Yes, you probably see me stress over and over again. Writing is the same. Unless you're that talented and can do the cover/formatting without errors/editing and spamming emails and walls, more than likely you'll have to outsource one of the above.
It took you maybe months and maybe years to complete the renovation. You have to think of a book like one. You start with the blank slate. Maybe saving money up for a new computer, the same as demolishing the room you want to start. Jumping to the end, having a finished product you can be proud to show off.
I am personally so tired of hearing the following...
"Your work of fiction is unrealistic."
Someone hand that person a dictionary and tell them to look up with fiction means.
"An author has a right to be judgmental over someone not liking their work."
Is everyone going to love that you painted your walls bright red? No. It's your taste. Be proud of your own taste.
"A writer puts: blood, sweat and tears into their work..."
Really? You actually bled while writing? Sure you sweated if were sitting out in the heat. Tears, sure, if you were sad the work completed. (But I don't think that's what they meant in this case) I'm sorry, this is the most redundant like I have ever heard and hate it with a passion.
Lets be realistic. Some type faster than others. Some are able to dedicate more time to their work. But isn't that the same as, "If you're going to do it, you'll find a way. Otherwise you'll find an excuse."
I run my own business. Two of them actually and I'm a single mother, and I still find time to complete a manuscript in under a week. (Well, lately it's been under a month because of writer's block)
Yes, as a writer we get caught up on the story of bringing these characters to life. We feel as though we are part of the story. There is nothing wrong with that. But it didn't mean you put blood into your work. Sweat, eh, yeah a little. You put sweat equity into your renovation.
Now, you have a finished manuscript. Are you just going to throw it out there? Most do and I believe it's stupid of them to do so. Are you going to finish half way through your renovation and show off your project by claiming it's finished? No, you're going to hide that room from all to see because you are embarrassed that it's not completed yet, from everyone who sets foot inside your house. So why would you do that to your manuscript?
Everyone has their own writing style. Whoever says you need to read your genre to understand what's in style, should have duct tape over their mouth, using superglue to seal it. When you talk, does everyone talk the same? No. So why should you're writing be the same as everyone else's?
Know your audience.
Another stupid thing I've read. Sigh - I can't believe I'm using this as an example again. Do you think Twilight said, hey I'm going to appeal to the generation of young girls who believe having a boyfriend is important? The only credit I will give her is that she wrote what she thought and it did well.
Never give up.
Okay, I know I'm going to be criticized for this one. Ask yourself, how much energy am I going to waste? See how I didn't say give up? Maybe simply put it down and try again later. If I worried and concentrated on one aspect, I wouldn't be on my over twentieth manuscript in under two years. (I took a couple months off) Everything will come in time. So what you don't have money for an editor. Look around. Do your research. (sadly not many do, no matter what it comes to, and the information is at our fingertips) Do you go ahead and gut the walls or start painting, without knowing if you don't have the funds to finish the renovation? No, you save up, or you stop, until you have the funds to continue.
Keep Trying.
Keep trying - at what? This is such a vague sentence it's not even funny. If all you can do is crack out a hundred words that day, write them. If you crack out no words, you crack out no words. There are days to where I don't crack out a single word. I feel horrible because I see it as two days behind of when I could have that particular manuscript finished.
If you don't like what you wrote, start over.
How about save as. You never know when you will need what you used later on. There are so many times to where I wanted to 'start over' but didn't. The story ended up working when I didn't start over. Just because you make a blotch with the paint, are you going to repaint the entire area over again? No. Book 10 of Hidden Destiny has over eight revisions. Simply because I 'started over'. When I stopped restarting over, the story came together.
What's your inspiration to motivate you to write?
I was told that another author, or artist has to be my 'inspiration'. Ha! I grew up when 8tracks were popular. Listening to vinyl was 'in'. When you had to swap out laser discs to finish watching a ninety minute movie. When a card catalog was our 'google'. We had imaginations and ran with it. Yes, I have to listen to music when I write. All depends on my mood to which playlist I listen to.
Draw an outline.
And? I personally don't see a point with it. I know a lot of other writers who swear by an outline. Me? I have one sheet of paper, solely for names, per story. (I'm horrible at remembering names in real life, let alone new ones that come in)
You are in control of your characters...
Really? Not the way I write. The characters are in control of their own emotions, habits, and what they're going to do next. Did I want the heroine to hit the hero? No. She became upset and smacked him. I don't control what they do because then they go on strike. Believe me, it gets lonely without listening to the voices.
This is what makes a great writer...
Oh, eff that! Twilight, was it well written? Possibly. Others say they could have done better. Why? Because they didn't like the heroine. They didn't like the ending. Whatever the reason was. A great writer is one that makes a reader talk about their work.
I'm a better writer than Meyers...
Really? Then why aren't producers knocking down your door? I don't believe I'm better or worse than the next writer. Having goals and dreams are great. Once you start thinking you are better than the next, reality smacks you right in the face, with a brick, with lemon juice, in the eye. If what you write, and had edited, the best work you believe you have written, and you have one fan, you are a great writer.
I think that's about it for now. Enjoy :)
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