The Bald Eagle

The Bald Eagle

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

IWSG Day, August 1, 2018, Pitfalls to Avoid by Pat Garcia





Hello Everyone,

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and IWSG Time. 

IWSG is a writer support group created and led by Alex Cavanaugh. It is a big help to many of us who do not mind sharing our insecurities, our successes or giving encouragement and help to others. 

So, if you are interested and would like to join, the link below will lead you directly to us:

The Insecure Writer's Support Group 

My report:

Still Outstanding
Submission to The Colorado Gold Writing Contest for Emerging Writers – May 31, 2018
Submission to the New Writers Scheme for Emerging Writers – June 29, 2018 

New Submission
Submission: I was given the opportunity to submit the first five thousand words of my manuscript, A Time to Love, to Simon & Schuster in the U.K. I sent it in June 26thand I am waiting on the results. 








Pitfalls to Avoid

As a new writer, I knew I had good stories in me, and I entered the writing world wearing rose coloured glasses.  To be exact, I was blind. Heck, I’d been spinning tales that popped up in my imagination for years. However, and here comes the catch, I had paid little to no attention to the mechanics that belong to writing. Yes, grammar is one of those tools, but even more critical are the viewpoint, sentence styling, structure, and pacing. 

I sent out my first draft without consulting any editor, and I promptly got rejections. I now believe whoever they were, read the first three lines, puked, and sent out the standard rejection letter with the hope that I did not submit anything to them again. 

Since then, I have learned better, thank God.  I know that the first draft is the beginning of your odyssey and not the end. I understand that an excellent critique team that reads every chapter of your book is a godsend, and I have learned to love editors, regardless of their area of expertise. These precious people, who return my work filled with questions written in red, have become my favourite people. I’ve learned that they were created to help me grow and mature into the writer that slumbers inside of me. 


Wishing everyone a beautiful month of August and be safe.




Shalom aleichem,














Pat G


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52 comments:

  1. Ronel Janse van VuurenAugust 1, 2018 at 11:39 AM

    Great post :-)

    Ronel visiting on Insecure Writer's Support Group day: Time to Say Goodbye

    ReplyDelete
  2. Toi ThomasAugust 1, 2018 at 12:33 PM

    Thank you for stopping by my blog. I agree that having that support system in place to help your work be the best it can is critical. Best of luck with all your submissions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:32 PM

      Thank you, Toi. Without a support system, I would be lost.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  3. Alex J. CavanaughAugust 1, 2018 at 2:20 PM

    You can see clearly now and know how important it is to edit and find others to help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:32 PM

      Thank you, Alex. Yes, I see clearly now, and I am so glad I do.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  4. emaginetteAugust 1, 2018 at 5:31 PM

    I'm sure the didn't puke. In fact, they probably guessed you were new to the craft. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:34 PM

      Thank you emaginette. They probably did think, here's a newbie again. :-) and laughed, which I understand, now.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  5. Sadira StoneAugust 1, 2018 at 6:01 PM

    Pat, your post made me laugh out loud! I doubt there was any actual puking involved.
    I wish you happy writing in August.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:35 PM

      Thank you, Rhonda, and I wish you the same.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  6. Susan Gourley/KelleyAugust 1, 2018 at 7:42 PM

    Good advice. I sent out my first book too soon also. Attended a conference and learned so much before I tried again after many, many rewrites.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:36 PM

      Thank you, Susan. I too attended a conference and that was the eye opener for me. I also went to many, many rewrites.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  7. Susan Flett SwiderskiAugust 1, 2018 at 8:16 PM

    No, I'm quite sure there was no puking involved. Just a few polite little coughs. :)

    Here's wishing you the very best with Simon & Schuster! That's such exciting news. And I hope they don't leave you hanging too long...

    Shalom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:37 PM

      Thank you, Susan. I sincerely hope that they leave me hanging too long.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  8. Madeline Mora-SummonteAugust 1, 2018 at 8:24 PM

    I'm sure no one puked, Pat!

    And to paraphrase Maya Angelou - when we know better, we do better. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:38 PM

      Thank you, Madeline. Yes, when we know better, we do better and that has been my experience every time.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  9. Leigh CaronAugust 1, 2018 at 8:27 PM

    Writing to get published is a journey. I have learned to enjoy this part (hahahaha)
    but sometimes the lessons learned are tough. Good luck with your submissions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:39 PM

      Thank you, Em-Musing. Yes, writing to get published is a journey and sometimes a very bumpy one. I'm learning to enjoy the bumpy ride.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  10. Gwen GardnerAugust 1, 2018 at 8:32 PM

    Editors are the best at helping make your manuscript squeaky clean. I love them to pieces!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:40 PM

      Thank you, Gwen. I think editors are the best thing since Mom's apple pie. Especially those who lean on you until your manuscript shines like the sun.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  11. cleemckenzieAugust 1, 2018 at 8:41 PM

    I guess we should feel sorry for those agents and editors who have to suffer our early submissions. I understand how they must fall off their chair when they actually read a well-written submission.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:41 PM

      Thank you, Lee. I too understand now why they fall off their chair when they read a well-written submission.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  12. Jemi FraserAugust 1, 2018 at 9:44 PM

    It's incredible to look back and remember the things we thought when we first started on this journey - so glad I've learned so much! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:43 PM

      Thank you, Jemi. Me too. I'm so glad I've learned so much, and I'm still learning.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  13. L. Diane WolfeAugust 2, 2018 at 1:07 AM

    Editors are great. I love DLP's editor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:44 PM

      Thank you, L. Diane Wolfe. I now love editors too.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  14. Erika BeebeAugust 2, 2018 at 1:58 AM

    That's such a lovely way to look at growth and the beginning of something wonderful. I wish you the best Pat. Happy IWSG Day :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:45 PM

      Thank you, Erika. I wish you the best too. Let's continue to grow.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  15. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyAugust 2, 2018 at 1:59 AM

    Congrats on your partial. It can be slow and painful waiting for the response, so I'm sending best wishes to you!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:48 PM

      Thank you, Lynda. Yes, it is a very slow process waiting for a response, but believe it or not, I'm okay.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  16. Caitlin CoppolaAugust 2, 2018 at 2:26 AM

    Great post! And I did the same with sending out my first MS without it going through an editor first. I cringe when I think about it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:50 PM

      Thank you, C.G. Sometimes, I cringed also. I can't believe I was that dumb to do something like that. But I've learned to move on and not repeat the same mistake again.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  17. Raimey GallantAugust 2, 2018 at 2:53 AM

    It's a learning process, not just the submission process, but the standards publishers are expecting, too. We all go through it. Publishers expect we're all somewhere on the learning curve. :) Happy IWSG day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:52 PM

      Thank you, Raimey. That's exactly what someone told me. Publishers expect we're all somewhere on the learning curve. The higher you are to the top of the curve, the closer you are to walking in the door of a standard publisher.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  18. Denise Covey August 2, 2018 at 3:03 AM

    Hi Pat. There's something beautiful and hopeful about our first forays into writing, but that soon gets overtaken by the need to learn our craft. Writing is a long apprenticeship, but very enjoyable.
    Looking forward to this month's WEP/IWSG. Thanks for signing up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:53 PM

      Thank you, Denise. Yes, Writing is a long apprenticeship. I happened to be in a writing class with a very established and well-published writer and that is exactly what he said to.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  19. AnonymousAugust 2, 2018 at 3:21 AM

    You are so funny! And on point. Critique partners and editors are so important before we submit. And also important to know the difference between an in-progress draft and a final product.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 1:03 PM

      So true, Lee Lowery, and thank you. It is so important to know the difference between an in-progress draft and a final draft.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  20. Loni TownsendAugust 2, 2018 at 8:55 PM

    Yes, we certainly do learn how bad we used to be once we improve and continue to improve!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 1:00 PM

      Thank you, Loni. You said it, once we improve and continue to improve. We never really arrive at a point that we can stop improving.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  21. rbillerAugust 3, 2018 at 3:29 AM

    Good point! I think back at how far you have come in your writing! You are one who is dedicated to getting better and better by reading books and taking more classes. I am so ready to see your book published and on the shelves in the bookstores!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:58 PM

      Thank you, rbiller. it hasn't been a easy ride. Sometimes, the difficulities were so overwhelming that I wondered if I would make it, but my faith and knowing that this my purpose has kept me going.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  22. Olga GodimAugust 3, 2018 at 3:35 AM

    I made the same mistake in the beginning: sent my first story out before it was ready. Hopefully, I learned the lesson as well as you did.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:56 PM

      Thank you, Olga, and I am quite certain you learned your lesson. Your stories are a delight to read.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  23. JEN GarrettAugust 4, 2018 at 6:48 PM

    I think back at how far I've come, and strangely I don't regret sending out those first unpublishable manuscripts. I think, what if I didn't... I never would have gone out to research the market and find out why I'm getting form rejections!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 12:55 PM

      Thank you, Jen Garret. That is a very positive way of looking at it and you're right. When I think about it now, I would have never gone out and found classes, and writing coaches, and writing books that I needed to work through if that had never happen.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  24. Crystal CollierAugust 8, 2018 at 7:28 PM

    I think EVERY author makes that mistake. LOL. Good thing we can learn and move on, eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat GarciaAugust 20, 2018 at 8:58 PM

      Thank you, Crystal. That is one of the things that comforts me. I know now through so many wonderful people at the IWSG that I'm not alone. Everyone makes that mistake.
      Shalom aleichem,
      Pat G

      Delete
  25. Crystal CollierAugust 8, 2018 at 8:48 PM

    I commented, but it disappeared. Hm. Anyhow, I think that's something we all go through--the first book, jump to submission, hang our heads in shame later. It's just part of the journey.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Pat GarciaAugust 18, 2018 at 1:01 PM

    Yes, Indeed, and thank you Jen Chandler. Once we take off the blinders and accept the fact that writing is a journey then people come our way who can help push us towards success.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pat GarciaAugust 20, 2018 at 8:59 PM

    Thank you for coming back again Crystal. Sometimes my blogger has hang ups and I have to be patient with it.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G

    ReplyDelete
  28. NasSeptember 2, 2018 at 10:53 PM

    Hi Pat,

    Yes, we all learn from our mistakes and experiences. When I think how green I was when I started I can only shake my head at my naivety. But I like where I am now after twelve years!

    All the best.

    ReplyDelete

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