How to Be a Writer
There's only one way to live as a writer; all it takes is choosing the right path.
How to Be a Writer:
Write Fast, Publish Faster
You’re a writer, so write.
Create a practice.
Every day, when it’s time, place butt in chair.
No complaining. No excuses.
Avoid distractions. Tune out the noise.
You follow trends. You write to market.
You heard that fantasy is hot.
Or horror.
Or romance.
It doesn’t matter. Pick one and stick to it.
Write what the readers buy.
You’re a plotter, so create the outline first.
Follow the three-act structure.
Determine your inciting incident,
your midpoint, your finale.
Oops, you missed the Dark Night of the Soul.
Add it and move on.
Outline complete, it’s time to write.
Write, and write fast.
Don’t worry about clarity. It’s just the first draft,
and all first drafts are garbage.
No time to fix mistakes. Come back later.
Jot down things you might’ve missed; add notes for changes as you go.
See a plot hole? Don’t fret, just make a note and move on.
When you’ve completed the first draft, make the changes from your notes.
Then perform a self-edit, you don’t have time for anything professional.
Read dialog out loud, but even here, there’s a sense of urgency.
Don’t get stuck. Keep moving.
Time is of the essence.
Send the manuscript to a beta reader.
Or two. Or three.
Or not. Let your end readers become part of the process instead.
When you get feedback, consider it only briefly.
Does the idea fit the story?
Does the comment feed your goals?
If so, make the change. If not, ignore it.
Hire a cover designer. Professionals are fast, and great covers sell.
Or, if you have even a modicum of skill, do it yourself.
Buy a few stock images. Merge them. Tweak them.
Find the perfect font. Place it just right.
Now tagline, blurb, ISBN, move!
You’re a self-publisher. Gatekeepers don’t impress you.
You don’t have the time or the desire to seek out an agent.
You’re on your way to 20 books.
All in a series.
Bam bam bam.
You do have time for a quick course, but it’s not on writing.
It focuses on marketing.
The story doesn’t matter. Not really.
It’s all about getting your book in front of readers.
It’s about the sale.
Publish on Amazon.
Market on Facebook.
Announce to social media.
Now, you’re a writer and a marketing wizard.
But there’s no time to waste.
You’re already outlining your next book.
Keep an eye on your backlist, but keep moving.
Your audience is waiting.
If you’re not marketing the next book, fans are losing interest.
You’re one book closer to 20, but you’re not there yet.
So write another.
Write fast, publish faster is how to be a writer.
…or maybe...
How to Be a Writer:
Hone Your Craft
Focusing on your craft is how to be a writer.
Immerse yourself in the trade.
Sign up for writing courses.
Read all the books.
Learn from the specialists.
Master the 3-act structure, but also the four, five, the seven.
Become an expert in character development,
conflict and resolution, and world-building.
Sign up for newsletters and writing camps.
Read all the subreddits to understand what other writers are struggling with.
Follow influencers, other writers, and editors, too.
Practice what they suggest.
Insert what you learn back into your work.
You’re a writer, so you write.
Every day, butt in chair.
Find your voice. Clarify your worldview.
Develop your message. Build a habit.
Practice. Revise for hours. Days. Months. Years.
You write for one person: yourself.
You are your own ideal reader.
Trends don’t matter. The market is meaningless.
The only thing that matters is your story. This story.
The one you’re writing.
Understand your why.
You have a point. A worldview.
An underlying theme.
Your characters, the setting, the story...
they all serve the point you want to share with the world.
You’re a pantser.
Discover the story as you write it.
You have a vague idea of the story and the feelings you want to capture.
Let the protagonist’s motivations and actions decide what happens next.
Write slowly. Analyze every scene, every sentence, every word.
Edit as you go. Write and whittle. Build and chip away.
Clarity is key, but the first draft still sucks.
Good writing is rewriting.
Your style is poetic. It’s important. It’s immersive.
Tweak. Improve. Rewrite.
As you write, build your platform.
Find your audience. Share your message.
But do so sparingly, in your free time,
and only when you have something valuable to say.
You’re not a slave to being heard,
sharing just to keep your name in front of others.
That need comes from the ego, and you don’t need the diversion.
If you do post, you continue to hone your writing.
Write, revise, and then release.
When the work is complete, hire a professional editor.
The criticism is hard to take, but you’ve built up a thick skin.
Take it on the chin and move through the five stages of grief.
Revise your work. Take your time. No one’s waiting on you.
There’s no rush.
Quality is king.
Finished!
No piece is complete until you publish, but self-publishing isn’t for you.
Write a query letter. Search for an agent.
It’s challenging, but you’ve put in the work.
Believe in yourself.
You’re a writer, but your goal is to be a published author.
Work with the agent to hone the story even further.
She understands the market. Her words are gold.
After more revisions, find the publisher that’s right for you,
the perfect fit for your story.
If the publisher has thoughts on improvements, accept them.
Revise. Tweak. Improve. Rewrite.
Announce the book to the world.
Grow your audience. Extend your platform.
Celebrate release day.
You’re a published author, but there’s more to learn.
So write another.
Honing your craft is how to be a writer.
What is Your Truth?
You’re smart enough to see that neither of these methods is actually how to live. Yet they both are. It’s a neither and either sort of thing. A this and/or that.
No one can tell you how to write. No one can dictate your practice. You won’t find your enlightened path in a meme. You’ll have to find your way on your own. But if you trust yourself, that will be a blessing, not a curse.
With that said, there are at least two universal truths:
To be a writer, you must write. Otherwise, you’re just a thinker.
To be a writer, you must share with others. Otherwise, it’s just journaling.
If you haven’t figured out your way, you will. It’ll change and grow and morph, but when you quiet the noise and listen to that inner voice, when you write because you can’t not write, you’ll know what’s best for you.
So tell me, what is your truth? How do you live the life of a writer?
Special Thanks
Today’s post was inspired by Derek Sivers and his book, How to Live. His words are poetic, thought-provoking, and insightful.
Those 2 universal truths nailed it.