Top Secret! The One-Year Path to
Publication
BY STEVEN BARNES
There is a way to virtually
guarantee your publication within a single year. No, it has
nothing to do with self-publication. This path is not for
dilettantes, and will push you to the limit, but it has worked
for dozens of my students, and it will work for you.
It is based on writing
principles first proposed by two giants in the publishing
field, science-fiction writers Ray Bradbury, and Robert
Heinlein, over 30 years ago. And no, you don’t have to be a
science fiction writer. No matter what your ULTIMATE goal —
novel, screenplay, playwright, or poet — you can adapt this
method. It is designed to address literally every major
problem you have or might encounter as a writer.
- Write a story a week, or a
story every other week.
- Read 10X as much as you
write.
- Put your stories in the
mail. Keep them in the mail until they sell.
- Never re-write except to
editorial request.
And there you go. Now let’s
look back at the steps for a bit of further explanation.
1. Write a story a week, or
a story every other week. These can be as short as you
wish. No, it doesn’t matter if you want to write novels, or
your ideas tend to emerge from your subconscious in long form.
If you’re a newbie runner training for a marathon, you’d start
by running around the block, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t start
by running twenty-six miles, that’s for sure! Everything you
need to know to write a book is contained in a short story,
and writing 100,000 words of short stories will improve your
writing far more than that same 100,000 words devoted to a
novel. Scriptwriting? Before you can write a script, you need
to be certain you understand storytelling. I mean REALLY
understand it, subconsciously. Short stories give you a chance
to hone your skills. Poetry? Well, in this case, write a poem
a week! Non-Fiction? Sure! Write an article a week!
2. Read 10X what you write.
There is nothing sadder than a young writer who doesn’t read
for fear of “contaminating his style.” This is complete
self-delusion. A writer DESPERATELY needs to read everything
she can get her hands on... and of the very best quality.
Personally, I read one act of Shakespeare aloud each morning,
to simultaneously improve my writing and speaking ability.
3. Put your stories in the
mail. Every week, or every other week, one of your stories
should be submitted to an editor who pays money for
publication. Frankly, it doesn’t matter how much. Money is a
very cold equation, something different from pats on the back,
cheers, contributors copies or even awards. When an editor
cuts you a check, there is a lack of warm fuzzy feelings, and
a down-to-earth “will my readers like this” that is completely
different from the accolades or criticisms of your writing
group or class. THIS is the feedback you need: a check that
clears the bank. Get your stories out! And Web publication is
just fine in this regard — as long as there is money. Even a
penny a word — or less! — is just fine.
4. Don’t re-write except to
editorial request. Once your story is finished and
initially re-written, move on. Don’t re-write endlessly,
trying to get it “perfect.” You’ll learn more by writing a new
story than re-writing an old one endlessly.
If you’ll do this, I promise
you your first sales within 50 stories. At the story a week
level, that’s one year! Just one year from today, you could be
a paid author. And for any real writer, that should be an idea
exciting enough to keep them up late, and get them up early,
typing away, knowing that that first acceptance check is less
than 365 days away.
NY Times Bestselling writer
Steven Barnes has published over 3 million words of fiction,
and wrote the Emmy-winning “A Stitch In Time” episode of the
Outer Limits. He is the creator of the
Lifewriting™ performance system for writers.
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