Great advice. I think it's important to remember that none of these experiences means that you've "failed." It's all just part of the process and a chance to keep growing as a writer.
I think all of it is pretty good advice. Although, #6.3 has kind of harmed my love of reading. I tend to see technical issues in the writing now.
#1 also applies to self-publishing authors. Indie publishing wasn't really easy when I wrote my very first novel... and I'm glad. It was not ready for publication, and I'm afraid I would've put it out there and cringed later. The first book I self-published was actually the twenty-first novel I wrote.
As far as reading, I definitely let myself abandon books. If I'm not liking it, or if I don't think it's well-written, I just DNF and pick up something else. So many books out there; I don't like to waste my precious time if I'm not enjoying it!
So true - I spent a lot of time tinkering with early pages on my first novel only to cut them all out in my final edit! Love your writers resource list!
Tons of excellent advice in here and what a treasure trove of links. I would just change one thing as follows: “There are two types of people who find publishing success with memoirs: #1 celebrities, and #2 people who have super unique/fascinating/horrifying life stories and can tell their stories well OR HIRE A GREAT GHOSTWRITER WHO CAN DO SO in a way that’s authentic and highly engaging.”
I agree with all of these. Writing those practice novels in particular was a thought I had to get used to, but once I accepted it my output sky rocketed.
Iv written close to 40k words in the last two months because I’m just accepting this is something I have to do to get better. I’m even trying to play more too which is something I didn’t do when I took this first one as something that needed to be good.
Things like, “how can I put these people in a situation I’m not sure I can get them out of.”
I can’t tell how exactly I’m becoming a better writing, but I feel like I am. Which I couldn’t say before when I put so much pressure on the first one being great.
Love all of this. Yes to playing around! It's all about finding the balance between playing around with your manuscript but also having the discipline to (eventually) finish it. Good luck!! Here's to the 4th one being The One!
If you don’t mind me asking, how did you improve your revision process?
Having never done it for a novel, my initial plan was to start real high level and outline the book. Maybe lay it next to a more rigid story structure and see how it plays.
Make tweaks as high as I can, then go deeper and deeper until maybe I’m making line edits. Idk if I want to go this far, and instead do 2-3 cycles of revision max then jump into book 2.
Real curious what you did you gain some confidence here. Thank you :)
This is awesome! I really love all this advice and it's stuff I would definitely second for sure! I've lived some of it, living it now, and stepping into other parts of it. Seriously, thank you for sharing!
Point #1 is crucial! Several years ago I wrote my first novel. I figured I’d give it a couple quick edits, send it off, and I’d be professionally published in no time. Thankfully, some friends who read it suggested some…substantial changes. I eventually realized I needed to put in a lot more work and improve my craft before publishing a book. And now 3 more books later, I think I actually have one that’s good!
Abandon all the should's & shouldn't's: just write. Get going , keep going.
If you're half-arsed about writing, it probably isn't for you.
It's a sacrifice. Your soul & sanity. Your finances & maybe, friends - your relationships.
Keep a note book/phone with you. Write every idea - that's every single idea. Leave nothing out.
When you are writing put everything in - all of it. Don't question your ideas. Let it flow - keep the Tap Open. You'll regulate the stupid from the meaningful naturally.
You're gonna be hard on yourself: get used to it.
Hemingway: all first drafts are shit.
You'll rollercoaster from genius to moron - to why do I bother.
Write as much as you can when you can.
When asked 'what's the hardest thing about writing?' Norman Mailer said: 'the first million words.'
Great advice. I think it's important to remember that none of these experiences means that you've "failed." It's all just part of the process and a chance to keep growing as a writer.
YES!! You only fail when you stop trying. Otherwise, you’re just trucking along on the long and bumpy road to success.
I think all of it is pretty good advice. Although, #6.3 has kind of harmed my love of reading. I tend to see technical issues in the writing now.
#1 also applies to self-publishing authors. Indie publishing wasn't really easy when I wrote my very first novel... and I'm glad. It was not ready for publication, and I'm afraid I would've put it out there and cringed later. The first book I self-published was actually the twenty-first novel I wrote.
As far as reading, I definitely let myself abandon books. If I'm not liking it, or if I don't think it's well-written, I just DNF and pick up something else. So many books out there; I don't like to waste my precious time if I'm not enjoying it!
So true - I spent a lot of time tinkering with early pages on my first novel only to cut them all out in my final edit! Love your writers resource list!
Thanks!!
Words of wisdom, indeed! I'm two years away from even thinking about getting published. sigh...
Tons of excellent advice in here and what a treasure trove of links. I would just change one thing as follows: “There are two types of people who find publishing success with memoirs: #1 celebrities, and #2 people who have super unique/fascinating/horrifying life stories and can tell their stories well OR HIRE A GREAT GHOSTWRITER WHO CAN DO SO in a way that’s authentic and highly engaging.”
So true!
I agree with all of these. Writing those practice novels in particular was a thought I had to get used to, but once I accepted it my output sky rocketed.
Iv written close to 40k words in the last two months because I’m just accepting this is something I have to do to get better. I’m even trying to play more too which is something I didn’t do when I took this first one as something that needed to be good.
Things like, “how can I put these people in a situation I’m not sure I can get them out of.”
I can’t tell how exactly I’m becoming a better writing, but I feel like I am. Which I couldn’t say before when I put so much pressure on the first one being great.
My hope is the 4th being the one.
Love all of this. Yes to playing around! It's all about finding the balance between playing around with your manuscript but also having the discipline to (eventually) finish it. Good luck!! Here's to the 4th one being The One!
If you don’t mind me asking, how did you improve your revision process?
Having never done it for a novel, my initial plan was to start real high level and outline the book. Maybe lay it next to a more rigid story structure and see how it plays.
Make tweaks as high as I can, then go deeper and deeper until maybe I’m making line edits. Idk if I want to go this far, and instead do 2-3 cycles of revision max then jump into book 2.
Real curious what you did you gain some confidence here. Thank you :)
This is awesome! I really love all this advice and it's stuff I would definitely second for sure! I've lived some of it, living it now, and stepping into other parts of it. Seriously, thank you for sharing!
Aw, thanks!
Wow! Amazing resources here, Eva. Thank you!!! (I'm just discovering your newsletter and it's terrific).
Thank you!!
Point #1 is crucial! Several years ago I wrote my first novel. I figured I’d give it a couple quick edits, send it off, and I’d be professionally published in no time. Thankfully, some friends who read it suggested some…substantial changes. I eventually realized I needed to put in a lot more work and improve my craft before publishing a book. And now 3 more books later, I think I actually have one that’s good!
So much great advice here! Thank you.
So much good advice here!
Thanks!!
Great read! Thanks
Great advice.
Subscribed! And @nicolarosedirects.substack.com is where I write humor essays.
Abandon all the should's & shouldn't's: just write. Get going , keep going.
If you're half-arsed about writing, it probably isn't for you.
It's a sacrifice. Your soul & sanity. Your finances & maybe, friends - your relationships.
Keep a note book/phone with you. Write every idea - that's every single idea. Leave nothing out.
When you are writing put everything in - all of it. Don't question your ideas. Let it flow - keep the Tap Open. You'll regulate the stupid from the meaningful naturally.
You're gonna be hard on yourself: get used to it.
Hemingway: all first drafts are shit.
You'll rollercoaster from genius to moron - to why do I bother.
Write as much as you can when you can.
When asked 'what's the hardest thing about writing?' Norman Mailer said: 'the first million words.'
Keep going, because it's going to get harder.
Write without Hope or Fear.
Thank you so much for sharing, Eva!