A couple of weeks ago, I talked about Getting Vested in writing. Well, saavy reader Emily asked a question that I think deserves an answer:
Do you think being ‘vested in writing’ actually requires an output of ‘hard, cold cash’? Or do you think thinking and reading (and writing and writing) can be ever enough?
The short answer is “Yes.” Yes, I think being vested in writing requires an output of ‘hard, cold cash.’
The long answer is a little more convoluted, but it will bring us back to the short answer, so stay with me here. IMHO, there are two ways to invest yourself in writing:
I’ll start with #2. Any time you spend writing is investing yourself. This includes any form of writing. Blogs, journals, short stories, vignettes, longer works, whatever. Hopefully this is consistent writing, still, it all counts.
Time you spend educating yourself on the craft of writing is investing yourself. This includes attending conferences and workshops. It includes formal education. It includes reading blogs on writing, reading books on writing, and it includes reading books in the genre you write. Education is always an investment.
So here’s where we get to the meat of the thing. Look at that second list about educating yourself. Many of those things cost money. Conferences? Workshops? College-level classes? Money, money, and more $$$. Books on writing? Not so cheap. Books in your genre? Not SO expensive, but money, neverthe less.
Now I can hear you protesting.
“But I use the library.”
“I get books for free through blog contests.”
“I attend the FREE WriteOnCon Conference.”
I say, wonderful! Great resources. I love the library. I love WriteOnCon. I love blog contests!
But here’s the catch: Time = Money
I know, cliche-city, but it’s true. I work for myself and I know exactly how much my time is worth. I know exactly how much I am not earning when I choose to spend my time elsewhere. Spending time is a monetary investment.
Finally, I think there is a place where you must simply suck it up and pay the hard cold cash, because there is no substitution of time. As a serious writer, you should join a writing association. Whether that’s SCBWI, RWA, NWA, a local group or whatever, do it. Joining a group is a declaration to yourself that you’re serious. And bonus, it’s a declaration to others (i.e. agents and editors).
So yes, to be vested, I do think you need to shell out some cash.
What’s your opinion?
I spent this weekend in Gettysburg at the Tri-regional SCBWI conference. I had a great time, refueled my writing bucket, and met so many wonderful people. Okay, that sounds trite, but it’s true.
Though we are limited in what we can share because of copyrights, I wanted to share one little nugget with you all:
In a session with Sarah Davies, Agent Extraordinaire of The Greenhouse Literary Agency, she said that about 50% of the submissions she receives start with one of the following opening scenes:
What do they all have in common? They are all literal beginnings. Interesting, no?
She commented that when she sees this, though it sounds harsh, her expectations drop. It’s an immediate strike against the manuscript which takes amazing writing to overcome.
Instead, start in an unexpected place, and you’ll already be one up from about half the submissions. . . . The middle of a heist. Feeding the pigs. At the top of the school’s flag pole. Standing on cloud 9 (literally). In a graveyard digging up a grave. At the scene of a murder.
So many options!
Perhaps we just need to give ourselves permission to go a little crazy. I mean, we are writers, write? (I mean, . . . right?)
Where does your book start?
This past weekend, I went to my local SCBWI region’s annual conference. I had a great time, and my head is swimming with all the great advice and inspiration shared by the speakers.
I was reminded that agents and editors are nice, normal people, too. When you find yourself in the query trenches, it’s easy to forget that. And same goes for award-winning authors.
Also, I got to meet Caroline Tung Richmond who blogs at Adventures in Space. This is the first time I’ve met a fellow blogger in person (and of course, I didn’t have a camera), but we had a great time visiting!
Anyway, over the years, I have attended several conferences, and I wanted to impart a bit of advice to anyone considering going to one.
In short, my advice is to participate as fully as possible. There’s nothing like a conference to boost your writers morale and get you inspired to finish your WIP. The more you put in, the more you get out. (cliché, I know, but still true).
Have you ever been to a conference? What was your experience?
Yesterday I read an article on classroom visits and workshops in my SCBWI quarterly magazine. In the back of my mind, I started planning what I would do for mine . . . until my brain stopped me.
But you aren’t a published author yet. You’re just wasting your time.
I laughed at myself. I’ve already done a classroom visit, I told my brain. On getting published.
Yes, you read that right. Janet Sumner Johnson, an unpublished author, has done a classroom visit on getting published.
I can hear your questions clammoring through the blogosphere, so I will answer them:
We classify classroom visits as something only the published can do. But why? True, we can’t talk about what it’s like to be published. We won’t have a beautifully bound book to hold up and show the students. But we do have experience and knowledge.
I know many of you could write a query with one arm tied behind your back (as long as it’s not the one attached to your writing hand). Some of you can spew grammar rules like you study the Chicago every day. Some of you know the best way to pinpoint agents in your genre. It may sound basic, but it’s knowledge hard-earned. Knowledge that others would love to gain.
Okay, I’ve said my say. But what do you think? Should pre-published authors look for opportunities to do classroom visits? Why or why not?