Okay, I’ll admit I’m less than knowledgeable about the process editors and agents have in choosing what books they decide are winners and losers. But, even a novice writer understands that we don’t have the expertise to know what we don’t know! So….with that said, I’ve been reading several blogs on editors and agents. One in particular I really enjoy is Janet Reid’s “Literary Shark” at http://queryshark.blogspot.com. She is shameless in her honesty, but a hoot!
For any writer who is willing to take a good kick if their writing isn’t up to par, sending a query to Janet Reid is like hitting a gold mine. If she like’s your work, she likes it. If not, you are relegated to the “slush pile” quicker than a muscle twitch. So what has this to do with anything?
Well, I’m working on a pitch that I hope to throw in front of her sometime in the next 60 days. If I can keep her from puking….I win! If I can’t, then I might get a good critique that will turn this pitch into a teachable moment….I win again!
The point is, learn from what the pros tell you. They know good work when they see it. They also know what won’t sell. Learn from them. Don’t take their critiques personally. Their thoughts make your writing better, one way or the other!
