How to Get Published

by Al Kalar
One of the pieces of advice I give writers is, “join a writing workshop”. No, not a one-day “become a best-selling author” given by Famous Writer. I’m talking about a peer-to-peer workshop that’s really a club.

Well, I do follow my own advice. I’ve been a member of an online workshop since the late 90’s and I learned a LOT. I still learn more on a regular basis, but I also dispense advice (everyone does from the day they join).

This last weekend, I critiqued a submission from one of our members. The writer is a big fan of “classic” pulp science fiction and decided to write his book in a similar style, including a rather lengthy “foreword”. I took him to task over the forward (it violated my favorite “rule”: get right into the story, explain later if at all). I also objected to the fact that he started with four separate story lines (part of the reason for the forward). (more…)

by Al Kalar

A poet called in about a submission he’d sent. While we talked, he asked that if I didn’t like his poetry, could I give him some guidelines as to what to write. He seemed to think he could write poetry to order.

I can’t think of a better way for him to kill his writing career.

Poetry, song writing, and such can indeed be cranked out to a formula. Unfortunately, formula writing comes off as just that.  Some of it will actually sell, but it will never become “great literature”. (more…)