A year ago I seriously I seriously started to put finger to keyboard writing a book about my journey since Mum died and my divorce being final. I’ve learned a lot about the process of writing and telling a story, but that’s only been a small part of the journey. It really has been fun, and that’s been the biggest discovery for me.
1. Find a time that works for you.
Someone told me when I started this that I would need one of the following: insomnia, proper coffee maker or a case or two of Red Bull. I know that every conversation I have with Sharon the editor she keeps pausing to take continual sips of coffee, but I never developed a taste for the stuff. I’m not in a rally car sponsored by Red Bull any more, and that stuff is spendy when purchased by the case. Ignoring the amphetamines option just leaves insomnia. After everything that went on last summer I still struggle to keep my energy level up all day, it is often lowest in the evening after work. So I adapted and discovered that by getting up at four I get a couple of hours in with good energy before I’ve got to go to work.
2. Prioritizing my writing
You don’t get to be a proper storyteller by putting it so far down “the list” that it’s sitting between “Ride a Motorbike around Alaska” and “Climb El-Cap”. I have discovered I enjoy writing (editing less so), more than I expected and while I don’t spend two hours every day writing it is something I make sure to carve a little time out for. I am a writer because it’s not just what you do, but rather, it’s part of who I am. And something that important to me becomes a priority.
3. It’s not supposed to be easy
What’s more, for me it’s probably not going to get much easier. Dad once said that stuff really worth doing (I think he was trying to talk me into paint the front of his house at the time) requires a lot of work and skill. I’m starting this as someone who got “could try harder” in English Lit at school, so I’m less prepared than most. This writing thing is hard work, but that’s fine, it’s going to be worth it in the end.
4. Dealing with fear
One of the themes through my writing is how I deal with change and fear. That could be fear of the unknown, failure, what I will become if I don’t change or fear of what people will think. A little preparation, being pragmatic about it and fear is diminished. I have found that if I face my fear head on and it’s gone. I was told at a conference last year that people who fail at writing typically do so for one of two reasons. First they were lazy, or two because they were afraid. I’m not lazy, so if I failed it would be because of the second. What’s the worst that can happen?
Is writing a book is going to see me fed to the tigers in the coliseum? Nope.
5. Stop listening to the naysayers
When I first started this project and put together the proposal I was rejected, a lot. I was told that it would not sell, maybe they are right, but I’m not writing for them, I’m writing for me. I was told by my editor that my job is to prove them wrong and product the vest manuscript I can. That’s my job, and I can do that.
6. Not worry about what I can’t control
Worry is one useless emotion, especially if it’s stuff out of our control. We can’t control reviews, Amazons terms and conditions, reviews, readers and so many other things. I can’t control how people treat me, over the last two years someone threatened to have me thrown out the country, sent to prison, living on the streets and bankrupted. This is why I have a lawyer, she deals with her and I don’t have to. It takes the worry away from me, and just as importantly, the control from her. As an emotion worry does nothing. Thinking about what can happen has its uses in identifying issues and developing plans to work around them. That’s not worry, that’s planning and is a good thing.
OK, I do worry that Barnes & Noble is going to do something stupid and follow Borders in committing bookstore hari-kari.
7. Don’t dwell on the mistakes
Yeah, I screwed up big time in the past, we all have. Everyone has something they are not proud of and one of the things I’ve found is that others don’t care what happened. Mistakes will haunt you and stay with you only if you let them. They are a large part of my writing, not explaining them, but getting over them. Writing is way more fun than even the best therapists office.
8. Admit what I am
I may not make a living at it, but I am still a writer. If I got the chance to sit around in by robe writing about unicorns and fairies it would be pretty sweet, but that’s not ever going to be me. Writing is a way for me to relax from my daily job. It’s still a hobby, abet one I take seriously, but it’s for fun. But I am a writer and I like that label.
9. I’m in no hurry
I’m not going down the self-publishing route, but I am working with people who understand this is my first time at this and are very supportive. An experienced editor told at the beginning of this process that books are like wine; they need time. So I was told to take the time. That I’m not being judged on how much I write, but rather how well I write. I’ve hit the milestones, am slowly moving forward and am making sure speed does not come at the cost of quality.
10. But a little urgency never hurt
Yeah, I get this is the opposite of what I just said, but there we go. As the sign on the conference room door at work says “Warming: Deadlines are closer than they look”, and with out deadlines it would be chaos.
