Secrets for Finishing Your Book - Tips for Authors

/
secrets.png

It took me over five years to write my first novel and probably another two years of editing and revising (and revising) before it was finally published. (I do write faster these days, but it took a while to find my groove.) Here are the two things that authors need for their writing journey:

  • Willingness to do the Hard Work - You need to put in the work/time if you’re going to be a writer. That means sticking to a schedule, writing regularly, honing your craft, and being open to feedback.

  • Persistence - If you want to be a published author, you need to set your goal and work toward it. There are going to be roadblocks, setbacks, and disappointments. Writing is a tough business.

There is no magic pill or solution. Here are some things that have worked for me. Give them a try. If something doesn’t work for you, modify it or try something else.

  • Set your writing schedule and your goals. Make sure you don’t set yourself up for failure. Be realistic. If you have a busy schedule, you may only be able to commit an hour every few days. Add in a few skip days because life is going to get in the way or you may not feel like writing one day. Try your best to stick to your schedule. I am much more prolific when I write or edit every day. I am an early bird, so I get up before the sun and write before work. I also get up at 5:00 on my days off to write.

  • Keep yourself motivated. There are so many distractions and other things to do. Plus, life gets in the way. Figure out what works for you.

  • Just do it. My friend, Alan Orloff, calls this BICFOK - Butt in Chair - Fingers on Keyboard. It’s work.

  • Try not to get Distracted. Author Brad Parks had a great suggestion for when you need to research something. He said don’t stop and research it in the moment. Type XXX in the space and make a note. Keep writing. Then when he’s in editing mode, he goes searching for “his X’s.” It cuts down on the distractions.

  • Find your crew. Writing is often a one-person sport. Find your support team to celebrate with you and to cheer you up when you hit a road block. These special people are a gift.

  • When you’re writing your first draft, just write. Don’t correct, edit, proofread, or revise. Finish your first draft before you go back and edit.

  • Get rid of the distractions. Turn off the TV, shut your door, and get off the internet.

  • Writing/publishing is a business. You need books to sell. Seven years may be too long between books. Before the pandemic, I wanted to see if I could write more than one mystery in a year. I committed to a schedule for a year, and I produced two novels, a novella, and two short stories. Since I was working from home during the pandemic, I committed my daily commute time and lunch (3 hours on week days) to writing. I finished three novels, a novella, and two short stories.

Best wishes for your writing projects!