"Asking me why I write is like asking me why I live." ~ LTM
The following is a little advice to other writers from a girl who's been there, done that, and is still being there and doin' that!
1. Never let anyone tell you that you should not write. EVERYONE gets better and stronger at their craft with consistent practice.
2. Don't follow someone else's path regarding publication; everyone has a different and tailor-made journey. Yours is as unique as anyone's.
3. Listen to advice from professional editors regarding your work, especially where grammar is concerned.
4. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst when it comes to getting published.
5. Strike a balance between writing, family, self, and friends.
6. Use a standing desk. Sitting for too long is a killer.
7. Stretch a lot during your writing day. Try setting an alarm to get you moving at least once an hour. This includes your neck and wrists.
8. If you can, limit your writing time to 2-4 hours a day, and write at the same time each writing day. Consistency is key to optimal writing.
9. When looking for an agent, use the Literary Marketplace or the Manuscript Wish List.
10. For fiction, DO NOT contact ANY agent until your manuscript is complete AND has been edited by a professional.
11. Know your genre and audience.
12. The writer who makes it with their first novel is an anomaly. Most "overnight" successes actually take years, even decades, and three or four or ten books. If you are not in this for the long haul, find another trade.
13. Don't quit your day job just because you've found an agent. An agent is not insurance that you will traditionally publish.
14. Read your work out loud to a friend, family member, or even the dog! Hearing your words can help you find mistakes and weaknesses in your writing.
15. You are never above taking writing workshops. Even the best singers still take lessons.
16. Find a support group with other writers who truly want you to be successful.
17. Do not expect your friends or family to read your work. Some will openly refuse, while others will ignore your requests. It is not their responsibility to stroke your writer's ego.
18. Do not send your work to a literary agent who has not requested it. This includes not sending to a writer friend's agent and pretending they recommended you. Stay transparent. Honesty is everything in this small but mighty industry.
19. Worried about writer's block? Try stopping your session mid-sentence instead of at the chapter's end. This will immediately put you back on track for the next session, and you can start right where you left off.
20. If you procrastinate, your book will not get finished. I have a motto that I tell myself every writing day: "This book ain't gonna write itself." And then I get going!
The following is a little advice to other writers from a girl who's been there, done that, and is still being there and doin' that!
1. Never let anyone tell you that you should not write. EVERYONE gets better and stronger at their craft with consistent practice.
2. Don't follow someone else's path regarding publication; everyone has a different and tailor-made journey. Yours is as unique as anyone's.
3. Listen to advice from professional editors regarding your work, especially where grammar is concerned.
4. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst when it comes to getting published.
5. Strike a balance between writing, family, self, and friends.
6. Use a standing desk. Sitting for too long is a killer.
7. Stretch a lot during your writing day. Try setting an alarm to get you moving at least once an hour. This includes your neck and wrists.
8. If you can, limit your writing time to 2-4 hours a day, and write at the same time each writing day. Consistency is key to optimal writing.
9. When looking for an agent, use the Literary Marketplace or the Manuscript Wish List.
10. For fiction, DO NOT contact ANY agent until your manuscript is complete AND has been edited by a professional.
11. Know your genre and audience.
12. The writer who makes it with their first novel is an anomaly. Most "overnight" successes actually take years, even decades, and three or four or ten books. If you are not in this for the long haul, find another trade.
13. Don't quit your day job just because you've found an agent. An agent is not insurance that you will traditionally publish.
14. Read your work out loud to a friend, family member, or even the dog! Hearing your words can help you find mistakes and weaknesses in your writing.
15. You are never above taking writing workshops. Even the best singers still take lessons.
16. Find a support group with other writers who truly want you to be successful.
17. Do not expect your friends or family to read your work. Some will openly refuse, while others will ignore your requests. It is not their responsibility to stroke your writer's ego.
18. Do not send your work to a literary agent who has not requested it. This includes not sending to a writer friend's agent and pretending they recommended you. Stay transparent. Honesty is everything in this small but mighty industry.
19. Worried about writer's block? Try stopping your session mid-sentence instead of at the chapter's end. This will immediately put you back on track for the next session, and you can start right where you left off.
20. If you procrastinate, your book will not get finished. I have a motto that I tell myself every writing day: "This book ain't gonna write itself." And then I get going!