Pacing

Pacing is extremely important to your story. Readers want you to get on with it, so don't dawdle--we get it. We don't need the trip to the corner store told in depth and detail. I can't tell you how many times I've hit a brick wall reading a book all because the pacing was horrendous. Even if your story drags on in only a few scenes. It's still too much.

In my own experience, my novel deals with The Lincoln County War, but because my book was meant as a character study on Billy the Kid, I really didn't want to delve into the war too much, but there was absolutely no way around that. Without that war, there's no Billy. So what I did was this: I told only the most essential, necessary points of that war. The points that, and this is important, moved the story along. It's actually important to touch on the things that not only help your reader to understand what the hell is going on in your story, but also keep the path clear for you to keep going. You don't want to lose your audience.

So many authors want to bloviate, maybe because they want to showoff how profound they can be. Believe me, this does nothing for the story. What's important is telling your story in a most effective manner, and if you drag on about something, not only will your reader become bored, but they'll get lost. So your ego will ultimately destroy the impact of your book.

You have no choice but to deviate in some cases as it pertains to allowing your readers to understand where you are going. It's knowing when to quit and not get caught up in the reverie of telling the tale.

And believe it or not, being an avid reader can, over time, instruct you, without knowing it, on how to move it along. If you're a natural you'll probably pick up a lot of key pointers if you read as religiously as I do.

Since I'm not some Creative Writing professor and don't have all day, here's a link that can relate it to you better. Pacing Your Story

Pacing

Pacing is extremely important to your story. Readers want you to get on with it, so don't dawdle--we get it. We don't need the trip to the corner store told in depth and detail. I can't tell you how many times I've hit a brick wall reading a book all because the pacing was horrendous. Even if your story drags on in only a few scenes. It's still too much.

In my own experience, my novel deals with The Lincoln County War, but because my book was meant as a character study on Billy the Kid, I really didn't want to delve into the war too much, but there was absolutely no way around that. Without that war, there's no Billy. So what I did was this: I told only the most essential, necessary points of that war. The points that, and this is important, moved the story along. It's actually important to touch on the things that not only help your reader to understand what the hell is going on in your story, but also keep the path clear for you to keep going. You don't want to lose your audience.

So many authors want to bloviate, maybe because they want to showoff how profound they can be. Believe me, this does nothing for the story. What's important is telling your story in a most effective manner, and if you drag on about something, not only will your reader become bored, but they'll get lost. So your ego will ultimately destroy the impact of your book.

You have no choice but to deviate in some cases as it pertains to allowing your readers to understand where you are going. It's knowing when to quit and not get caught up in the reverie of telling the tale.

And believe it or not, being an avid reader can, over time, instruct you, without knowing it, on how to move it along. If you're a natural you'll probably pick up a lot of key pointers if you read as religiously as I do.

Since I'm not some Creative Writing professor and don't have all day, here's a link that can relate it to you better. Pacing Your Story

Dealing With Rejection

Most writers who are serious about becoming published have more than most likely come across stories of rejection and are well aware of the fact that it's all but a near guaranteed certainty, so this post will be nothing new. But still, despite all that's been heard or read, many writers are still paralyzed by just the mere thought of being rejected.
 
Well, as everybody knows, in this industry, rejection isn't personal. And a lot of it has to do with who you submit your manuscript to, also. You're not going to make a lot of headway sending your fantasy novel to a publisher that only publishes books that deal with religion, or psychology, etc., etc... I was picked up after about a month of submitting because after sending my manuscript to all of the commercial publishers (which you should always attempt) which subsequently rejected me, I decided to go through the books that dealt with my subject matter and find out who published them. I then submitted my book to those publishers, and, fortunately, the first publisher I sent it to, and the publisher I truly wanted, wanted me back. I've written another blog that deals with submitting your story to the right publishing house, so I won't reiterate here (Attempting To Get Published)
 
It used to be that the large commercial publishing houses sought out talent and gave new authors a chance. Now they only risk it if you've been published before and maintained decent sales. Because of that, your best bet is submitting to a small publishing house, or even self-publishing. You don't receive the amenities with self-publication, such as proofreading, typesetting, books in print, marketing, etc., but regardless, that door is open for you so there is hope of getting your work out there if you've been turned away too many times.
 
The small publishing houses are not a guarantee either, however. In many cases a lot of success deals with how professional and "clean" your manuscript is when you send it. First and foremost, you really ought to have proper spelling and punctuation down. And what you submit should flow nicely and lack confusion. A lot of publishing houses receive sloppy, messy manuscripts. How can they take you seriously if that’s how you propose your work? So, REJECTION!
 
Always check out the publisher's website and find out exactly what they expect in the manuscript; do they want the entire book? Do they want only a few sample chapters (in which case choose the most inspiring and sensational chapters)? Do they want a synopsis included? Knowing all of these details and following the proper procedure can reduce your chances of being rejected.
 
But, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve already posted a blog about how to increase your chances in signing a contract with a publisher.
 
The rejection thing…Everybody always says it, and it’s nothing but the truth: You have to keep trying! I am the sort of person who does not want to deal with criticism and will avoid it if it serves no purpose for me. But I’ve always wanted to be a writer and in order to get there I knew I was going to have to swallow that jagged little pill and learn to deal with rejection—and I did. So you need to decide which is more important—your pride, or doing whatever it takes to make your dream or goal come true.
 
There are several stories out there that deal with successful authors being rejected constantly. J.K. Rowling was rejected many times over before being picked up, and she only received a contract by the grace of God when the editor's daughter picked up her manuscript, began reading, and enjoyed it. If J.K. Rowling had quit, I think everyone can agree things would be quite different for her.
 
The biggest thing here to remember, if you’re truly serious about and believe in your work: Fight for it! In fact, being rejected and going back for more is just a testament to how very serious you are. I was looking forward to fighting for my book, to be honest.
 
Please, please, please don’t become discouraged. To be a published author is to have a voice in this world, and it’s an accomplishment that many, many people wish they could complete but never do. Writing is hard work, and writing an entire novel is a huge effort. If you go through all of that trouble only to give up because one person out there isn’t in to your story then you’re foolish. When you submit that manuscript, and when it is read (if it is read), it is subject to that individual’s taste. And not everybody can recognize talent or importance right off the bat. Perhaps it doesn't speak to them. It doesn't mean the next publisher won't be excited over your story. Every industry is rife with tales of those who were not appreciated for their work “at the time”, and certainly the publishing industry is no different.
 
 

 

Dealing With Rejection

Most writers who are serious about becoming published have more than most likely come across stories of rejection and are well aware of the fact that it's all but a near guaranteed certainty, so this post will be nothing new. But still, despite all that's been heard or read, many writers are still paralyzed by just the mere thought of being rejected.
 
Well, as everybody knows, in this industry, rejection isn't personal. And a lot of it has to do with who you submit your manuscript to, also. You're not going to make a lot of headway sending your fantasy novel to a publisher that only publishes books that deal with religion, or psychology, etc., etc... I was picked up after about a month of submitting because after sending my manuscript to all of the commercial publishers (which you should always attempt) which subsequently rejected me, I decided to go through the books that dealt with my subject matter and find out who published them. I then submitted my book to those publishers, and, fortunately, the first publisher I sent it to, and the publisher I truly wanted, wanted me back. I've written another blog that deals with submitting your story to the right publishing house, so I won't reiterate here (Attempting To Get Published)
 
It used to be that the large commercial publishing houses sought out talent and gave new authors a chance. Now they only risk it if you've been published before and maintained decent sales. Because of that, your best bet is submitting to a small publishing house, or even self-publishing. You don't receive the amenities with self-publication, such as proofreading, typesetting, books in print, marketing, etc., but regardless, that door is open for you so there is hope of getting your work out there if you've been turned away too many times.
 
The small publishing houses are not a guarantee either, however. In many cases a lot of success deals with how professional and "clean" your manuscript is when you send it. First and foremost, you really ought to have proper spelling and punctuation down. And what you submit should flow nicely and lack confusion. A lot of publishing houses receive sloppy, messy manuscripts. How can they take you seriously if that’s how you propose your work? So, REJECTION!
 
Always check out the publisher's website and find out exactly what they expect in the manuscript; do they want the entire book? Do they want only a few sample chapters (in which case choose the most inspiring and sensational chapters)? Do they want a synopsis included? Knowing all of these details and following the proper procedure can reduce your chances of being rejected.
 
But, as I’ve mentioned, I’ve already posted a blog about how to increase your chances in signing a contract with a publisher.
 
The rejection thing…Everybody always says it, and it’s nothing but the truth: You have to keep trying! I am the sort of person who does not want to deal with criticism and will avoid it if it serves no purpose for me. But I’ve always wanted to be a writer and in order to get there I knew I was going to have to swallow that jagged little pill and learn to deal with rejection—and I did. So you need to decide which is more important—your pride, or doing whatever it takes to make your dream or goal come true.
 
There are several stories out there that deal with successful authors being rejected constantly. J.K. Rowling was rejected many times over before being picked up, and she only received a contract by the grace of God when the editor's daughter picked up her manuscript, began reading, and enjoyed it. If J.K. Rowling had quit, I think everyone can agree things would be quite different for her.
 
The biggest thing here to remember, if you’re truly serious about and believe in your work: Fight for it! In fact, being rejected and going back for more is just a testament to how very serious you are. I was looking forward to fighting for my book, to be honest.
 
Please, please, please don’t become discouraged. To be a published author is to have a voice in this world, and it’s an accomplishment that many, many people wish they could complete but never do. Writing is hard work, and writing an entire novel is a huge effort. If you go through all of that trouble only to give up because one person out there isn’t in to your story then you’re foolish. When you submit that manuscript, and when it is read (if it is read), it is subject to that individual’s taste. And not everybody can recognize talent or importance right off the bat. Perhaps it doesn't speak to them. It doesn't mean the next publisher won't be excited over your story. Every industry is rife with tales of those who were not appreciated for their work “at the time”, and certainly the publishing industry is no different.
 
 

 

Why You Should Write About What You Know

Because writing a novel is hard work! When you finally take the plunge and explore the frontier that is writing, make sure, at least for your first book, that you write about something you're very familiar with! That is the first rule of writing: Write what you know!!!

And in this event, since it's something you know, you'll be able to fill in the gaps between research with your own point of view in the meantime. Not to mention that you'll be taken seriously since you'll know the material you're writing about frontwards and backwards. Your readers will take you seriously.

And for your first book writing a topic you're familiar with will help get you through your first idea of what it is/means to write a book. The first time you tread the deep waters of writing a book can be daunting, so the last thing you need is to do so with a topic you don't know much about--it will only add to the frustration when it's time to search out a publisher, and provided you're lucky enough to find a publisher to back your novel, it will also add to the frustration of proofreading your work. You'll find that you're checking and double-checking your material to make sure it's right (that is if you care enough about it and don't want to look like an idiot to your readers). So...take the pressure off and write what you know!!

Read this article as it explains that just because you should write what you know, it doesn't mean you are limited to the areas of your mind. You can use your creativity parameters.

http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/know.shtml

And in addition to writing what you know means you'll have a better chance of a publisher choosing you to bring in to their fold. It's much easier to write about something you're familiar with or passionate about. Writing about something you have to learn about means a lot of starts and stops as you read through and learn the materials.