HAPPY 2nd BLOGIVERSARY TO ME!
July marked the second anniversary of this blog. Last year, I ran a week-long series of guest posts where awesome authors Veronica Roth, Jodi Meadows, Marjetta Geerling, and Jennifer Echols shared the biggest lesson they’d learned in the previous year. You liked the series so much that I brought it back with a new set of guest posts. Nine young adult writers, including me, will share the biggest lesson they’ve learned in the last year. Beth Revis, Kathleen Peacock, Jodi Meadows, Elana Johnson, Myra McEntire, Kate Hart, Matt Blackstone, and Stephanie Kuehn have all kindly agreed to participate with amazing guest blogs you will love. Be sure to check back every day this week and next week to see what these great people have to say about the challenges they’ve faced. Read below to see what I had to say, plus there’s a contest for a chance to win a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card.
My Lesson Learned
Okay. I’m taking a deep breath here. Last year at this time, I had been on submission for about five months. I’d started the sequel to TOUCHED – and stopped. I’d started a new contemporary – and stopped. The big, bad truth is that I let the submission process get to me in a terrible way. I hoped I would be one of those authors who sold overnight. I wasn’t. I hoped I’d enter the YA scene with a big splash. I didn’t. I hoped editors would be fighting over me. They didn’t. They asked to see my manuscript, but mostly, not a lot happened for months and months. I grew increasingly dejected over my non-start. My confidence in my ability was shaken, and I agonized over every freaking word that I wrote, though admittedly there weren’t many.
What kept me going? First, I went to SCBWI LA in August, meeting Steph Kuehn for the first time when I picked her up to drive the seven hours from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. I met some amazing writers and listened to many keynotes that inspired the hell out of me. Then I went home and started a crit group with a few friends. Steph, Dawn Miller, and I met twice a month (plus Debra Driza joined us for one faulty Skype meeting) to critique each other’s writing. Twice a month, I HAD to turn in a chapter for the group. Not to mention, school packets of 40-50 pages of writing were due every six weeks, whether I felt like writing or not. And when I stalled on Chapter Ten of IF I LIE and kept agonizing over how different it was from TOUCHED, Steph gave me a short speech that’s imprinted on my brain (even though she doesn’t remember giving it to me). She told me to stop talking about writing and just do it. For about ten seconds, I hated her. Until I realized she was right and doing what the best of friends do – calling you on your crap. The book would never get finished if I didn’t just sit my butt in a chair and get it done.
She told me to stop talking about writing and just do it.
That’s what I did from October to December. I got serious about finishing IF I LIE. That book sold in February. And TOUCHED – the first book to go on submission – sold in a 3-book deal in March. Everything turned around because I KEPT WRITING. Even when I didn’t feel like it. Even when I struggled. And even when I doubted I had anything to say. So my lesson learned should be to keep writing, right?
No.
My lesson learned is that every writer needs a friend like Steph Kuehn who will tell you exactly what you need to hear when you need to hear it, even if it will make you hate her for a whole ten seconds. I <3 you, Steph. Even though you like cats and keep pet rats and you’re Pin-obsessed. My agent loves you. My editor loves you. And my family loves you because I’m no longer doing my impression of the lost dwarves, Mopey and Whiney.
AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST…
The Prize: One (1) $20 Barnes & Noble gift card.
TO ENTER:
Leave a comment on any of the guest blog posts this week or next week. Each comment counts as one entry. I will randomly choose one winner on 9/3 using random.org. It’s that easy!
GOOD LUCK, and remember…check back tomorrow for a great post from Beth Revis!
Post Navigation
Leave your own thoughts
17 Responses to "HAPPY 2nd BLOGIVERSARY TO ME!"
on August 22, 2011 | to this post
Congrats on the blogiversary and thanks for the wisdom here. I think the submission process is so discouraging because we’ve always heard that once you have an agent, your career will be off and running. After the long query process, an equally long submission process can be killer. Congrats on sticking with it and getting a great deal!
on August 22, 2011 | to this post
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the congrats and you’re welcome! The submission process can be absolutely brutal, and the worst part is that you can’t talk about it much while you’re going through it. Whatever stage you’re at, I wish you the best of luck!
on August 22, 2011 | to this post
A big, massive “THIS” to your lesson learned. I sometimes wish I could go back to before I had (and subsequently lost) an actual agent – a part of me expected everything to fall magically in place once I found representation. I was already practicing my responses in pretend interviews (witty, honest, gracious and totally quotable on Twitter). When nothing happened and I got shuttled back to square one, I had a hard time finding my writing groove. I still struggle with it.
Bookmarking this to remind myself to keep going …
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
Hi Becca,
A couple of my friends have been going through this lately and it’s been hard to watch them have to start over. But I will say, I’ve watched them come back stronger, more sure of what they wanted in an agent and stronger in their writing. That may not be a lot of comfort, but I hope you find your way.
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
This is good for me to hear. I’m on subs right now, and I didn’t get that dazzling turn-around either. I’m fine 95% of days, but I can feel the little doubt imps trying to crawl through the windows. That’s why experiences like yours are wonderful to know about, because the path to pub isn’t the same for everyone — and it’s definitively not always easy! It’s hard to keep that in perspective when you’re going through it.
Thanks so much for sharing. Bookmarking for any dark days ahead.
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
Amity,
KEEP WRITING. I know everyone says that, but only because it’s true. It’s so hard to get started again when you stop. Try to get excited about a new project. My second book sold first. I’m so glad I had that second book ready to go. Good luck!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
I wish I could keep up with a blog like you do. It takes a lot of work!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
Cory – I can’t reply to your comment so I just figured I’d reply this way.
I appreciate the encouraging words – I do feel like the experience has taught me a lot. It’s difficult to keep back on the horse, but I’m getting there. Until then, I’ll keep plugging away!
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
I’m stuck in the head game doldrums right now. I’ve been throwing effort into my blog, my reviews, but not my manuscript. I started having critiques done on my query letter, and after having seen its weaknesses very clearly, panicked, screaming, “THE WORLD IS ENDING I SUCK I SUCK I SUCK! SOMEBODY GET ME A MOJITO, STAT!” I’ve begun to believe all of my writing is weak, and though I know I’ve just got to power through it, it’s more terrifying than anything else I’ve ever tried to do.
on August 23, 2011 | to this post
<3 <3 You are too sweet (and gracious). Your books are beautiful and I am so exited for you!
on August 25, 2011 | to this post
I love writing workshops. I so need to be held accountable, and reading other people’s writing and hearing their critiques of your own writing can be so inspiring!
on August 25, 2011 | to this post
I am soooo glad you kept on writing and we could be in the Apocalypsies and The Class of 2k12 together. I can not wait to read your books. (((hugs)))
on August 25, 2011 | to this post
I love these stories because anyone who didn’t know you might think, “Oh, look! She got two books deals in one year. She’s so lucky.” And it’s not about luck at all. It’s about persistence and faith and love of the craft. Congrats, and I can’t wait to read BOTH!
on August 25, 2011 | to this post
Congrats!
Vivien
deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com
on August 26, 2011 | to this post
Yes! I must remind myself of this all the time–less whining, more writing. Love the topic, Cory, & will definitely be back over the next two weeks. –Hilary
on August 26, 2011 | to this post
I love this story. I’m constantly blessed by how supportive the kidlit community is. I don’t know what I would do without my writer friends and the apocalypsies. And this week when I’ve been struggling to write I really needed to hear this–I just need to sit down and DO IT!