One of the things I love about going to conferences it the chance for writers to ask questions of the professionals. What I find funny, however, is the resounding lack of questions we often hear, or I guess I should say, we don't hear.
On the other hand, what I hear more often is this resounding screaming and yelling by writers not knowing what to do or what to expect. There is constant complaining about not understanding the business or even knowing what the editors and agents want. There are also constant questions about the things the agents and editors really look for with submissions and current projects.
Now here is the thing I find most frustrating about this industry. If there is a need to know, and the editors and agents will answer if the writers ask, why don't they? Just sitting around complaining that you want to know something or you wish Agent X or Editor Y would come to visit your writing group is not enough. You have to take action. That means to ask them to come, ask them to write articles. Do something.
What you will find with this business is that action leads to success. The writers that are successful are constantly working to get their work out to the right people, they are constantly developing new projects.
So I challenge all of the writers and chapters out there for some action in 2009.
If you want to know something from an agent or editor, ASK! - They have blogs, post questions. They have addresses - Write to them.
If you want an editor or agent to visit your chapter, ASK!
If you want an editor or agent to present at your chapter, ASK!
The only time I went to a conference (newbie with unfinished manuscript) I met with an agent and asked him what advice he could give me.
ReplyDeleteHe was wonderful! I will forever be thankful to him for his kind patience and great advice.
In the words of the Bible, "You don't have because you don't ask."
LOL
Kind of obvious, right? Don't know why we forget stuff like that.