Out of the Mouths of Babes . . .
The first agent I pitched to was Ginger Clark, of Curtis Brown, Ltd. (a literary agency). She was helpful and polite, even offered a couple of tips on how I could improve my chances of selling the novel I was pitching (even though the novel was outside of her area of interest). She read my first 50 pages and passed, for which I do not hold a grudge. That was my first novel and, as I have since discovered, that first novel really belongs in the bottom drawer of my desk - at least until I'm ready to go back and edit/rewrite, now that I've got 5 novels under my belt. She did, however, impress me enough that I do follow her career (not in a stalkerly way - like an interested fan).
I read recently that a young writer by the name of Stephanie Bowe had signed with Ginger Clark. This writer is only 15, but it sounds as though she has the talent and sticktoitiveness that a writer needs to be successful. I just read an interview with her, in which she said a few things that I thought are useful even for middle-aged writers like myself who are pursuing publication. For instance, when asked what advice she has for other young writers, her answer applies just as well to me as it does to a fifteen year old:
Huh. How amazingly simple and profound. And I particularly like her second line - I've talked to people like that myself and the first think I think to myself is, if you can't answer that question quickly and specifically, you're a wannabe writer, not a real writer.
Reading her interview inspired me. I hope it does you, too!
I read recently that a young writer by the name of Stephanie Bowe had signed with Ginger Clark. This writer is only 15, but it sounds as though she has the talent and sticktoitiveness that a writer needs to be successful. I just read an interview with her, in which she said a few things that I thought are useful even for middle-aged writers like myself who are pursuing publication. For instance, when asked what advice she has for other young writers, her answer applies just as well to me as it does to a fifteen year old:
"You have to write it. I meet a lot of teenagers who say they like to write, but when you ask them what they’ve written they go blank. You have to write, and write a lot, and you have to be willing to improve. Instead of watching TV or getting on Myspace, write. Make it part of your daily routine. Stick to one story. Stop planning it in your head and sit down and just write. Don’t censor yourself or edit mentally- save that for after. Just write."
Huh. How amazingly simple and profound. And I particularly like her second line - I've talked to people like that myself and the first think I think to myself is, if you can't answer that question quickly and specifically, you're a wannabe writer, not a real writer.
Reading her interview inspired me. I hope it does you, too!
Posted by Elle Robb at 9/28/2009 5:46 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: stephanie bowe literary agent ginger clark
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: stephanie bowe literary agent ginger clark
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