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Is publishing harder than it seems????

No.

It seems about as hard as it is. It may or may not be, but it seems that it may seem that hard at least; as it is, that is.

Proud Wannabes!!

I haven't been published, but I will be one day, I know that much. I'm not boasting my talents as a writer, I've got a lot to learn still, that I know. But I can be pretty stubborn and plan to be!

Anyways, I've tried reading a dictionary, but I only got to about 'B' before it was boring. (Hm...what a coincidence) I'd rather read a good book that's a couple of levels above my head and learn that way.

I published a short story last year and I have another one that was just accepted. As for novels, I'm working on getting mine published and the last agent I queried said my story is on the mark to be bought (publishable) but the market I wrote it for is flooded right now (sci-fi) which is why an unknown like me is finding it difficult to sell it.

The secret, as I have found, for selling a novel ... Get known as a short story writer first. Market your short stories ... gather a following ... then query with your credentials. If you do that, you will sell your novel.


Oh, something else ya need to be told ... and I do hate to bring this news forward, but as sad as it is, it is what it is ... Publishers aren't interested in great stories ... they're interested in stories they know they can sell. As such, they pass on a lot of great stories, uncertain of their ability to sell.

What does this mean? If you have a following, you can get anything published. However, pump out a bunch of trash and the readers will reject ya, putting you back among the ranks of the unsellable.

Reputation is big in this market, though it isn't so fickle as to not allow a few necomers to emerge out of the blue. It's just so rare that it happens that it is best to plan for the most probable path.

I could have done it on my own, but all the support I have received from members here has helped immensely.

I think of StoryWrite as more of an author support group than I do a focused critique circle. It's also a great place to learn, as many authors are willing to share what they know ... and that information is invaluable.

For anyone who wants to be published, I say this ... earnestly read what's out there. Don't copy it, learn from it. Decide what it is you like about certain stories, as those will be your strengths. Then, write a story and post it here for review to see if you 'have something' or perhaps you need to work through your idea a bit more.

The thing NOT to do is ever feel injured when someone dislikes your story or how it is written. My philosophy is ... Embrace your critiques, as they will tell you how best to improve. That's not to say that all criticism is right, but your heart will tell you when it is, and when you need to listen.

As for the remark stating there are few publishable authors here, I would like to diffuse that and state it more accurately by saying there are few publishable stories here. It's not the authors that are ever judged - it's their work, and if you're posting a story here you are already admitting it most certinly needs more work. That's not a bad thing ... it's a good thing. It's far better to work on it here and perfect it, than it is to submit it unpolished and appear a fool.

This is a construction zone, where stories are put together, and construciton zones are often dirty, grimy, and quite unsightly. However, it all changes when the workers are done and beautiful buildings stood where chaos once ruled. If we are all honest with ourselves and see this place for what it is - our construction zone - we will build our elegant skysfrapers much more quickly, as we will understand our purpose for being here.

As for why I believe many stories here to be in mid-construction, I will explain. The biggest problem I see is writers are still confused about the materials needed to construct a story. 90% of all stories that do not sell are refused because the author has failed to study the proper components of a story, and because of that, they are confused when they are told their story 'doesn't quite fit'.

I didn't want to elongate this post further, but I can't rightfully throw out a remark like that without defining it better. Put down your pitchforks lads and lassies ... I'll explain.

The following ingredients must be in EVERY story you want to sell ... short or long. Without them, it has little chance of success. You will find these ingredients in every great story, but you often can't identify them without looking deep between the words, as an author disguises them be flowing them effortlessly amid all the other words.


A goal: Your main character MUST have a goal. He must have something he is shooting for at the beginning of the story, or he is nothing more than a nomad, lost in a desert of words. Don't ever allow your main character to just react to everything around him without having a purpose or desire - make it known to the reader what it is.

Motivated characters: Every character, from the guy that steps on stage to ask directions, to the main character striving to succeed, must have motivations for what they do. The more important the character, the greater the need for the reader to understand their motivaiton.

Stimulus-response: A good example is a deer being hit by a speeding automobile. That's the stimulus - what's the response? The deer is hurt - we know that one. What about the people in the car? Do they notice? Do they care? (internal response) are they injured (external response). Every stimulus must be followed by a response. When something happens, I want to know how people feel about it and what happens because of it. Too many authors forget this, and you wind up with scenes like the deer and the car, with the car just speeding past as if nothing ever happened.

Logical progression: All things happen in a linear progression. A happens, then B happens, then C happens. John opens the door, the cat jumps out, John chases the cat. That's linear. However, what if John hates the cat? Well, then John won't chase it - he's glad the cat ran away. So, don't tell me John chases a cat he hates without giving me a darned good reason - such as - it's his girlfriend's cat and she would leave him if she discovered he let the cat ran off. Now remember, John is going to have a good talk to that cat when he finally catches it.

Character growth: Your main character must have a major flaw to be sympathetic to the reader, and at the end of the story, you must give your main character a chance to resolve that major flaw. Please note, I did not say it had to be resolved ... I only stated he had to try. If he succeeds in his goal, the ending is seen as a victory, if not, it's seen as a tragedy - both work.

So, if John wants to date Mary, his major flaw might be that he is too shy to ask her out. Throughout the story he works on his shyness, and in the end he DOES ask her out. Mary then accepts - victory, or laughs in his face - tragedy. Still, John has done something to resolve his flaw.

Premise: All commercial stories need a hidden message. You need to communicate something to the reader, below the level of the words. If you write about a hero on a quest, then perhaps your message could be to never give up. If you write about a vampire hunter that must rid his town of vampires, but has a difficult time with the last one, as it's his wife, then perhaps the message is duty must win over love. You need to say something ... and you must do it without actually saying it. The words on the page must somehow convey your message.

Believability: As a writer, if you are writing fiction, therefore you must always bend the reader's belief. If you were writing the truth, you would be writing non-fiction, and that's a horse of another color. Believability is the thread that holds fiction together. How far can you pull the string before it breaks? How long can you hold the reader in your world, accepting all that you say as plausible and possibly true? It better be until the end if you intend to sell that story, as one nagging doubt will toss the story aside.

Always ask yourself as you write ... within the rules of my world, is what I write plausible? If the wizard can fly through the air on the first page, then he better be able to fly on page 30 when that crazed witch throws a firegball at him.

And sometimes it's what character's DON'T do that stunts believability. John sees Mark hurt in a car accident and it scares him a lot. He then gets into a car the next day and neglects to wear his seat belt. Plausible in real life? Yes. Plausible in fiction? Well, you better have a good reason for not telling us John is being more careful after what he saw happen.

Fiction is only fiction when its believable. It's kind of a contradiction to make something up and then try to make others believe, but many of us did it as kids, sitting by the fire and telling ghost stories. The more believeable the story, the more the other kids huddled in their blankets ... however, if your story hit an improbable point the other kids pointed at you and laughed, defeating the purpose of your scary story. Make them believe ... it's what all great authors do.


There is so much more to know, such as good grammar, good word choice, excellent spelling, etc. However, any serious writer will pony up on these while possibly neglecting the important issues I mentioned above.


So ... how does a small question such as yours wind down into this long verbal babble session from myself? Why did I stray so far from the point?

Actually, I didn't stray at all ... as these are all lessons I learned here, and there are many more I failed to mention.

StoryWrite definitely helps authors who are willing to learn ... they need only be willing to put forth the effort to improve on their craft to see their dream come true.

Now, aren't ya sorry ya asked.

Absolutely not.

You have composed a very direct reply and answered in every appreciable whit my query. Your response is written well and it is obvious to me that you take pride in ALL of your writing, be it a response to a comment or what-have-you. I like to read good writing on whatever the subject. Your response was long but my reading of it was not. That is the mark of a true writer, ease of reading and efficiency in the transfer of thought from the writer to the reader. Very good, Yoshi. I am impressed and felt your response well worthy of anyone's time. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance and I appreciate you taking the time to compose such a thorough and well-considered response. I think I know who next I'll be checking out on this 'construction' site. Oh, and by the way, excellent use of tailoring the message to your audience with your construction metaphor. Nice job. I'm not sorry in the slightest, but glad I asked.

That was a very thorough reply, yoshi, and it has made me rethink my decision to refrain from posting my favorite novel idea I have on Storywrite. Why? Because more than likely, you're right, it won't get published, but I still want to write it. And I want it to be the best story it can be; for that, I'll need help and feedback. So. As soon as I finish the novel I'm working on (), I'll get over to the one I've been hoarding in my mind.
Thanks for the great summation again. It's always good to check myself against a master list like yours, just in case I got too carried away with my super duper new idea, and left out something essential.

errrr....

...Yeah. I think it is that difficult. Or not, if you already happen to be a celebrity with more money and talent than you could shake a stick at, in which case all you have to do is marry another rich celeb and then get a ghost writer to tell everyone about it. Or better still, get yourself arrested for sniffing bicycle seats and get your ghostwriter to tell everyone all about your therapy.
Bitter? Me?
Why, yeeees....