By Liz deBeer

Overhead, a pelican circles, exhibiting its enormous wing span, huge beak, guttural grunt, and prehistoric vibe. It glides above the cove, looking for flashes of motion earlier than diving straight down. I maintain my breath, silently cheering for the fowl. However it’s a miss. The pelican tries once more. And once more. Lastly, throat pouch bulging, the massive fowl swallows its prey.

Watching from the shore, I’m struck by how this scene resembles my pursuit of publication and conjures up me to maintain attempting.

Spot the Prey

Pelicans hunt by skimming water surfaces, looking for bubbles or splashes. They maximize their possibilities by avoiding uneven water and deep depths.

My hunt begins by skimming by way of tips, want lists, updates, and open calls to reinforce my prospects for publication. If one thing’s not a match, I transfer on. I wouldn’t market a memoir to fiction brokers, similar to pelicans gained’t hunt in deep, rocky, open ocean waters.

Seize the Second

Pelicans are opportunistic feeders. They forage for education fish, like sardines or anchovies, however are keen to think about much less appetizing prey like crustaceans and even frogs.

Hungry for publication, I take into account myself opportunistic too. After I started in search of publication of my longer manuscripts and my assortment of flash (each fiction and inventive nonfiction), I assumed I wanted a literary agent. However after a number of rejections and receiving suggestions from a number of brokers on-line or at conferences, I’m now casting a wider web that features small area of interest publishing homes.

Some author mates have acquired contracts for memoirs or novels through small presses, and some have had modest success with self-publishing, so I acknowledge the advantages of increasing my search.

Dive and Scoop

When pelicans resolve to dive, they place themselves and go for it, grabbing their prey with out evaluating it to a different pelican’s.

When writers plunge into their publishing quests, they too ought to keep away from comparability. Every of us has authentic tales to share, in genuine voices and kinds.

Pelicans’ fast decision-making nudges writers to advance when alternative arises. As soon as, I waited too lengthy, not realizing the decision had a cap. The window closed earlier than I might submit, so now I’m decided to be higher ready and to maneuver quick when reentering the submission course of.

Gulp and Swallow

As soon as pelicans scoop a fish, they swallow it complete, with out selecting it aside.

Writers should swallow self-doubt to keep away from choking attributable to chewing too lengthy or worrying about rejection. Simply gulp these fears down; take a danger and be taught within the course of.

After no bites on a current manuscript submission, I’ve determined to remodel it completely, together with the title and format. Up to now, my willingness to rewrite has reaped rewards, just like the time I revised a beforehand rejected flash piece, which was subsequently accepted.

This previous 12 months, I participated in a 100-rejections problem: a giant gulp. Taking this danger led to double-digit literary journals publishing my artistic nonfiction and flash fiction. Within the course of, I’ve gained confidence as I search publication for my longer works.

Work Cooperatively

Some pelicans kind a gaggle to herd small fish right into a confined house earlier than scooping them up collectively. They reap extra after they work collaboratively.

Groupwork helps me as effectively, corresponding to e-book inc, which describes itself as “a dynamic writing collective” that helps “authors by way of the whole journey of crafting memoirs and novels – from preliminary idea to remaining publication.” Members write about completely different subjects and genres, however we share concepts and help one another. For instance, a number of of us follow pitches collectively earlier than attending Pitch Fest occasions.We additionally provide suggestions on each other’s manuscripts and question letters.

I’m additionally a member of Flash Fiction Journal’s Authors Solely Collective,  a world on-line “neighborhood suggestions alternate” the place writers of each fiction and nonfiction share prompts, enhancing recommendation, open calls, and publications. We buy, learn, and evaluate each other’s work, as recommended in Heidi Croot’s current Brevity Weblog essay. Workshops and lessons in each writing teams have helped me enhance my expertise.

Relaxation

After pelicans eat, they calm down by floating on light waves or sleeping on rocks and piers. No guilt, as an exhausted pelican is unlikely to catch dinner.

Writers have to recharge too. That’s why I’m usually strolling on a close-by seashore whereas watching pelicans. Throughout this time, I decide seasonal targets, making ready myself for my subsequent spherical of fishing for a writer.

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Liz deBeer is a trainer and author with Venture Write Now, a writing cooperative based mostly by the Jersey shore. Her flash has appeared in BULL, Fictive Dream, Does It Have Pockets, Bending Genres and others. She has written essays in numerous journals together with The Brevity Weblog and is a volunteer reader for Flash Fiction Journal. She holds levels from College of Pennsylvania and Rutgers College.  Comply with Liz on her Substack.