We So Love Scaring People on Seekerville-Here's One Now :) Denice Stewart

When told I would have the opportunity to be a guest blogger on Seekerville, I was humbled and touched.

And panicked.

I’m talking lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, grinding my teeth together as I wracked my brain to come up with a topic worthy of Seekerville status.

And I got nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada.

So naturally, being the writer that I am, I started doing research on the posts I’ve read in the last few months.

Some of the topics include knowing the business-side of writing; doing your research; improving your craft; interviews with established authors, editors, and agents; contest information; career management; the list goes on.

And being the newbie that I am, I wondered what I could possibly add to the wealth of knowledge and experience already represented by this diverse, talented group.

My conclusion is that there are universal truths in the information available here. Truths we newbie’s need to pay attention to.

I believe as writers beginning our journey toward publication, we can save ourselves much grief and heartache by studying and listening to those who have gone before us. I know when I started writing, all the way back in high school, I thought I knew it all. My teachers encouraged me, told me I had a gift for the written word, and I should pursue writing as a career someday.

Yay! I loved reading. I loved writing. Why not get paid for it?

Then came college. Again, I got great encouragement from my professors. I “showed a talent” and “needed to take my writing to another level.”

Hey, whadaya know? I’ve got talent. I should be a writer, a shy little mouse like me. (Insert the sound of ego inflating here). And if I ever got around to writing a book, I would take the literary world by storm. After all, I had four or five people not even remotely related to the publishing industry telling me how good I was.

And some six or seven years later, when I finally got that book written, I gave it to five “honest” friends, again people who were in no way connected to the publishing world.

They loved it. This was a great book. When was I sending it out? They couldn’t wait to read it.

Now comes the really funny part.

It got accepted by a publisher.

On the first query I sent out.

Huh?

During that six or seven years I had been reading craft books, reading magazines about writing, doing research on the web, went to my first local conference, and studying books in my genre.

But my head was still inflated to the size of a hot air balloon, and God had some powerful lessons in the art of humbling Denice.

I attended my first national conference, ACFW, in 2006, and received my well deserved comeuppance.

I went there thinking I would be the next J.K. Rowling, CBA style, and take the literary world by storm.

The first thing I remember attending was the agent panel, and my dream agent sat up there. And as they went down the line, my hopes were dashed one by one.

“Not interested in Young Adult.”

“Not interested in Middle Grade or Children’s of any kind.”

All of them. Every single one said it. I felt sick. What about my Great Masterpiece? Wasn’t this why God wanted me here? Hadn’t He thrown open all the doors so far?

Then came the editor panel. Same thing: no one wanted YA or Children’s.

But that was okay. The Maniacal Ego would not be defeated so easily, and I knew once I got into those appointments and had a chance to show them the second book I was pitching for that series, they would see my genius and trip over themselves to sign me.

HA!

The first appointment, I sat down in front of the editor and cried. The second appointment, I was so traumatized by the first meeting, I told the agent I wasn’t ready, and asked if I could pitch to her again someday when I was.

She graciously agreed.

And these painful experiences taught an introvert like me the danger of letting your ego lead the way. You’re not doing yourself any good hiding under a rock, but allowing pride to fill your heart instead of God will bring about a swift and disastrous fall.

So now I try to help myself by taking the sage advice of those who have gone before me and have braved the trials and tribulations on the road to Publication. Practice what the Seekers preach; keep tabs on the business-side of writing, study to improve your craft, enter contests and listen to the feedback from those, go to conferences to connect and stay informed.

Follow your dream to be a writer, but be humble, or God will help you get to your knees, one way or another.

Thanks for having me.


Denice Stewart (writing as D.C. Stewart) lives in Oklahoma City, OK with her husband and their three young children. Her first middle grade adventure, Where Would Cows Hide?, was released in March 2008 by Baker Trittin Press.

http://www.dcstewart.net/

http://www.dcstewart.blogspot.com/

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