Writing is a tough gig. Doubtless, when you started out, you dreamt it would involve holing up in a cozy study surrounded by books and endless cups of hot chocolate. The words would come with little to no resistance. Everyone would agree that you were brilliant, a genius, and soon the royalty checks would come rolling in. Hugh Jackman (or insert heartthrob of your choice) would be cast as the lead in your bestselling novel-turned-movie and would inevitably fall in love with not only your words, but your soul.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Whatever your personal fantasy involves, I’m willing to bet it doesn’t include writer’s block. Revision after revision after revision. Rejections from agents, publishers. Notes from editors that tear your work to shreds. Negative reviews that make you never want to write again.
So, yeah. Writing is a tough gig. It is not for the faint of heart. If you’re in it for the money or the fame or the adulation, I would suggest going into another line of work (and once you’ve found what that might be, let me know, ‘cuz I could sure use some unbridled adoration).
But if you’re writing because you love words, because you hear your characters’ voices in your head, because you can’t live without it—then you’re going to have to get serious.
Treat writing like a job. I’m not unique in saying this, but I absolutely stand behind it. Set aside time to write, then commit to that time. Whether it’s three hours a day, two hours every Saturday, or twenty minutes during your lunch break, consider that time sacred.
You will be tempted to let other things commandeer that time—errands, TV, sleep—but if you’re really serious about it, don’t. Writing is a muscle as much as it is a skill. It has to be exercised, regularly. The more you do it, the easier it will become (which is to say, you will only be tearing out half of your hair instead of all if it).
Invest in your skills. I know people who think anyone can be a writer and that it’s a waste of time/money to take classes. Or those who think that writing is a talent you either have, or you don’t. Or even those who think they can’t be a “real” writer because they didn’t get a degree in creative writing.
FALSE.
True, technically everyone can write, just like everyone can sing. I have a tone-deaf uncle who loves to belt it out in church choir—but that doesn’t mean I’m going to buy his album.
Writing is a talent which comes to some people more easily than to others. But if you pit together two racers—one who has natural talent but who eats junk and only sporadically exercises, and one who might not be as naturally talented but follows a strict diet and trains for three hours every day—who do you think will win that race?
Having a degree in creative writing is great, but it is absolutely not necessary to becoming a published author. If you look at some of the backgrounds of your favorite writers, you might be surprised to learn what they studied (or didn’t study) at school.
However, you can almost guarantee that they did some sort of training—whether it was joining a critique group, taking a class, studying writer’s guides, going to a conference, or even just reading every book they could get their hands on.
No matter where you are in your writing journey, you won’t be doing yourself any favors treating this like a hobby—not if you’re earnest about this career.
Learn to take (and not take) critiques. If every piece of feedback you receive, you reject in a towering rage because you’re brilliant and nobody else gets it—congratulations. You now have an audience of one. Enjoy being the only genius who understands your work.
Everyone needs help. Everyone. There is a reason that athletes have coaches and actors have directors. No matter how good you are, it is imperative to have an objective pair of eyes looking over your work and telling you how it could be stronger, cleaner, clearer. If you blindly reject any and all advice, you’re doing yourself and your work a disservice.
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to follow every piece of criticism. Sometimes people are biased. Sometimes people read something wrong or are in a bad mood or hate the particular genre you’re writing. Find multiple readers.
Get lots of advice. Take notice of the issues that pop up over and over again, that more than one person has noticed. Really consider each critique, even if you resist it initially. Give it some time to take root.
If after some serious deliberation, the change still doesn’t feel right to you, you don’t have to make it. It’s only a suggestion, not law. But make sure this is the result of a thoughtful, reasoned decision, not wounded pride. You’re a professional, after all.
Keep going (and going, and going). I’d like to say that if you follow all these steps, you’re destined to become the next J.K. Rowling. I hope that’s true. But more than likely, you’re still going to have publishers who don’t like your work, and editors who mark it up with red, and reviewers who think it’s just bleh.
But if you’re earnest—if you’re really serious about this writing thing—keep going. If you’ve put in the work, believe in it. Be flexible. Be persistent. Keep going. If this book isn’t the one, the next one will be. Hugh Jackman is just around the corner.
Happy writing.
Editor Elizabeth Gilliland’s most recent project, Vivateraby Candace J. Thomas, was released in April, 2013, and is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Koboin both hard copy and e-book.
Her next project, another fantasy, Rose of the Alchemist by Li Frost, is slated for release in early 2014.
