Writing Hints...Important Things to Remember 8/6/2008 9:48:12 PM
When writing to sell, there are a number of things to consider. Here's a short list of ideas to remember: Important CONSIDERATIONS when WRITING TO SELL:
1. Clarify your goals for writing and for writing THIS particular book or story.
2. Start with what is UNIQUE about your story/approach/characters, etc.
3. If nonfiction, work on the QUERY and Chapters first, even if not in final form. In FICTION, write the manuscript, BUT know what GENRE you are pursuing.
4. Think about publishers: who would be likely ones to query?
5. Work on a GREAT Title and a GREAT logline or single line by which you can hook readers and/or agents and publishers. Say it in 25 words or LESS if you can.
6. REWRITE, REWRITE, REWRITE: if FICTION, look for the over-riding metaphor, and look for the subtext and foreshadowing; eliminate, tighten, especially looking to cut adverbs and adjectives and passive voice. REWRITE.
7. Build the synopsis and/or proposals.
8. Make a list of possible agents and publishers and begin pursuing them, but realize that sometimes agents are harder to land than publishers.
9. Begin to build your platform: build a website; blog; subscribe to writers’ ezines and newsletters; attend conferences; enter contests. Look for writing opportunities on a local level.
10. Even as you finish one project, begin another, and keep submitting. Do pay attention to agent/editor responses and continue to tighten and REWRITE. But KEEP Submitting.
Finally, just KEEP WRITING. Write because you have to. Write because you have something to say. Write because you CAN make a difference in the world. Write because you love it.
