Warmest Regards,

Kyle Smith!!!!

Best, Kaz

http://kazjordyn.blogspot.com

You said that Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected 140 times. I can’t find 140 literary agents in the young adult genre to contact. I’ve been bumbed out about the last story I wrote for young adults, I like it, I don’t normally say, I like it.

I got one liteary agent’s attention. He didn’t like my “one line” of “OUCH” in the story. He said I should expand the sentence, give more explanation. I am sure that additional explanation is not needed when you proceed reading. I don’t think I’ll be hearing much back from this gentlemen. I wish you could email agents with a humorous one-liner, like, “I thought I had you at ouch.”

Kathy

Great post. I am a therapist in foster care and sometimes that is enough to get me writing again when I’m blocked. My day job is very stressful and it leads me to writing as a form of therapy. Also my confidence grows when I see a comment on my blogs and get feedback from others about my writing.

When I first began writing my novel in January. I was obessed to the point of neglecting all my domestic duties. It was so hard all I wanted to do was write, all I thought about were my characters, the scenes and so on. I finally had to make a choice to slow down as I have two small children that have to come first, no matter what.

Some days I struggle with confidence when I come across blogs of authors that write the way I dream of writing. I don’t fit the profile of a writer, no formal education, a terrible primary education due to a crazy home life, and it goes on and on. Negative thoughts will intrude upon me and I will think about giving up as I did in the past. But for some reason with this book I cannot give up. There is a still voice that says,”MeLanie just keep writing.” I have about 20-30,000 more words to go and I am determined to complete this project. I want to do this for me. It will be the first difficult task I have ever completed for myself. It is a way of saying “I love you” to myself.

You know another thing that helps me keep up my confidence when facing a blank page - I have an email file of fantastic, gushy, happy emails from readers. My favorite letters are in there and I pop in there whenever I need a friendly reminder of just why I do this.

The way “unsuccessful writers” keep up their confidence is by focusing on their goals and reinforcing their optimism. One way is to join a writing community. Sharing your goals, your hopes and your fears with others can be balm to the soul. We all need support. Even more important, we need to reach out to others who can offer it. Friends and relatives can be wonderful, but only another writer can relate to the struggle.

Stop by my blog every Monday. I write a motivational essay for writers, just like you, just like me. We all need a boost. *smile*

Best,
Chiron O’Keefe
http://www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com

One piece of advice I offer is to recognize the difference between a critique partner and a cheerleader. During the creative process, we need those cheers. We need doses of optimism and hope like a runner needs hydration. When the book is finished, polished and revised, then additional (and critical) eyes are mandatory.

Having recently gone through a bout of physical therapy I would also add, take care of your physical health! Writers tend to hunch shoulders and the back. Better to put in the time for proper stretches and some weight-lifting to strengthen those muscles than end up needing weeks of recuperation. We tend to think physical labor is difficult but writing is easy. After all, we’re just sitting around!

Those muscles require attention to remain flexible and strong. Treat your body with the same care you would treat any tool you need on a regular basis.

Thanks for a wonderful post. I’ll share this link with several of my groups.

Best,
Chiron O’Keefe
http://www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com

I have looked at the pages you mention and I would love to make further enquiries, however, until I have some money in the pot it will have to wait. I don’t want to start getting excited with you only to explain that it will have to wait for six months whilst I sell everything non-essential in my home to pay for your services. You’re top of my list though!

How do you find a good editor? Here are a few suggestions:

1.First, check out their track record. Who are the writers they’ve worked with who have been published successfully?

2.Make sure that you’re talking to a developmental editor, not a copyeditor who just corrects spelling, punctuation and grammar. A developmental editor works with a writer on plot, characterization and literary style. You should receive specific line-by-line changes, edits, deletions, additions, corrections, requests for more information and greater clarification page-by-page throughout the manuscript.

3.Before you hire an editor, speak on the telephone and even in person, if possible. It’s important that you are compatible, feel comfortable and trust your editor since it can be an intense and personal relationship.

I don’t know of any editors who specialize specifically in YA post-apocalyptic stories. But a good fiction editor should be able to edit any story.

I work privately with writers, and you can read about my approach on my FAQ and Services pages. I’ve personally edited a number of YA books, so if you’re interested in contacting me, I’m at alan@alanrinzler.com

Alan

I keep coming across this advice about getting an editor - I have tried once and don’t feel I got the best service I could have. They wrote a nice report, got me a fast track to a couple of agents (who were complimentary but rejected nonetheless), but the editor changed very little in the book. Since then I have edited it again myself, reworked the ending of the book and feel that this should have been pointed out to me, thus making me wonder whether someone else would have been more beneficial. Do you (or any of your lovely commenters) have any good advice about where to find a decent freelance editor for YA post-apocalyptic fiction?