Roxanne and I have been writing ebooks for over a decade. First they were in Word (.doc) format then came the PDF. Now is an entirely new animal — .mobi and epub. This new book market has opened up the opportunity for others to self publish their work to such giants as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
So, You Want to be a Writer?
If you plan to write for money, then expect to fail. That may sound preposterous; after all, Stephen King makes quite a living from writing. However, Stephen King is the exception, not the rule.
Writing is hard work. It takes dedication, time and above all commitment. And to be honest, most people just do not have the dedication or discipline to stick with it.
Writing isn’t difficult. Most people in the world can write. But successful writers have the ability to produce a structure of words and sentences into a style that people want to read — to convey an idea that engages the reader and guides him through the book.
We have all read dry prose – many of us dragged through the chapters kicking and screaming all the way. That is not enjoyment – that’s high school! The purpose of writing is fulfilling a passion.
Dennis Foley, a published author and writing instructor friend, once told me he asks his students the same question at the beginning of his course – “Why do You Want to Write?” The prevalent answers are basically the same: Money and Fame.
Yet, others will reply they write because they can’t not write. For me, however, it is more accurately stated, “I write because I love to write.” Not because I have to. I enjoy sharing my knowledge, my ideas and my imagination — even if no one listens. I write because I enjoy it.
When he heard my answer, he smiled and said, “Good Answer.” Granted, people who write for money and fame have as much a chance to succeed than the hobbyist. But, most wont finish. Why? Because writing takes a lot of time and good writing takes even more.
Get Organized
I was struggling with completing my first draft. When I sat at my computer, the thought of completing 120,000+ word novel was frightening and seemingly insurmountable. I asked a few writer friends what they did to manage their time. While every person writes and manages differently, I found a few gems that may help you climb the mountain.
Get ‘Er Done!
One of the hardest parts of writing is completing the first draft. Statistically, this is where the author is separated from the writer. There are more partially written books littering bookshelves, and lining waste baskets than you would believe.
When you complete your first draft, congratulate yourself. You’ve just moved to the top 10% of the class!
Divide your project into manageable chunks.
Nothing is more disappointing that biting off more than you can chew. Your energy drains and soon, you are looking for other shiny objects rather than finishing your project.
Set a realistic writing goal for each week and stick to it.
Plan to write at least 5 pages a week.
Find the Time.
If your time is limited, then finding time to write may be difficult. Set aside a day or time each week to write. Turn off the phone. Tell the family and lock yourself away for at least an hour – preferably 2 and just write.
Don’t quit.
If you find you have writers block, take a walk around the block. Go do the dishes. Take a short drive. Don’t sit down to watch TV. That will simply numb your mind and senses.
Don’t edit as you write.
Get ALL the words down first (unless you are writing a short story).
Give yourself a Break.
When you get the end of the novel, stop. Give yourself a break before making any edits—at least a week. Go jogging; paint the house; weed the garden. Do anything other than looking at your manuscript.
While it is optimal to have a computer to write, it is NOT necessary when writing the book. Lizzy Armentrout, author of A Vengeful Spirit, likes to sit in a large easy chair with a yellow notepad and write. Christopher Paolini, author or Eragon, wrote 60 pages in a spiral notebook before he transferred his story to computer. While a computer is NOT a necessity when writing the book, you will need it to produce your book in electronic format.
