Ask the Author: Susan Meraki
Answered Questions (4)
Susan Meraki
Just finished Polarity #2 and crafting the outline to #3. I've also been pitching a few other projects.
Susan Meraki
This is a journey of attrition that moves at glacial speeds. The journey has many steps - each has an enormous chance of rejection. You have a better chance to make a living as a professional athlete than as a writer, so manage your expectations. Finally, there is nothing that can adequately prepare you for the review process; submit your work to local readers groups first to thicken your skin.
Susan Meraki
Writing. (note that this text field requires that my answer be at least 15 characters long, so I'm writing this to fulfill that limitation)
Susan Meraki
There are two kinds of writer's block: 1) Hitting a wall when you're trying to finish a current work (e.g., unsure as to how to fill a plot hole that you didn't previously consider) and 2) Hitting a wall when you're trying to start a new work. For the first case, I take a 20-minute nap in complete darkness. It's just enough time to fall into a slightly deeper sleep - one can recognize it when you start to have some freaky dreams that you're still consciously aware of. Most of the time, that works. If it doesn't then I work on a different section. For the second case, I pass ideas to people I trust. More specifically, I give them loglines to gauge their receptiveness. If the logline works then I give them the pitch. If that works, then I give them an impromptu jacket copy. Finally, if that works then I give them a synopsis. This may sound lengthy, but there's rarely a greater sense of regret towards when you're deep into a work and you realize that there's not much substance to it. By the way, if you're looking for an agent/editor/publisher, you will need to do these steps anyway.
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