27 Things I Learned about Writing at the James River Writers Conference
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I had the pleasure of being a part of two panels at the recent James River Writers Conference. I also sat in on some other great sessions. Here's what I learned about writing...
- Write first; edit later.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Keep writing - no matter what happens.
- Your editorial voice and your writer voice have to be in harmony. It was recommended to just write during the first few drafts. Go back and fix things later.
- Read your work out loud to find issues with your dialog and pacing.
- You and your work are your brand.
- Your brand is your promise to your readers. They expect a certain type and style of writing from you. That's why if you switch genres, many publishing houses want you to use a new name and develop a new brand.
- Finding your own voice is key. It has to be your story.
- Your job is the writing.
- Know who your audience is.
- You need to balance the creative and the business sides of your writing life.
- Find your tribe - a group of authors who support each other.
- Turn off the TV and write.
- Writing should be your focus.
- Take care of yourself.
- If you're having trouble pacing your novel, take a screenwriting course or workshop. Screenwriting has a tight timeframe to work with, and pacing is key. It will also help with dialog.
- Marketing and what's hot in the industry are lways changing. Do not write to what is currently in vogue. It will have changed by the time your work gets published.
- Create a mailing list. This is the most valuable tool for an author.
- Make sure that your blog is on your author website.
- Be able to describe your book in an enticing way. Make sure you have practiced your elevator speech.
- Publishing is a subjective industry.
- While you're querying, make sure that you're working on your next book.
- Make connections. They are important. Get to know bookstore owners, librarians, bloggers, and readers.
- Market your book heavily during the presale period. Don't wait until its launch.
- Don't over-extend yourself. Your job is to write. It's okay to say no.
- Do your research.
- Keep writing. Make sure that you're always working on your next book.
- There is no magic secret to writing. You will know what works for you.
