therealljidol | Jan. 16th, 2019

There is a Second Chance poll going on, with the highest stakes yet! https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1033408.html

There is a deadline for the main competition tonight: https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1032678.html

***

There is also a question. It's one that I've been asked a few times over the years, and was recently asked it again a couple days ago.

It's an important question.

"Should I try to get my writing published?"

If you are at the point in your writing that you are asking that question - not "I'm awesome and I'm going to be the most famous writer EVER!" or "I just like writing for myself", then there is only one answer to that.

Yes.

Yes, you should be trying to get your work published.

You know it too, otherwise you probably wouldn't be asking the question. Maybe your work won't be right for the market you are trying/not what they are looking to publish. Maybe it'll be the wrong time.

But if you have that itch, you should try to scratch it.

Find someone who you trust to give you honest feedback, and who is a good enough writer that you think they have something to offer. Ask them to read and edit your work. (Even better - pay them to do it!) Talk about how to make it stronger.

Research your markets. Where do you want to be published. Is this something they are likely to be interested in? If not, can it be with a few tweaks? If not, is there something else you have that's better suited?

Keep banging your head against that wall. Persistence is a huge part of getting published. Persistence and a whole lot of luck. Talent keeps you in the conversation once you get in, but those two will help you get in the door.

***

There of course is a bigger conversation involved in this - which is "Do I have something to say?" Because if you aren't saying anything that's uniquely you - if someone can read a ton of other writers doing the exact same thing, with the exact same perspective, then why would they bother? It's the same in Idol as it is in the broader publishing world. You need for people to *care* about what you writing about, and part of that is writing a story that only you can give them.

A few words from

clauderainsrm:

I told the Second Chancers to bring it - and they brought it. Maybe the main competitor heard that challenge and decided that they were about to get some competition… or maybe they’ve just been this good all along! Only someone who has been reading the whole season knows! (Hint: They really all that good. This mini season is about to get crazy!) Aren’t you glad you tuned this week though - to see what “MacGuffin” ended up stirring up in the creative undercurrents?

Sadly, we have gained one more Jury member this week, with the bye-out of

jenwithapen

Hopefully she will be back on her feet and ready to rage against the cruel hands of fate soon enough. But for now, adieu! (and other foreign words)

Now for the rest of you - Congratulations. You have made the Top 20!

Enjoy it. Give yourself a pat on the back.

It won’t be a long pat though, since Second Chance will be joining you after this round and we will find out who the *final* Top 20 of this mini season are going to be!!

Before they show up though, we will be losing 2 more.

The poll closes Saturday Jan 19th at 8pm EST. If that day and time sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the exact same time the Second Chance poll closes! It should make for an interesting couple of days.

Good luck to everyone!