Why Ask Why?

Have you ever received a rejection letter from a publisher? Or have you had someone to give you a negative critique on one of your writing projects?

If you have, I'm sure you've asked "Why?" I can understand your need to ask this question, but let's face it: You probably will never know why someone said no to your writing. You could spend an entire day, week, or even year wondering why a publisher, editor, or fellow writer didn't like what you wrote. However, you can also spend that same energy perfecting your manuscript. What are some steps you can take to improve on your writing?

• Put your current manuscript away for awhile.
• Read a book on writing in an area where you would like to improve your skills - subjects may include: marketing, shaping your characters, writing a book proposal, etc.
• After about two weeks, pick your manuscript back up.
• Reread it with a fresh eye.
• Make the changes.
• Send it to other publishers
• Start working on your next manuscript.

While you could waste your time wondering why someone said no, you can just as easily use that same time figuring out ways for your reader to say yes. Keep writing.

5 Obvious Reasons Why Your Manuscript Was Rejected

Let's face it-- None of us enjoys rejection.

To many of us, receiving a rejection letter is just another reminder that someone else dislikes our writing; or did they?

Sometimes the editor who read your manuscript may actually enjoy your writing, but there are some minimum requirements you may have missed which caused him/her to send you the bad news.

Below you'll find a few reasons why your manuscript may have been sent back to you:

You:

• Submitted your manuscript to a publisher that doesn't publish your genre of writing.
• Did not submit your manuscript by the deadline.
• Did not do spell or grammar check, so your manuscript is filled with misspellings and typos.
• Submitted your entire manuscript instead of the query letter or book proposal they requested
• Exceeded the required word count

Even if you're guilty of some of these mistakes, there is good news. You can solve these problems using the following strategies:

• Keep a calendar nearby so you'll be aware of the deadlines for particular publishers.
• Always spell check your manuscript before closing the document.
• Hire a good editor to check if you meet the writing guidelines for the publisher you're submitting your manuscript to.
• Buy and read books on writing good query letters and book proposals.
• Find out the proper word count and adhere to these guidelines.

If you follow these steps and still receive rejection letters, you'll at least know you've done your best. In addition, you can keep sending your manuscript to other publishers until you receive that letter of acceptance. Whatever you do, don't give up!

The 4 Deadly Sins of the New Writer

Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, new writers come on the scene with a boat-load of enthusiasm and great ideas. They're ready to take on the world...and the publishing industry. I wonder if they know what they're getting themselves into.

While they start out with zest, however, somewhere along the line, many new writers fall into the pit of discouragement. They forget about the words they wanted to write in order to change the lives of their readers. The thought of writing to solve people's problems goes right out of the window.

Where did they go wrong? I believe they committed one of the 4 deadly sins of the new writer. If you're not careful writer, you could fall into the same pit. Below you'll find these 4 Deadly sins:

1) Procrastination.
Solution: Write something everyday

2) Allowing the discouraging words of others to stop you from writing.
Solution: Refuse to believe negative words and write a response to the comment that was made in your writing journal.

3) Allowing a few rejection letters to stop you from writing.
Solution: Work to improve the manuscript you sent off to the publisher(s) and send it to another publisher.

4) Allowing unexpected or traumatic circumstances to stop you from writing.
Solution: Write through your pain. You can even write about the experience. It's therapeutic!

While there are so many things that can prevent you from writing, you must be willing to press through your mess and write despite your hindrances. After all, life happens, but as a writer, you can respond to it through your pen and paper!

Today is Your Day-- Set It Up!

Today...right now is the opportunity for you to change your life. How?

Start a new writing project. Of course you're working on something else, and I'm not telling you to put your current manuscript away, but I am telling you to write one additional thing to prepare for the next project. What can you do today to start the chain of events?

You can write one of the following:

• Five writing goals
• One page for your next novel
• A web of phrases for your next article
• Ten characteristics about a new character for your next novel
• A letter to someone you love or someone who hurt you

Don't let this distract you from what you're currently doing. Just look at this brief exercise as a set up for your next project, and doing this should prevent you from ever experiencing writer's block again.

Now put this away for later and go back to your current project. Remember, it's always important to finish what you've started.

If you do this exercise once a quarter, you will always have something to write and you'll be able to write on a consistent basis.

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!