For me, it was easy to start writing novels without considering where writing fits into my life. I loved to write and felt I had stories inside me that needed telling. I can only assume other writers take a similar approach, as the love of writing gets a person started and thinking about goals is secondary.
While most writers dream about becoming a New York Times best author or landing a contract with Netflix to make a mini-series based our novel, that goal may not be achievable based on the time and effort an author is willing to commit. At some point, every writer should consider what they really want to accomplish and what we’re willing to do to meet those goals.
Maybe your dream is winning a prestigious writing award or publish a short story in a top magazine. Whatever your objectives, consider the steps necessary to accomplish your goal.
Writing is a serious business. To be successful, authors need to:
Dedicate as much time to writing as needed to gain your desired proficiency. Do you want to write for fun? Like an average novelist? OR like an Olympic level author? Just like any art form, no author writes a Pulitzer-winning novel in the first draft. Think about the years of training that Michelangelo, Pavarotti, or Baryshnikov dedicated to their craft before they were proficient. If your goal is to become a top author, then be realistic about how much time you spend at the keyboard, learning about writing craft, and getting meaningful feedback on your work.
Design goals specific to what you want to write, AND target continuing education toward the skills you’ll need. For example, if you’re writing YA or crime thrillers attend workshops with facilitators who write in those genres. Research what’s trending in your genre. Read books that will advance your goals. Not just ‘how to’ write books (though those are good too)—read ones by highly acclaimed authors who write in your genre. You can learn a lot by observing their techniques. If you’re writing short stories, investigate which magazines publish stories like the ones you write and submit to them.
Don’t get bogged down in tasks with marginal returns. It’s valuable to review the work of other authors, mentor other authors, and take on leadership roles with writing organizations. I’m very much involved with these activities, and I encourage others to pursue them as well. But be careful if these philanthropic endeavors distract you from your writing goals. In other words, set aside a reasonable amount of time to help other authors and writing organizations.
Address the business end of writing. If you want to publish a book, you may decide to go the traditional route (i.e., contract with an agent who will market your book to publishers, arrange for and pay your editors, and help you find avenues to market your book), fully self-publish (i.e., hire editors and book cover designers yourself, format and upload your book, set up a website, and design/implement a marketing plan), or something in between. Whatever your decision, each step in book creation and publication must be met. Don’t wait until you’ve finished your book to consider these parts of the writing process. For example, you’ll need a media presence BEFORE you start querying your book to agents.
My advice? Figure out what you want to accomplish with your writing and how much time, energy, and money you’re willing to expend to succeed at those goals. Then ensure your writing tasks and timelines are geared toward meeting those ends. Also, be sure to revel in your achievements along the way and be flexible if you need to adjust your goals.
Comments