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Resolutions for the Newly-Published-- and the Yet-To-Be Published Alike It’s that time of year again: the time of reassessment and reevaluation, renewal and revision. In short, it’s time to resolve. Since we’re all writers here, it seems appropriate to use this space to make some writing resolutions for 2005, resolutions that are true for me-- and might also resonate for you as well. I’m writing them down here to solidify them for myself… and in the hope that the public confessional aspect will help me to stick to them better in the year ahead. So here they are, my Top Three Writing Resolutions for 2005. Feel free to adopt as many as apply to you-- and Happy New Year! 1. Let 'Em Live! If you’re like me, you probably have a least a couple good ideas every day—and maybe more. Sadly, though, most of my good ideas die quick, brutal deaths. They should be killed off by editors, agents or publishers. But those folks never even see them, never even hear about them. Why? Because I kill my good ideas first… before anyone else can. It may be only me, but I think writers get so used to rejection that we exercise a kind of “preemptory rejection process” or PRP. PRP means that, in the speed of thought, we talk ourselves out of viable plans, possible story ideas, and future revenue streams. In short, we save ourselves the trouble of writing out proposals, and the pain of rejection by “getting ourselves… before THEY can.” When I write about it in a column like this, it’s obvious to me how damaging and dangerous PRP is. Sure, there are times when an idea is really half-baked and needs to stay in the oven a little longer… and there are ideas that we probably should toss out with the trash before they stink up the whole room. But there are many more ideas that need to have their moment in the sun-- or least to be offered to the world-- that never get their chance because PRP reinforces our laziness and appeals to our desire to protect our tender feelings from the possibility of further rejection. And that’s the problem. PRP thrives in a mindset that assumes rejection. But maybe, just maybe there’s an acceptance or two or twelve out there with my name on it-- with your name on it. With PRP as my default expectation, I may never know how many acceptances are possible for me, and if it’s your default expectation, you’ll never know how many acceptances belong to you, either. The truth of the positive possibilities of presenting ideas more aggressively was confirmed by my talented editor, Selina McLemore, who, when I informed her of the deluge of ideas coming her way, responded enthusiastically. “I think it’s great to pitch as many ideas as you can,” she said. “When editors talk to new writers BEFORE they sign them, they'll ask questions like ‘Do you have other projects you are working on? Are you developing any other story ideas?’ You want to have as long a list as possible. Lots of ideas shows an editor you’re always thinking… and that’s a good thing.” So, my first resolution for 2005 is to change my selector from “assumed rejection” to “I-don’t-know-what’s-going-to-happen-but-I’m-willing-to-give-it-a-shot.” I’m not quite willing to assume that what I submit will be accepted… but I’m willing to give up PRP and see what happens. What about you? Are you squelching your ideas before they’ve had a chance to grow? Maybe you should consider resolving to replace your PRP with something a little more optimistic in 2005! 2.
Review the contents of the
“The Drawer” for marketable ideas and get them out there. You know “the drawer.” The place where dead ideas go. The home of stories with great beginnings that never grew middles or endings. The holy repository of finished projects that were rejected all over town, and for unfinished projects with no clear future. Every writer has a “drawer,” a file folder, or a floppy disc (or several of them) of projects that never quite made it out into the world. The drawer is suspended animation. Too often, however, writers consider the drawer not as project hibernation, but as the project graveyard. Once surrendered the drawer, the project is never revived again-- except in reminiscent conversations, “Yeah, I started a story about that once, but it’s gone to the drawer now.” Opening the drawer is like revisiting the skeletons in your closet-- sometimes it’s a reminder of weaknesses, a chance to confront failures. Shifting your view of the drawer from death to life means being willing to confront your failures and to see them as stepping stones to a better, stronger and more vibrant future project. In 2005, I’ve resolved to go deep into the drawer-- and to look hard at its contents. I’m going to stop looking at the drawer as “defeat” and start seeing it as a “resting place” for those projects that I either didn’t have the ability, maturity or life experience to finish back then… but that might just have a shot now that I’m older and wiser. Or not. The point is, I’ll never know if I’m not willing to re-read, re-open, and reconsider. Again my editor, Selina McLemore, agrees: “If you have one idea I like, I’m going to ask you about your other ones. Even if those ‘dead ideas’ aren’t your absolute best, it's great to be able to present as many ideas as possible. You might say something to an editor like, ‘Well I'm always thinking, and while I'm not in love with everything, some of my ideas have been x, y, z…’ And as I said before, having lots of ideas shows me you're thinking all the time. That’s what editors want to see from writers: new ideas, all the time.” How about you? What’s in your drawer? Maybe 2005 is the year to revisit a project from the past-- and make it your magnum opus for the future! 3.
Network with other writers. Friends are good things-- not just because it’s good to have folks around you who have similar interests, but because you never know whom you can help-- or who can help you! Already in my long and checkered path to becoming published, I’ve met people who have turned out to be great supporters, friends and resources (some through this column, thank you!) who have helped me in innumerable ways. They’ve taught me that the more willing I am to share, reach out, network, and assist others, the more good things come back to me in ways both anticipated and unanticipated. I’ve been hesitant to share in the past; partly because I’ve doubted that my experiences would have meaning or value to others. And it’s true, not everything I do or say has worth to everyone. But that doesn’t mean my words are worthless to everyone either. Sometimes, one little comment goes a long a way to one person, and that alone is enough to make the communication worthwhile. Are you holding back because you think your contributions won’t please the masses? Maybe it’s time to stop thinking about “the masses,” and start thinking about the impact you might have on just one person, if you’re willing to put yourself and your work out there! In 2005, let’s all resolve to help each other-- as fellow writers and as human beings-- and see what a difference it can make! Happy New Year-- and happy writing! Karyn Langhorne is a "recovering" lawyer and a long time writer, who recently signed a two-book deal with Harper Collins. Her first novel, A PERSONAL MATTER,
was released in September, 2004 (read an excerpt at her homepage
http://hometown.aol.com/karynlanghorne). Other published credits include three books of nonfiction
[Cover Letters They Don't Forget (VGM-1991); How to Write A Winning Cover Letter
(VGM 1993); and
Life's Little Recipe Book (self-published 1998]. She has also written several screenplays and a play, Primary Loyalties, which was produced off-Broadway and was optioned by NBC-TV in 2000. She lives in the
Washington, D.C. area with her seven-year-old daughter. |
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