Getting ready to go on a fly fishing trip for a few days, and it made me think of a presentation I used to do comparing fly fishing to submitting work for publication. Getting published and catching a keeper with a fly are both long shots, but you can improve your chances.
Some of this probably applies more for those wanting to go the traditional publishing route (but some has universal application)
Submitting a novel for possible publication? Here’s how an understanding of fly fishing strategy could help.
Three things fly fishing can teach you about submitting your written work.
Check Your Gear
Before you go fly fishing, you’ll want to check your waders for leaks. You want to make sure you have leaders and fly dressing (which helps your fly float). Is your fly line frayed? Are you really ready to fish or are you just overly excited to fish and jumping the gun (I know, mixed metaphor… there’s no starting gun in fly fishing)
Before you submit your written work, are you really ready? Have you tried some beta readers? Have you thoroughly proofread? Have you let your manuscript sit awhile and then come back to it with fresh eyes? With many outlets and venues, you get one chance (just like with holes on the river)… are you making it your best chance or are you just overly excited to submit and jumping the gun? (again, mixed metaphor).
Know Your Fish
With fly fishing… what kind of fish are you fishing for? Flies made for bass fishing are not likely to land you a trout. (Can’t tell you how many times my well-meaning family has bought me Gulf Coast flies. “Um, this is nice, but why did you buy me a shrimp pattern?” Daughter: “It’s pretty.” True enough, but it’s not going to catch me a trout in Michigan!) You need to do your research. If mayflies aren’t hatching, your mayfly pattern is not very likely to be successful. Do your research into what insects are hatching. Make sure you have fly patterns that match the hatch.
For writers, the shotgun approach to submitting or querying is likely to be a waste of your time. Do your research. Did you just finish a fantasy novel? Make sure the agents or presses that you are submitting to actually have an interest in fantasy. You’ll really increase your chances of getting a nibble. Sure, with so many taking online/email queries/submissions, it typically doesn’t cost you cash (envelopes/stamps, etc) but time is money as they say. Why waste your time casting a Spanish mackerel pattern to a feeding brown trout?
Keep Your Flies on the Water
In my experience, the more time on the water with a well-tied, carefully selected fly, the more likely you’ll catch a fish. Nobody has ever caught fish just sitting on the shore dreaming of catching a fish. You gotta keep your flies on the water. Yes, you almost had a big one on. You lost it. You’re wasting your time casting and casting again to the same hole. Those big ones usually only give you one chance. Don’t stand upstream of the hole lamenting what could have been. There are more fish downstream, but you won’t catch them standing there. What happened with one fish does not mean it will happen with the next fish. Your next cast could be a keeper, but it won’t be if you don’t keep your fly on the water.
Same goes with writing. When you are certain it’s ready, keep your fly (manuscript) out there. Yes, it’s heartbreaking to have an agent request the first 30 pages only to hear three weeks later, “This just isn’t right for me.” You can’t let that crush you. Get the rejection, feel the feels, and then press on to the next hole. Keep your manuscript out there. Too many writers get that rejection and then waste time questioning their work. If you’ve done step one and thoroughly checked your gear, well, your fly is as ready as it’s ever going to be. Keep casting. Keep submitting. No fly=no fish the same as No submission=no publication.
I've heard tying flies is an art. I always wondered... don't they get damaged in all that casting about? Stories don't get damaged, of course...
ReplyDeleteYes, good fly tying is a true art. I've found that they don't get damaged by the cast, but by fishing striking them. I've had a fly get hit enough times by fish that the fly falls apart. And, so, maybe the same happens with stories... people send them out, they get rejected, the author tries to change something that doesn't need changing (damage) and then they cast again.
ReplyDelete