by Jessica Keller @AuthorKeller
Conference
season is upon us. Some people have recently returned home from the RWA
Conference and many are gearing up for the ACFW Conference. These events bring
a whirlwind of emotions. Elation from finding people who completely understand
you to holding in tears as you glance over a hurtful paid critique or after
feeling like you totally bombed an agent/editor appointment.
I’m here to offer encouragement for the latter.
Three
years ago, I walked into my first writer’s conference. I sat down for my first
ever agent appointment. She asked to see my first chapter and she maybe
read the first three sentences before looking back at me and saying, “You have
good ideas, but if this is your best writing, I don’t see publishing in your
future.”
I had two options. I could allow that agent’s feedback to kill my dream, or I could use that feedback as a challenge. I chose the latter (but did let myself have a good cry first!). I stuck the old manuscript in a drawer, and pulled out four recently published CBA books. I gave myself one month to read them all, mapping out their plots as I went. I took what I’d learned and wrote a whole new story.
But—sadly— that wasn’t the end of the criticism for my pre-published soul. Confident with my new manuscript, I paid for a critique from an author at my next conference and chose appointments with some tough-cookie agents.
The author laughed at my plot during our appointment. She laughed and made fun of my story. I’m not kidding. And one of the agents told me that the story wasn’t believable and couldn’t happen (which was funny, seeing as I know people that have had the same journey in their real life love story). Thankfully, I didn’t let these critiques hurt me (as much).
I didn’t let their words stop me from entering the story in some competitions and sending it out to agents. Learning from criticism paid off. I won first in every contest I entered with my new manuscript and I had offers of representation from all three agents I sent proposals to. All in less than four months since the day an agent told me she didn’t see a future for me.
The best news? That manuscript that I wrote…ending up being my debut novel, Home for Good. And one of my terrible paid critiques? That was the first chapter for my second traditionally published book (which released this month!) The Widower’s Second Chance.
So hold that chin up. Trust in the path God leads you on. And continue working hard. Keep learning and improving your craft. Criticism can be a very good thing. Most of all—we just have to get used to it because it never, ever goes away (hello one star reviews!).
TWEETABLES
Down after receiving a bad critique? @AuthorKeller offers some encouragement. #amwriting #publishing #writerslife (Click to Tweet)
@AuthorKeller shares what to do after receiving a bad critique at a Writer's Conference. #publishing #writerslife (Click to Tweet)
Indulge me in celebrating my latest release? The Widower’s Second Chance released on August first and it kicks off a new series for me called Goose Harbor. It takes place in a fictional tourist town on the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan, MI. Today I’m going to give a copy of the book away—just leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the giveaway.
The Widower's Second Chance
Learning
To Love…Again.
Idyllic Goose Harbor, Michigan, offers a fresh start for broken-hearted Paige Windom. In addition to securing a teaching job at the high school, she'll fulfill her dream of helping at-risk teens in a nearby inner-city mentoring program. But Caleb Beck, a handsome yet overprotective widower and the center's founder, doesn't want Paige anywhere near the place. He's afraid she'll get hurt—just like his late wife. Paige knows she can do a lot of good—for the kids and Caleb himself. If only she can show him how to let go of his fear, maybe they'll both find a way to reopen their wounded hearts.
Goose Harbor: Love is in big supply on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harlequin.
Jessica Keller holds degrees in both Communications and Biblical Studies. She is multi-published in both Young Adult Fiction and Inspirational Romance and has 100+ magazine and newspaper articles to her name. Her latest Indie release is a Young Adult Fantasy - Saving Yesterday. You can find her at www.JessicaKellerBooks.com, on Twitter @AuthorKeller, on Tumblr, or on her Facebook Author Page. She lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her amazing husband, beautiful daughter, and two annoyingly outgoing cats that happen to be named after superheroes.
I’m here to offer encouragement for the latter.
I had two options. I could allow that agent’s feedback to kill my dream, or I could use that feedback as a challenge. I chose the latter (but did let myself have a good cry first!). I stuck the old manuscript in a drawer, and pulled out four recently published CBA books. I gave myself one month to read them all, mapping out their plots as I went. I took what I’d learned and wrote a whole new story.
But—sadly— that wasn’t the end of the criticism for my pre-published soul. Confident with my new manuscript, I paid for a critique from an author at my next conference and chose appointments with some tough-cookie agents.
The author laughed at my plot during our appointment. She laughed and made fun of my story. I’m not kidding. And one of the agents told me that the story wasn’t believable and couldn’t happen (which was funny, seeing as I know people that have had the same journey in their real life love story). Thankfully, I didn’t let these critiques hurt me (as much).
I didn’t let their words stop me from entering the story in some competitions and sending it out to agents. Learning from criticism paid off. I won first in every contest I entered with my new manuscript and I had offers of representation from all three agents I sent proposals to. All in less than four months since the day an agent told me she didn’t see a future for me.
The best news? That manuscript that I wrote…ending up being my debut novel, Home for Good. And one of my terrible paid critiques? That was the first chapter for my second traditionally published book (which released this month!) The Widower’s Second Chance.
So hold that chin up. Trust in the path God leads you on. And continue working hard. Keep learning and improving your craft. Criticism can be a very good thing. Most of all—we just have to get used to it because it never, ever goes away (hello one star reviews!).
TWEETABLES
Down after receiving a bad critique? @AuthorKeller offers some encouragement. #amwriting #publishing #writerslife (Click to Tweet)
@AuthorKeller shares what to do after receiving a bad critique at a Writer's Conference. #publishing #writerslife (Click to Tweet)
_______________________
Indulge me in celebrating my latest release? The Widower’s Second Chance released on August first and it kicks off a new series for me called Goose Harbor. It takes place in a fictional tourist town on the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan, MI. Today I’m going to give a copy of the book away—just leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the giveaway.
Idyllic Goose Harbor, Michigan, offers a fresh start for broken-hearted Paige Windom. In addition to securing a teaching job at the high school, she'll fulfill her dream of helping at-risk teens in a nearby inner-city mentoring program. But Caleb Beck, a handsome yet overprotective widower and the center's founder, doesn't want Paige anywhere near the place. He's afraid she'll get hurt—just like his late wife. Paige knows she can do a lot of good—for the kids and Caleb himself. If only she can show him how to let go of his fear, maybe they'll both find a way to reopen their wounded hearts.
Goose Harbor: Love is in big supply on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Harlequin.
It's never easy to take, but something we have to face in this gig.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Everytime we put our work out there in any venue, it's going to get critiqued. I've learned to surround myself with supportive writer friends who will offer encouragement and help me see the truth when I face hard critiques and I think our skin gets thicker the longer we're in the industry. At least I hope mine does! :)
DeleteI'm thinking of doing a post in the future called something like The Positives of Receiving a One Star Review...
Thanks for sharing your story with us. It encourages those of us who are still in the rejection phase.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I know that authors being honest about their lowest times really helped (and still helps me) when I'm in the middle of going through a tough time.
DeleteEncouraging post, Jessica. I've had critiques from people who were dismissive and downright rude, but I still learned something from the experience (once I got over the shock of how I was treated). :) Nothing fuels our passion to keep improving our story like a good, honest, constructive critique. For writers, it comes with the territory.
ReplyDeleteSo true Andrea. That's the best way to deal with harsh critiques--look for one solid take-away that will help your writing be better and then wash your hands of the rude comments. Sadly, some people enjoy giving harsh feedback because it makes them feel superior. We just have to learn how to shift through the muck and take out the pearls (then toss the muck back in the river and move on!)
DeleteGreat post! A few years ago I met with a literary agent at a writer’s conference. After glancing over my manuscript, titled “Markers for Single Moms: Finding God’s Direction in the Chaos”, he said, “Your writing is clear and flows well, but there’s not a market for this.” Then he said, “A colleague and I have already written a book for single parents and it didn’t do well.” He said they interviewed lots of single parents for their book. He just encouraged me to work on my platform, which I did and still am. I left there thinking, what does an old man who’s never been a single parent know about being a single mom? I’d been a single mom for 19 years. I cried. A second critique from an author/teacher who leads a writing college at a university, said encouraging words about the “incredible potential” and need for a story like this to reach that genre. That manuscript won 3rd place in a West Bow contest. Then I met a successful Indie (also hybrid) author who’s used Amazon’s Create Space to publish the majority of his books. I thought if CS is good enough for him, then it is for me. Now, God’s story is out there and I’m on my 2nd book in the “Markers” series. God used both of those critiques to spur me on to publish my 1st book!
ReplyDeleteTerri this is awesome! Thanks for sharing your story. It's so encouraging to hear.
DeleteGreat post, Jessica! Criticism does make us stronger. We have to remember that everyone has an opinion, and they will all be different. Our job is to give the story our best. I'd love to see a post on "the positives of receiving a one-star review". :-)
ReplyDeleteGwendolyn that's very wise - not every story is meant for every person, and we should go into writing knowing that. I'm excited for the post on the Positives of a One Star Review! There are more positives than you'd guess :)
DeleteLoved this! During a critique I try to remember that, for the most part, the professional I'm speaking with has my best interest at heart. They want me to succeed and therefore offer the painful truth at times. I have a quote on my laptop that I think you'll like. It's by Matthew Barnett, "It's impossible to throw cold water on a dream birthed in the fire of God's revelation." Isn't that good?
ReplyDeleteThat's a GREAT quote Nan. Thanks for sharing it. I just might snag it and tape it up on my desk for encouragement too!
Delete