Writing Advice

from a guest of the Writing Critter

Spring 2004

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If I Don’t Get Published, I Shall Perish

by Glenda Baker

If you decided today to become a pianist, how long would it take before you were ready to perform a solo concert?

If you decided today to become a tennis player, how long would it take before you were ready to play in the US Open?

If you decided today to study painting, how long would it take before you’d be ready to have a one-person show?

And here it comes – if you decided to day to become a writer, how long would it take before you had a New York Times Best Seller?

How long would it take even to be published?

Obviously, there are no answers to these questions. And, I assume, that just as obviously, most writers desire to have their work published. The question is: Are we expecting to see our work in print much sooner than we should?

I will soon be teaching a “Start That Novel Now” class, and I’m sure that on the first night someone will ask, “How do I get an Agent”

My answer will be, “We’ll talk about that later. Let’s write the novel first.”

Master the Craft!

Have a little patience. You won’t perish if you’re not published as soon as you think you should be. But there’s a very good chance you’ll have better material when you finally do submit your work.