Yes, as we all agree, life is constantly busy, and ultimately one person will never be able to read all the books he/she desires in a lifetime. The ability to ignore the computer, TV, and life’s other social engagements, in the name of reading a book, is absolutely necessary. As reading a book is quite the solitary activity.
Now step back and think about the act of writing a book. The writer (who should be reading as much as possible) experiences the same challenge, along with the job of creating a new book/new idea. For those who believe writing a book is an “easy” accomplishment, I dare them to attempt it with all of the daily distractions. Even as an agent, I have to turn off the world. Otherwise, my own unique ideas and thoughts will not come to the surface. It’s a constant battle, and I know I’m not alone in it.
Do you dream of becoming a Full-Time writer? Do you dream of getting multiple books published, let alone getting your FIRST book published?
Then here’s my advice:
1. Develop your talent. Have others critique your writing on a regular basis, so that it reaches the highest level possible.
2. Turn off the “world” more frequently, i.e. the television, internet, and too many social engagements. How is a person supposed to write a book if the daily schedule doesn’t allow it? Some of the best books (already published) required reflection, many months of brainstorming & multiple book drafts, and many months of rewriting, before they were ready to go to the editors.
3. Develop the your writing style with the same dedication needed to develop a writing platform. These two items usually go hand-in-hand. By strenghtening one’s exposure to the reading public, there is a good chance the writing will be strengthened too. In today’s publishing industry, the competition is even more fierce. The stronger the writing + the stronger the platform = a better chance of getting published.
4. Look at the bigger picture. Most writers do not write Full-Time. The ones who have managed to reach this ever-elusive goal have either had fantastic success in publishing, or side-projects (non-writing related) that make this possible. In order to reach this status, a writer needs to have a fantastic book(s) that will leave publishers (and readers) salivating for more of his/her work. This is not achieved overnight.
As an agent, and a person who has no desire to write a book, I have nothing but respect for writers. It’s a hard job. It takes 100% dedication, and a passion to pull readers into one’s imagination. This is why I love my job as an agent. I’d rather be an advocate for my authors, and help them reach their dreams of getting published.
Today’s inspiration, a blog from Paula Froelich – Postcards from the Fun-Employed
