CSMS Magazine staffIn the struggle for recognition, our fathers have always been the underdogs. Yet, everyone knows, whether implicitly or explicitly, that the concept of family values would not be complete without the role, the injected part of our beloved and responsible fathers. Since CSMS Magazine focuses a lot in promoting cultural diversity and the literature behind it, we intend to bring some tips to our fathers and, of course, their cheerleaders (mom, children, sisters etc…) in the quest to reach the “ultimate” perfection.Perfection in itself is a relative term. But keeping one’s eyes on this heavenly prize will definitely make one a better person. One way to achieve that is by increasing one’s intellectual image or one’s intellectual self that is not necessarily high IQ or the ability to score high at extraordinary standardized tests. It is rather the “depth and breath of [one’s] knowledge, [one’s] mental fitness,” as described by Dr. Alexander. At school, we are given basic intelligence; but only WE must “decide whether we’ll use it to capacity or to let it get flabby or stiff from disuse.” On this Fathers’ Day, we are offering our fathers the spirit of being persistent, resilient and relentless in pursuing their dreams. Don’t be unnerved or distracted by rejections or by negative criticisms. Only those who do nothing can claim to be accepted by all. “Can you understand and respect an issue from a 180 degrees angle, far from your feelings? Do you have the gut to tolerate ideas that are very different from yours? “Training your mind to take on longer-term and more demanding tasks gives you the stigma you need when mental marathons come up.”For all inspiring authors who are fathers, persistence is the name of the game. In an ever-increasing tough competition in the publishing industry, prospective authors need to know the tricks in order to get a clear shot at the goal. Here are some tips:a. Before submitting your manuscript, do your homework to make sure that your literary agent or your publishing company is the one that could land you the big break.b. Be a member of a Writers’ Association near you. Learn the insights by going to writers’ conferences, where you can meet inspiring authors like you.c. Reading should be your main course, not a side dish. You can’t be a writer if you refuse to read what others are writing.d. Know the difference between criticism and literary critique.e. Be open to what others are saying about your writing. You should learn to tolerate unfavorable critique. Use it to better craft your writing style, the depth of your inspiration, and, most importantly, your self-image as a writer.f. Keep your query letter handy. Be ready to modify it if need be.g. Be relentless. Only quitters will never stand a chance to win.h. Believe in yourself.i. A writer should have full confidence in his ability to write. It is not just enough to tell a compelling story. The story MUST be told in a compelling way.j. Learn how to spice your English by using thrilling words. See what we say about using French words in modern English.k. A punchy opening goes a long way. Remember, novelistic prose can shake souls.l. Don’t be fouled by the expression “Show, don’t tell.” Your writing MUST be “Show and tell.” Of course, descriptive words will do the tricks of placing the reader right into the scene.m. Self-publishing is nothing wrong, but it makes an author’s job a lot harder when trying to take the work to the proper audience. Try every avenue before considering that road. However, it isn’t the end of the world if an author self-publishes his/her work. Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventure of Tom Sawyer” was self-published. Finally, we believe that an artist must live off his/her work. Learn about the copyright laws. Before submitting your manuscript, make sure that it is well polished and it is going to a credible person or company. Work with an editor you can trust. An author does not have to be a grammarian. However, he must know his grammar rules so he/she can craft the paragraphs that are “economical, smooth, varied, accurate and muscular.” Go to www.writersdigest.com to read the Nancy Kress’ article Prose Primer to learn more about polishing your work before submission. According to Nancy Kress, if the smoothness, the economy, the variation, the accuracy and the muscle are not there, “ no editor will make [your manuscript] past page 2. An editor needs to trust your facility with language before he is willing to read on.”Note: Don’t forget that CSMS Magazine offers support to prospective authors through our book club. We are in the process of putting together a writers’ association. Send us an e-mail at: publisher@csmsmagazine.org
Interesting tips that our prospective father-authors must know
