Ordinary Dreams > POV
Yada

POV

As a newbie full-time writer, I have a lot to learn about the craft, the industry, and the whole process. I am pretty sure learning continues even after I’m no longer new so I’m cataloging some sites that might be useful to me now and in the future. Traditional publishing stars here as that’s the route I wish to go. Perhaps you’ll also find something of interest here. “POV” probably gives too narrow a definition for what follows on the tabs but I wanted some sort of consistency across the tabs. Forgive me, it’s a thing. Some of the sites below are not necessarily from the [tab name] point of view, but rather give an insight into the knowledge and perseverance that might be needed in order to grow from writer to published author.

Writer POV

Craftsmanship, artistry, talent, automatic writing. However you classify your efforts, there exists a slew of information out there on the internet and elsewhere to guide or misguide you. Tricks, formulas, advice, lessons learned, critique groups, support groups, and so on out there to help or hinder. Choose wisely, believe not everything you read, and tailor your experience to your needs. This list might change often until I find the ones I want to follow consistently.

Current

In Queue to Evaluate

Old, or: Not for Me

Market POV

Once we have a manuscript, what do we do with it? Why, find a place to market it, of course. This might be first to an agent or directly to a publisher – it all depends on the publisher’s requirements. How do we find out what those requirements are? Search, poke, prod, and slog through the various sources out there for information.

Agent POV

We’ve figured out that our target market(s) require(s) an agent. How do we find one? What questions do we ask them? What do we expect them to ask us? How do we get one – Cookies? Bribes? Scintillating conversation? Stalking? What do they do for us and require of us? What are the telltale signs of a slimeball versus a gem?

Editor POV

We probably think our oft-revised manuscript as spit-polished when we go agent hunting, but chances are the agent and/or the publisher’s editor (once our agent secures us a publisher) will return it to us bleeding, desperately in need of first life-support then rehabilitation. We might be able to lessen some of that pain by learning about the types of feedback we might receive, what editors look for, why they look for it, and how to correct – or better yet, avoid – common stumbling blocks. The more silver we can put in the platter before we offer it, the happier our agents, editors, and publishers will be. Unless they’re allergic to silver.

Published Author POV

Ahhh, the limelight, the respect, the instant gratification! Wait. What? It took some of these published authors lifetimes or large portions thereof to get published the first time?! Others did just kind of waltz in early.