Hey! We're back on the blog chain. This chain is brought to you by the letter X and the talented Rebecca, who wants to know: What is the best mistake you've made so far in your journey as a writer? How has that mistake helped your grow?
The question is really: which one do I choose? I've tried very hard over the last couple of years to look at every mistake as a learning opportunity. I figure, the bigger the mistake, the bigger the opportunity to learn something.
I think I mentioned it in one of the comments, but my best mistake was querying. I hadn't even finishing revising yet before I queried. I was so green, I didn't even have a critique group. When I got my first MS. request, I had to stay up half the night finishing my revisions. And it was my best mistake because it landed me my agent and my subsequent publishing contract.
But I don't want anyone to be like: this is how you should do it. Because the truth is that I was lucky I had a strong voice and hook. My plot was a mess and I was missing so many commas that I must have driven Chris crazy. I went through multiple revisions with Chris and then multiple revisions with my editor. Revisions that I SHOULD have done myself. I sent DDL out into the world days after I'd finished it. Now, granted, I'm a "revise as I go" kind of person, which means that I revise earlier chapters as I work on later ones, but still, if I'd sat on DDL for 3 or 6 month, I might have seen some of the glaring faults.
So you should definitely use this as an example of what NOT to do. I'm happy with how things turned out, but I only got one chance to make a first impression on my editor, and now I worry that I'm always going to be that writer who needs lots of guidance on plots. Always put your best pages forward.
Well, take a look at Michelle's awesome answer to this question, and then tomorrow head over to Cole's blog, but be careful, she will steal your peaches!
I think this is a very common problem among writers, so it's good for you to point it out.
ReplyDeleteYou are very lucky that you got such an opportunity - or you're just that dang good (which really sucks for the rest of us mortals). Have no fear though - I will not toss my stuff out there early. Hell, if I get it out there at all, that'll be a step forward. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteWow, that was an awesome mistake! Sounds like it turned out pretty darn well. Great post.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I had the complete opposite end result as you'll see from my later post.
ReplyDeleteSo before my head swells, I should probably point out that my experience was pure luck. I had two awesome people (my agent and editor) who were willing to take a big chance on someone who had turned in a manuscript riddled with errors.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I submitted my first story for publication when I was 17, so I've got about 15 years worth of rejections. I even had the nerve to send my first book, a fantasy stinker, directly to an editor.
LOL! and yeah, I have to agree with Eric - you ARE probably just that good!!!
ReplyDeleteSo you're the exception that proves the rule? Is that how the saying goes... I think it is;) Either way, it's an excellent point - it's always difficult to resist the impulse to send out too soon.
ReplyDeleteYep, I always send out too soon, or at least it is something I really struggle with. And don't sell yourself short - if they were willing to take a chance on you, you ARE good :) mistake riddled ms or not :) But it is a mistake a lot of writers make. I rely on my crit buddies now to help me know when I'm ready to send something out. Because I always want to jump the gun :D Great post!!
ReplyDeleteUm, WOW Shaun, I wish my mistakes turned out that well! I've jumped the gun on querying, and I still only have 2 people to crit for me. Trial by fire seems to be the way for many authors. Glad it worked out so well for you!
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing, except for me, my book wasn't even finished. Yeah, I know, I'm an idiot.
ReplyDeleteHaha, newbies.
Great post.
(But somehow, I also ended up getting a book contract. Not for that particular book, but my query for that book is what opened a door for me, so if I could do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same.)