The Behinder I get. Or so it seems. I'm very much a 'to do' list kind of person. Each day I'm not finishing that list, adding the leftover stuff to tomorrow's lists, and freaking out at the new list.
If we knew what hard work success would carry with it, would we try so hard to attain our hopes, dreams, and wishes? My answer would be yes. Even with all the hard work attached, success is very heady stuff.
My dream of being published is coming true next month and everything involved with it is so surreal. And so much work. LOL I'm hoping it is true what they say about only getting something great when you are ready to receive it.
If we knew when we sat down at that typewriter (me, at the beginning, in my 20's) that it would lead to story dilemmas, character meltdowns, reaching the end, learning to write a query letter, write a synopsis, search for an agent or editor, get one, revise, edit, cover art we hope we like, more revisions, writing blurbs, getting a website, learning to social network, promoting one book while writing the next one, and the one after that one too, would we still work so hard to reach The End? yes yes yes, a million times yes!!
If you could send a message back in time, what message would you send back to your beginner writer self?
Jill James
Tempting Adam, The Wild Rose Press, Feb. 16
8 comments:
I don't know as I've not hit that success point if success is being published. I do count my life in the writing world a success when it comes to happiness, making friends and the feeling of accomplishment by simply finishing not only one story, but four. The rest is gravy, as far as I am concerned. I will continue to pour my heart into my writing because I love to do it - was born to do it. :)
Paisley, what a wonderful message to send back to yourself; success isn't being published, success is however YOU see it. Finishing not one but 4 stories is a success.
Oh, that's simple--plot first, write later. I swear I wrote 250K in order to end up with 81K. The second time around has been much better. Good luck with your release!
thanks Joan. I would be lost without my plotting board and my post-its. I tried to pantser a book once. I rambled on, I wrote the same conversation in six different places, and everyone had different hair and eyes from beginning, middle, to end. LOL
Upbeat post, Jill. Like Paisley, I'm not yet published but count contest finals as milestones. If I wrote a note to my older self, I would recommend studying the craft sooner than later. It took me a while to find RWA. In the beginning, I was flying blind. :) Good luck with your upcoming release!
Just write! Don't let the industry depress you. Just keep writing, write every day, and ignore the naysayers and everything else. Just tell the story and don't worry about it.
Dawn, me too. Wish I had found RWA so much sooner.
L.A., excellent advice for all of us. The only thing we can control is just keep writing.
Jill,
I'm so thrilled for you. Congrats on your contract!
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