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| Jeanne M. Dickson |
What’s
the key to becoming a published author? How does anyone do it? Jeanne M. Dickson not only shares her
top ten tips for success, she offers encouraging words that will help keep you
motivated when the road gets a little bumpy on your journey to publication.
~Dawn
The
Secret to Publication
I have the secret formula for getting published. Want to know
what it is? Okay, come closer, and I’ll whisper it to you.
Ready?
Writing
plus revision plus guts plus persistence equals book contract.
Ha! Not much of secret, right? More along the lines of common
sense, but it took me a long time to come to terms with my top ten ways to get
happily published.
1. No one except the writer can write the book. Sit down, stop
whining, and start typing.
2. Find a writer community and get involved. I belong to RWA and ACFW. Both organizations
are fantastic places where I’ve learned my craft, found mentors, and made close
friends.
3. Don’t be shy. Yes, it’s hard if you’re an introvert, but just
do it. Go to conferences. Pitch to editors and agents. Listen to what they have
to say. I found both my agent and editor at conferences. You can too.
4. Rejection hurts. Always. And it will always be there. Even
best-selling authors get rejections. And rejections don’t always make sense. I
received a rejection letter on a manuscript that said (paraphrasing), “The
couple had great chemistry, but it lacked the Irish ambiance.” A second rejection for the same manuscript
said (paraphrasing), “The Irish ambiance was great, but the couple lacked
chemistry.” Go figure.
5. Enter writing contests. It’ll get you used to rejection if
nothing else. And it’s a thrill to final/win a contest. Could even lead to a
publishing contract. It has happened. Not to me, but it could happen.
6. Learn the craft. Social media is important but craft trumps
social media. A good story well told is still the key to publication.
7. Never give up. You’ll never get published if you give up.
Shake off the disappointments and frustrations. Stay in the game.
8. Keep a sense of humor. You’ll need it. Call up a writer friend
and rant. She’ll understand.
9. Keep writing in perspective.
Yes, it matters. But other aspects of your life probably matter more,
i.e., family, friends, and God.
10. Keep God at the center of your heart. Be thankful. He has a
plan. Be patient. When He finally opened the publication door for Grounded
Hearts, He put incredible people in my life.
I will leave you with a true story that perfectly illustrated
to me that God was in control, on my side, and had a sense of humor. When I was
writing Grounded Hearts, I needed a last name for the Garda officer Paul. Out
of the blue, I chose “Halpin” which is not a common Irish name. Next, I needed
a name for his wife. My email pinged. I looked at it and almost fell out of my
chair, then laughed so hard I cried. It was a junk email from someone named
KELLY HALPIN.
And that’s how she got named and how I knew God had my back.
Blessings, and keep writing!
A brave
midwife. A wounded pilot. A risky secret.
In the
midst of World War II, Ireland has declared herself neutral. Troops found on
Irish soil must be reported and interned, no matter which side they are
fighting for. When midwife Nan O’Neil finds a wounded young Canadian pilot at
her door, she knows she’s taking a huge risk by letting him in. Not only is she
a widow living alone, but if caught harboring a combatant, she’ll face
imprisonment.
Still,
something compels Nan to take in “flyboy” Dutch Whitney, an RAF pilot whose
bomber has just crashed over County Clare. While she tends to his wounds and
gives him a secret place of refuge, the two begin to form a mutual
affection—and an unbreakable bond.
But Nan
has another secret, one that has racked her with guilt since her husband’s
death and made her question ever loving again. As Nan and Dutch plan his
escape, can he help restore her faith?
Jeanne M. Dickson
was born into an Irish American family, the only girl surrounded by four
brothers. Her grandmother lived with them and was a constant source of stories
about life in Ireland and the saints and ancestors long gone from this earth.
She credits her mother, her aunts, and her grandmother with her love of
storytelling.
Perfecting her craft, she attends many writer’s conferences
and over the years, she has won and finaled in numerous RWA romance writing
awards including the Daphne du Maurier Award, the Maggie Award, The Molly, The
Tara, and she was the overall contest winner of Launching A Star.
Today she lives in Coastal San Diego with her fabulous
husband, her two wonderful girls, and a dozen disobedient rose bushes.
To learn more and connect with Jeanne check out these online
sites:
website - http://www.jeannemdickson.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/jmdickson1
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jeannedickson/
Buy links
