Refilling the Creative Well

There’s a shift that occurs when writing goes from being a hobby to being a potential career and source of income. The joy that comes from 'just writing' begins to be overshadowed by deadlines and revisions and submissions and rejections. It's hard to recapture that feeling from the early days when suddenly you MUST get 3,000 words done to meet your deadline.

Early on, when my only goal was to finish a manuscript, writing was my outlet. I’d settle down on the weekend with a cup of coffee and indulge in writing. It was the way I chose to spend my free time. My joyful "me time." It lifted my spirits, helped my creativity to come to life. It refilled my well.

Now, that’s certainly not to say that writing feels like a chore these day. It absolutely doesn’t! I truly love my job…but it is still a job. That means I view writing with a different lens now—there’s more pressure for speed, more self-criticism, more commercial thinking, and more focus on other activities around the book (like marketing, admin etc.) I can't sit down and write simply because I feel like it, anymore. I turn up to my desk every day like I would at any paying job.

And that glorious time I used to spend on the weekends never really got replaced with anything. For a long time, I found myself without something else to do in order to recharge creatively. So I kept writing, working all weekend (in addition to the workweek) only stopping for social occasions because I wasn't sure what else to do with myself if I had time to spare.

But this is a slippery slope to creative burnout. To be a writer you DO NOT have to write every day. In fact, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a day off.

 
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Why is it important to recharge your creative mind?

Have you ever felt stuck on a project for no apparent reason? You have a solid plan, the characters are cooperating (for once!) and the words should be flowing freely…except they’re not. This can happen when you haven’t given your mind time to enjoy being creative without the pressure of a deadline/reviews/feedback etc. How do you feel when you create something simply for the sake of personal enjoyment where there’s no expectation of performance? It feels great. Freeing. Motivating. Insert your adjective here.

What can I do about it?

Allow yourself some time to indulge in a creative activity for your own enjoyment rather than feeling guilty about “stealing” time from your writing (I can’t be the only one who’s had that thought!) Of course schedules need to be balanced, but being a writer doesn’t mean you’ve given up any hope of having hobbies. Like anything, creative recharge requires you to make time rather than wait for it to happen…because we all know how that ends!

Not sure what to do to help yourself recharge? Here are a few ideas for things that might help you to gain that creative spark back…

·      Get visual: see a movie by a director you love, go to an art gallery to see the work from your favourite painter, or watch a play. Just because we work with words doesn’t mean we’re not stimulated by creative visuals.

·      Experience nature: I don’t know what it is precisely about being out in a park, but there is something utterly soul-soothing about it. Go for a walk at a pace that allows you to think. Or go to the beach and watch the waves roll in. If you're a more city type, go to your favourite part of the city and find a place to sit and observe. 

·      Make something: As writers, we love to create with words, but making something with your hands is a great way to engage your mind in a totally different way. Try knitting, sewing, drawing, painting, baking, or grab a colouring book and some pencils. The pleasure we get from seeing our efforts to fruition can be exactly the shot of motivation we need to tackle the next bit of our story.

·      Learn something: this is similar to the above. The satisfaction we get from mastering a new skill can be a great release for our minds. Plus, you never know when the knowledge you’ve picked up might make it into a story! If you don't want to commit to a full course in your new skill, there are plenty of options for workshops or single day/afternoon courses.

·      Have good conversation with loved ones: Phone that friend you haven't spoken to in a while, or take some time out with your partner to have a good yarn over a cup of coffee. Investing in relationships and quality conversation (as opposed to the usual surface stuff) can totally change your perspective on things and recharge you emotionally. Writing - as with so many creative pursuits - asks us to draw down on our mental and emotional reserves whenever we work on our stories, and spending quality time with loved ones is a great way to recharge.

·      Zone out: sometimes you just need to do nothing. Chill out with a book, play a video game, get out a deck of cards, have a long nap. If you're pushing yourself to work harder and faster, eventually you'll find your breaking point. I certainly did. Listen to your body. Sometimes all that's needed to recharge creatively, is simply to slow down for a bit. Ask for help, if you need it. Take a day off if you can. Hang up that "do not disturb" sign and be kind to yourself.

One of the best things you can do for your writing is to take care of yourself. Writing stories is a wonderful thing, but it can't be the top priority 100% of the time. Put yourself first, do something just for you and don't feel guilty about it. Happy creating!

What to Take to a Writing Conference

I've been to my share of conferences now and every single time I umm and ahh about what to pack. I'm also a reformed chronic over-packer (true story!) so I think long and hard every time I flip that suitcase or carry-on bag open. Packing isn't one-size-fits-all, but here are the things I take...and a few I don't.

THE NECESSITIES

  • A suitcase/bag that isn't full to the brim on the way over: Here’s a little secret about conference…you get a lot of books! It's easy to get caught out not having the space to bring them home, and shipping can be pricey if you're travelling internationally.

  • Comfortable shoes: I know, I love shoes. But I've made it my mission to find cute shoes that won't kill my feet, because life's too short for blisters. These are my personal conference go-to cute shoes. They give height, look pretty with all my dresses, and are easy to walk around in.

  • Business Cards: I'll admit, I'm pretty terrible about handing mine out but if you happen to chat with someone while waiting in line for a drink and they ask you what your website is, people are more likely to hang onto a card than a scrap of paper.

  • Water, headache remedy of choice, hydrating eye cream and a facial mist: This is my ‘anti-tired’ kit. By day three I want to crawl in bed and sleep off the exhaustion, but I also don’t want to miss out on the fun. The water can be bought at the hotel or in a nearby shop, but I HIGHLY recommend keeping hydrated. Hotels often have air conditioning running and it can make you feel really sluggish and headachy.

  • Chargers for your phone/other devices: This seems like an obvious one, but put it on your list anyway.

  • A printed copy of your schedule: I always have a spreadsheet printed out with my schedule in case my phone dies at an inopportune time. I don't always need it, but I know I'll be thankful that one time my phone fails me.

 
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THE "GOOD TO HAVE"

  • Writing implements: Whether you prefer pen and a notepad or a tablet/laptop, it’s good to have something to take notes on. This isn’t just for workshops but for any ideas that spring up thanks to all the additional creative energy you'll be experiencing, and to jot down the details of those you meet (in case they haven’t brought their business cards). I generally take a notepad and pen because I'm old-school like that.

  • Camera: You don’t want to meet your favourite author only to realise you don’t have a camera with you! Phone cameras are totally fine.

  • Something unique: I think it’s a great idea to have something unique with you that will stand out and make people remember you. It might be a flashy necklace, a cute headband or a stuffed llama (my personal item of choice!) Every little bit helps!

THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT WHETHER YOU NEED THESE ITEMS

In the interest of saving space (or weight) in your luggage, I'd think long and hard about whether you need the following:

  • Books for authors to sign: I know, there’s a huge signing and your favourite author is going to be there. But books take up space and you’ll be bringing a lot home with you anyway. If any author is participating in a singing, they'll have books at their table. So do you really need the extra weight in your suitcase?

  • Your manuscript: The rules for pitches (and general conference etiquette) is usually that you provide our manuscript electronically after the conference if (and only if!) you get a request. Check the conference website for guidelines, if you're unsure. Having printed copies of your work on hand won’t make your chances any better of getting a request and they’ll just take up extra space in your luggage.

  • That tenth pair of shoes: Honestly, I put this in as a reminder for myself. I always have the "choose half" rule applied pair after I've picked out all the shoes I'd like to to take. Those ten pair of heeled pretties? Reduce by half...at least.

  • Laptop: I've never worked at a conference. I know many writers do and if that works for you, awesome! Personally, conference is a time to mingle, attend workshops, make new acquaintances and foster existing relationships. I make it a rule not to hide away on my laptop, and that's very easily achieved by not bringing it with me. I keep a notepad and pen handy at all times, in case I have a sudden idea for something I'm working on or if I'm stuck at the airport and want to get some work done.

Waiting on a Submission?

Hard truth: the waiting doesn't stop after you get published.

When you’re waiting to hear back on a submission, it feels like time moves at a snails pace. Worse, even. What’s slower than a snail? That’s how badly the hours seem to drag.

The constant checking of your email, scrolling through your Twitter feed (just in case the editor your following/stalking-in-a-totally-non-creepy-way announces that they have a ‘special call’ to make), checking your phone for missed calls from New York numbers…

 
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The only thing you can do is GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE. Trust me, your sanity will thank you. But in case you have no idea what to do next, here'd a handy to list to give you some inspiration.

  1. Get working on SOMETHING ELSE. A new project is always a great distraction. Try planning out a new story or get back to one of those unfinished projects gathering dust on your hard drive.

  2. Keep Writing. This might seem like the same as point one, but writing doesn’t have to mean working on projects for submission. I enjoy blogging and writing educational material, but you might want to dabble in a different medium like poetry, non fiction etc. Just keep those writerly muscles moving.

  3. Pick up a book you’ve been dying to read. What's been on your TBR for so long you'd be embarrassed to tell a friend about it? Go and read it now.

  4. Reconnect with the people you neglected while you were in writing cave. Remember those people whose faces fill your photographs…yeah? You should probably call them.

  5. Get involved in the writing community. There are plenty of ways to do this, join a writer’s group, volunteer with your local writing organisation, find a critique partner or join a forum. If you’re going to wait, you may as well have company.

  6. Do SOMETHING ELSE. When you’re stuck in the writing cave it can feel all consuming. Take some time to do something other than writing or editing. For me, it's sewing and playing boardgames with my husband. Try learning a new skill or exploring a different part of your city.

  7. Support another author. There’s plenty of space for all of us in the writing world, so why not support an author you love by tweeting about their book? Or you could write a review on Amazon or Good Reads. What goes around comes around!

  8. Prepare for “The Call”. Nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking right? Have you got a website, a social media presence, any of the things you’d like to have in place when an editor calls and says those magical four words “we want your book”? Maybe it’s my inner girl scout, but I’d like to be prepared…just in case.

Getting To The End

Getting to the end of your first book is a momentous occasion and a reason to celebrate. But it’s also an important milestone for your writing career. Many aspiring authors continue working on that first book for a long time, unsure when "enough is enough."

But finishing the book, especially that first manuscript, is crucial. Because knowing you know can complete a project will boost your confidence for future projects. Getting to the end of your story isn’t always easy.

 
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1. Give yourself permission to write crap…and fix it later. freeing yourself of your internal editor can really help when you’re feeling stuck. Get those words down, and worry about quality later. That's what revisions are for. If you’re still feeling blocked, try writing by hand, sketching out your scenes in dot-points or even changing up the font you use in your writing program of choice.

2. Reward and motivate yourself. Figure out what spurs you on. For me it’s tracking my words and seeing the total increase with each day of writing. For you, it might be sharing your progress each week with a writer friend. Maybe you like to see how much you can do in a timed period. Understanding the things that motivate you can help you leverage those things for greater momentum.

3. Find accountability. This might be a critique partner, writing buddies or someone else in your life. Determine what you want to achieve (it works best if you have something concrete like a number of words, pages or chapters) and check in with your accountability at regular intervals. For some people, myself included, it’s actually about making a promise to myself, writing down my goal and then keeping track of how I’m doing.

4. Understand the role of your internal editor. Writing and editing use different parts of the brain, and different types of writers engage these different parts at certain points in their writing process. For some people, the writing has to come first and editing second. But some writers use their internal editor before they write through planning, brainstorming etc. Knowing where and how your internal editor works will help you know whether you’re truly blocked on a project or if you just need more thinking time.

5. Break it down. Saying you’re going to write 50,000 words (or 80,000 or 100,000) can be daunting for a new writer. Chunk down your goal into manageable bite-sized pieces. 50,000 over a six-month period is just a little under 2,000 words per week. Which is 500 words a writing session if you write four days per week. Or, if you prefer to write a little every day, it's only 286 words per session. Now that sounds a little easier, doesn’t it?

Good luck! The end isn’t as far away as it seems.

Interview with a Literary Agent

Please note this article was originally published in the Romance Writers of Australia Heart's Talk magazine...

So many times I've heard writers say that signing with an agent can be even more difficult than getting a publishing contract. So, I sat down with my agent, the wonderful and oh-so savvy Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, to ask her a few questions about querying.

For those uninitiated, a query is the act of approaching an agent to request representation of your book. Like submitting your book to an editor, this process can be a little daunting. So, what elements of the query are most important?

“The book description is key for the agent to know what the project is about and if it might be a fit for their list,” Jill says. “I also like when one of the early sentences of the query tells me what genre the project is so that I can have that clear in my mind as I read the description and don’t have to be distracted trying to figure that out.”

Along with the book description it’s a great idea to include a short bio (one paragraph is fine). Jill adds, “ideally, they would make sure that the genre matches what the agent is looking for.”

Tip: Not all agents represent all genres, but that information will be on the agency’s website.

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To give your submission the strongest chance of success, ensure that you pay attention to the details. Follow the agency’s submission guidelines and check everything over before you hit send. Ever wondered what an agent’s pet peeves are? “I don’t like when someone sends me a query addressed to another agent’s name—that is a little sloppy,” Jill says. “And no fonts smaller than 12—I read so much a day, it makes it hard when someone sends a query in 8 font to ‘fit in extra words.'"

But what about the manuscript itself? I asked Jill what she looks for when singing a new author. “Strong writing- a great voice, interesting characters, good story or “hook”, and intriguing plot,” she says. “When I am reading a manuscript, I want to be caught up in the pages. This means there should be an interesting character or compelling storyline or great voice (and hopefully all of the above).”

What happens when a submission doesn’t have those elements? “If I’ve read a number of pages and feel that none of those elements are coming across as strongly as I would like, that is typically when I will stop reading.  I also want to feel like there is something in those opening pages that “hooks” me to keep reading.  Again, it can be based on questions raised in the plot, something to do with the intriguing character, or the high quality of the writing.”

Having said that, many agents also look beyond that first book to an author’s career potential. “When I sign a client, I prefer to sign for the long term.  I like to help grow an author and build her/his brand, and I am looking at this from a long-term perspective rather than a one-off.  I think an agent can help with different things at different stages of an author’s career so it is important to be focused on the bigger picture and not just a quick sale, in my view.”

Here are the top things I recommend you do when getting ready to query your manuscript:

1.     Research the agencies you’re interested in—make sure they represent your genre and make note of their specific submission requirements.

2.     Have a kick-butt book description which clearly showcases the hook of your story. In some cases, the agency may not even want to see pages from your manuscript at this point – so your book description needs to do the heavy lifting.

3.     Include important information about your book such as the genre, word count and whether it’s complete. (If you’re a first-time author, generally agencies will want the book to be complete unless you get a request via a pitching competition or event, such as a conference).

4.     Have a bio that’s concise and includes only the best bits, such as award wins or finals, professional memberships and other career highlights. If you have skills or experience relevant to the book you’re querying (e.g. you’re a doctor and you’re querying a medical romance) be sure to include that.

5.     Cross your t’s and dot your i’s before you hit send. Make sure you get the agent’s name right.

But what happens after you sign with an agent?

The next big ticket item is selling that first book or series. The process of approaching publishers is both thrilling and terrifying (something I can personally attest to!) Often, agents will pitch your project to a few publishers at a time, starting with the appropriate top tier based on your submission strategy.

They work as the conduit between the author and the publisher, championing your project and assisting with providing any information that the publisher may request during the acquisition process, for example sales information if the author is already published. If the author receives an offer, they will notify the other interested parties and ultimately negotiate contract terms on the author’s behalf.

But what happens if the first round doesn’t yield an offer?

“When a project doesn’t sell, I like to review all of the feedback we have received from editors and then see if there is a way to revise and respond to that,” Jill says. “If so, then I will recommend edits to the author and put together a second round of editors for a submission.”

But not all projects sell the first time around. “Sometimes, when a project doesn’t sell, we need to put it on the shelf, try a new project, and then after we establish a relationship with an editor, we can go back and offer the first manuscript.  I have had several authors where we have done this and after selling the second manuscript, we have been able to go back and sell the original project once the author is established with the publisher.”

Like with any other partnership, communication is key. At first, the focus tends to be on selling that initial book. But, once you get past that point, there are a lot of other areas where your agent can provide support, including planning for career growth, managing publishing schedules and developing new projects.

Jill advises that authors should “keep their agent informed of what is happening so that the agent can help as needed. Often, editors will send covers, edit notes, pub dates, etc. to the author and if the author keeps the agent informed of these things, the agent can assist with whatever issues come up,” she adds.

This is especially important for those who are juggling multiple publishers and/or projects. “If the author has questions or concerns, let the agent know so they can help,” Jill says. “A good agent will have years of experience working with other writers and editors and can offer advice based on that.”

What about the next project? How early on do agents like to be involved when their authors are working on something new? 

“It depends on the author and what they are looking for,” Jill says. “For new writers, I like to see a short blurb or synopsis before the writer puts too much time into writing the full project so I can offer feedback and suggestions early in the process. That way, if they want to make changes, they can do so without losing a lot of time on the manuscript. And then I will offer feedback, as needed, as the manuscript takes shape. For more experienced writers, some like to brainstorm early in the process but may not want as much editorial input later on if they have a number of manuscripts published and are at a different level.”

Another benefit of agents is access to inside industry information, especially for those authors wanting to go down the traditional publishing path. Agents cultivate a relationship with the editors at various publishing houses and often know what types of projects are selling or doing well, whether editors have a gap in their catalogue and are looking for a particular type of project etc.

Treat your relationship with your agent as you would any other business relationship. The best thing you can do is to be honest and open about your career goals, your expectations and how you like to work.

If you’re looking to sign with an agent this year, but aren’t sure where to start in finding the right one, here are a few tips:

1.     When looking at an agency, see who else they represent. If they have a decent catalogue of authors in your genre, then chances are they have established relationships with publishers of interest to you.

2.     Ask questions! If you happen to know one of the authors on the agency’s list, reach out and see if they’re willing to answer any questions about the agent and/or agency.

3.     Be sure to check that the agency is reputable! Check out sites like Writers Beware and the ‘water cooler’ forums at Absolute Write to hear about other people’s experiences with the agency.

4.     Know why you want to have an agent. These days there are many publishers who accept unagented submissions, so not all writers require an agent. If you’re going to give up a percentage of your earnings in exchange for representation, have a good reason to do so. This might be that you want support with managing your publisher relationships, or perhaps you want to approach a publishing house that requires an agent. Whether you choose to have an agent or not is up to you. There’s no right or wrong way get published.

If you’re on the hunt for an agent, I wish you the best of luck!