Welcome Guest Blogger Denise Eagan!
In an earlier post, Pat White (11/08) asked readers if they’d been challenged by something outside of their comfort zone. My answer is yes--the entire writing industry. I’ve risen to it, but it took a long time. My first book is due out this month after 18 years.
Now if you are an aspiring writer, please don’t let that last sentence intimidate you. I made many, many mistakes, and sadly have only 75 rejections to show for it. Divided through that’s less than 5 a year, even though I wrote 9 books. Rejections discouraged me. So didn’t contests. And workshops. And writing books that promised magic, but never delivered. Months, sometimes years, would go by without me sending out a blasted thing. I became so discouraged that I even have a small stack of requests I never responded to, a huge mistake.
More mistakes: I wrote books that were too long. I wrote in unpopular periods, I had the devil of a time with opening hooks. I quit, often and with gusto. But I always went back because being a writer is not really a choice; the words, the characters, the stories are all there regardless. I can write them, or I can talk to myself. Writing requires less drugs.
I started on the Road to Rejection in 1990, and by the summer of ‘05 I was no longer getting rejections; I was getting no response at all. I joked to critique partners that the post office was changing my address labels to “Black Hole, Center of the Universe”. When a friend convinced me to enter yet another contest, this with a publishing contract for the award, I didn’t even blink. I knew the entry would end up at the Black Hole.
I was wrong. On the same day that I received some low scores and a truly nasty critique from one contest, Dorchester Publishing sent me a letter saying thatexact exactsame book—Wicked Woman— had been chosen as one of 12 finalists in the American Title II contest. Yay!
I had no idea what I was getting into. I soon learned that many of the finalists had websites or blogs. They were on loops, and electronic bulletin boards. Me, I still thought “cool” was having an email address. Out of my comfort zone? Oh, man, I had lost sight of it altogether. But I had no choice, I had to come out of hiding. I learned how to build a website and joined a couple loops. By the time I was out of the contest, I had gained some knowledge of the industry, and a lot confidence in my writing. I even worked with a few other writers to create a historical blog, Slip Into Something Victorian—something I never thought I’d do in a million years.
The confidence stayed with me. In the Spring of ’06 I pitched Wicked Woman to Hilary Sares, without so much as a stutter. When I sent off my work, I even found the nerve to mention a second, related book in the cover letter. A few months later—July 20th to be exact--the phone rang and “Kensington Publishing” popped up on the screen. As I pushed the button, I wondered why Kensington would call to sell me on a book club. It seemed like a very strange response to a manuscript submission. . . .But it wasn’t a book club, it was Hilary Sares offering me a 2 book contract. I have never been so shocked in my life.
It is now 17 months later. I am still discouraged by rejection, intimidated by the writing industry, and baffled by electronic media. But as I type this, I have my book sitting next to me, with its pretty red cover and my name embossed in purple ink. And that makes it all worth it. And I am quite happy to give away a copy of Wicked Woman to a registered user!
Great post!
Wow Dee! What a wonderful post! Your cover is gorgeous. Is the book out now in stores?
I was wondering how the rejection reflected in your writing, if it did. I'm getting so discouraged that writing isn't nearly as fun as it was and I dont know how to get back to that enjoyment.
Rejections & persevering
Oh Lori, I totally understand how you feel. It's incredibly difficult. I even hit a point where it was hard to read romance, and that was extremely painful--I felt like I'd lost my best friend!
I guess the rejection etc, though, was eventually reflected in my writing in good ways. First, I tried (after hours, days, weeks, months of wallowing) to turn the rejectionitis around and work on making my writing better: better wording, better description, better dialogue, better research. (not spelling though--I have never gotten that down!) That helped because it put me in control, not the industry.
The other thing was I eventually realized that I had to write what I wanted to write. If it was going to get rejected anyway, I might as well enjoy the writing process. That brought back the enjoyment, because I was once more writing for my primary reader--ME!
Good luck--don't give up and please feel free to drop me an email if you need a little encouragement. I do understand.
Dee!!!
Hey, lady, it's so great to see you here! What a wonderful story...even though I'm familiar with it, it still makes me tear up. I'm so proud of you for perservering and not denying us the pleasure of this great read! You're so right when you say that being a writer is not a choice. I keep thinking, "So many books I want to (need to) write; so little time!!" If I live for another 50 years, it probably won't be enough to get all my ideas down on paper, LOL!
I'll see you at your book launch this weekend.
Congratulations!! (BTW, is that you on the cover??)
Yes, Karen, that is me.
Yes, Karen, that is me. When I sent in the manuscript, I included the half-naked picture of me too :). I figured it might be a selling point. . . . hey, nothing else was working!
Congrats, Dee!
I really found this so inspiring. I have to admit, I don't think I ever would have had that kind of perseverance -- I work hard at my career now, in spite of the ups and downs and hard times among all the good stuff, but I don't know if I would have had your dedication. 18 years???!!! You deserve all the success in the world and more!
You mentioned some requests you never went back to -- are these things you might go back to now, or are you heading in a different direction altogether? What's next?
Sam
Lol Sam! No, the pile of
Lol Sam! No, the pile of "rejected" requests are far too old to go back to now. I did try a year or two ago, but that agent was no longer in the business. It was really, really stupid of me not to follow up on these things, but I comfort myself by saying that if I wasn't ready to answer them, I SURE wasn't ready for publication!
Wow, that's a really long sentence, huh?
I am a reader and have never
I am a reader and have never had the desire to write but I totally admire you for trying again after such a long time. In fact I admire anyone who perserveres and can achieve their dreams.
Thank you Ellen. I only
Thank you Ellen. I only wish I'd had a little more courage in myself and my work originally, maybe the road would have been a little shorter. Still, I console myself that I might have learned something along the way. Not sure what, but something.
Thanks for being here!
Congrats on your release and I'm looking forward to the read, it has a great cover!
Thank you! I sure hope you
Thank you! I sure hope you like it. Aren't the colors pretty? I'm so artistically-challenged. I'd never have put red and purple together!
Inspiring!
I love your story--it made me tear up a little. Congratulations on the two-book contract, and for stepping out of your comfort zone. And we belong to the same club-I got dismal contest scores on the exact same manuscript I sold to Harlequin prior to getting those scores.
Jeannie
Inspiring
Isn't it amazing Jeannie? I worry about writers who get back contest scores/critiques and then either change their writing dramatically because of it, or quit. It just goes to show that sometimes what other writers think makes a good book can be very different from what editors--and eventually readers--think makes a good book!
Congrats on your new
Congrats on your new book
It's great that you hung in there and now look all that hard work paid off for you way to go
I admire your dedication!!!
Way to stick with it, Denise!! Too many of us give up after one try! I hope you are very proud of your accomplishment!
Thank you!
Denise, thanks for sharing part of your journey with us--being rejected is hard no matter the situation, and to have your writing rejected must be a little like having someone say they don't like your heart or soul. Glad you've persevered!
That is exactly how it felt
That is exactly how it felt to me. It took me a long time to realize it's all right if not everyone likes my heart and soul :)
They are still precious...
no matter what others think! And your readers are SO thankful you keep sticking it out!
Great post!
Wow, Denise - what a path to publication. I love your sense of humor and perseverance, not to mention a pretty sweet call story. Congratulations on the publication of your first book! I'm sure there will be many more!
Margaret
Thank You
I can't tell you how much I needed this post today. I started my first fledgling attempts at writing a novel in 1991 when I was 15. I'm 32 now, and though it's been through many incarnations, I've finally finished that book (those characters just wouldn't let me rest!) and sent it off a few weeks ago for RWA's Golden Heart contest. Earlier this year, I thought I was done with it but decided to lop off about 27,000 words to target it to Superromance. So now I'm currently entered in two contests and my book is with my best friend (my beta reader) and I am feeling vaguely sick. I told myself over and over that I wouldn't be the cliched 'artiste' who gets destroyed by rejection, but even the possible threat of rejection is having an effect on my psyche. I love writing - it's my hope, my greatest joy, my salvation in so many ways. I suppose if it's also what makes me pull out my hair, then that's proof I belong in this business. (Not really, but I'm grasping here)
I don't feel like writing today, even though I'm excited about the new book I'm writing targeted for Blaze. But I'm going to, because I'm not going to give up now. No frigging way.
Thank you, Denise, for giving me a kick when I needed it. And congratulations on your amazing success and tremendous perseverance. I'll be on the lookout for your book in the stores. :)
Cari
Good Luck!
Oh....I had to chime in here and wish you all the best, Cari! Your story really got to me. Fingers crossed for you on the Golden Heart!!
Good for you Cari! It is
Good for you Cari! It is hard, isn't it? And keep those beta readers close by you. They're the ones, more than anything else, that get you through the rejection. Without my critique partners, I'd never have made it. They talked me down more times than I can count.
Cutting 27k words--ow! kind of like cutting out a piece of your heart, huh?
Best of luck on the Golden Heart. What category? I want to be looking for you name come announcement day!
Oh man, could I use that 27K!
Don't we wish we could switch and trade that easily?
I'm just bemoaning having to try to hit 100K with an ST - it's such a hard length for me, I really write to 75, maybe 80, but 100 feels like torture. But, I'm working on it... I would love to have someone just send me 25K I could use... a Christmas present? LOL
Cari, you'll do it. And you're going to have a great call story one of these days! :)
Sam
A Couple Hours and A Bottle of Wine Later...
No, not really. I'm drinking Vitamin water, but wine sounded better! My outlook is a little brighter this evening. I just needed to think about the big picture and how long the road is to publication. A few pebbles on the path aren't going to slow me down, and hearing others' great stories only helps to inspire me further.
My Golden Heart entry was in the short contemporary category. Thanks so much for the words of encouragement, Denise, Karen and Sam. This blog is terrific. :)
Cari
Fabulous Post!
Fabulous Post! Congratulations on the release!!!
Your book looks and sounds wonderful! I can't wait to get a copy and read it! I am so glad you never gave up.
Thanks Jennifer!
Thanks Jennifer!
Staying in the game
Hi Denise,
Keep up the good work. What genres/time periods were you told were popular? Did you decide to take their suggestions and write a book for a different time period? Are your next books going to be Victorian's also?
No, I didn't try writing for
No, I didn't try writing for different time periods. I just waited for this one to be in vogue again. Don't know if it is in vogue yet, but I sure hope it will be. I love the 19th century--it was such a chaotic period, and writing chaos is a blast.
Regency is popular. So aren't Scottish books, and Westerns. At least that's my understanding--I could be wrong.
All but 1 of my historicals are Victorian American, 1836-1906. The second one takes place in 1885 and moves from San Francisco (and flirts with Society there) to a Colorado ranch, to an Texas ranch. The hero is the rebel Boston Brahmin son of the hero in Wicked Woman. The heroine is a traveling troupe actress--exactly the WRONG kind of woman for a Boston Brahmin. And then the heroine's stage manager is murdered,the hero and heroine are framed, and they're on the run from The Law.
Wow
Wow... that is what I call dedication!! 18 years before getting published... glad you have finally gotten through :)
Nathalie, I don't know if
Nathalie, I don't know if it's dedication or just cussed stubborness. I wouldn't believe it was so long, either, except that I started right after my oldest son was born and he is not 18.
Good luck
Good Luck with your new book!!
I find the writing industry highly difficult... as in all competitive ventures!
I am of the school of If you
I am of the school of If you want it, Go after it.
So glad you persevered and got a contract.
The cover is great!
Denise, big congrats to your first release
The writing industry is sometimes really weird. But congrats to your release. The book sounds really good
I love the cover too. You
I love the cover too. You guys must love to write, why else would you subject yourselves to so much. I for one am glad you all do!
Congrats!!!
Your story really inspired me! I hope your book is a huge success! You deserve it! That kind of dedication is rare!
It's so easy to give up when things don't happen as quickly as we would like!
I can't wait to buy my copy!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
ooh, a captain for a hero. I
ooh, a captain for a hero. I like that. Your story sounds good! I'm glad you persevered. Thanks for sharing.
Perseveration
The dictionary definition of perseveration is continuing an activity past the point where it makes sense. (I thought it applied to grad school quite well!) Some folk might think the years you spent "pre-published" fit the definition as well. But nothing is ever lost on a writer. We soak up experiences, twirl them around, and spit them back out as something fresh and new. You wouldn't be the terrific writer you are now without your dry years. Major congrats on your debut and your gift for perseveration!
Best,
Emily
www.emilybryan.com
AND THE WINNER IS. . . .
Jane! Please email me, Jane, at victorianromance@comcast.net so I can get your information and send you a copy of Wicked Woman.
And once again, thanks everyone for the nice comments and warm welcome!
Congratulations
Congrats on your success. I think it's wonderful that you persevered for so long. I'm wondering about your book, the plot, characters and when it will be in the store.
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