My First Rejection Letter by Wendy Homar

This article appeared in the Rocky Mountain Writer in November 2011. Many thanks to Wendy who graciously gave us permission to reprint it on Chiseled in Rock blog.

Wendy was born in Wisconsin but eloped in Sedona 30 years ago and has lived there with her husband ever since. She started a children’s book years ago but never finished it, so she's always known she had the writer’s “bug”. After 30 years in real estate, she realized a huge part of feeling unsatisfied everyday was that her job offered absolutely no creative outlet. She began writing her novel. It changed her life.

With no formal education in writing or literature to tout, she soaks up all she can through conference workshops, agent panels, pitching and via her critique group. Her interest is penning thrillers and mysteries...she's totally addicted to what drives people to commit crimes and how those crimes ripple through other lives. Although her novel is based on a dark topic, it is peppered with humor because she finds it hard to suppress her own sense of humor when she writes.


My First Rejection Letter by Wendy Homar

It began quite simply in February 2010 when I started writing a novel inspired by true events. I’d seen a short snippet on T.V. about witch doctors in Uganda and I was off and typing. The novel flowed without a day of writer's block. I wrote on my lunch hour, on vacations, I even hit the keys on the laptop when my husband was at the wheel, and for the next two years, I thought of little else.

As the novel wound down and I began the task of tweaking it to perfection, we headed off on a transatlantic journey that took us to ports along the eastern seaboard and then six joyful days on the high seas over to Barcelona, and of course my book came along too. One morning in the bustling dining room, a British couple stood, breakfast plates in hand and table-less, so we offered them the two empty seats at our four-top. He was dressed in a Scottish kilt, wool jacket and vest; she wore a contemporary button up blouse and skirt. We looked like typical American tourists with backpacks and cameras.

After striking up a conversation we learned he was not only a lecturer on the ship, getting ready to speak, but an author! One thing led to another and we had made arrangements to have dinner together the next evening. I was bursting to pick his brain and to tell him all about my book, certain he’d want to know all the details, including what had inspired me to write my intriguing thriller and of course, did I want the name of his publisher? When at last, after great anticipation, I finally told him about my book, I was alarmed by his response to me, “Can you take rejection?” That’s what he wants to know? Geez, what a buzz-kill, I thought.

I would soon learn that my new friend was only giving me a realistic introduction into the world of publishing. As a well-seasoned author, he was trying to prepare me for the inevitable, not trying to steal my thunder.

So I set out to quickly acquaint myself with the how-to’s of the publishing business. I learned about platform. I created a meaningful website. I blog. I tweet. I have a Facebook fan page. I joined major writers' groups across the country and traveled from my home in Arizona to conferences in Willamette and Denver and pitched my book. I joined a critique group. I bought books about writing query letters and a great synopsis and how to find literary agents in my genre. I sent in pages and chapters and waited.

And then two weeks ago, it happened. My first rejection letter. It was a day like any other, but it wasn’t, because this was that day...the day my cruise ship buddy had so wisely asked me to prepare for. Here I was, getting rejected...and the question hung in the air, could I really take it? Was I cut out for this business? I read the letter once. All I could see was one dismal line; she didn’t quite fall in love with my story.

Through slightly blurred eyes I read it again and this time I discovered a compliment there. She liked my engaging use of prose! I read it a third time; she liked my skilled use of suspense! Two compliments. I read it a forth time...maybe I’d missed something else. I had! She pointed out that hers was only one opinion. She was also encouraging me not to give up! As rejection goes, hers was respectful, kind and complimentary.

I brushed away the silly tear. I could take this. I would just head to the next conference, knowing I had a real skill for suspense AND engaging use of prose. I would send out another query, remembering hers was just one opinion, but an opinion I would treasure, forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for letting us reprint your article, Wendy. Respectful, kind, and complimentary rejections sure beat that submission twilight zone, the one that's labeled "If you haven't heard from us in umpteen weeks, you can assume we're not interested."

You can learn more about Wendy and her novel, Buried Innocence, at her website. She can also be found on Facebook.

Synopsis: A Perfect Fit by Janet Lane

A version of this article originally appeared in Rocky Mountain Writer in August 2011.


Synopsis: a perfect fit
by Janet Lane

I should never have touched the dress, but the tailoring was exquisite, the design flattering. Heart skipping with anticipation, I entered the changing room. I searched for a zipper but found none. Odd, I thought, given the small-waisted style. Doubts cooled my hopes. I have wide shoulders and a woman’s hips, and it wasn’t looking good.

I lifted my arms and slipped the dress over my head. It stuck on my shoulders, so I squirmed and wiggled until the dress was half on.

Breathing heavier, images of mutating hornworms came to mind, but I remembered the lovely draping effect of the skirt and found renewed resolve. I pulled the hemline down and a seam ripped. What kind of pretzel did the fashion manufacturer think I was? I pulled harder.

Another rip.

I conceded to the dress. It would ruin whatever hair style I had, any way. I reversed my efforts but the fabric, wedged so tightly on my body, wouldn’t budge.

I was stuck, trapped in a prison of tight, unyielding black fabric. The lining was as strong as any straight jacket. I couldn’t see. Sweat broke out in my armpits, not perspiration, ladies.

A knock at the door. The dressing room attendant. I swallowed and found my voice. “Yes?”

“Having problems in there? Can I help?”

Like most women, I’d rather submit to blood withdrawal before admitting I needed help in a dressing room. “No, thanks. Just ... checking different angles, that’s all.” Oh, sweet worry, I thought, if only to have access to some scissors. $189 (before the sale) or not, it would have made an interesting scarf. Recalling my Lamaze classes, I took some hoo-hee breaths and continued extricating myself.

Yes. I escaped. And bought it. I’d ripped my way into a purchase, after all. I sew, so I added a zipper, something the designer should have done if he weren’t an evil woman-hater. It has since become one of my favorite dresses.

What, you may say, does any of this have to do with writing?

I’m reminded of this experience when I try to write a synopsis. I enter them with the highest of hopes and optimism, believing that this time the words will flow, that I will be more able this time to condense a 400-page story into two pages. I’m afraid, but lured by the prospect of owning a strong marketing tool for the novel I have labored so hard to write. It never fits without pain, suffering, and a dose or two of terror, along with embarrassment when the critiques arrive. It always costs more, in terms of time and brain damage, than I ever anticipate, and in the end it doesn’t fit exactly right. It always takes another adjustment and more hard thinking.

And if I stay with it, it becomes, like the dress, an asset worth the effort.

Just think. Isn’t it wonderful that the synopsis generally runs one to eight pages, and the novel runs three to four hundred? Such a better ratio than the other way around!

It’s spring, time for an attitude adjustment. A synopsis is a wonderful thing. Here are two reasons why:

1. A clearly written synopsis is an excellent selling tool.

We can write the most memorable story in the world, but if we can’t communicate what the book is about, we can’t sell it. Unless we’re prepared to visit New York and physically visit all the editors and agents and deliver our spiels orally, the synopsis is our representative. We want that representative to be knowledgeable and dressed to impress.

2. A clearly written synopsis is an excellent writing tool.

A synopsis is so hated because it points out, with a glaring spotlight, those areas of our book that are unclear, undeveloped, missing, inconsistent and/or just plain wrong.
A dear friend compared writing a synopsis to sticking your freshly washed face into one of those well-lit magnified makeup mirrors that reveal all the pores, wrinkles and zits.
Using this analogy, this is a unique chance to re-make ourselves, to erase the imperfections before going out into the publishing world.

Synopsis. It’s confining, seemingly impossible, terrifying, challenging, embarrassing and time-consuming. But I challenge you: complete one on your current project and you’ll see for yourself the magic it can work for your novel.

Multi-published author Janet Lane writes women’s fiction and historical romance set in 15th century England during the so-called “Gypsy Honeymoon” period. She launched her “Romancing the Tome” column in RMFW’s Rocky Mountain Writer twelve years ago and has been contributing to it ever since. Janet also blogs on craft and the writing life at www.janetlane.wordpress.com

On Writing Well: A To Do List by Tina Ann Forkner

This article was originally published in the Rocky Mountain Writer in March 2011


On Writing Well: A To Do List by Tina Ann Forkner


1) Slow down. Too many writers write too fast. When I first got published I put a lot of pressure on myself to write faster, but faster is not better. This time around, I’m slowing down. As my agent recently told me, it is better to take your time and make it great.

2) Don’t write for publication. Writing only so you can get published is a trap for bad writing, even if you already have a few books under your belt. Write because you love to write and do it to tell the story of your heart. Your motives will show in your writing, so let it be your passion and not your desire to get published.

3) Go beyond the spell checker. This one is so basic that even published authors make mistakes. Have a trusted friend look over your writing for spelling and grammar errors before entering a contest, querying an agent, or pitching it at a writing conference.

4) Always listen to your mom. Do seek the affirmation of your mom, dad, aunt, sister, best friend or anyone who is going to love you no matter how well you write. Let her/him read your work. Consider their advice and let yourself believe them when they say you deserve a Pulitzer prize in fiction even if they don’t really know what that is.

5) Never listen to your mom. Whatever you do, don’t listen to your mom. I know this is the opposite of what I just told you, so after you listen then take a minute to not listen. People who love you unconditionally might not tell you that your manuscript is riddled with errors, that your main character’s name keeps changing or that your ending falls flat. Get a second opinion from a good, but not best, friend or a real writer friend who can identify areas of your story that could be improved upon. This would be a good time to join a writer’s critique group.

6) Do it 6 days a week. Write almost every single day to create a writing habit. Sticking to a writing schedule is the only way your novel will ever get written. Be sure to give yourself one day of rest. For me, I honor the Sabbath. I used to write on Sundays, but now I do my best to spend that time with my family because it refreshes my writing and refocuses me on what is important in life (and it’s more than just writing books).

7) You are what you read, so read better books. There are so many books to read. Some of them are good and some are really, really bad. Don’t just read a book because it has a big glossy sign at the bookstore checkout area. Read books that sound good to you and that compel you to turn the page. Read a new genre. Read something that challenges you. Read books by writers who are better than you. Your own writing will be better for it.

8 ) Get out of the box. Just because you wrote one type of story doesn’t mean you can’t write something different or better the next time. Try to best yourself on each novel. If you are already published there will be a temptation to let yourself be put in a box where all of your stories become the same, only with new characters, each time. Don’t let the quest for book contracts saddle you with expectations that keep you from becoming a better writer.

9) Go out on a limb. Do not censor yourself. Write the crazy plot that you haven’t told a soul about. Sometimes the story that you long to write, but think would never go over, will be your breakout novel. Even if it’s not, you’ll be glad you wrote it and you will learn a ton about writing and about yourself along the way.

10) If writing is getting difficult, it’s a good sign. I am writing something right now that I have loved every minute of, but the story has been a lot more difficult to write than my previous novels. I could quit and delete the whole story, or I could follow the advice of a fellow novelist who told me that it’s a good sign when writing gets difficult. If writing used to be easy and now it’s hard, you might just be feeling some growing pains. Keep writing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tina Ann Forkner wrote the first column for RMFW’s The Writing Life back when she received her very first book contract. She is now the author of two published novels, Ruby Among Us and Rose House, from Waterbrook Press/Random House. Her writing life as a published author has been an adventure in which most things haven’t changed all that much.

Find out more about Tina and her books at her website and two blogs, Random Ramblings and It is What It Is.

On Discovering New Ideas by Pam Nowak

One of the most frequent questions authors field is “where’d you get the idea for your story?” Personally, I have a head (and a file drawer) full of them. I amass ideas like junk mail…lots and lots of junk mail…and I find them nearly everywhere. But, since not all of us do things the same, I thought I would share a bit this month on where I discover story ideas.

My favorite idea spots are bookstores—actual bookstores where one can wander the aisles. Used bookstores are often especially fruitful because they house unusual topics that may not be “current” enough for inclusion in new book stores. As a writer of historical romance, the nonfiction sections draw me. Local history sections are gold mines, as are museum gift shops and stores in tourist towns. I can spend hours browsing titles, looking for unusual topics or histories of events. I’ve discovered books about gold rushes, frontier medicine, Indian life, women telegraphers, and beer brewers (among others). I’ve found information on famous people and completely unknown people in unusual situations. Suffice to say, I buy a lot of books.

And then there are magazines. For historical writers, there are an abundant number of periodicals with articles on everything from the history of ice skating to medicine healers to undertaking. I subscribe to at least one history magazine at any given time. I’ve also found intriguing character, plot, and setting ideas in travel magazines, women’s magazines, and Readers’ Digest. If something strikes my imagination, it goes to my idea file (usually in the form of the torn out pages of the article but sometimes via handwritten or computer-generated notes).

Visits to places can also prompt ideas. Sometimes, it is the setting itself that might conjure up a situation. This means ideas can come from the beach, a vineyard, or a mountain road. It might be the entire setting or it could be something that occurs there (such as a burro ride as opposed to the Grand Canyon). And don’t forget museums—especially historic home tours with their wealth of information on period lifestyle, the inhabitants, and events of the era. Museums can inspire with displays or an off-hand comment by a tour guide. Displays contain information and within the information are often tidbits that have the potential to blossom into stories—not to mention that almost every museum has a gift shop with books.

News items can offer more ideas. Natural disasters, crimes, and human interest features can launch a myriad of stories. Just think about it: one evening’s news might include spots on a hurricane, an autistic child, a crooked home-repair business, and a freak accident. Hmmmm…all sorts of stories there if one combined them.

And, of course, there’s peoplewatching. Traits, whether physical or behavioral, can be fodder for creating characters that are vivid but believable. Looking around, it’s easy to spot the outlandish things people do or say. Sometimes, it might be a mannerism. Other times, it might be how someone looks. Noting real-life situations can springboard ideas for how characters might respond or how conflict might be increased.

Ideas? They abound. All the writer need do is remain aware, take notes, and start tossing settings, characters, situations, and conflicts together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pamela Nowak was the 2010 RMFW Writer of the Year. Chances was the recipient of the 2009 HOLT Medallion for Best First Book, a WILLA Award Finalist for Historical Fiction, and was named to Booklist's Top Ten Romances of 2008. Choices, received a 2010 HOLT Award of Merit in historical romance.

This article was reprinted from the Rocky Mountain Writer, RMFW's newsletter, with permission of the author.