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September 2010 --
ANNE'S TOP 10 MUST DO'S FOR ASPIRING WRITERS:
1. WRITE - Sit your bottom down and write until you think your head is going to pop. Then, write some more. Plan, outline, chart or not, but stop procrastinating and write. That is how we improve.
2. WALK AWAY FOR TWO DAYS - When you become exhausted or overwhelmed or suffer insanity by word, walk away. Don't look at your work for the next 48 hours. Don't think about those stories. Just go work out, read, play a game but do ignore all writing for a brief but necessary cooling off period.
3. RETURN TO YOUR WRITING AND RE-READ IT - Make sure you pat yourself on the back for writing what you have. After that, re-read it and see where you can revise, edit, embellish, and change your work to improve it.
4. PICK UP YOUR FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL BOOK- There is so much literature out there containing updated and helpful information that can improve your skills. I promise, if you take the time to read any of it you will improve in one way or another.
5. RETURN TO YOUR WRITING AND RE-EDIT, AGAIN AND AGAIN- After reading a few books on this craft, I realized in revisiting my stories often, I could directly apply what I had learned. It was a big day when I started to become more effective in self-editing.
6. TREAT YOURSELF TO INPUT AND CRITIQUE- Treat yourself by starting your own web site; joining an online or in the flesh writer's group or writing association, like The Romance Writer's of America; or by acquiring a writing or critique partner.
Treat yourself by letting someone you trust read one of your stories. Family members and friends are pretty gentle the first few times you expose your writing to others. Absorb their support of your dreams and creativity, because everyone may not be such a big fan; until you get published.
Don't worry about unfavorable opinions. Writers have to be criticism repellent ducks, because everyone is full of free and unqualified advice for us. This Career is 5% writing bliss, 5% creative joy and 90% rejection. If you know you're not thick skinned, trying to get published may be painful for you.
7. EMULATE THE AUTHORS YOU ADMIRE- Don't copy them; that is plagiarism. What I mean is, take a favored book and read it again. Then edit it... When did they
introduce the Hero or Heroine? Around which chapter did the action pick up? What did they do that you loved? Now, take your notes and compare their style and technique to your own. I did this and found I was providing far too much background info. for the pace of my stories to move at the cadence I wished.
8. DO NOT STALL. MAKE A DECISION.- It was around this point where I stalled. My novel was the best I could make it at this point in my development and I felt lost. I knew it needed to be so much better, so I started thinking about why I was writing and what my long-term writing goals are.
So you work or attend school and that takes up alot of your time. Do you really want to entertain others with wonderful stories or are you in this because you think it is your ticket to fame or perhaps you feel like your story or writing is far superior to those who are currently published?
Please know and understand, writers are the shadow dwellers. You have to want to bring something good and of yourself into someone elses life to survive in this career choice.
The writers of Steven King and Nora Roberts fame are unicorns. You will likely be stricken down by lightning, than ever receive their equal in fame, fortune, or adoration. More realistic are your chances of being accomplished, or getting neat fan mail and the occasional blurb from someone else that they like "That Book" you wrote. If you can't be happy with obscurity, and taking pride in doing your best or the pure generousity it takes to want to provide a few hours of thrills, romance or mystery, ect. to your fellow man, then make a video and try your luck on that people-who-do-bad-things-to-themselves web site. (Kidding - injuring yourself for fame is tantamount to mental illness.) DESIGN REALISTIC GOALS FOR YOURSELF. I never wanted to be a unicorn; just an entertaining writer.
9. BACK TO IT. WRITE A NEW STORY.- This time use your experience. Research your PLOT. Choose CHARACTERS who enhance your stories. Outline the ACTION. Remember how to apply the right TONE, VOICE, WORD SELECTION for your GENRE, ect, ect.
10. HIRE AN EDITOR FROM WITHIN YOUR GENRE - To look at and edit your story. At this juncture, you are sure to get a unbiased opinion about the publication potential of your story. The Editor will let you know what they think about your writing ability, the marketability of your work, likely Publishers of your genre for you, as well as grammar, punctuation, and flow of your work. Then, you do step 1-10 over and over until you reach your goals.
You are the only one who truely knows what your abilities are. If writing is your passion, then you must never, ever quit or be discouraged. You know how amazing and talented you will be once you do the work and put in the time of learning how to write what you love!
Thank You for being true believers!!!
Coming soon! Success is just around the corner. Check Anne's blogs for the latest updates and you'll be the first to get all the details about successful writing.
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