Not long ago, a friend and I were discussing what it takes to “make it” in the publishing industry. This friend argued that getting accepted isn’t always just about the quality of writing, but sometimes about “a pretty face.”
I responded by asking him why, if that were the case, do I know so many beautiful people who are seriously good writers without agents or publishers?
And we went back and forth a bit over that. Him insisting that appearances can make a difference, and me insisting that it’s all about the writing. The conversation stayed with me for several days, as I contemplated his words, until I found the middle ground that my friend and I had somehow missed.
I still don’t think authors are accepted because of how they look. But I do think that those who take care to look professional, and for that matter, act professionally, probably have a better shot at landing that agent or publisher (or both). It’s kind of like when you interview for a job. If two people who are equally qualified show up, the guy wearing jeans and a T-shirt will find himself at a disadvantage to the one wearing a suit and tie. The same kind of thinking goes for social networking and blog posts. And especially for jacket cover photos.
So maybe my friend and I were both a little right. It is about the writing. It’s absolutely crucial to have good writing with all the necessary story elements. But being an author is also about appearances. Especially when it comes to self promotional efforts. (And just to clarify, by appearances I mean showing up clean, groomed, with combed hair and well-fitting appropriate attire.)
What have you done to make yourself appear more professional?
Showing posts with label acceptance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acceptance. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Monday, May 16, 2011
The Other Side of the Line
**If you're looking to see who won the prize package including an ARC of Possession, scroll to the post below this one. Also, be sure to come back next Wednesday to see what I'm giving away next week. Because I'm not done giving away good stuff. Not even a little bit. Bwahahaha!**
My daughter recently told me a story about a high-school-age girl who conducted an interesting social experiment. This girl wanted to know how differently she would be treated if people believed she was pregnant and attending high school.
This was an elaborate project, since this girl wasn’t really pregnant—nor did she want to be. She enlisted the help of a boy—who may, or may not, have been her actual boyfriend—and her parents, who helped her acquire a prosthetic belly that could be adjusted as her faux pregnancy progressed through the school year.
From what I understand, the big “reveal” happened as part of an assembly, in which the nine-month-size prosthetic was removed. Can you even imagine the reaction of the people in the crowd—kids, teachers, and administration—when they discovered the whole thing was a hoax? Those who had treated this girl differently would probably feel shame, or anger at being disillusioned, or embarrassed for their words or actions. And those who had been kind, who had treated this girl as a person, with respect and friendship might have felt pride for being proven as true friends.
When I put the colored highlights in my hair, it wasn’t intended as a social experiment. To be honest, it started out as a nice change. Something to break up the monotony of winter. A fun accessory. A trend. A style.
But it’s been interesting to see the reactions of some of the people around me. I live in a very conservative area, where for some people, different = bad. And even the slightest difference has a tendency to stand out.
Some people have surprised me with their loving acceptance, while others have disappointed me in ways I never expected. In my head, I just keep thinking, “Holy crap, it’s only hair, not horns.” But as I’ve learned recently, to some people, a difference so dramatic can be seen as much, much more than what it really is.
In this way, I find myself identifying with characters from some of my favorite young adult books. Consider Vi in Possession, Cassia in Matched, Katniss in The Hunger Games, Calla in Nightshade, and Amy in Across the Universe.
So here’s the question of the day: Are you brave enough to stand on the other side of a line drawn by society, even if it means accepting unfair judgments as a consequence?
My daughter recently told me a story about a high-school-age girl who conducted an interesting social experiment. This girl wanted to know how differently she would be treated if people believed she was pregnant and attending high school.
This was an elaborate project, since this girl wasn’t really pregnant—nor did she want to be. She enlisted the help of a boy—who may, or may not, have been her actual boyfriend—and her parents, who helped her acquire a prosthetic belly that could be adjusted as her faux pregnancy progressed through the school year.
From what I understand, the big “reveal” happened as part of an assembly, in which the nine-month-size prosthetic was removed. Can you even imagine the reaction of the people in the crowd—kids, teachers, and administration—when they discovered the whole thing was a hoax? Those who had treated this girl differently would probably feel shame, or anger at being disillusioned, or embarrassed for their words or actions. And those who had been kind, who had treated this girl as a person, with respect and friendship might have felt pride for being proven as true friends.
When I put the colored highlights in my hair, it wasn’t intended as a social experiment. To be honest, it started out as a nice change. Something to break up the monotony of winter. A fun accessory. A trend. A style.
But it’s been interesting to see the reactions of some of the people around me. I live in a very conservative area, where for some people, different = bad. And even the slightest difference has a tendency to stand out.
Some people have surprised me with their loving acceptance, while others have disappointed me in ways I never expected. In my head, I just keep thinking, “Holy crap, it’s only hair, not horns.” But as I’ve learned recently, to some people, a difference so dramatic can be seen as much, much more than what it really is.
In this way, I find myself identifying with characters from some of my favorite young adult books. Consider Vi in Possession, Cassia in Matched, Katniss in The Hunger Games, Calla in Nightshade, and Amy in Across the Universe.
So here’s the question of the day: Are you brave enough to stand on the other side of a line drawn by society, even if it means accepting unfair judgments as a consequence?
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