Hoboken Authors Lend Advice to Aspiring Writers

Aspiring author Melissa Romo quit her job six months ago to concentrate on her first novel, a work of historical fiction. As she starts her search for an agent, she is looking for a little guidance. Who better to ask for advice than fellow Hobokenites who have been through this process?

Romo seized the opportunity Wednesday night, at a gathering of Hoboken writers in the Hoboken Library. The library is celebrating National Library Week through Saturday.

The 14 panelists included playwrights, poets, novelists, illustrators, newspaper journalists as well as fiction and non-fiction authors. They offered about 25 guests advice on everything from jotting your first words on post-its to promoting published work.

Cate Wells, 30, found it "fascinating" that so many authors live in the mile square and that Hoboken is such a "cultural hotbed." Wells' husband, Aaron Starmer, was one of the featured authors. Starmer was honored in 2009 as the Association of Booksellers for Children "New Voices" selection.

Despite her surprise over the number of authors in the mile square, Wells says living in Hoboken is virtually a no-brainer for writers.

"Hoboken's proximity to New York City is great for writers as they can easily meet with agents, editors in person instead of just digitally.  Plus there's all the readings and cultural things for inspiration," she says, "But Hoboken is definitely more affordable than the city, a huge issue for creative professionals." 

The discussion kicked off with the creative process. Kate Rockland, author of Falling Is Like This, says she has a simple method: create 10 word documents, number each with pages 1-20, and attempt to fill in all the pages. Rockland is in the process of writing her second novel, to take place in Hoboken.

"Some days, I only write a page and a half and it sucks," she said, "some days I get through 30 pages." 

Six-time author and consultant Ilise Benun, who writes marketing and public relations guides, has a different approach: "I just need quiet," she says.   

The panel encouraged everyone to explore topics both foreign and familiar; to develop a tough skin for dealing with rejection; and to have multiple projects going at a time.

As for finding an agent, Kerry Rubin had a unique experience: While working on her first book, Midlife Crisis at 30, Rubin checked the acknowledgements in a similar book. The author had thanked her agent, Elizabeth Kaplin. Rubin tracked down Kaplin at a free event in Manhattan. She almost lost the courage to approach her, but when the two happened to end up in the bathroom fixing their make-up at the same time, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to pitch her book. She handed over the book proposal right there in ladies room.

"Two weeks later, we had a book deal," Rubin says. "You have to take advantage of how close we live to New York."

Not all writers are so lucky. Caren Lissner, a newspaper editor and two-time novelist, recommends following agents' blogs. Three-time author Starmer, author of 33, who most recently published DWEEB: Burgers, Beasts and Brainwashed Bullies, recommends joining Publisher's Marketplace to stay in the loop.  The panel almost unanimously agreed that blindly sending pitch letters to agents is not going to work.

While Romo may not find an agent as easily as Rubin, she left Wednesday night's event feeling a bit more confident. "They gave me a lot of information about how to bring a book to market," she said. "Their insights on the creative process were great. It's always fun to hear how other creatives do what they do."

No matter what part of the writing process you are in, Lissner reminded the audience, "You are already a writer. You don't have to be published to be a writer."