One Size Doesn't Fit All!

Do you ever remember purchasing an outfit or an article of clothing labeled "One Size Fits All"?

You take the item home only to find out that you are not included in the "All." Maybe your arms are too long or maybe the robe is just a little too snug for you. It's disappointing to say the least.

What happens when you don't seem to fit the mold of the "typical writer"? Maybe you're not sure what direction to take, or maybe you're not apart of the writer's group everyone is raving about. To make things worse, you've just received a boatload of rejection letters for the manuscript you worked months to perfect. Because of these situations, you begin to question your ability to write and you wonder if you still need to write at all.

Wait! Before you close your laptop or retire that pen, understand that every writer has a different pathway. Take some time to ask yourself some questions, so you can reevaluate your situation.
Consider the following questions:

• Is this the best time for you to write?
• Are you writing in the proper genre?
• Do you have a specific target group who needs to read what you're writing?
• Are you passionate about what you're writing?
• Do you need to start with smaller projects?
• Have you had someone to edit your writing?

Now step back. It may take a few days to answer these questions about yourself. Once you've taken some time to answer these questions honestly, I'm sure you'll see the writer in you reemerging with a vengeance.

Just because one size doesn't fit all doesn't mean you can't keep searching until you find the right fit for your passion to write!

The Matchmaker -- "Finding Mr. Right"

Boy meets girl. It's love at first sight. They get married, and live happily ever after.

How did this couple meet? At work, church, on the Internet, or through a mutual friend?

Whatever the case, their paths crossed, they hooked up, and it worked!

Don't you wish this were the case for you with your writing and the many editors, writers, and publishers with whom you've tried to hook up? Instead, you find yourself writing proposal after proposal explaining to someone who you don't even know, why they should publish your book. All this work, only to receive a rejection letter? What's missing? Why do some writers get chosen while you haven't? You try so hard to play it cool and keep yourself from becoming jealous, but you can't help but wonder why your manuscript isn't good enough.

While you may never know why your work wasn't accepted by some publishers, you can and will find "Mr. Right Publisher". Who is "Mr. Right Publisher"? He is one who will see the value of your writing. He will offer kind, but firm words of correction and ultimately help you to catapult your writing to another level without deceiving you.

Below are some suggestions to help you find "Mr. Right" publisher:

• Research the publishers to see which ones will publish your genre of writing.
• Buy and read books on how to create a good proposal.
• Be patient.
• Get another writer/editor who can recognize good (or bad) writing to edit your work.
• Send your proposal to many publishers, (the ones who don't mind simultaneous submissions.)
• Be patient. (This is not a mistake!)
• Consider and research self-publishing as an option.

In due season, you will find the option that's best for you and your writing.