you're doing, and I believe it you. I think you could sell, if you really want to. I think you could become a professional writer." Generally, I'm much more likely to do this if the invitation has come from my side. I've turned many other hopeful wannabes away. I'm more likely to do this if I've already run across a sample of the work and have been impressed AND especially if I know the writer is already attempting to market their work. It doesn't make sense to comment extensively on a manuscript if the young writer can't work up the courage to send it out but instead stashes it in a desk drawer.

Remember, of course, sometimes it does make more sense for a young writer to send that precious manuscript to an editor, rather than to me, a writer. Remember, I can't buy your manuscript. But, once in a while, I do vett the work of others outside my writing group in an attempt to help.

There were writers who did that for me, like Joel Rosenberg and Pat Wrede. Others didn't necessarily read my stuff, but were willing to talk to me and answer my questions. In my experience, writers in my field (sf/fantasy) are very generous with their time, because they've benefited from this pay-it-forward ethic in turn. And I'm doing the same now. It's fun.

Comments

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

Question from someone who's been entertaining the thought of writing a novel for quite some time now, but up till this point has only written short fiction and poetry: in your experience, what are the best places for beginning writers to submit? (Press-wise in the genre, that is.)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Fantasy genre, you mean? Well, my knowledge of marketing novels is several years out of date, unfortunately. There are all sorts of places to find information, such as Science Fiction Chronicle and Locus. Look at the market reports on the SFWA website, too.

But write it first, esp. if it's your first one.

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

Well, that certainly goes without saying ;) I just wanted to know what resources are available (and hear it from someone who's worked in the business), that's all.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

There's an incredible list of resources at Midwest Book Review, if you explore the links on the frame to the left. blackholly has a good list of writers resources for sf/fantasy writers here. One of the links she includes is Locus's list of book publishers. Here's SFWA's list of links.

Hope this helps.

Peg

finding markets

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Fastest news on the field: http://www.write-hemisphere.com. Fastest-updates (to my knowledge) market list: http://ralan.com. Also take a look at http://engine.freeshell.org

Best print publication: Locus; info on buying it at http://locus.com, which also has news and a lot of information -- and links to much more.

[avariecaita.livejournal.com]

I think it's fantastic that you're sharing some of your expertise with an unpublished writer. But, I wonder if you, like many other published writers, have your own writing group that helps you flush out plot lines and such? Or do you write it through to the end, and then ask for a read through? Or does it go straight to the editor?

The writing process, from first word to galleys to finished product, absolutely fascinates me.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

yes, I've always worked with writing groups. I've handed out manuscripts in process, rather than waiting to finish it first, and I've also used writers groups to brainstorm.

Here's a good article re: writers groups I often point out to people, written by a friend of mine, Lyda Morehouse.

[avariecaita.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link. I enjoyed the article! Perhaps the cowtown I call home might have a few surprises up her sleeve when it comes to writing groups. The internet is such an amazing resource today, that sometimes I forget there's a "real" world out there.

Thank you again!

[klostes.livejournal.com]

I took a two day writing workshop in January with a somewhat well-known, midlist genre author. At the end of the conference, I went up to thank him for a workshop that hit all the right notes for me. I held out my hand, he grabbed it, stared very intently at me, and said, "I have NO doubt whatsoever that you will make it as a published author."

And that was based on one simple 500 word assignment I had one night to work over. Ay yi yi. Every short hair on my body still stands up when I think about that moment. I cannot even begin to express what even just *that* amount of encouragement has meant to me over the past 8 months as I work on finishing that first novel, and try to pull some short stories together in the meantime.

On a related note, I recently joined and almost as quickly quit a local writers' group. The writers were *good*, but they weren't at the level I'm at (almost ready to publish) and it would have taken too much of my time to bring them up to where I'm already at. Nor did I sense in them the *hunger* I feel for publication. It may be cold of me, but for my own sake I could not stay in that group. Not a lot of people understand what I did, but it sounds like you would.

[stephdray.livejournal.com]

I can barely find enough time in my own life to keep up with critiquing other people's short stories, writing my own novels, marketing my stuff, reading books in the genre to keep current and running the various groups and games I sponsor. And I don't even have children.

I have no idea how you do it and I think it's amazingly generous of you. I sure hope the person appreciates it and sends you candy and stuff ;)

Though one thing I learned at Clarion is that you get as much from critiquing as from being critiqued!

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

I have been extremely grateful for the time several published writers have given to helping me with what I'm working on, and I hope that should I be published, I'll be able to be of some use to people heading in that direction.

[bohemianspirit.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if I'm writing genre or not. I'm fantasy influenced, but not a die-hard fantasy genre fan. I'm still trying to figure out what I am. I guess the thing to do is finish it, and then have people read it, and then let them figure out where it fits.