Julie Luongo on Getting Published
October 8, 2008
I titled my book THE HARD WAY. What was I thinking? With all of that advice out there about the laws of attraction I should have known better and titled it EASY STREET or THE SIMPLE WAY. Lesson learned.
After I wrote THE HARD WAY in a cabin in the woods with no running water, I festered. I hadn’t really thought much further than “must write book now.” So, in the absence of a better plan, I agonized. I fretted. I worried. What if my best work wasn’t good enough? I’d try to get an agent but everyone would hate it. I’d edit it but wouldn’t be able to go back to the agents I already tried because they would all have blackballed me.
I fed and protected my self-doubt like a proud parent until THE HARD WAY got jealous and demanded some attention. Ungrateful book! I gave it life. I would decide what to do with it. Finally, after months, I got sick of the nagging, and I sent a letter to an agency asking if they’d be interested in my problem child. They were. They asked for some additions – to my entirely fictional novel about a woman who, at times, lacks direction –then they signed me.
One fine day, months down the line, my agent sold it. In year one, my first editor left. In year two, my second editor left. In year three, my third editor was a charm. He made THE HARD WAY into a real book. Now I can tell people to put themselves out there. Don’t worry so much. Be brave . . . but only after you’ve titled your book something like GOOD FORTUNE, or SUCCESS, or BESTSELLER, LIKE ME.
About Julie Luongo
Julie Luongo has worked as a university instructor, freelance writer, researcher, editor, reporter, and business consultant. She’s written about theater, fishing, and entertainment. Luongo is from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. This is her first novel.
Julie Luongo Profile at OnceWritten.com
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