| Agents and editors deal with hundreds of queries, | | | | one agent or editor. Or two. Or even ten. Keep |
| synopses, proposals, and chapters every month. | | | | going until you find one who loves your work! |
| Whether you realize it or not, your approach to | | | | And don't stop writing while you submit. Maybe |
| the process has a lot to do with whether or not | | | | your first book won't make as big of a splash as |
| your work will ever reach publication. Here are the | | | | you're hoping. Maybe your second-or your |
| 7 characteristics necessary to achieving your | | | | fifth-novel will be the one to land that dream |
| dreams! | | | | agent and publishing contract. Author Dan Brown |
| Characteristic 1: Commitment to Growth | | | | published three books before he scored a |
| The first thing every real writer needs is a | | | | worldwide bestseller with The DaVinci Code. |
| willingness to learn and grow. All agents or | | | | Characteristic 5: Professionalism |
| editors-no matter how busy-are interested in | | | | Understand that publishing is a business, and that |
| quality work. The first step: write the best book | | | | agents and editors are trying to find books |
| you can. That means you'll probably need to brush | | | | publishers-and eventually readers-will want to |
| up on grammar, syntax, sentence structure, and | | | | spend their hard-earned money to buy. That |
| plotting. Don't give someone an excuse to reject | | | | means you need to conduct yourself like a |
| your work because you've either never learned | | | | professional. While this might seem obvious, you |
| or forgotten how to write in an active voice. | | | | must treat everyone you deal with, from agents' |
| Research local or online writing workshops and | | | | assistants all the way up to publishing heads, with |
| sign up for a writing conference or two to jump | | | | courtesy. Even if you don't like what they're telling |
| start your creative juices and brush up on what it | | | | you. |
| takes to become a published author. Join a critique | | | | Never send hate mail back to agents or editors. |
| group to help yourself develop a critical eye for | | | | (You might be surprised how often publishing |
| grammar, sentence structure and plot in the | | | | professionals have to deal with this.) Also realize |
| writing of others. Then apply what you learn to | | | | that form responses are normal - if you had to |
| your own writing. When you view writing as a | | | | read hundreds of queries every month, you'd |
| life-long learning experience, you've taken the first | | | | send them too! Don't take rejection as a personal |
| step to becoming published. | | | | attack-it's just business. |
| Characteristic 2: Humility | | | | Characteristic 6: Patience |
| Completing a project is an accomplishment, and | | | | It takes patience to see your dream of being |
| one you should be proud of-just not too proud to | | | | published come true. Not only patience to write |
| miss places you still might be able to improve. | | | | the book-which doesn't happen in a single |
| Chances are, you did forget a comma | | | | sitting-but patience to wait for responses from |
| somewhere. Or spelled a word wrong. Or didn't tie | | | | beta readers, critique groups, and then agents, |
| up that loose end. Or tried to cram in too many | | | | editors, and publishers. Some respond immediately. |
| subplots. Or something. When you share your | | | | Some are a little slower, but will respond |
| work with critique buddies, really listen to their | | | | eventually. And some won't respond at all. In each |
| feedback. If an agent is kind enough to offer | | | | case, your patience will be tried. |
| advice, thank him or her and then consider | | | | Characteristic 7: Luck |
| making the changes to your manuscript. | | | | Before you decide that you're doomed because |
| Characteristic 3: Self-Confidence | | | | you've never won the lottery (or even a door |
| On the flip-side of humility is self-confidence; you'll | | | | prize drawing), you need to know that we're |
| need both in equal measure. Not to be confused | | | | talking about the kind of luck you make for |
| with arrogance-there is a difference! Getting | | | | yourself. There is an old Chinese tenet, "Luck is |
| published is usually an uphill battle. Everyone along | | | | when preparation meets opportunity." So first, be |
| the way will have an opinion about your work, | | | | prepared. And then cultivate your own luck. |
| and not all of those opinions will be positive! Most | | | | Lucky writers behave in ways that create good |
| agents reject between 95% and 99% of all | | | | fortune in their lives. For example, they read |
| queries they see, and editors are even harder to | | | | agent and industry blogs to get a feel for what |
| win over. | | | | different agents like. They notice and act upon |
| Even after you make it through the gauntlet of | | | | chance opportunities, follow their intuition, look for |
| agents, editors, and other decision-makers, you'll | | | | the bright side of every situation, and are certain |
| have to face book reviewers and bloggers. You | | | | their future is promising. Their outlook becomes a |
| must believe in yourself enough not only to go | | | | self-fulfilling prophesy, creating the perfect |
| through the whole process, but also to endure the | | | | environment for "luck" to flourish. Remember, it |
| onslaught that follows. Once you've acquired the | | | | only takes one positive response! |
| skills of a writer, a sense of self-confidence will | | | | All of That Equals Indomitable Spirit |
| help you recognize that your hours of research, | | | | Incorporating these seven traits will result in the |
| learning, and growing are going to pay off. | | | | indomitable spirit necessary to succeed in the |
| Characteristic 4: Perseverance | | | | publishing industry. What is Indomitable Spirit? It's |
| Once you've produced the very best story you | | | | an attitude or state of mind in which you are |
| can, built your self-confidence, and balanced it with | | | | impossible to frighten or defeat. Never, never, |
| humility, it's time to submit. Research agents and | | | | never give up on your dreams. |
| editors and only submit to those who are a good | | | | "People do not seem to realize that their opinion |
| match for your project. And don't just submit to | | | | of the world is also a confession of character. |