WOULD-BE WRITERS LEARN PERSEVERANCE PAYS OFF

Would-be novelists anxious to be published would be well advised to heed the pragmatic advice of those who have been there: Be prepared to write for at least five years before getting a break.

That's what several published authors at the Heartland Writers Conference said Saturday. The one-day conference was held at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

Most of the authors, from romance novelists to western and science fiction writers, struggled with unpublished manuscripts for five to 10 years before getting their first publishing break.

Eileen Dryer, also known as Kathleen Korbel, writes romance novels and romance thrillers. The St. Louis author said she wrote for five years before her first book was published in 1986.

"I have a friend who calls it, `having the first olive out of the bottle,'" Dryer said. "It's a lot like that."

Dryer said being an author is not unlike starting your own small business. She said too many novice writers believe the only key to success is talent.

"I'm a very pragmatic person," she said. "No matter what type of books you're doing, you have to study your market, perfect your craft and be persistent as hell."

Bobbie Smith, also of St. Louis, sold her first historical romance in 1982 after writing five years. She's now working on her 16th book, and despite her success she said things aren't any easier.

"The romance market's flooded right now," Smith said. "You've got to constantly improve to make it. They'll allow you one `woofer' but if you put two bad books back to back, you're through."

But Smith said novice writers shouldn't be discouraged in their perseverance. "Good English skills and talent takes you anywhere you want to go," she said.

Smith suggested anyone interested in becoming an author should join a writer's guild, like Heartland, in order to meet New York editors and publishers. But, generally, the formula if not always easily accomplished is uncomplicated.

"Read what you want to write," Smith said. "You have to know who you're writing for, make sure your grammar and English skills are all right, then tell a story.

"The hardest thing to do is to just do it. That's hard whether you're sold or unsold as a writer."

Smith said her publisher, Zebra Books, expects a book from her every six months. She said the pace isn't unusual for many of her peers.

"Some people are faster, a lot of people are slower," she said. "It gets harder though, because I want to think of something different."

Linda Ladd of Poplar Bluff has had 11 books published since her first was printed in 1984. A former teacher, Ladd said she quit when her children were born.

The additional free time encouraged her to try writing. Ladd said writing novels is a far cry from the sometimes boisterous bedlam of the classroom.

"It's hard work because it's so solitary," she said. "I don't socialize very much."

Bill Johnstone of Tallulah, La. and a graduate of New Madrid High School, writes everything from adventure and horror stories to westerns and spy novels. He's had three best sellers and will write nine books during the next 12 months.

Johnstone is one of the few writers who makes his living solely as an author.

"Six or seven years ago, 6 percent of all writers actually earned their living by writing," he said. "Now, that's down to about 3 percent."

One way to assure a steady income is by getting a series of books published. Johnstone currently is working on his 16th book in the "Mountain Man Series" of western books.

"If number 16 in a series is published, you have to go back and make darn sure that one through 15 are out there on the shelves too," he said. "A lot of people will read 15 and want to go back and read number five."

Johnstone also said waiting for a publisher to take a chance on a new writer can be discouraging. He said he wrote for seven years before his first book was published.

"A lot of people give up," he said. "In 1975, I just got mad and I said, `I'm going to be a professional writer, and I'm going to make money at it, no matter what."

Johnstone now writes daily from 3:30-6:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. in order to put out the number of books his publishers want.

The writers agreed that the pressure to improve and continue to write good books only increases when they find their books are selling.

"You write your first book on guts and the rest on fear," said Dryer. "I've got 12 books under me and I'm on my second mainstream novel.

"The first one did better than expected and everyone said this is very good, but the next one has to be better."

Dryer said that romance novel readers can be devoted to a particular writer only to a point.

"Usually in the industry, if you disappoint your fans, you have to be very careful," she said. "In film, they say you can be successful if one out of three films is okay, but in books, it's however your last book did."

The Heartland Writer's Conference is an excellent opportunity for new writers to learn valuable tips, but it's also a great place to meet publishing representatives, Dryer said.

The one-day seminar featured workshops conducted by published authors, literary agents and editors from several New York publishing houses. Conference participants also were able to meet with agents and editors.

Conference speakers included: Ann LaFarge, senior editor at Zebra Books; Jessica Kovar, Harper Collins Editor; Paul Block, editor-in-chief for Book Creations Inc.; and literary agents Cherry Weiner and Sharon Jarvis. All are from the New York area. Literary agents Joyce and John Flaherty of St. Louis also were at the conference.

About 140 writers from across the Midwest attended the conference.