by
Dave Amaditz and
Marcy Collier
Casey McCormick |
We hope that all of you had a nice holiday with friends and
family.
This past Friday, December 23, 2011, we posted part one of a
two-part interview with Casey McCormick, from Literary Rambles. The first part mainly focused on her blog, the
history and what is required to maintain the site. Today, we'll talk mainly
about how creating this site has affected her writing career. Let's get to the
interview questions.
So grab a cup of coffee and what’s left of your holiday
cookies and enjoy the interview.
Dave and Marcy: How
long have you been writing for children?
Casey: I've been writing for children for four years.
Dave and Marcy: When
reading your blog I have noticed that you have not yet submitted your work to
agents because you feel your writing is not ready to submit. You’ve obviously
read enough comments from agents to know that that is a wise choice. Do you
feel you'll have something ready to submit soon? Do you have a pitch ready? How
do you feel about the importance of a one line pitch?
Casey: I don't expect to have anything ready to submit
anytime soon, no. The truth is, I'm extremely insecure and self-critical and it
gets in the way of my writing hugely. Until I can find some self-confidence and
a process that really works for me, I don't think I'll be ready for a
professional career in writing.
I'm beginning to think I belong on the other side of the
desk, to be honest. The time I've spent helping other writers compared to the
time I've spent actually writing suggests I enjoy the former more than the
latter!
Dave and Marcy: I
used to be able to pick up a book and read from beginning to end no matter what
flaws were contained within. Now, as a writer who values a good critique of my
own work, my critiquing skills are always on high alert, and I find it
impossible to simply read a book or manuscript and accept what has been laid
out in front of me without thinking it would have been better had something
been written differently. Has this happened to you? Do you wish for a time when
you were able to pick up any book and read from beginning to end without
thinking about what could have been changed? Or, does your ability to critique
a manuscript make you appreciate that much more for those manuscripts and books
that are really done well?
Casey: I am definitely a far more critical reader than I used
to be, but it really depends on the book. There are books throughout which my
inner editor screams and screams, but there are books that are so good I
struggle to be critical of them at all. Overall, I'd say it makes me appreciate
good books more. I like being a mindful reader.
Dave and Marcy: How
has your new blog partner, Natalie Aguirre helped develop the blog?
Casey: Natalie not only helps me with much needed updates,
but she does amazing interviews and giveaways each week. She also started the
"Ask the Expert" series, where she interviews teens about their
reading habits. Best of all, having her as a partner has allowed me to step
back and give my family more of my time, and I'm extremely thankful for that. Literary
Rambles would be really quiet right now without her!
Dave and Marcy: How
has interning for an agent helped further your writing and editing skills?
Casey: Interning has been an incredible experience. I'm
exposed to a wide range of writing ability and it's helped me develop a better
sense of what works, what doesn't, and what really stands out. It also forces
me to be critical, so I'd like to think I'm constantly developing new editorial
skills as well.
Dave and Marcy: What
is the most important tip you could give to a writer seeking representation?
Casey: Don't forget that the main reason you need an agent
is to SELL your project and future projects. If an agent (however nice and
legit) doesn't have strong connections with editors in NY, they're probably
going to be a waste of your time and writing. If not initially, down the road.
Check agency websites for deal news, subscribe to
Publisher's Marketplace (even for just a month), research clients (who they
are, what they've pubbed, how long they've been with the agent, if available),
and make knowing a priority. If the information simply isn't available, make a
note to ask during "the call" in the event you get an offer.
You want an agent who is actively making deals with the kind
of publishers you hope to publish with (big six? specialty?), and the more
deals they make in the genre you write, the better.
Thank you again, Dave and Marcy!
ReplyDeleteCasey,
ReplyDeleteI've found that many people don't want to do the legwork required before they submit their work. Great advice, especially about Publisher's Marketplace, a far too underused resource. A little forethought and planning can go a long way.
Dave
Thanks again, Casey. I hope you and your family had a fantastic holiday. We wish you much success in your endeavors in 2012!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview! LR is an invaluable site to many. Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dawn. We obviously agree and we hope this post allows more people to benefit from all of the hard work Casey has done. I hope you checked out both parts of the interview. (Part 1 was posted on December 23, 2011)
ReplyDeleteDave
Thanks, Dawn. We obviously agree and we hope this post allows more people to benefit from all of the hard work Casey has done. I hope you checked out both parts of the interview. (Part 1 was posted on December 23, 2011)
ReplyDeleteDave