Ah, the unpublished. Or, as many declare: the pre-published.
Let’s be honest: it’s difficult sometimes being a writer who is unpublished. You’re slaving away for hours on end on a manuscript or manuscripts that may be the next great sensation or may only be read by a few people. It could be huge, it could be small. It’s an uncertain time, rife with doubts and a need for some validation (anything, please) to quell the “Am I crazies.”
And that’s even before you get to the agent chase, the queries that seem to disappear into the ether or only score a form letter in return. With your name misspelled.
It’s not an easy path. But the most important thing to remember about the unpublished: everyone started there.
Every writer we love started out not knowing whether they had a shot or whether their work would be appreciated. Lots of beloved authors had to write a few manuscripts to get it right, tasted lots of rejection along the way, and made everyone look like idiots when they finally made it. Everyone had to take the same leap of faith to start writing without knowing where it would lead.
So. How can you help the unpublished among us, even if you yourself are unpublished?
Read their work. Give them feedback. Help them get better. If you’ve been around the block a bit, help the lesser experienced learn the “rules” first-timers might not know about, like going easy on non-said dialogue tags and adverbs. They should know them before they break them. Honest, polite, constructive feedback.
But most importantly: give them encouragement. As I said on Monday, everyone thinks they can write a book. The only people who really know how hard it is are the ones who have tried.
Narnian Girl says
Ah! Big spouting Charlie Brown-style tears over here! Thank you! Feeling validated and appreciated. Thanks for giving us unpublished dreamers a shout out!
karen wester newton says
So, is there a literary agent appreciation week? -)
DG Shrock says
Thanks for the appreciation. I like to think of us as "pre-published" authors.
D. G. Hudson says
Great post as usual, Nathan. I did my bit yesterday, by helping a writer pal format her query letter for a mag article. She's on the opposite side of the continent, but we met online. She's promised to do the same for me when I query you, or other agents for my current novel. I also referenced your blog for help.
You keep our spirits up, and this blog can be amusing or informative, but is always helpful in some way. I think this has been one of your best 'theme' weeks on the blog.
Thanks, Nathan. We appreciate you too!
Janet says
Thanks, Nathan! I just recently found your blog and am amazed about the time and dedication you give to it and your readers.
You're a delight and appreciated more than you can imagine by us writers out here pounding the keys.
Thanks from NYC.
DebraLSchubert says
Rock on, Nathan. Thanks for "getting" writers and what we experience. Encouraging people no matter what level of success they've achieved or haven't yet achieved is the greatest gift we can give each other. And thanks for noticing great talent when you see it (cough* Natalie Whipple * cough).
mkcbunny says
Cheers for the pre-pubished!
Kimber An says
"The only people who really know how hard it is are the ones who have tried."
Amen!
Kristen Torres-Toro says
Hi, Nathan! I'm a new follower and am really glad that I found your blog, as I am "pre-published". Thanks for the encouragement!
Tomara Armstrong says
Thanks, Nathan!
You're awesome
~2
Sissy says
Pre-published and proud!
Mira says
"It's difficult sometimes being a writer who is unpublished?"
Yep. I'll say.
I'd go a step further than encouraging them. I'd say: believe in them. Whether they ever get published or not, believe in their dream.
Chasing a dream is a truly terrifying thing to do. So many people sabotage themselves and find ways to avoid the possiblity of having their dream fail – or, ironically, succeed. People who are trying to make their dreams real are deeply courageous. They are heros in the best sense of the word.
I include published writers in this, because all published writers are also unpublished – their next work is unpublished. Their next dream is unpublished. All of us are chasing dreams and should be celebrated for doing so.
Chasing a dream means that something will materialize for you. Oddly enough, it may not be the original dream; it might be something better. We can't always see the big picture.
klromo says
I TOTALLY agree!! Who among Nathan's loyal followers would like to read a great book?? I have just the one – just let me know!
Bane of Anubis says
When I learned that I was gonna have a story published in an anthology back in May, I was major stoked b/c there was some validation there (of course, the cynical side of me said — well, the editor had 10 slots to fill and only got 11 submissions 🙂 — and then proceeded to get a string of query rejections… and that evanescent high was destroyed….
So thanks for the continued encouragement and advice.
Alice Anderson says
Well said. And it's great to be reminded of that simple little fact that we all start in the same spot…putting fingers to keyboard or pen to paper, as it were.
I rather like that phrase "agent chase." 🙂
Kasie West says
I sense you're buttering us up for some reason, Nathan. Is next week the week where you tell us all the publishing houses have burned to the ground by an angry "pre-published" writer? 🙂
Thanks for giving us some validation too stave off "the crazies".
Alena Thomas says
Thank you, Nathan, for your kind words for all of us. I wrote a blog on never giving up your dream yesterday, which some of you might find useful. You can find it "here"
Shell says
Wow. Today the encouragement is certainly needed. Sometimes the odds seem overwhelmingly not in my favor and I want to give up on the whole notion of every getting published, but it's not like the stories in my head shut up and go away because I ignore them, so I might as well keep on keeping-on. It's nice to know there are others out there who understand.
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says
unpublished writers should start up a blog. It's a great way to get attention and to get feedback on your works even if you're unpublished.
cheers
Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist! says
and yeah, man… thanks for the encouragement, brother. We all need what we can get.
Denise says
I agree with Nathan's take.
Encouragement and support is what will get most writers to keep pushing/striving and get that book published.
I usually spend several hours a week editing or giving feedback on other writer's work.
Anonymous says
Mira,
Right on. My family believes in me so much that they are constantly saying after your books are published will do this… all of them say that. If it weren't for them I think I may have given up. Their dreams, encouragement, and unbiased opinions (haha) are want keeps me going.
Mira says
Oh, I want to say something else about dream chasing. I apologize in advance, for some reason, I seem to have decided to get on the lecture podium. Like this doesn't apply to me. Which it does. Nonetheless:
Disappointment.
The best way to avoid becoming cynical or bitter or despairing from disappointment is to let your heart break.
Let your heart break, and your fist unclench. And feel the loss, as long as it needs to be felt.
Then get up, and notice that your vision is clearer than it was before. Your heart is stronger from having been broken.
Move on towards your dream.
~Aimee States says
This blog entry made me want to hug you.
Dan Holloway says
As one of the great unpublished, I must say this is great.
Encouragement is great BUT it can sometimes be damaging. Yes, encourage people to write as a hobby – but REALLY encouraging someone to write for publication can sometimes not just be misguided but cruel. 'you put your finger on it when you say everyone thinks they can write a book – and I thin probably everyone could – and should be encouraged to do so. But being able to write a book is a long way from being able to be a published writer, and the two have to be kept separate in order to avoid a lot of heartache.
I was lucky enough to guest blog on this for How Publishing Really Works:
https://howpublishingreallyworks.blogspot.com/2009/08/guest-post-believe-in-yourself-but.html
So yes, encourage everyone to write. But do not encourage every writer to see themselves as a published author in waiting (and yes, I include me in that – if people think my writing's rubbish, don't tell me I'll make it if I just do x,y, and z – tell me you're glad I've got such a great interest)
Rick Daley says
I think it was Elmore Leonard who said "It only took me 38 years to become an overnight sensation."
My hat's off to all of my pre-published peers. May we all one day carelessly spill Dom Perignon over the caviar while we sit on our yachts, reminiscing with our agents about those silly days when we thought success was a mirage.
Christy Pinheiro, EA ABA says
God, Nathan, what's it like to be this freaking popular?! You posted this entry less than an hour ago and already 26 comments! I'm in awe. I read your blog every day, but I rarely post because I'm just a lowly non-fiction writer (kidding– I love it).
I posted two links on my blog yesterday for literary agents– and out of the blue, the first comment I get is from a sweet blogger who says: "Nathan Bransford's blog is great– you should mention it."
Incredible! My hat's off to you. You have cornered the blogosphere.
Natalie says
Yup, every writer has been there. Sometimes that's the hardest thing to remember when I look at my favorite writers. Really? They stressed out like me? They did the query thing?
But when I can catch a glimpse of that reality, it makes me feel like we're all connected as writers. We can support each other through the experience.
Cat Moleski says
Thanks, Nathan, it's blogs like this and people like you, who keep me writing.
quixotic says
Nathan, this is such an inspiring post for those of us in the trenches feeling low and self doubting. It is a difficult path we tread unknowing if we will ever reach our goal. But we do tread on. Kudos to you for throwing out some big love to us wannabies.
Dan says
So this makes the Sacramento Kings a 'pre-NBA championship' team then?
Linda says
Ah thanks Nathan.. needed this week of writer-appreciation posts.
Could you please send these posts gift-wrapped to our families?
I keep reminding myself that this is a journey and to keep my eyes focused on the process – and not what might lay at the end.
It also helps me to focus on smaller projects – the shorts,the poems, the book reviews, the blogs – because positive reinforcement comes more easily from those venues.
Malcolm Gladwell says it takes 10,000 hours (on average) to become 'good' at something. I'll accept that statistic, and keep plugging at the craft.
Thank you to all my pre-published colleagues – my Nudgers, my TTTers, my fellow forumistas on EU, my 33 Harbingers. YOU make the journey so worth it.
Peace, Linda
PS. And Rick – careless spilling of champagne? Ha! I hope my advance is large enough for that bottle of Dom Perignon!
unpublishedandbroke says
If anyone wants to appreciate me, I'll gladly accept fifty bucks so I can buy the research book I need (for my WIP) at Borders today!
Or, is this only non-monetary appreciation?
csmith says
Thank you Nathan. Today, of all days, when I am going through what feels like the 9000th edit of my book, thank you.
And thank you to Erastes, and Tracey, and Wendy, and to everyone else who sits around holding my hand and teaching me basic simple things.
And thank you Nathan, too. For taking the time to educated the huddled masses.
🙂
Dara says
Thanks! 🙂 It's always nice to be appreciated!
I second the person who said you deserve a hug!
Christine says
Thanks for the encouragement, Nathan!
And Mira, thanks for putting the dream-chase so beautifully.
bethanyintexas says
Thanks so much Nathan. The encouragement is much appreciated.
🙂
L. T. Host says
Yay! I have a category!
But I still try to stay realistic. I haven't put my work out there for anyone yet except a few close friends and trusted critiquers. So I won't quite push myself into "pre-published" until I have made the push to really go for it.
But this is appreciated, Nathan, I needed a smile today.
Lori Benton says
"…everyone thinks they can write a book. The only people who really know how hard it is are the ones who have tried."
I will quote this. Often. 🙂
L-Plate Author says
Nathan, pre-published! I love that. That's going to be my buzz phrase for the next month.
Hopefully soon I may be able to say the magic word,published 😉
Mel Stoke on Trent, Curtis Brown Babe
Jack Roberts, Annabelle's scribe says
Every time Nathan. Every time! You know just what I need to hear every time you post.
I swear rejection or not, one day I will bug you again. Never say die. This is my favorite Agent Blog because you know us "pre-published". You get us.
It's ironic. Lifting author's spirits is the topic for my upcoming Sunday article on the Write Brigade blog.
https://writebrigade.blogspot.com/
Thank s again.
Erika Robuck says
Wow, I love this warm and fuzzy stuff. Thanks, Nathan.
Mercy Loomis says
I'm with Bane, sort of the "middle-published." My first short stories just came out, which is great, but the novel is still making the rounds. Ugh! So thank you, Nathan, for your encouragement, and hugs to all the dream-chasers.
I just posted some thoughts and tips on rejections on my blog a couple days ago. Hope it helps!
Yat-Yee says
So thankful to all my unpublished author friends.
Anonymous says
Okay, after all the back pats and encouragement, as an agented writer who has been paid for writing I have to say find your balance between believing in yourself and thinking you're going to be sipping champagne on a yacht with your agent.
It doesn't happen. And the majority of writers cannot afford to quit their day job until after at least five books published (and some, not even then).
To write well is a great goal in itself. To keep writing is even better. Keep your head on straight, find a good crit group, write and rewrite.
Julie says
3 or 4 Chapters into my current finished manuscript I read Steven King's book on writing.
Like Nathan he says to keep it simple with "He said and She said", less is more with adverbs, and also discourages lots of adjectives – especially ones ending in "Y"
When I read that I was so relieved. It gave me the chance to focus more on my story and less on the "decorations."
Another thing that I found really helpful was on an agents website (though I can't remember who)saying to use contractions in dialogue as much as possible – because that's how people speak.
I later read a piece of unpublished writing that was full of dialogue and not a single contraction! I had keep reading the lines again, it wasn't fluid.
I also notice reading my work out loud helps (I got that Idea from Judy Blume's Website!). I feel silly sometimes reading to myself a loud while my kids are playing at the park, but it really works.
Anonymous says
Dream chasing makes the whole thing sound more Quixotic and heroic than it really is. Look, you're not trying to get over the rainbow, you're just trying to get to the airport during rush hour. It's hard, but it's not impossible, people DO know how to get there even with the complications, and it's a learnable route. And when you get there you'll find out a bunch of other people are there, too, and there's still a lot of lines and things and nobody THERE is going to think you're extraordinary for simply having made it that far.
Ben Dutton says
The unpublished need all the encouragement… God knows I've craved it. When you're slaving away on the novel not knowing if you'll ever get there, or if you're doing the right thing. The days of madness. Of wanting to tear the whole thing up. Then there's the love, the exultation, the sheer joy it brings, that sentence done just right. Being unpublished sucks, but you've got to slave away to get better, to work towards getting there. I wish everyone the best of luck.
Julie says
Can anyone tell me why I'm having a panic attack over writing a synopsis?
I have no idea why but I've developed a phobia and am experiencing writers block for the very first time! Why can't I just do it??!!!
Cary Kearns says
Nathan, thanks so much for doing this. Goes a long way to keeping chins up and mind and fingers moving.
Do you have any suggestions and basics for an unpublished person's blog. Seems like having some sort of a platform early on would be very helpful. Thanks!
Cary