I Don't Care What Your College Creative Writing Instructor Said - They Were Wrong

This last weekend, I answered over 100 submissions. A lot of them were from people who were clearly at the end of the semester for the year in their MFA programs and starting to fire off those projects they had been working on. And, unfortunately, they were all making many of the same mistakes. I get really frustrated because I know that they students really do have their hopes of being great authors. I also know that these professors really are trying, but there is also a huge disconnect. Let me explain.

First, let's start with the professors in the MFA programs. These people are writing and are often publishing, but many are doing so, not in a commercial industry. Some are publishing with college presses. Some are publishing with small independent magazines. What they are teaching the students is often the sterile craft of writing proses and poetry. They teach "workshopping stories." Yes, these are certainly important, but when it comes to writing in the professional world, they are often missing the fact that this is a business and not simply a "creative writing process."

As for the submissions, I do not believe they are actually teaching them how submit to editors and agents. So many are simply attaching their document to an email, writing a quick letter and firing it off. But hear me out, this is often what you do when you are submitting to a small press, or to a magazine for a contest. But when submitting to editors and agents, there are different procedural steps to take and if you don't follow those steps, it will be a rejection. 

Finally, these programs are not truly teaching the ideas of commercial genres. They are simply teaching them to "write something that means something to the author." Again, we want you to write something that is important to you, but it has to be something that is marketable. Let me give you some examples. I had 10,000 word short stories. I had projects that were still in the the rough draft phases. I had people reaching out to me, after I rejected to say that they wanted to work with me to edit the story to make it worthwhile to sign me (um that is what I would do IF I had signed them). I had projects that weren't even in any category that you would find on Amazon or any other online platform.

My big word of advise for all of you in these programs is very simple. Go ahead and enjoy your time in these programs, BUT, learn the business of writing as well. This is not simply creative writing. 

Women's Fiction Does Not Equal Rom-Con or Depression

OK people, let's talk about women's fiction for a moment, shall we?

I spent Sunday morning answering submissions and I was deluged with women's fiction that fell into one of two categories. It seems that is all many of you seem to think women's fiction is about. Either you think it is ridiculous romantic comedy with characters struggling to find work and just figuring it out with friends with benefits, or, you have to create stories that are so depressing, it makes Where The Red Fern Grows look like the "Feel Good Movie" of the Century. Arrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!! Do you hear me screaming from the Pacific Northwest?

Now, don't get me wrong, yes, you can certainly have stories like those. But that is not the only approach you can take.

Let me again redefine for you the definition of women's fiction that I like to use. These stories are about seeing the world through the female eyes. Readers get to see how women problem solve things, how they reflect on issues and so forth. It is not simply a story with a female protagonist. It is not simply a story with or without a Happily Ever After or a story with our without sexual content. 

Now, here comes the twist to women's fiction. The reader has to be able to connect with the characters and their experiences. In the case of those depressing stories. when you take that story so far over the top with all of their personal problems and issues, the readers are going to tune out. For most people out there, we might have one of those problems, but all of those issues? I think not. And for those of you writing the rom-cons, while they might be funny, these are almost getting to the point that the stories are getting so unrealistic. If some of these experiences these women get into at their work happened in real life, they would be sooooooo fired! 

These stories truly need to read like "real life." OK, let me stop right here and say that these are not non-fiction or based on "real life experiences. That is not what I mean. These stories need to READ like real life!

I hope that helps!!!!!!!!

When Might We Take A Chance On You?

I often hear authors say, "If you would just give me a chance...." I hear you! I honestly do! We all do and truthfully, I know a lot of agents and likely some editors wish we could give you that chance. When I first opened Greyhaus many editors and agents did take those risks. They would see those "diamonds in the rough" and gamble. But times have changed.

Let me remind you first of something, and I especially want to focus on agents for this post today. 

When an agent works with a new author, that agent is working for free until that first book is sold. Remember, agents work on commission! It is for that reason that we are often looking for manuscripts and authors who really have something to offer. No, I am not saying we are looking for only the next J.K. Rowling. We are looking for authors who have projects that are marketable and projects that are not likely going to require extensive overhauls. We are certainly not looking for someone who comes to us with simply a passion for writing and nothing to offer but just wanting to be tutored. There are times when we might actually be working with an author for a year getting a project ready to go.

Sure, we do get people who have projects that are amazing from the start! Those are great! We love those!

But now, let's really answer the question from the title of this blog. Are there chances that we might take a chance on you even if it is a gamble? I cannot speak for everyone, but I can say, speaking for myself, I would say yes, I would. BUT... and this is a big one... I would have to really consider a lot of things.

First of all. Do I see the writing with something with some serious potential. What I am talking about here is the quality of the writing, the quality of the plot and certainly the marketability of the story. I have to see it! Sure, you as an author might see it, but I have to see it. That means, SCOTT HAS TO SEE IT!

Secondly, I have to be able to look at the story and see how I would fix it. As I read the full manuscript, if I am actually still reading it, do I see where I would make changes and how much work what I would do to it? Sometimes it might be a complete rewrite of part of the story. Sometimes it is a restructuring of it. I will be honest, if I think it is a trash the whole thing, it will be a pass. I want the structure to remain. Think of it like those house flippers. They want the general structure of the house to be there but just bust out some walls and move some things around. If I have to bulldoze the whole house down and start over, then sorry, I won't take a chance. 

Finally, if I do see all of that, I have to consider who the author is. Is this author someone who would be up to this type of a task. This is not easy to do. Revisions like this are hard to handle because we will be working on a time schedule and we will be working with people's egos. If some author, in their letter told me they have worked on this all year, then I probably will pass. If they are a new author, then I might pass. If, when I talk to them and they sound like making changes will be a challenge, then I will pass. It is easy for an author to say they can adjust, but the reality is, when an editor or agent gives you revision notes, can you make those changes without complaining and make those changes fast? 

I know this sounds like if feels unfair to new authors. You have to be really strong out of the gate. You have to be nearly perfect with that first book. But please know, we are really looking out for you. We are trying to find the best in your writing and not just signing people we like or signing people who will make us millions of dollars. We will take a chance, if we think we can make it work!

Or at least I will 

An Easy Solution For All Of Your Writing

One approach that might help you with your writing, whether it is your story, your query letter, your synopsis, your resume, your cover letter or anything else is actually a fairly easy think anyone can do. No, it does not involve A.I. No, it does not involve learning some advance forms of grammar or writing skills. No it does not involve some amazingly long course that you would have to pay a ton of money for and invest a huge time commitment. It is really VERY easy.

Read it as a reader.

When I teach resume writing, I always remind the participants to look at their resume as if they are an employer. They have no clue who you are. They have never met you. They have no idea how amazing you are (because of course, in your head, your the best thing ever). Look at that resume and ask if you would hire yourself just from what you have on that piece of paper.

The same goes for a query letter. 

This last weekend, I was reading a stack of new submissions. I am wondering what these people would have thought if that came across their email. Let me give you some idea of what I saw.

Dear Mr. Greyhouse...

Dear Scott, I know I am not a great writer but I figured, what the hell, let me take a stab at this anyway.

To whom it may concern [and in the TO portion of the email was a list of 40 other agents it was being sent to]

Emails with no signature, no name and nothing telling me what the project was about.

Dear Scott, Attached is my story. It's good. Read it and sign me.

You might think I am joking but this is just a sample and yes, these are the extreme end of the spectrum. Still, if you were to read your material as if you did not know you, would you hire you?

If you read your first three chapters of your story, which happened to just be laying on a table somewhere, and you had no clue who had written it, would you keep reading?

See how easy that was? It was so easy, this post was that short! Now, I am off for a cup of coffee!