I went to a Maryland Writers Association meeting and heard Vonnie Winslow Crist, a poet, illustrator and fantasy book writer talk about her many experiences, adventures and struggles with the publishing world. She was full of suggestions, funny stories and good advice all of which led me to think about my own goals as a writer. ‘If you think you’ve written the next Steven King best seller,” she said “wait to connect with one of the big New York publishing houses.” If not, you can go with a smaller publisher. Well, I asked myself, have I written a best seller? Am I the next Steven King or maybe James Patterson?? Maybe, I answered. Maybe Dancing on the Razor’s Edge is headed for the New York Times Best Seller list. Maybe I do want to connect with a big publishing company, but how?? Vonnie urged getting ‘yourself out there’ because you never know what exactly will attract attention. Work and write and get your work published wherever and however you can, was her thought. And have several pieces of work ready so that when opportunity knocks, you are ready to answer.
Good advice. So here I am, on the computer writing my blog and thinking about all the places I can publish or get my work out there. Enter contests, she suggested, look into anthologies and see if your work can be included in a collection of similar work. Now I feel energized and determined, ideas are being generated.
So thank you, Vonnie for your inspiration I’m off to get the next ‘Steven King best seller’ published!