Ask the Author: Christine Merrill
Answered Questions (3)
Christine Merrill
Sorry to take so long in answering this. The embarrassing truth is, another book got scheduled between books two and three of a trilogy, and I lost track of the final manuscript of the previous book. I did not notice that I was pulling names from a rough draft and no one in editorial caught it.
So, my bad. If I ever get the rights back to these books, it is the first thing I will fix.
So, my bad. If I ever get the rights back to these books, it is the first thing I will fix.
Christine Merrill
I am sorry for taking so long to answer this. I am a flake and on deadline. Hopefully, you have not given up while waiting for me. (crossing fingers)
The first step is always to keep working on your craft. Make sure you are the best you can possibly be. If you get the same criticism a couple of times, pay attention. Ignore random comments, since that is what they are. Just random noise.
But if you are already doing that...
If it helps, most writers have been where you are now. There was a period or 2 or 3 years, where I was ready to be published, but still getting rejections and brutal contest entry critiques. There is a period of time where you have to put up with a lot of crap while waiting for the world to catch up to you.
When it comes to the fact that everyone seems to think they are a writer? The first step is to not think of them as competition. (and yes, that is hard). The ad that says "If you read only one book this year, read..." is totally inaccurate. Romance readers, are voracious. If you have the book they want, they will make space on the TBR pile for it. Marketing sucks, and you can get lost in the shuffle, but trust me, in the long run, you will feel better as a failed writer with finished books, then you would if you had not tried at all.
Do your best to ignore the industry news. It is always all bad. When I sold my first book, it was after being told by everyone I pitched to that the historical market was dead. I was a contest finalist, and eventually a winner, and yet, they did not want that book. (The contest judges bought it 2 weeks later).
As far as lack of ideas go? My best advice is to fill the well. Watch movies, read books, watch TV. Watch other people's stories. Pay attention to the ones that suck. Say to yourself, "This would be a lot better if..." Improve it in your mind. One step at a time, change everything about it. Now, you have a fresh idea.
Mostly, know that you are not alone in any of this. Keep trying.
The first step is always to keep working on your craft. Make sure you are the best you can possibly be. If you get the same criticism a couple of times, pay attention. Ignore random comments, since that is what they are. Just random noise.
But if you are already doing that...
If it helps, most writers have been where you are now. There was a period or 2 or 3 years, where I was ready to be published, but still getting rejections and brutal contest entry critiques. There is a period of time where you have to put up with a lot of crap while waiting for the world to catch up to you.
When it comes to the fact that everyone seems to think they are a writer? The first step is to not think of them as competition. (and yes, that is hard). The ad that says "If you read only one book this year, read..." is totally inaccurate. Romance readers, are voracious. If you have the book they want, they will make space on the TBR pile for it. Marketing sucks, and you can get lost in the shuffle, but trust me, in the long run, you will feel better as a failed writer with finished books, then you would if you had not tried at all.
Do your best to ignore the industry news. It is always all bad. When I sold my first book, it was after being told by everyone I pitched to that the historical market was dead. I was a contest finalist, and eventually a winner, and yet, they did not want that book. (The contest judges bought it 2 weeks later).
As far as lack of ideas go? My best advice is to fill the well. Watch movies, read books, watch TV. Watch other people's stories. Pay attention to the ones that suck. Say to yourself, "This would be a lot better if..." Improve it in your mind. One step at a time, change everything about it. Now, you have a fresh idea.
Mostly, know that you are not alone in any of this. Keep trying.
Christine Merrill
Not having to wear socks to work. Also, getting to keep pets on (and under) the desk.
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