Thousands of people start
writing books but, somewhere along the way, get bogged down and never finish. I
can’t say I have all the answers, but here are some of the roadblocks I’ve
experienced.
Expecting First Draft Perfection. The odds against writing perfect prose the first time
around are astronomically against you. Nobody, I mean, nobody is capable of
writing a final draft the first time around. One of my favorite writing books
is Write Away by best selling author
Elizabeth George. Each chapter begins with a quote from the journal she kept
while writing one of her 150,000 word novels (yes, that’s an enormous book). She's sold a bajillion books. Her loyal fans anxiously await her next
offering. But here's what she said after viewing her daily quota of words, “What am I doing
pretending to be a writer?” We all have self-doubts. We can’t let them cripple
us into believing we have to strive for perfection the first time around.
That’s what re-writes are for.
Don’t Get Bogged Down in Research. I adore research. Google, I love you! Here’s an
example of how research led me astray. In the last book of my series, Midnight Moon, I wanted to describe an
interesting piece of Native American jewelry, one that might be easily imbued
with mystical qualities. Had I been more organized, I’d have done my research
well ahead of the time I actually wrote about it. But, no, I wasted three hours
scrolling through countless websites as I looked for the perfect ring, pendant,
bracelet or locket to fit my needs. Since the Big Dipper figures into the final
plot, of course I had to order a pendant featuring the seven stars. For
inspiration (heh). Bottom line: research first or better yet, underline or
highlight the area that requires research. Trust me, it will save you time and
money.
Fear of Rejection. Before I sold my first book I knew the odds were against me. A close
family member told me only 2% of books submitted to agents and editors are
published. Why did I persist? I admit I have a stubborn streak. When someone
tells me I can’t do something, the little voice inside my head says, “Oh,
yeah”? I wanted to prove I could start and finish a book. And I did. Even today,
with six published books under my belt, old doubts still float to the surface.
What if I can’t come up with a fresh plot? What if nobody likes my latest book?
Fear of rejection is paralyzing. It stifles your creativity and moves you
backward instead of forward. So, do what I do. Take a deep breath and kick it
to the curb.
Forge a Relationship With Someone Who Will Make You a
Better Writer. Writing is solitary,
lonely business. The Internet has made it less so. Because it is absolutely
impossible to be objective about your own writing, join a critique group, find
a beta reader or, if you plan to self-publish, hire a competent editor who will
go over your manuscript with a cool, dispassionate eye and offer the
constructive criticism needed to polish your book. Trust me, it will save you
many an embarrassing moment. How do I know this? Because people simply love to
point out the error they found on page 44.
Give Yourself a Pat on the Back. You started the journey. You’ve made progress. Instead
of looking back at what you’ve written and agonizing over your unpolished prose,
take a moment to be proud of what you’ve accomplished. While you’re at it,
promise yourself that you will finish. Try to squeeze in a little writing time
each day. Before you know it, your book will be done and you will have
accomplished what many others set out to do but failed, probably because of one
of the roadblocks already described. Writers write. They persist even when
discouraged. They finish what they start. You can do it!
Nice blog, I'll add it to mine if you add mine to yours.
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You deserve a big pat on the back! You're doing brilliantly.
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