The publishing world is completely fair and democratic. You don't need to slip anybody a big wad of cash to break in. You don't need to threaten anybody with a kneecapping. You don't need to perform any lewd acts.
All you need are 3 things, and anybody can get them. Here they are: 1. Content 2. Craft 3. Connections
That's all! This course is about how to get each of those things and what to do with them once you've got them. Let's talk a little bit about each of them in turn:
Content is 'what you know.' It's your life experience and the knowledge you've gained from books and your intelligence and the wisdom that comes from getting older and that inner magic that only you have. Everybody has Content, and everybody's Content is different! You don't have my Content . . . and I don't have yours. That's good news, isn't it? It means that NOBODY can write the book you were meant to write. You don't have to worry about somebody 'stealing your idea,' because the book they would write with that idea is way different than the book you're going to write with it. Ideas are free. Your Content isn't. Your Content is what you're going to sell to a publisher. Your Content is all you have that's unique.
Craft is 'how well you write.' Let's face it, some people are boring and some people are fascinating. But here's an important point: people aren't BORN boring or fascinating. They grow that way. And they can change. If your writing is boring now, it doesn't have to always be that way. The Craft of writing can be taught! That's why there are so many books on writing, magazines on writing, courses on writing, conferences on writing, and teachers of writing. Because it can be taught.All it takes to develop good Craft is a bit of talent, a lot of hard work, and some good coaching at the right time.
Connections are 'who you know.' Now, let's be careful here. People often imagine that, 'if only my uncle were the president of Random House, I could get my novel published.' No. No way. No freakin' way. Puh-lease! Knowing a big honcho in publishing is NOT ENOUGH! Having the RESPECT of an editor is all you need. And, by the by, the way you get an editor's respect is by having great Content and great Craft. So getting Connections DEPENDS on first having Content and Craft.
Hundreds of writers every year sell their first novel to a publisher. That's the good news. The bad news is that over a hundred thousand writers every year sit down to start typing their first novel. Sadly, most of those never get published. Why not? Are the ones who get published smarter, funnier, luckier, richer, or sexier than those who don't?
No. The ones who get published are those who work hard and work smart. Your job is to work hard.
You don't need to slip anybody a big wad of cash to
break in. You don't need to threaten anybody with a
kneecapping. You don't need to perform any lewd acts.
All you need are 3 things, and anybody can get them.
Here they are:
1. Content
2. Craft
3. Connections
That's all! This course is about how to get each of
those things and what to do with them once you've got
them. Let's talk a little bit about each of them in
turn:
Content is 'what you know.' It's your life experience
and the knowledge you've gained from books and your
intelligence and the wisdom that comes from getting
older and that inner magic that only you have.
Everybody has Content, and everybody's Content is
different! You don't have my Content . . . and I don't
have yours. That's good news, isn't it? It means that
NOBODY can write the book you were meant to write. You
don't have to worry about somebody 'stealing your
idea,' because the book they would write with that idea
is way different than the book you're going to write
with it. Ideas are free. Your Content isn't. Your
Content is what you're going to sell to a publisher.
Your Content is all you have that's unique.
Craft is 'how well you write.' Let's face it, some
people are boring and some people are fascinating. But
here's an important point: people aren't BORN boring or
fascinating. They grow that way. And they can change.
If your writing is boring now, it doesn't have to
always be that way. The Craft of writing can be taught!
That's why there are so many books on writing,
magazines on writing, courses on writing, conferences
on writing, and teachers of writing. Because it can be
taught.All it takes to develop good Craft is a bit
of talent, a lot of hard work, and some good coaching
at the right time.
Connections are 'who you know.' Now,
let's be careful here. People often imagine that, 'if
only my uncle were the president of Random House, I
could get my novel published.' No. No way. No freakin'
way. Puh-lease! Knowing a big honcho in publishing is
NOT ENOUGH! Having the RESPECT of an editor is all you
need. And, by the by, the way you get an editor's
respect is by having great Content and great Craft. So
getting Connections DEPENDS on first having Content and
Craft.
Hundreds of writers every year sell their first novel
to a publisher. That's the good news. The bad news is
that over a hundred thousand writers every year sit
down to start typing their first novel. Sadly, most of
those never get published. Why not? Are the ones who
get published smarter, funnier, luckier, richer, or
sexier than those who don't?
No. The ones who get published are those who work hard
and work smart. Your job is to work hard.