Dear Writer:
Because I'm often asked, by friends and friends of friends, about the hows and whys of making a writing life, I offer a thumbnail glimpse here of the response I tend to give. If this shoe fits, fine. If not, kick it aside.
The essence of that response is this:
Do you feel you have to do it? (Writing.) If so, if you need it like air and food and water, then undertake it (getting the writing made and sending it into the world) as a project. The same way you would gather supplies to survive in a forest or on an island. Step by step.
Those steps are logical:
Make the work. Show it to a few trusted friends. Consider only those parts of their responses that may ring as helpful. If no part rings as helpful, thank them and carry on. Revise to make it the best you feel it can be. Let it rest if you can. Repeat, until you feel you've got something in hand that might have something. Not that you must feel it is deathless art, or indisputable brilliance: simply, that it has something.
Meantime, research.
Look online for creative writing venues. There are bazillions. Make a huge list. Pay attention to the submissions criteria for each. (Most now have online submissions formats.)
Do some by snail mail, too, when and as appropriate.
Submit. Keep records. Record responses, and pay special attention to any words of advice or encouragement. Only listen for the criticism that rings as helpful to you. Teach yourself during this process not to be the least bit discouraged by rejection. Rejection is evidence of movement and life. All you need is one tiny yes in those billions of no's. That's how you form a body of work over time.
With persistence, drive, talent, and intelligence, it is likely to happen. (No guarantees.) That's why you have to keep yourself well. The Life takes tremendous energy and conviction, like Olympic training. If you start to waver or doubt yourself, revisit third paragraph above. (Do you feel you have to do it? ...)
A brief but necessary aside: Hold fast to your day job, or supportive spouse or partner, or whatever arrangement supports you financially. Let the day job or spouse or partner take care of the money, so you can indulge the writing whatever it needs, without pressure to perform in a moneymaking way.
Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine and the (AWP) Writer's Chronicle. Or visit the library to study the latest editions of these magazines. They function as the newsletters of writing activity in this country. They regularly feature articles focusing on craft, tributes to admired writers, and (in their classifieds sections) calls for new work from hungry young literary journals who want to showcase developing writers. In addition, they offer lists of grants, awards, and competitions available to writers. Use them.
It may help you to take a workshop or writing instruction from authors whose work you already admire (see my tutorial services, under "Editing and Teaching" on this website), or from a reputable source (your local university or college extension classes). That way you can receive stigma-free feedback, and the process may save you years of making certain kinds of mistakes.
Consider attending a writers' conference during summer, usually 3 to 4 days long. I used to go to one per year when I could secure the vacation time from my day job. Again, I'd advise choosing a conference that will allow you to work with an author whose writing you respect. Here again, Poets and Writers and the Writer's Chronicle offer terrific directories of resources.
I have a new book about the writing life which addresses the above advisories in much richer detail, available now! It's called BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO: A WRITING LIFE (University of Notre Dame Press, $18). I hope you'll buy a copy—or ask your favorite local library to acquire several copies, and of course, that you'll tell your friends about it.
Please feel free to e-mail me: link at the right of this site.
Good wishes, and thanks for finding me!
Cheers and best,
Joan Frank
Because I'm often asked, by friends and friends of friends, about the hows and whys of making a writing life, I offer a thumbnail glimpse here of the response I tend to give. If this shoe fits, fine. If not, kick it aside.
The essence of that response is this:
Do you feel you have to do it? (Writing.) If so, if you need it like air and food and water, then undertake it (getting the writing made and sending it into the world) as a project. The same way you would gather supplies to survive in a forest or on an island. Step by step.
Those steps are logical:
Make the work. Show it to a few trusted friends. Consider only those parts of their responses that may ring as helpful. If no part rings as helpful, thank them and carry on. Revise to make it the best you feel it can be. Let it rest if you can. Repeat, until you feel you've got something in hand that might have something. Not that you must feel it is deathless art, or indisputable brilliance: simply, that it has something.
Meantime, research.
Look online for creative writing venues. There are bazillions. Make a huge list. Pay attention to the submissions criteria for each. (Most now have online submissions formats.)
Do some by snail mail, too, when and as appropriate.
Submit. Keep records. Record responses, and pay special attention to any words of advice or encouragement. Only listen for the criticism that rings as helpful to you. Teach yourself during this process not to be the least bit discouraged by rejection. Rejection is evidence of movement and life. All you need is one tiny yes in those billions of no's. That's how you form a body of work over time.
With persistence, drive, talent, and intelligence, it is likely to happen. (No guarantees.) That's why you have to keep yourself well. The Life takes tremendous energy and conviction, like Olympic training. If you start to waver or doubt yourself, revisit third paragraph above. (Do you feel you have to do it? ...)
A brief but necessary aside: Hold fast to your day job, or supportive spouse or partner, or whatever arrangement supports you financially. Let the day job or spouse or partner take care of the money, so you can indulge the writing whatever it needs, without pressure to perform in a moneymaking way.
Subscribe to Poets & Writers Magazine and the (AWP) Writer's Chronicle. Or visit the library to study the latest editions of these magazines. They function as the newsletters of writing activity in this country. They regularly feature articles focusing on craft, tributes to admired writers, and (in their classifieds sections) calls for new work from hungry young literary journals who want to showcase developing writers. In addition, they offer lists of grants, awards, and competitions available to writers. Use them.
It may help you to take a workshop or writing instruction from authors whose work you already admire (see my tutorial services, under "Editing and Teaching" on this website), or from a reputable source (your local university or college extension classes). That way you can receive stigma-free feedback, and the process may save you years of making certain kinds of mistakes.
Consider attending a writers' conference during summer, usually 3 to 4 days long. I used to go to one per year when I could secure the vacation time from my day job. Again, I'd advise choosing a conference that will allow you to work with an author whose writing you respect. Here again, Poets and Writers and the Writer's Chronicle offer terrific directories of resources.
I have a new book about the writing life which addresses the above advisories in much richer detail, available now! It's called BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO: A WRITING LIFE (University of Notre Dame Press, $18). I hope you'll buy a copy—or ask your favorite local library to acquire several copies, and of course, that you'll tell your friends about it.
Please feel free to e-mail me: link at the right of this site.
Good wishes, and thanks for finding me!
Cheers and best,
Joan Frank