In this month's bumper edition get expert advice on how to deal with the dreaded rejection letters, gain some inspiration and see our Top Ten Tips on getting an agent plus the usual helpful sites for writers! |
E-zee Writer |
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Issue 99 |
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Hello and festive figgy pudding greetings to you all. |
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THE WRITERS BUREAU
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“Despite having a non-fiction book published very successfully in 1987 (The Modern Mercenary), I felt very under confident about writing fiction. Eventually, I decided to try a correspondence course with the Writers Bureau at the end of 2003. The first few assignments were short stories, and although my tutor was very pleased with what I produced, and I sent them off to several magazines, all I got was a fast-growing collection of “Thanks, but no thanks!” letters. When we got to the module which involved plotting a novel, I was beginning to lose heart. If I couldn’t get a short story published, what chance a novel? But I persevered, and my tutor responded with “I think this...has great potential”. |
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“In the time I have been in writing, I have so far written for all the top newspapers in Kenya: The People, The Nation, Kenya Times, Standard and East African. I have also written for the top magazines in the country including Marketing Africa, The Accountant and Beacon. I have also gone online and my articles have featured on an East African website known as 'Jamii Forums.' |
Thanks to Peter and Kinoti for sharing their stories with us. If you would like a prospectus for the courses they are studying please email us here with your full name and postal address.
Or, to share your success stories with others, just send an email to ezeewriter@writersbureau.com with 'Success Story' in the subject line.
FREELANCE MARKET NEWS
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EXPERT ADVICE
By Jackie Cosh
Rejection letters – a positive approach!
A writer needs imagination, a pen, a good grasp of English, and a really thick skin! The last one may not be the most obvious on the list, but when starting out as a writer its importance is soon evident.
Many a new writer gives up at the first hurdle, feeling hurt and despondent that their great masterpiece has been rejected. You’ve put in hours of work, chosen the market carefully and sat in hope waiting for a reply. When the response is a rejection or, worse still, silence, you feel that that's it – failure, your work is no good, and there is no point carrying on.
As a Writers’ Bureau tutor, I often have students tell me that they are very thin skinned when it comes to rejections from editors. It probably doesn’t enter their head that all writers receive rejections all the time and for a variety of reasons. I am also sure it doesn’t occur to them that although part of me dreads rejection letters or emails as much as they do, they can be very useful if you look at them in the right way.
What is there to like about rejection letters?
Of course I don’t like being rejected, who does? But a rejection letter is an acknowledgment that your idea has at least been looked at and considered. Nothing is worse than regularly checking your inbox or doormat for some kind of response, any kind of response! One national newspaper I write for are very short and to the point in their rejections – ‘no thanks’, ‘not for us’, are two such responses. Some people find this approach rude – I think it is terribly polite of them to take the time to respond. Editors tend to be overloaded with work so any response should be appreciated.
I am quite happy to be told simply yes or no, but sometimes editors will take the time to explain why your work is not suitable, this isn’t necessary, and should never be expected. Several emails with the likes of – ‘recently commissioned something similar’, or ‘sorry did this a few months back’, tell me that I am on the right track and to keep on going.
An email telling me that they are rejecting my idea because everything is done in house is very useful as it tells me to stop wasting my time with that publication and to look elsewhere – this is much better than ploughing away with ideas and getting nothing in return.
The best emails are those that finish on a positive note – a ‘no thanks, but would you be interested in doing a piece on …..?’ is the best kind of rejection. It’s encouraging as it shows that they like your writing style and are willing to see more.
Whether your idea is rejected or not, it shows the editor the way your mind is working and how much you know the publication.
The importance of not giving up.
Just because an idea is wrong for one publication it doesn't mean that it is wrong for all publications. If you really believe that an idea would make a great article you should keep on going until you sell it. For example, two years ago I had what I knew was a good feature idea and a great case study to back it up. I tried roughly ten publications as I was convinced that someone would take it. After a lot of rejections, and even more silences, I finally found one publication who were interested. That idea turned out to be a foot in the door, and I now write for them on a monthly basis. I am also in the middle of writing a book on a related subject to be published next year.
I managed to place my work because I refused to take the knock backs, and because, ultimately, I believed enough in the idea. I didn’t take the rejection personally, and I didn’t look back. I decided not to ponder why each publication wasn’t interested. I simply moved on.
Back up markets.
Sometimes it works better to have a back up market in mind from the very beginning. This isn’t a case of being pessimistic, it is more to do with being realistic. After all, your chosen market may be overloaded with ideas at the moment or perhaps they have just accepted an article on the very same idea – there can be all sorts of reasons why they might say no. It is also a good idea to think about the back up market at the beginning of the process because the original idea and how you will approach it is still fresh in your mind.
This can also help if you don’t take rejection well, as having a back up market in mind from the very beginning means you can turn the article around and get it sent to another publisher with minimal work and delay and without dwelling too long on the rejection itself.
Before you do so, however, it is always worth taking a moment or two to look at the outline again. Decide if you are still happy with it and whether it is appropriate for sending to the new publisher. A revisit should allow you to see if improvements need to be made and a fresh market may mean you have to tweak it slightly.
Others who have been there.
It is well known that J K Rowling received many rejections for Harry Potter before she found success, and she is certainly not alone. Many well-known and successful authors persevered through years of rejection before someone finally recognised their talents. Children’s author Judy Bloom received nothing but rejections for two years before finally getting somewhere. Watership Down, Gone with the Wind, The Diary of Anne Frank, and the Dr Seuss books were all rejected many, many times while Stephen King received this response regarding Carrie: “We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell."
So, don’t take rejection letters to heart! Consider them a sign that you are a real writer – after
all, only real writers receive rejection letters. Have a think why your idea was rejected, then file the letter away and send the piece elsewhere. Don’t consider it a rejection per se, but a response from an editor. Don’t ponder the matter, close it and move on.
Most important of all, don’t let rejection letter get you down. Simply view them as part of the journey. And take some pleasure in the thought that in ten years' time when you are a household name, you can inspire other novice writers with tales of your own pesky rejection letters.
Jackie Cosh is a Writers Bureau tutor and freelance writer, covering mostly education, health, and business areas. Her first book, Alzheimer's: The Essential Guide, is due out on 1 October 2009.
10 top tips on getting an agent
Do agents make a difference? Yes! If your book is handled by an agent it will increase your chances of success. For one thing, it will mean you dodge the horrors of the dreaded slush pile. Publishers trust the judgement of literary agents and will treat anything sent by them with special interest and care.
Agents certainly earn their 10 per cent commission. They have the contacts and inside knowledge of the business, and will offer you advice on honing your novel before it is submitted to a publisher. But, unfortunately, interesting an agent can be quite a trick in itself. So here are some tips on giving yourself the best possible chance of getting an agent.
1. There is little point approaching an agent with short stories, poems or articles. They will only be interested in novels or non-fiction books – until you are famous!
2. Use the list of Agents that you will find in the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook, The Writers’ Handbook or the equivalent book in your own country to check what kind of material each agent specialises in. There is no point sending a steamy novel to an agent who specialises in placing non-fiction books.
3. If possible, in the UK, choose an agent who is a member of the Association of Authors’ Agents (www.agentsassoc.co.uk) as they are committed to dealing with writers in a professional manner. Whether an agent is a member is shown in the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook
4. Should you pay a reading fee? Members of the Association of Authors’ Agents don’t request a reading fee. But quite a lot of reputable agents do – it covers the cost of reading the manuscripts. Before paying anything, try to check out the agent, using the Internet and word of mouth. There are bogus agents out there who only want your money and you’ll get nothing in return. Never answer adverts placed by agents requesting writers to contact them. Real agents are inundated with writers – they don’t need to advertise.
5. Only send off a covering letter, synopsis of your book and two or three chapters. Don’t send an entire book to an agent – unless of course it is a short children’s book.
6. But, do make sure that your book – especially if it is a novel – is finished before you approach an agent. If they are interested and want to see it immediately you could have problems and ruin your credibility if you can’t send the rest of the book to them.
7. It’s important that what you send to them is perfect in execution and presentation. Don’t finish your work and then immediately dash off the first few chapters to an agent. Let it settle and then check and re-check it until it is error free, tight and there are no typos. You’ll probably only get one bite at the cherry so make sure you give yourself the best chance.
8. Use the post to send your manuscript. It’s not yet acceptable to clog up someone’s inbox with hefty chapters from a novel. But don’t be afraid to approach more than one agent at a time – otherwise, you could be waiting a lifetime before you get an acceptance.
9. Take every opportunity to buttonhole published writers at conferences, courses and writing groups to see if they would be prepared to put in a good word with their agent on your behalf. Remember, often it’s not what you know, but who you know!
10. If you manage to sell your book direct to a publisher yourself it may be worth approaching an agent and asking them to take you on. It will prove that you have a track record and you will find, over the years, that it pays to have an agent. The 10-15 per cent that they take from your earnings will be well spent when you take into account the various rights that they might sell on your behalf, the royalties they collect and the hassle that they help you to avoid!
www.afreelanceworker.co.uk/home.htm
This link was sent to me as the people who run the website thought it might be of use to our readers, and I think they could be right! Whilst not concentrating solely on writing the site covers all kinds of issues you may come across when working as a freelancer. It delves into tricky areas such as tax, networking, time management, plus a whole host of other topics. And, there’s a monthly newsletter you can subscribe to.
www.nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/004641.html
This is the response from a female editor, known only as Slushkiller, as to how to interpret the unfortunately inevitable rejection letters in the correct way. It is essentially a look at the other side of the coin and makes a lot of sense. She also offers an amusing insight into the most common reasons for a manuscript being rejected. It makes for interesting reading and is quite illuminating as to what it is like for editors who receive hundreds of manuscripts each week.
www.rejectioncollection.com
And this is the website Slushkiller is referring to. It is a collection of rejection letters that aspiring writers such as yourselves have uploaded and commented on. You too can add your lovely letters to the mix. Plus, you can include what you think of that particular response and, it seems, the person who wrote it. If your letter is deemed the most humiliating, demeaning, frustrating etc, you could be chosen as ‘Reject of the month’, just to boost your self esteem a little further. If nothing else, it will make you realise that you are not the only one getting rejected on a regular basis. Plus it has some useful ideas about how to deal with rejection and should elicit a giggle or two.
Remember, if you run a website that you think may be of use to our readers, let us know. If we like it, we’ll publish a link to it giving you a free plug. What could be better than that?
Inspiration
Could you write an article about ...
1st June 1831 |
The magnetic North Pole (situated at that time in Canada on the Booth Peninsula) is discovered by polar explorer James Clark Ross. |
2nd June 1780 |
Six days of rioting, named the Gordon riots after anti-catholic agitator Lord George Gordon, begin in London. |
3rd June 1906 |
The exuberant American-born French dancer and singer Josephine Baker is born in St Louis, Missouri. |
6th June 1844 |
George Williams forms the Young Men’s Christian Association, better known as the YMCA, in London. |
7th June 1494 |
Treaty of Tordesillas is signed between Spain and Portugal, effectively dividing the New World between them. |
8th June 632 |
The founder of Islam, Muhammad, dies in Medina. |
9th June 1672 |
Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, known for his modernisation of Russia, is born. |
10th June 1793 |
Paris is the chosen venue for the first purpose built zoo, named the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes. |
11th June 1899 |
Neosensationsis Japanese author Yasanuri Kawabata, best known in western circles for his novel “Snow Country” is born in Osaka. |
14th June 1951 |
The first commercial, general use computer named UNIVAC I is demonstrated by the Remington Rand company. |
17th June 1775 |
Charlestown, Massachusetts, is the location of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first large-scale engagement of the American War of Independence. |
20th June 1906 |
Kate McMullen, better known as Catherine Cookson, is born in the slums of South Tyneside – she goes on to publish 97 novels in her lifetime. |
24th June 1947 |
An American pilot reports seeing UFOs flying near Mt Rainier, describing them as ‘saucers’ leading to the popular term 'flying saucers'. |
25th June 1876 |
260 US cavalry forces under General Custer are wiped out by a force of Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians lead by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. |
27th June 1746 |
Bonnie Prince Charlie, with the help of Flora MacDonald, escapes to the Isle of Skye dressed as an Irish maid following his defeat at the Battle of Culloden. |
28th June 1922 |
The Irish Free State supporters attack republicans in Dublin starting the Irish Civil War. |
30th June 1908 |
The largest extraterrestrial impact, thought to be either a comet or a meteorite, is recorded in Tunguska in Siberia. |
Another year is at an end. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year and I
look forward to being in touch again in 2009 – sporting a few extra pounds I’m sure! If you do anything exciting, writing-related of course, over the holiday period please write and let me know.
Next month we have expert advice from Lorraine Mace on how to keep ahead of the game using editorial calendars, top tips on illustrating your work and the usual motivation and inspiration.
I’ll leave you with a jolly, addictive puzzle game, Xmas Corner. Help Santa collect all his presents using his trusty reindeer, Rudolph, as a sidekick. I think the look on the reindeer’s face is just a picture! There are 18 levels so it should keep you amused for a while.
If you found something of use to you in this issue please pass on the word to all your writer friends – and even those who don’t! You never know, you might inspire them to take it up. They can sign up here www.writersbureau.com/resources/ezewriter.htm
Shelley x
P.S If there are any of our overseas readers who would like me to promote literary events in their country, please let me know and I will do my best to mention them.
Don’t forget our 20th Anniversary competition with £2000 worth of prizes! It is open to all students and ex-students who want to tell us how our courses have affected their lives as writers. Closing date is 31st December 2008 so get cracking! Further details can be found here www.writersbureau.com/award
As usual, if you've any suggestions or would like to comment on content then please contact me at: ezeewriter@writersbureau.com
THE WRITERS BUREAU, SEVENDALE HOUSE, 7 DALE STREET,
MANCHESTER, M1 1JB, ENGLAND.
“I began my first Writers Bureau course (Comprehensive Creative Writing) in 2007. Having more than covered the course fees from published pieces I have never looked back. Initially my ambitions were to get going. I knew I wanted to be a writer, I just didn’t know how to go about it, or, if I’m honest, quite what I wanted to write. Since, I have gradually blended a teaching career with writing, first with articles and short stories, then increasing the writing commitment dramatically when I secured an agent in 2016 to ghostwrite a series of memoirs. This year I have undertaken The Art of Writing Poetry course to really hone my skills in what I now realise is a genre I love - and have already had my first poems published.” Theresa Gooda - Writers Bureau Student of the Year 2021 |