The First "P" of Getting Published

by Pam Garlick
(Gilbertsville, PA, USA)

What do the following have in common?

1. Tiger Woods - Golfer
2. Michelangelo - Artist
3. Samuel Clemens - Writer
4. Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl Winners

If you answered: they all have to practice to achieve greatness, you were correct.


Practice:

By definition practice means:

1. To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of

2. To do or perform something repeatedly in order to acquire a polish or skill.

Whoever said “Practice makes perfect”, may not have had writing in mind, but their words fit the life of a writer. Sure we write because we love it. But we need to practice our craft all the more if we want to get published.

Here are a few exercises you can use to practice writing. They are designed to give you a variety of writing experiences.

1) Rewrite the same story or article over and over. It can get tiresome, but it’s what a writer often has to do. Especially if they face rejection in one market and need to rewrite the story for a different market that might want it from a different slant.

2) Write from different perspectives.

You may write a story about a woman who is married to an alcoholic husband. Then, write it again from the husband’s perspective.

Perhaps the husband wants desperately to save his marriage, but his demons are just too difficult to overcome. Now, what about writing the story from the perspective of one of their children. Of course, this is just one example.

3) Imagine a traffic jam on a major highway.

Write:
• A fictional piece in first person
• A fictional piece in third person
• As though writing for a newspaper or magazine
• With humor
• With frustration


4) Write about things that touch your emotions. There are certain emotions that drive a writer to start writing faster than others. I personally find that when I am upset, I feel a greater need to express myself on paper. Often no one ever sees what I write and it is therapeutic.

Of course, we’re not talking about therapeutic writing. We are talking about getting published, and once you are published, you want to duplicate that success. To do that you have to make your readers connect. You must touch their emotions.

Your reader might break out in tears or laughter as they read your story. That's good. What you don’t want is for them to walk away untouched or feeling stone cold and emotionless.

Next time you read, make a conscious effort to think about the parts in that story that touch you in some special way.

5) Stretch yourself.

I mean...to go beyond your comfort zone. Observe people, notice those little things that make them stand out, or make them different.

Of course, it’s easy to write about a character who is modeled after someone you like. Now, try writing one modeled after someone who irritates you. Try getting into their shoes, doing whatever it is that irritates you most about that person. I’m talking about a story that gives them heart, and perhaps explains their peculiar idiosyncrasies.

6)Take time to do research so that you know as much about the person as you can. This is true even if the person is fictional. Perhaps your character grew up working in their family restaurant. Find out what that is like before you write about it.

7)Interview the person you are going to write about.

Yes, even fictional persons is inside your head. The best way to bring a figment of your imagination to life is to talk to them. Though, I suggest you do it when you are alone.

As I said, challenge yourself. The Second and Third "Ps" will follow.