In the interim...

If you're like me, knowing an editor requires a decent amount of time to review and respond to your submission has absolutely nothing to do with the number of times you check your mailbox -- or watch your washing machine go through its spin cycle!

It's a behaviour pattern I've never outgrown. But I have found a better way of coping; I now forge ahead with all those great ideas which threatened to hijack my last project. The laundry still gets done. I'm simply using my "spin" time more effectively by laying the groundwork for whatever's next.

For me, this preparation process has two major components: a detailed outline, often up to 30 pages long, which I do on the computer, and a series of random notes and character details which are handwritten (or scribbled as my husband would say) in a spiral-bound notebook with a black felt pen. I couldn't live without the former, but the latter does take me away from the pressure of the keyboard.

And, as my life often involves train travel these days, I enjoy the ease of writing longhand without that unending temptation, should I have my laptop with me, to check the news, or write and receive emails when I could be looking out the window, sipping on a coffee and letting my mind wander over the creative landscape while my eyes take in the one passing by my window.

But I digress. Which is exactly what happened last winter. I got so caught up in the research I was doing – I am delving into the Edwardian era with a particular interest in 1909 – that I literally forgot I was supposed to be writing a novel. So I switched tacks and checked out how other writers I admire, authors like Laurie R. King with her Mary Russell novels, and Diana Galbadon whose Outlander series kept me spellbound for weeks, strike a balance.

Both writers are extremely knowledgeable and their books well-researched but, as evidenced by their riveting storylines, they know how to stick to the script. In fact, I think I should take a leaf from Diana Galbadon's musings on research and remember that the books in my library are not required reading, they're for reference.

I've applied the same principle to the internet. I see a site I like, I add it to my list of favourites or print out a few pages, particularly if it's a newspaper article from the early 1900s, and then I put them in a – wait for it -- three-ring binder. I also use colour-coded folders for all those other articles I intend to write one day.

But when I do come across a piece of information which directly relates to my current project, I insert a note into the relevant section of my outline and move on. As the outline expands so too does my input; I begin to write snippets of dialogue, describe scenes in greater detail and enrich my character descriptions so that when I am ready to start on that all-important first draft, I can cut-and-paste to my heart's content.

Then again, I could always slip downstairs and put in another load of laundry.

f & f Anne

Here are the web links for the authors mentioned above:

www.laurierking.com
www.cco.caltech.edu/~gatti/galbadon/

Conferences – Playing to Win

Anne and I have been involved in every aspect of writers' conferences from Alaska to Seattle, from Toronto to Detroit. We’ve gone from being eager hopefuls with manuscripts clutched in our hands, to organizers trying to meet every need of every writer, and then as presenters who supposedly had the real answers about how to get published. Based on those experiences, here's what we've learned on how to reap the maximum benefit from any conference you attend.

First of all, decide what you want to accomplish. Are you looking for general advice on writing, the camaraderie of being in a room full of others who hope for the same things, or are you trying to make that vital connection to an editor or agent?

Before making the final selections, scour the conference schedule. Mark the presenters you think are most interesting to you and then do a little networking and on-line research. Does that children’s editor have the power to make decisions? Is she primarily interested in picture books or the middle-grade novels you write? Does the agent take on new clients, and have you ever heard of his existing clients? And that famous writer who is giving a keynote, does she write mysteries like you, or self-help books? All might be interesting, but they may not offer what you need to move ahead in your career.

One of the most titillating and frustrating aspects of a conference is the chance to meet an editor or agent. At some conferences, for an extra hundred dollars, you can get a sit-down, face-to-face, for ten or fifteen minutes. You have the opportunity to pitch your story, make a glowing first impression, and launch your career.

Or not. Often the editors and agents involved are tired, over exposed by the sheer number of people attending, or not seriously looking for anything less than the next mega-seller. You may want to clinch the deal, but take a deep breath – you might gain a lot more from asking them what they are looking for and permission to send them your work when they have a chance to look at it without the pressures of a conference. Sometimes the editors or agents have actually previewed a few pages beforehand (the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conferences often arrange this) and so you may even get a genuine critique. If the editor tells you what’s wrong with the manuscript, don’t ever, ever argue. Simply say, thank you – and ask if you can submit after your revisions.

After the conference, send a note to the editor or agent (or author if you have had personal contact) thanking them for their insights. Later, when you send on the manuscript – being sure to state in the first sentence of the cover letter that they had asked you to submit it – the editors or agents are more likely to remember your courtesy. Some people try to stand out by being flamboyant. My personal opinion is that you will stand out more by being scrupulously professional and by sending in a good product. After all, in the long run, only your work will make the sale.

f & f
Susan