Welcome to A Writer’s POV. If someone had told me that writing a novel would cause me to loose sleep, gain weight, snap at my husband, pull my hair out, (literally and figuratively) and kick the dog, if I had one, I never would have put pen to paper. But as they say, ignorance is bliss, and I plunged in and began writing my book with the naïve expectation that I’d be finished in a year. Needless to say, five years and seven drafts later, I’m still on my quest for the Holy Grail, a published novel. Although frustrating, I spent that time growing as a writer. Every rewrite, revision and critique taught me something. Every book I read or workshop I attended offered new insights and ways to improve my craft. My goal with this blog is to share with you what I've learned so far. To talk about issues that plague all writers, to talk about the nuts and bolts of writing. Despite the fact that it's all been said before, each of us has our own way of telling a story and hopefully you'll visit often for help, support or just for the fun of it to read the posts written from this writer's point of view.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Getting Started: The First Step...or it Should Be

Of course having a completed manuscript edited, revised and revised again is essential when beginning your search for a literary agent. You might feel that with the time it takes to get representation, that you'll get a jump on all the other writers and query agents before your book is nipped, tucked and neatly polished. Wrong! Agents read hundred of query letters a week and if yours is as good as you think it is, you could get a request for a partial or full before you prose is ready for the discriminating and often jaded eye of an agent. And being unprepared or sending in shoddy work when you get "the call" does not bode well for a professional relationship. "What do you mean wait? It took five years of my life to write this thing!" you cry outraged. "I want to see it in print and enjoy the rewards while I can still travel to book signings without a walker." We all feel that way, but don't rush things. Besides, you're going to need time to develop a writers' thick skin in preparation for the inevitable rejections you'll receive. Hopefully, their numbers will be few.