Odds of Publication

I've been thinking about publication a lot recently, somewhat brought on by blog posts like this.

Jennifer states that there is a 1 in 3,467 chance she will accept you as a client. Another words, your odds of being struck by lightning are better, at only 1 in 3000 even. This post is meant to be encouraging, and it actually is if you take the time to read it.

It's sad to think that the odds of landing a top agent are so bad, but look on the bright side. The odds you will even pick up the pen are even worse. 15% of the worlds population is illiterate. Of the 85% remaining people on Earth, 1 in 4 haven't read a book in over a year. I'm sticking my neck out here when I suggest those who read also write, but there haven't been any polls about writing. :-/

If my math is right (and it probably isn't) we're down to 63% of the planet as potential writers and no one has even picked up a pen yet. Of course, that's still 3.5 billion+, but when you take away from that how many peopel start writing, how many actually finish, and get down to the remarkably few people who do the work...it's amazing there's that many submissions at all.

Just my thoughts.

Bothering mom: A primer for puppies

What makes a best-seller?

To amuse myself in long grocery store lines, I often take the time to look at the mass market paperbacks displayed on hanging racks next to the candy and convenience items. I don't read as much as I used to, but I still love picking up a good book, and I read my favorites over and over.

Lately, I've had trouble finding books that draw me in and keep me all through the book. I have to force myself to stop mentally editing the book, remind myself the author does not need a critique, and to just enjoy the story. When I do find one, it isn't a big name author, and it's never a best-seller.

It seems to me that once you become a big name author, people stop critiquing your work, and after two or three years of continual hits, the books just aren't so good anymore.

I know I'm not one to judge. I don't have any books published yet, and while all of my short stories have been accepted on the first or second try, I won't bother to pretend I did them on my own. It may have been my idea, my writing, my editing, my submissions, but without my critique circle I'm sure they'd still be stuffed in a drawer somewhere.

Writers need other writers to write well. I just hope the writers who read this will remember that when they'vbe sold their 10,000,000th copy.

The adventure begins today!

If you don't know me already, you will know very soon that I am obsessed with writing. I love the rattle my keyboard makes when I'm in full swing, the early mornings when I have the computer to myself, the squinty eyed look my husband gives when he catches me.

"Are you blogging again?" he demands.

Yes, I'm blogging again, and it's going to be a marvelous adventure. I hope you will join me on my adventure, and please feel free to leave a comment.