Are you writing a book? Wishing you could write a book? Go for it.
I believe in you. Not because I want to convince you you’re some special snowflake so I can get money out of you. (Yeah, there’s a bit of that goes on in this industry. I’m sorry that some of us do that.)
I believe in you because you have passion and vision and you really want to write a book. The book that only you can write. That’s why you’re reading this.
Maybe you’re struggling with a manuscript that won’t behave.
Even if you still haven’t put a word down on paper (or computer) as yet, you yearn to do so. Maybe you’re waiting for permission. (I did that for years, myself.)
You don’t want to keep saying, “Everyone’s got a book in them,” then get to the end of your life and discover that yours is still in you, rather than out in the world.
So go for it.
The opinions of others
For a simple, easy-to-read explanation of ways to use writing feedback, check out my info page for Use the Power of Feedback to Write a Better Book
A writer friend told me recently she hadn’t written a word of her novel for many months, since an unsympathetic beta reader tore it and her heart into little pieces. “It is terrible the power we give to other people,” she said. Amen to that.
Has anyone else experienced that condescending little smile when you tell someone, “I’m writing a book” ???
It’s true that some people will sneer at our writing, either overtly or behind our backs.
So what.
Let’s do it anyway.
The crazy-busy
How can we possibly find the time to write a book? I’ve looked and looked, but I can’t find any more than 24 hours in a day.
Check out this excellent post by Molly Greene on how to increase our productivity as writers.
Debbie Young also wrote a great post for the Alliance of Independent Authors on how to use voice recognition for writing. I’ve recently bought Dragon software to see if it can help me write more, and will let you know how it goes.
You can also check out my article on how to get that book written this year which includes an audio interview with a management consultant. Her story about the woman who finished her book by writing on top of the washing machine is one I’ll never forget.
The weight of the world
I heard a motivational speaker named Julie Cross speak at a recent charity event. I smiled at her humour, and thought, “Yeah, one of those naturally peppy people.”
And then she revealed how her husband had a major stroke at 41, and a few months later her 4 year old son was diagnosed with autism… and now I was really listening.
Her struggles gave her achievements that much more credibility.
She had to learn to stop waiting for everything to be OK and “back to normal”… she had to pursue her dreams and do something with her life, even in the midst of the chaos.
I’ve got some challenges in my life. I need to stop waiting for them to pass so I can write my book. Somehow, I need to write NOW.
Be more dog??
“What is Belinda talking about now?” I hear you say. Well, I stumbled upon a viral video recently, and it gave me a good laugh… but also started me thinking about my attitude to my writing.
It’s by a British company called 02 (I don’t really know what they’re selling, but I want 10 of them) about a cat that decides to change his attitude.
It’s only 1:10 long. Go on, I know you don’t normally watch “cat videos”, but you deserve this one.
If you’re a cat person, don’t worry, you don’t have to suddenly start preferring dogs. 😉 (Some of my best friends are cat people.)
But which pet’s attitude would you rather adopt when it comes to writing your book?
Let’s “be more dog” about our writing and publishing. Let’s go for it.
Let’s be persistent
Dogs don’t give up.
“Ooh, what’s on the menu tonight?”
My senior terrier Killarney (16), always a model of good behaviour in the past, has lost her marbles and her manners with age, and now sees the kitchen bin as a buffet.
I’ve told her to stop again and again (this involves physical removal, as she now has the hearing acuity of a brick). Still I hear rustling and thumping and think, “Oh no, she’s in the bin again.”
I’ve even put up one of those concertina fence thingies to keep her out of the kitchen. Guess what? She just bulldozered through it, getting caught up as it collapsed around her, but STILL pushing forward to those tasty treats.
The old chestnut that CS Lewis received 800 rejections before his first piece of writing was published is apparently not true. But there are certainly many now-famous authors who were once struggling like us – you can read some of the rejection letters here.
Be persistent. Try again.
Let’s seize opportunities
My junior dog Rufus is often busy hunting for possum droppings, or having a nap, or running up and down the fence with the dog next door. Nevertheless, I find that when I bring his ball outside and offer to throw it for him, he makes room in his schedule. 100% of the time. He gives this opportunity his full attention, above all other opportunities.
Yes, I know it’s not really a fair comparison, because dogs don’t have to clean the house, and they don’t worry nearly as much about the future as we do, so they can have no idea how exhausting it all is. 😉
But there’s a serious question behind the lighthearted canine allusions.
How can I make writing my book as exciting to me as a ball to a dog?
I used to feel that excited about it. What is it about my current thinking that’s keeping it from being that exciting? What can I do to get that feeling back?
I think for me it’s worrying about other people’s opinions – both real and imaginary – that has sucked the joy out of it. It’s in my power to change that — not their opinions of course, but whether I let the spectre of those opinions stand between me and my dreams.
The answer will be different for each of us, but there IS an answer for each of us.
Let’s be sociable and loyal
Just as dogs are pack animals, writers do better in community too.
Yes, a big percentage of us might be introverts. (Not every writer is. I’m not.) But we all need to connect.
I’m not talking about tweeting “buy this person’s book” 24/7, or giving false reviews. Or demanding that other people do so for us. Apart from being icky, those behaviours are also time-wasters that don’t actually work, and in the long term they damage a writer’s career.
Being sociable and loyal is about forming friendships and alliances with other writers, and supporting one another emotionally, creatively and sometimes practically.
Meet them at writers’ groups, social media, courses, conferences. I’ve met several on Twitter. I’ve met them on their blogs.
We have more ways to connect with other writers than ever before. Collectivise. Inspire. Help. Encourage.
Let’s be thrilled
“Omigosh, we’re going in the CAR!!! I’m so thrilled I think I’ll shed some MORE hair on the upholstery!”
Nine times out of ten, when I put Rufus in the car, what lies ahead is the vet’s thermometer or a training session where he’ll have to do as he’s told. Nevertheless, he thinks going in the car is the most glorious thing.
Writing my book is hard work.
It involves lengthy rounds of rewriting and re-editing that gets tiring.
It involves coping with beta reports from generous and insightful people who somehow fail to fully appreciate the searing brilliance of my work. 😉
Soon, it will involve the horror of getting my MS back from the editor. (Being an editor myself, I have seen the future, and I know it contains many red Track Changes and green comments.) (How is it that there are SO many people who fail to appreciate the searing brilliance of my work. Hahaha.)
And yet, writing a book is a glorious thing.
As if that wasn’t enough by itself, this is the most extraordinary time in human history to be a writer.
We have more opportunities than ever before to get our work before the eyes of readers.
Wow.
Let’s do the hard work, and let’s go for it.
My big commitment
I help other people launch their books into the world all the time. And yet my own manuscripts develop barnacles on my hard drive.
I have made the extraordinary commitment to finally publish my first novel by Christmas. (Yikes.)
I finished the first draft in 2012, and it’s been in rewriting/reworking purgatory ever since. I couldn’t seem to finish. Something has always cluttered the path, tripped me up.
But now it’s happening, somehow. Cover design is being finalised. I have booked an editor for October 1. (Double yikes.)
I still have options I could explore on the traditional publishing side of the tracks but I’m going “off the reservation” and publishing myself. (If you want to find out why, use the form below to subscribe to my blog. I’ll be blogging more about this in coming months.)
It’s a bit scary to state my commitment publicly. What if I don’t make the deadline and my failure is there for all to see? How embarrassing!
But I’ve been embarrassed before and survived. So I guess I’ll just go for it. 😉
EDITED: I finished and published the book by the end of the year!!! Check it out here: Poison Bay – Wild Crimes #1
What’s your goal with your book? Do you want to say it aloud, even write it in the comments?? Go for it.
Write that book.
Featured image via Bigstock/Dusan Zidar
I’m late to the party, perhaps, but your post is so funny and inspiring, compelling me to comment,
Brava on your published book, all your successes, and keeping in touch with why you started writing.
I LOVE, LOVE, Love the cat video. I’m feeling better already, from your inspiring post!
Thank you so much, Marlene. I really really love that cat video too. In fact, since reading your comment I took time out of my busy day today and watched it AGAIN! Power on with your writing and keep us posted.
If you’re struggling to gain momentum on your book, check out National Novel Writing Month in November (http://nanowrimo.org/). It’s a great event with lots of tools and tutorials that keep you inspired.
I am :). I have finished my first book and am currently working on my first edit and getting a few beta readers involved. That, in itself, has proven to be quite the task. Since I am self-publishing, building a platform and branding has been difficult as well. Thank you so much for tools Kristen! I will check that out today.
Hi Belinda! I have to say I am completely inspired after reading this and feel I have found a gold mine of information and inspiration. Thank you!! I have finally finished writing my first book and am doing my own editing right now before turning it over to an editor/proofreader. I am completely overwhelmed! At least ten times I have changed my mind about self-publishing, being a failure is always at the back of my mind. But I have bought the cover for my book and am looking for an editor. I don’t know what is next, or if I am doing things in the right order, but your post makes me want to move forward even if I do things kind of backwards. Thank you so much for your words of inspiration! I wish I could learn how to blog but have no idea where to start. I’ll probably be hanging out on your page for a few days while I soak up all your experiences and inspiration. Thanks again!!!
Callie, welcome! I am so glad you have found inspiration and encouragement here. 🙂 (And the main character in my novel is named Callie, would you believe?? I’m not sure what that coincidence means, but it must be something good. 😉 )
I think as writers and also as self-publishers, we need to give ourselves authority to fail and fail boldly, if you know what I mean. It’s part of the “be more dog” thing. Anyone who ever did anything remarkable also failed a lot… they achieved much because they weren’t afraid to try.
As for the order, I would do:
–your first edit
–beta reader feedback
–your revision
–editor
–formatting
–proofreader
–PUBLISH!
(Sounds like another blog post I need to write…)
I don’t see any problem with getting your cover early. (Although, not so early that you don’t yet fully know what the book is about, unless you don’t mind paying twice.) I find covers inspire me, so if it works that way for you, then go for it.
Thank you Belinda for giving me the order in which I need to work through before publishing….Looks like I have a little further to go than I earlier predicted! 🙂 I can’t believe that Callie is the name of your main character! See, I was meant to find your blog. Callie is my pen name. I do have a hard time with allowing myself to fail, we, as they say, are our own worst enemy. That is true in this case but I am trying to allow myself to do just that – be ok if I fail big time, pick myself up and try again. Thank you again! Have a great day!
Hi Belinda. Very inspiring post. I actually self-pubbed a thriller but recently took it down since it wasn’t doing so well. Been thinking of revising it and sending off to some publishing houses. Not sure if I’ve already burned that bridge, though. I’m a journalist by trade, so breaking into fiction writing is a little scary. I’ve taken classes and learned a lot, but sitting behind the keyboard and making it happen is a whole other beast. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Neesha, it’s a complicated thing, knowing how publishers/literary agents are going to react to prior self-publication of a manuscript. If it’s been a raging success, most will jump at it, these days. But in your situation where you’ve been unhappy with the outcome, you can only test the waters and ask them. If it were me, I’d be inclined to be honest and yet positive: “I learned this, this and this through the process of self-publishing, and it’s made me a better writer, and improved my ms in these ways…”
The other question that occurs to me is: was it not performing as well as you’d have liked because a. it needs revision OR b. your marketing efforts hadn’t (yet) reached the right readers??
As I launch into my self-pub experiment, I’ll be blogging what I discover, and the successes and failures of marketing ideas that I test etc. Hopefully, some of those might give you ideas if you want to have another go at your thriller. You can always revise it and put it back out there! One of the joys of the new self-publishing technologies is the opportunity to keep tweaking. 🙂
I love reading your posts, Belinda because they fill with me hope. It’s so important to be reminded that other writers struggle with similar problems and self doubts but don’t give up. On average I take two years to write a novel and i have now written three, two published and one soon to be published, well, soon-ish 😉 Regardless of the wee successes of the first two novels, i feel exactly the same each time ie: full of worry that the next will be no good. And my confidence was seriously knocked recently when two fellow bestselling writers told me they took four months and six months respectively to write their novels – that’s three books and two books per year! I’ve got over the shock of it now but it confused me for a while. Overall, I believe a book takes as long as it takes but a few deadlines in there really help me, I am hopeless at being organised and deadlines help me to keep going! I am actually considering trying to write my fourth novel in a year but I am probably kidding myself – I was supposed to have started writing last month and have not, so, enough said (I have been thinking about it a lot, though! ha ha ha!). I’ll let you know how it goes. Good luck with the publication process and your editor. I’m really looking forward to reading your novel very soon 🙂
ps LOVED he cat/dog video! Woof! Woof!
Marianne, think of all the people who never wrote a novel at all, even though they wanted to. You are three novels ahead of them. 😉 (and two novels ahead of me!)
My bold plan is to write the first draft of my next novel in three months, which will be about 9 years and 9 months faster than I wrote the previous first draft. Ha. I figure if I shoot for three months, I might make it in a year. Or two. I’m never going to be Russell Blake, cranking out another novel every 6 weeks. But that’s OK.
I am very impressed that you have written and published two novels, and finished a third. I think it’s amazing. Celebrate! 🙂
I’ve been really hard on myself concerning drafting my first novel. I’m shooting for completion by this coming spring, which will be just over three years of drafting and revising, but along the way, I started to edit stuff for other people which helped serve as a good reminder of how far I still needed to come in order to be happy with my work. I’ll be querying, but may end up self-pubbing it. Yes, be more dog!
Jeri, my first draft began about 15 years ago, so you are streets ahead of me when it comes to timeframes. 😉 Be kind to yourself, while also being more dog. 😀 Thanks for sharing some of your experience.
Awesome article Dr B! You have definitely got that uber writing style for massive success! Really great and encouraging piece. Also found some other cool stuff recently on length of time it takes to become a ‘known’ author in social media when consistently posting which was also helpful re realistic timelines and self expectations – will mms a graph!
Cheers
Dr P
Thanks Dr Pete. You are a star the way you churn out books so quickly. You’re not keeping any books in you, you’re getting them out there. Soon that dedication and consistency in both publishing and blogging will all begin to pay off as the readers who love your work find you! 🙂
Super article that I’m sure will encourage heaps of writers everywhere. Teetering on the brink of committing to a novel after years of writing shorter pieces, I think I should bookmark this post and return to it for virtual cheerleading every time my resolve falters! My goal: to publish for Christmas 2015. (I’ve got several other book projects on the go in the meantime, either short fiction or non-fiction.) Thanks, Belinda – and good luck with yours too!
Debbie, I’m inspired by all you’re achieving with your shorter works. They will be excellent training for the longer work, as well as being worthwhile projects in themselves.
It’s a huge time commitment to write a novel, although it doesn’t need to be quite as huge as I’ve made it. 😉 How about we have twin goals: you to publish Novel 1 by Christmas 2015, and me to publish Novel 2 by Christmas 2015. We can cheer each other on!
I love your positivity Belinda, as well as admitting you’re scared. I’m about to send out to agents, but may be on the indie route before I’m finished. V. Happy to find your blog ( via Molly Greene). And who doesn’t love cats? Well yes I know there’s a few dog lovers who don’t! O2 is a cell phone service provider in the UK BTW. Loved the ad though.
AK, I wish you enormous success with your agent journey. I think it’s a good discipline for all of us to go through some of that, even if you do end up going indie eventually. I certainly pursued the traditional route for a while, and my book is the stronger for it.
As for cats n dogs, I grew up in a household that always had both, so I’m very ecumenical in my views. 😉
Thanks for the link about voice recognition software – I’ve been thinking of trying it out for a while, now I might get around to it 🙂
BTW O2 is a telecoms company providing phone services, so quite what that ad is all about, I’m not sure, but it’s great anyway!
“what that ad is all about, I’m not sure, but it’s great anyway!” — my sentiments exactly. 🙂
Deborah, I really hope the voice recognition thing might help you. I’ll blog whenever I discover anything significant about my use of it, or have a breakthrough… or even a “walk away in disgust” moment.
Interesting post. I purchased Dragon software but after using it for a while on the basis it would allow me to write more efficiently I am back typing with two and three fingers. I found Dragon produced a different kind of writing and I preferred that which I was typing. Also and the most annoying after twenty or so minutes I think my voice must have changed … perhaps tiredness, as errors increased so requiring too much editing. I would be interested to hear about your experiences and that of others.
Alexander of Allrighters and Ywnwab!
Alexander, at the moment I’m mostly exploring Dragon for the purposes of blogging faster, thereby freeing up more time to write/rewrite. But that’s because of the stage I’m at with my WIP. I doubt I’d ever use voice recognition for editing while I still had use of my hands.
The big test as to whether it can work for me for the creative first draft process of a novel will come with Book 2. I’m in the “ideas” stage of that one, and am Not Allowed to commence writing till Book 1 is complete. 😉 (my rule, not someone else’s)
I shall definitely blog my discoveries as I use the software more. Thanks for your input. 🙂