This is not a suck-up Post

Even though it may sound like one. :)

I remember the first time I learned of Cedar Fort Publishing’s existence. As a member of the League of Utah Writers I’d received an invitation to the Spring Workshop, which that year would be at Cedar Fort. I remember pitching it to my husband. “A writing workshop at a PUBLISHER’s office!” What could be better?

I’d attended my first LDStorymakers Conference just a week before the workshop. I had a horrible time, but it was largely my own fault. As a practiced writer but still new to networking and the world of other authors, I went with all sorts of silly expectations. Determined not to make the same mistake twice, I went to the Spring Workshop much more spiritually centered. I’d even received a blessing that morning.

When I entered the room and Lyle Mortimer said hello, I had no idea who he was. I said hello rather shyly, and probably blushed, before finding a seat near the middle. Seriously, I think overcoming my initial shyness will be the hardest part of being a published author.

Then Lyle stepped up to pretty much run the show. Since I was at that time in the market for a publisher, I listened intently as he talked about what Cedar Fort looks for in a book and in the author. I noted the highlights of Lee Nelson’s speech when his turn came. I laughed several times when Jessica Day George got up to talk to us about writing, even though she’s not a Cedar Fort author.

I came away from that meeting with a really good feeling about Cedar Fort. And it stuck with me. When I found myself in the position to resubmit my novel, I seriously considered all the LDS publishers. But I kept returning to Cedar Fort. To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure why—even though they’ve decided to take a chance on me and my book—I’ve had such strong feelings about this particular publisher.

It’s probably one of those things that will be clearer down the road.

It takes a village

By Heather Justesen

They say that it takes a village to raise a child, but how many people realize it take a village to write a book too--or at least to publish a book.

My case in point: I have a book written that started with an idea spawned from a news report somebody wrote. I mulled the idea, then talked to a friend about ways to make it work, ways to expand it, extra conflicts. Then I went online to research information yet another person culled and posted. Several other people, most likely.

I worked on the story, asking for opinions from an ER nurse, my parents, and husband as I was trying to form everything and make the pieces fit.

Next I took it to my critique group and they gave me more feedback about things they liked or that needed more explanation. They told me what wasn't working and made me think about different ways to convey that information.

When I eventually find a home for the manuscript it will go through several readers, editors, line editors, and possibly more revisions.

Did I write the book? Yes. Could I have written it and gotten it to the final format without any help? Perhaps, but it wouldn't have been as good, it might not have resonated with as many people if I didn't have input and direction on how to finesse the story. My characters might not have seemed as real to the final audience.

We always say that writing is a solitary profession, and for the most part it is. I'm the one who put those words on the page. I had to suffer through countless edits and tweaks as I worked to make the wording just right, but I didn't do it all alone. I have a phalanx of loved ones and supporters who also want my book to be all it can be, and who are willing to give suggestions and feedback to help me accomplish that goal. And I've had other writers, those who are smarter and better at the craft than I am, who have helped me reach this place in my writing career, and who continue to support and cheer me on.

Because of that, I know I need to do the same. Though I've been talking about starting a local writing group since late last summer, we finally pulled a few women together last month and met to try and make something happen. We've each been in touch with additional people, and hope that in a few months we'll have enough dedicated writers to create an official chapter of the League of Utah Writers. But if that doesn't happen, I now have a core group of at least three other women living near me who want to take this writing thing seriously. They're all extremely talented, so I know we'll all have something to contribute to the group.

When a job is as solitary as writing a book, it takes a cadre of friends to help us reach our goals.