Some Writers Fear the Submission Process

This is a repeat post, but one I feel is worth revisiting. A discussion with a writer friend a few days ago left me pondering this topic. Fearing to submit writing is not an occasional isolated case. It happens quite often. Some thoughts on this in my former post below. 

I read an essay yesterday which started with the author saying he never finished his writing projects for one good reason. He said he knew, if he completed a piece of writing, then he'd have to do something about submitting to an editor. Hey, wait! Isn't that the whole idea. Story inspiration--first draft--edit and revise--submit. That's the process we are told to follow.

Some writers have such a strong fear of failure that they cannot allow themselves to call a piece of writing completed. If they do, the next step is submission, and that step in the process terrifies some writers, while others don't give it any thought at all. They just do it. 

What is so terrifying about submitting a story or essay or poem that you wrote? There's the fear of having your submission rejected. Some writers have a hard time accepting criticism which is how they view an editor's rejection. It's not you they are rejecting. Instead, it was what you sent them and for any number of reasons. Maybe they had recently published a similar piece. Maybe you hadn't read the guidelines carefully, and you missed one or two. Maybe there were too many mechanical errors. No matter how good a story is, if it is filled with spelling and punctuation mistakes, typos, and lacks clarity, an editor will reject it. Maybe, the magazine wanted submissions on a certain theme, and yours didn't follow it.

If you can overcome the thought that the editor is criticizing you, then you can learn from the rejections you receive. Look at what was wrong and work at correcting that situation in your next submission. 

Some writers feel that submitting what they've written is akin to baring their soul to the world. They are concerned with letting editors and readers see deep inside to who they are. If that's the case, maybe writing is not for you. There are writers who write merely for the pleasure of writing and are happy to keep it for themselves. If that's the case, you're fine. No one ever said you absolutely must submit for publication. 

Another kind of writer wants to be published, has the courage to submit his/her work but fears what readers will think if he/she is fortunate enough to get published. Not all readers will love what you write, and that's okay. We are different people with a variety of likes and dislikes. If half your readers like what you write, consider yourself a success. 

If you work up the courage to submit a story or personal essay, do it with the attitude that it may or may not be accepted. If it is, do the happy dance. If it isn't, promise yourself you'll learn from the rejection and try again. Do a search for 'writer's rejections' and you'll find myriad articles addressing the topic. Read them, if for no other reason than realizing you have a great deal of company in the rejection field.

If you receive a rejection, don't stop there. Submit somewhere else. Again and again. I have a personal essay that I was pleased with when I finished it. And I still like it even though it's been rejected time and again. I put it away for a while, then try again when I run across a market I think would be a good fit. 

Fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, fear of readers not liking your work--all of those are not unusual. They are common fears of lots of writers. Some writers have those fears only occasionally while others live with the stomach-wrenching fright on a regular basis. 

Talking with other writers about their fears and yours can be helpful. You can commiserate with humor, maybe occasional bitterness, but doing so will let you know you're not alone on a mountaintop with no way to get down. Any writer who has a fear of any kind on their writing journey has lots of company. 

If you want to be a writer, you'll need to learn to deal with and overcome your fears about this world you've chosen. Keyword here is 'you'.

Patriotic Subjects To Write About

 

A Young Patriot

How many stories, essays, or poems that fall under the Patriotism category have you written? Why or why not? I hear many complaints about our country, but there are just as many who revere this place we call home. And, there are markets for patriotic writing. Magazines and ezines and children's magazines are open to this kind of writing. 

Do you recall learning about our flag when you were in grade school? About the history of the United States from colonial days to modern times. Did your teachers commemorate patirotic holidays in some way? Long ago, in my grade school days, they did. Instead of President's Day, which we celebrate now, we marked the birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Our first and sixteenth presidents. 

We learned about Memorial Day, why we marked it as special and also had a commemoration ceremony at our playground where a WWII Memorial had been erected, showing the names of all our grade school alums who had lost their lives in WWII. 

We learned about Armistice Day, now called Veteran's Day. Originally, it was to remember the day that the armistice came during WWI. Never will I forget learning that the peace treaty was signed on the elevnth hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year 1918.

Fourth of July came during summer break, but we learned about its meaning from community activities and our parents, and we celebrated the American Indpendence in many ways tht kids still do today. Decorating bikes with red, white, and blue crepe paper, parades, picnics, and, of course fireworks. 

We learned about the American flag--who made the first one, what the stripes and stars stood for, how it changed with the addition of territories becoming states, how to stand when the flag was raised or present at a function, how to treat it and store it. 

For those who always seem to have difficulty in deciding what to write, I've just given you an entire list of patriotic topics to write about. Patriotism can be the main topic, or it can be woven into a fiction story or a personal essay, or a poem. 

Spend some time thinking about each of the holidays mentioned above. What were they like for you as a child, as an adult, as a parent or grandparent? 

Never have I been more proud of my flag and my country than the three times my husband I visited WWII cemeteries in France and Luxembourg. I was inspired to write personal essays after each visit. 

With the Fourth of July festivites coming up next week, you will have the perfect motivation to write your own patriotic pieces. Like always, it's up to you to act on the inspiration that is brought to you.

Emotion Enhances Writing

 

Today's poster quotes are directed towards writing with emotion so that your reader feels something. A reader wants to immerse him/herself in a story. They aren't reading so that they are on a distant planet looking into someone's benign story. 

Readers want to identify with characters. Earlier this week, I read fifty pages of a novel and closed the cover for good. The frontispiece had told me the story involved both romance and mystery, set in WWII in London. My kind of story, I thought when I brought it home from the library. What a disappointment it was. In those fifty pages, there was no romance, no mystery, nor even a hint of either one. The author used present tense, which is something that irritates me anyway. I watched this young woman move from her job to her apartment, meeting people she knew, and was told she was sad after the bombings going on. I felt absolutely nothing for her plight. 

One way to bring emotion into your story is to build your character and show how they think and react. Let the reader identify with the character. I've said it twice here, but it's only because it is important.

Another key way to evoke emotion is to show, not tell. How many times have you heard that? It's a constant in helping writers perfect their craft. Look at the two examples below:

A. Jane felt bad after Mr. Parker told her they had to let her go. "Gather your things and leave now," he said.

B. Jane left Mr. Parker's office, the heat rising in her face, her heart beating faster than normal. Her hands shook as she gathered her personal belongings at the desk where she'd never work again. A lump in her throat seemed to grow larger each moment. Her footsteps echoed down the corridor as the first sob broke forth.

In example A,  we learn two things. Jane has lost her job. She feels bad. In B, we learn she has lost her job, and we see her reactions. In the second example, we are apt to identify with her. 

We can add emotion by using descriptive words. Look at the two examples below: 

A. The happy children went down the water chute.

B. The water chute thrilled the children. They hooted and hollered, mouths wide open, eyes sparkling as they slid the long distance to the bottom.

In the first example, we're told the children are 'happy.' In the second one, we get a good picture of how excited and happy they were. 

Do you need to write with emotion only in fiction? Creative nonfiction and memoir pieces also benefit from the writer using emotion, The writer gains something if he/she uses emotion in his/her writing. As does the poet! Poetry should evoke emotion in the reader, and what better way than for the poet to show, rather than tell?

Pathos--an appeal to emotion. It's one instrument you need in your writer's toolbox.

Writer--It's Up to You!

 

This is a repeat post from 3 years ago. I'm repeating it after a fairly new writer asked me some questions about the writing world. There is no magic pill to swallow to make you a published writer. But there are a number of things you can do to help yourself move along on your writing journey. 

One of my favorite, old-time, movie stars seems to have been a wise woman. Her words in today's poster quote have her wry sense of humor but also tell us something important. 

So many times, I end my posts by saying that it is up to you, the writer, to accomplish whatever the topic had been. In life, we run across people who are always trying to get someone else to do what they probably could or should have been doing themselves. They're directors and usually good at it. As long as others agree to whatever was asked of them, the 'director' will keep right on. 

In our writing journey, that doesn't usually work. Yes, there are some writers who write the first draft, then cajole a friend or group to do all the editing and revising in a critique. It's fine, even recommended, that we have others critique our work, but it's best to ask to have your proofread, edited, and/or revised draft critiqued. Not the first effort. That is up to you.

It's up to you to acquire as much knowledge about the writing craft as you can. It's up to you to read about writing, to attend conferences to learn from speakers, and to learn from a one on one session with another writer. 

It's up to you to educate yourself about the submission process. Learn how to write a query or a cover letter as well as your short personal bio. In our techno world, this is not difficult. Use a search engine on any topic and you'll find myriad articles. 

It's up to you to write and rewrite and rewrite again until you have a piece that satisfies you. It takes time and effort, but the end result is almost always well worth it.

It's up to you to seek inspiration. Successful author, Jack London is often quoted on finding inspiration to write. He said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Note the 'you' word. It's you who must work at being inspired. Put yourself in a place where you can find it.

It's up to you to submit your work. Aunt Gracie isn't going to do it for you. Cousin Fred isn't about to send your work to an editor. It's your story, your job to find a place and submit.

It's up to you to promote yourself as a writer. The more readers you engage in several ways, the more readers you'll keep and new ones you'll acquire. Let them know who you are by being active on social media, having a webpage and a blog, speaking at conferences, book signings, and more. Wherever you can get your name and your work in front of others will benefit you.

What it all comes to is that you are the one responsible for every step of your writing journey. I have a feeling that Katherine Hepburn did become a household name by sitting demurely at home hoping a Hollywood mogul would discover her. She knew it was up to her to 'paddle her own canoe.'

Writing Those Opening Lines

You've got an idea for a wow of a story. You have an experience you want to turn into a personal essay. You are ready to begin your memoir. You have your novel outlined and are eager to begin writing. You  have a science article in mind for kids aged 8-12. You...

Yes, you have lots of ideas for things you want to write. You're perplexed as to how to begin. What to write for that crucial opening senence, or first paragraph. Why is that bit of writing so important? Because you want to hook your reader immediately. Make them curious. Create something that will make a reader want to move on to the next sentence or paragraph or pages. 

Writers who open with a great many words describing a place where the story begins is likely to lose their reader pretty quickly. Your description might be lovely, but does it pull the reader into your full piece immediately? 

My state authors group contest has a category for writers to enter asking for the first chapter of a novel. Doesn't that tell you that openings are important? 

Kinds of Opening Sentences: 

A. An action:  If you open with your character, human or animal, doing something, your reader is immeidately introduced to a living being. Descritpion can certainly be a part of this opening.

B. A Character:  We learn the name of a character right away and something about him/her. 

C. Setting: If you make the setting memorable in your opening, your reader will want to continue.

D. Dialogue: There is more than one school of thought on this one. I learned from a fine writer that you should not open with dialogue. Have a sentence preceding it to set the scene, then the dialogue. Writers's choice on this one. In the example in our poster, all you'd need to do is reverse it. Show the mother and daughter setting the table, then what the girl says.

E. A Thought:  In this type of opening, a character's thoughts are used to draw the reader in. 

F. A Statement:  With this opening, you'd better make that statement one that leaves a question in the reader's mind, makes him/her move on to see what else you have to say.

Good opening lines make us curious. They can set the theme, be a strong narrative, or make bold statements. 

As a writing exercise, go through your files and select a few pieces you've written but have not been published. (yet!) Look at your opening line or paragraph. If you were a reader, would it make you want to go on? Would it pique your curiosity? Would it make you sit up and take notice? Try rewriting that first paragraph to make it stronger or bolder. 

When you're reading a book, give special attention to the opening line(s). Consider which ones appeal the most to you. 

A few classic opening paragraphs:

The Book Thief by Markus Suzak:  Here is a small fact. You are going to die."

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath:  It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn't know what I was doing in New York.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celese Ng:  Sometimes you need to scorch everything to the ground and start over. After the burning, the soil is richer, and new things can grow. People are like that, too.

Dump Many 'That' Words When You Write

 

Do I need all these words?

This morning, I received a critique for a short piece I'd subbed to my online writing group. The person who sent me her thoughts and suggestions had some nice things to say, and she also pointed out some places where I might change words. More than once, she marked the word 'that' and suggested it be deleted.

I should have smacked myself in the head, because using an unnecessary word like 'that' is a mistake I should not have made. I've written about it more than once on this blog. It shows that even a seasoned writer can make mechanical errors and not even be cognizant of the common mistake. 

Yes, it is a common mistake to add words to a sentence that don't add a thing and are no loss when deleted. Several common words end up in that category. They're added fluff. A few of them are:  very, that, really, rather, quite, somehow. Those words take up space and add no extra meaning to the sentence. There are many others. Use a search engine to find full articles on this topic.

Today, I am focusing on the unnecessary word 'that.' Two examples from the short piece I subbed are below. 

     ....so close to the tracks that we could look in the windows. 

    ...so close to the tracks we could look in the windows.  Nothing is lost by removing 'that'

    ...I quickly learned that I was not  to touch...

    ---I quickly learend I was not to touch...  Nothing lost by removing 'that'

  Concentrate on removing the word 'that' when it adds nothing to your sentence. Instead of trying to keep an entire list of words in your mind, stay with this one for a while. If you have a habit of inserting this unnecessary word, it could be easier to break yourself than if you attempt to keep track of a list of words.

Are there times when you do need the word 'that?' Yes. If you write 'That blue car ran a stoplight.' the word 'that' is necessary. It's descriptive. Don't go through a story or essay you wrote and slash every 'that' word you see. Some of them work quite well. 

Losing this unnecessary word when you write is not crucial to selling your work to an editor, but it may help. An editor might take notice if you make this mistake numerous times. Small errors throughout add up.

Remembering D-Day on the Normandy Beaches

 Today is the 79th anniversary of D-Day, when American, British, and Canadian troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to begin the liberation of France. It was a turning point in the war. Every year, I post my memory of our visit to Normandy in 2013, written in 2014. Reading it again is a good reminder for me of what I saw and what it meant. Memories like this can and should be revisited. 

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, our visit there in the spring of 2013 keeps coming to mind.

Remembering D-Day on the Normandy Beaches

My husband and I were nearing the end of a river cruise in France which brought us from Paris to Normandy, famed for its Norman cows and fine dairy products as well as being the place where the Allied Invasion began during WWII. Our river ship docked at the final port--Honfleur, a picture postcard kind of town. Now, we were close to the highlight of the two week cruise that had begun in Paris. We’d spend a full day at the D-Day beaches of Normandy, something Ken and I had looked forward to since booking months earlier.

At breakfast in the ship’s dining room that next morning, we sensed an air of anticipation that had not been evident in our other sightseeing tours on this trip. We were not the only ones looking forward to this day when we would view the beaches where the landing took place on June 6, 1944. The ensuing battle resulted in the Allied Forces turning the tide of the long-fought war that threatened so many, not only in France but other countries as well.

     Being mostly senior citizens, the people in our tour group knew the history of the battle well. One man had even been there with the British navy shortly after the initial invasion. Only 16, he lied about his age to join the navy and was among the first who arrived after the beaches were taken. This now-elderly gentleman had spoken about his experience one evening on the river ship. That morning, as the bus took us from ship to the beaches, I watched this man who sat silently while we rode through the Normandy countryside. What thoughts were going through his mind, what memories were returning one by one? I wanted to ask but out of respect for what must have been an emotional time for him, I kept my silence.   

We filed quietly off the bus on that cold, wet March morning. There was none of the usual chatter and good-natured teasing on this day. We were a solemn, respectful group as we were introduced to our local tour guide. Her scarf whipped wildly in the strong wind, and like us, she wore hat, gloves and a warm coat. The skies were gray which somehow seemed fitting for this place where the remnants of battle and death remained even these 69 years after the fact.

The pillboxes where the German artillery faced the beaches remain today. I slipped and slid down a muddy incline to see inside one where parts of the big guns remained. Looking out to the beaches, I was immediately struck by the incongruity of those in the pillboxes versus the men on the open beaches on that summer morning so long ago. An old cliché seemed most fitting. They were “sitting ducks.” I shivered with both the thought and the sharp wind that found its way through my warm jacket.

The Allied Forces came to liberate France from German occupation, to push the German forces back to their own country. The Canadians landed at Juno Beach, the British at Sword and Gold Beach. Our American troops came ashore at both Omaha and Utah Beach. Paratroopers landed first followed by amphibious landing craft manned by Navy and Coast Guard personnel. Thousands of men with one goal—take the beaches and move on.

Gnawing fear must have been in the belly of each man but they surged forward with many falling on the beach. More than a thousand died on Omaha Beach alone. Others continued to dodge the constant gunfire and scaled precarious cliffs to reach the German strongholds. 

As the tour guide talked, I thought of the men I knew who had fought in this war of so long ago—my uncle who had been an Air Force pilot, my best friend’s uncle who had endured the hardships of a prison camp, and my dad’s cousin whose plane blew to pieces before he could escape. I thought of my father-in-law who served in Paris after the liberation and came home safely thanks to the courage of the men who fought on D-Day, those who carried General Eisenhower’s order with them. “Full victory—nothing else.” 

Our tour guide told us of a U.S. Army veteran who had been on another of her tours. On the morning of the invasion, he was in a landing craft that held 32 men. 31 of them were violently seasick. By the time they landed, they were covered in vomit with no choice but to rush the beach and dodge the artillery fire. That was only one of nearly 7,000 boats that hit the five beaches early that morning. I shivered yet again but didn’t know if it was because of the cold misty rain or the stories she related.

Our next stop was the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, located not far from the beaches. In gratitude, the government of France granted use of the land, in perpetuity, as a permanent burial ground. We walked through the immaculate grounds, viewing the choppy waters of the English Channel just beyond. Nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried here, a Latin cross or a Star of David marking each grave.

We gathered in the light rain at the Memorial area which features a 22 foot statue called “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves.” A representative from the cemetery addressed our group before leading a short ceremony to honor those who had sacrificed so much in this place. Everyone faced the wildly waving American flag, hand on hearts. Cold raindrops mixed with the warm tears that fell as I listened to a recording of our national anthem followed by a volley of gunshots and finally the playing of “Taps.” The lump in my throat would allow me no words, nor were any needed. 

As the group dispersed, Ken and I walked to the edge of the cemetery close to the sea. The rain had finally ceased. We gazed at the gray sky and the gray water, empty now save for the ghosts of 69 years earlier. We have heard about the Normandy Beaches and D-Day for most of our lives. We’ve seen pictures, watched movies depicting that day. But being there and hearing the personal stories brought reality like nothing else. What struck me as we walked silently back through the cemetery was that we humans didn’t learn from the horrors of WWII. We’ve continued to send our young men and women to fight in multiple wars since. 

At home, we fly our American flag with pride every June 6th to honor those who fought and those who didn’t come home. After visiting Normandy, that day will take on even greater significance. Veterans of the D-Day battle dwindle year by year. Before long, there will be none left, so it will be up to the next generation and the next to keep the memory alive. It is my great hope that this year’s 70th Anniversary will spark some interest among all ages for this commemorated day.

©2014