Almost everyone who WANTS to write CAN, but to be a WRITER
you should feel the need with the same intensity as needing to breathe — and
that includes being willing to do all of the other work that goes into being a
professional writer. Please don’t think there is anything wrong with writing
for yourself just because you enjoy it, but being a writer (as in working as a
writer) is a lot more than just putting words on paper.
Writing is the fun part for all of us, telling stories,
seeing our characters “come to life”, sharing emotions with the words we put on
paper and sometimes even sharing a story or two with a trusted friend. BEING a
writer gets to enjoy all of that and then gets to transition into business
mode, move from right brain into left brain thinking, and begin edits,
rewrites, finding a publisher (or self-pubbing), marketing and promotion. If
you aren’t willing to do the work that comes after typing “The End” then you
can still keep writing, but you aren’t a writer.
Let’s go over all the steps from beginning your story until
you finish it and decide how far you want to go with it. Are you a plotter
where you detail your storyline before putting it on the page, or are you a
pantser who allows her characters to make the next scene happen? Developing a
plotline can be detailed or simply cursory, whichever way you do it it’s a good
idea to know where you want your story to go and the eventual outcome. Write
the story, just write until you reach the end and don’t worry about spelling,
punctuation or grammar. After you type the end take a walk, that’s right, take
a break.
Come back to your story with fresh eyes and start reading it
with a literal or figurative red pencil in hand; now is the time to check
spelling, punctuation, grammar and plot consistency (make sure everything
happens in the correct order) . Expect to take a few self-editing passes. Since
most of us tend to see what we expect it is a good idea to have someone else
help you with your editing; actually two people are more helpful, one to check
the spelling, etc., and the second to simply read the story to make sure it “makes
sense”. Your story is now meant to be enjoyed. This next step will help
determine if you are a writer.
If you are hoping to publish and promote then hopefully you
have already researched publishers who feature your type of book — don’t try to
sell a children’s story to an adult romance publisher for example. Follow
submission guidelines as closely as possible; if a query letter is necessary
before submitting the entire manuscript do NOT send your manuscript. Note if
you are expected to query/submit in hard copy or email. Follow formatting
guidelines and include requested info. Many writers think they can ignore the
publisher’s guidelines, but this winds up being the fastest way to be rejected.
If you are planning to self-pub then be prepared to hire a professional editor,
cover artist and write a blurb and tag-line. Familiarize yourself with the
appropriate formatting (available from online book publishers like Smashwords
and Amazon)
Make sure that you’ve developed a solid web presence such as
Facebook, Twitter and GooglePlus as this is a serious avenue for book promotion
whether you are traditionally or self-pubbed. Find venues to promote yourself
at (many publishers will ask for your marketing plan). Build a blog to let your
brand (your name) get established. Being a writer is a full-time pursuit, if
you want the job then you have to fulfill the duties.
Writing Exercise:
Write a three-to-five page story beginning with this line: Are you really going to keep this to
yourself?
Writing Prompt: Make
a list of organizational skills you are good at; include a brief example for
each. Make a list of organizational skills you are terrible at; include a brief
example for each.
Challenge Assignment:
Find ANY old writing you’ve done (it can be a manuscript, childhood
poetry, an old letter, etc.), make a copy and EDIT it. Check for spelling,
flow, grammar and punctuation. Compare the two to see the differences.
