This short article is the first in a series that provides guidance for new authors. In addition, I hope that it will also serve as an inspiration to experienced authors. With this first installment I’ll be starting from the reject pile, so to speak: things that shouldn’t be done.
My reasoning is simple, if we can help you break some bad habits, maybe we can free your fingers so they can dance happily on the keyboard once more. Are you a game?
Myth 1: Writing a book is like giving birth: one word at a time. Please let go, live free, and anticipate that this will be the first of several, if not many books. Don’t worry about every word. Allow yourself to experience the process of writing, revising, writing and revising. Because after months of careful planning and work you must realize that at some point you have to kick that book out of the nest and let it fly.
Myth 2: Writing a book is ugly business. Enjoy writing and when you get stuck, don’t enjoy it anymore or are bogged down, change your scene, write a different section, go outside or sing a song. Hopefully, you have chosen this writing process: enjoy it. It could be much worse – imagine if you were digging trenches with your bare hands. This is easy by comparison! Change the pace to bring freshness and vigor to your writing. For example, alternate between hard, easy, creative, and menial tasks so that no one dominates your day.
Myth 3. Top secret: protect my work from daylight. Rather, invite friends, family, or colleagues to read your work and critique it. Discuss it with those who will talk to you about it and give you feedback. The more you discuss it, the more fully you will develop it and see any gaps or inconsistencies in your writing. Great writers know and use the power of review and critique to their own advantage.
Myth 4. I have to know the whole book before I start. From my experience, I know my content well, but I always leave open new ways for my books to develop and evolve as I work on them. I have a vision and detailed outline for each book, but I also weave together new ideas, experiences, and current events. And if your books have characters, don’t restrict their behavior before they come to life on the pages—allow them room to grow through your work. Let the book’s outline and framework be flexible enough to improve as you bring your book to life as words spill from your fingertips onto your keyboard and monitor.
Myth 5. Publishers are always right. On the contrary, they are people! Read your contracts, join professional associations to learn what the standard terms are, and when you know your content is correct, stand up for it. There are dozens of cases where publishers rejected books as “junk” that later became best sellers.
Print these dots, post them next to your monitor, and let them inspire you to keep going and enjoy your writing project. Live your writing dreams. Whether you’re writing 30 minutes a day or 10 hours, I urge you to get past the 5 myths outlined above and discover the freedom of your voice, write to your audience, and enjoy the experience.
