Hello and welcome to something I'm hoping to make a regular feature here on the blog. I'm going to be taking parts of what happens in my life, as a writer, and talking about them in what's known as "A Writer's Life". It is a title that is a bit cliche, but I'm okay with that. I've talked in an earlier post on this blog on how we love cliches, as long as they're put in a different light or spin, so I'm hoping to do that as well. If you have a topic you'd like me to cover in this segment of the blog, feel free to leave a comment below.
Now, we all have friends and family that wish us to succeed on our writer's journey, no matter where we are in that journey or what our end goal is. With that comes well meaning tips and tricks that they think will help us succeed. These are well meaning and not meant to put anyone in a negative light. It is more like the meme of what they think vs what's really happening when it's not advice that is best for you. As always, when someone gives you advice - even if you don't like it! - the best thing to do is smile and say "thank you, I'll take that under advisement". Even if that advisement is "oh hell no". So, let's dive in.
Tip 1: You should set up a blog!
Yep, I'm going to tackle this one first. Yes, this is a common tip when talking to writers, especially those with the end goal of publishing in the traditional way or self publishing. It is not bad advice. It is, however, advice that should be taken with a grain of salt. I am finding out, as in all things, when you want followers, you need to be consistent. There needs to be a schedule and you need to stick with it or otherwise you're screaming on the internet with nobody to hear you. Now, for people like that, it would be fine. I'm someone who has the blog because I feel I need it and liked the advice, but I wish that advice came with a how and why. You need to have a schedule, you need to have content, and you need to realize that it is going to take time away from your novel. You need to think if that's something you want to sacrifice or if you're going to try and balance it. I will recommend that if you try and balance it that the blog plate gets dropped first. Your novel is what is going to get you be a published author. It should always come first.
Tip 2: Have a nice and clean Twitter / Facebook / Instagram
This advice came from a well meaning friend of mine who is worried that my views on Twitter is what is stopping me from getting published. If that's true... I'm not sure what to do about it. I go with the idea that whatever I put out there, even in email, will be published on the front page of newspaper of choice. Mine varies from Washington Post to Chicago Sun Times depending on my mood of the day. Now, nothing on my social media accounts is graphic or nudes or anything that anyone should be ashamed of. I have political views that I wear on my sleeve and that's okay. I think that, when you're being rejected, even in form letters, that you should go back to your novel or your letter and work on that. I don't think it means scrubbing your social media accounts of what makes you the person that you are.
Tip 3: Don't write x, write y, because x is out of style at the moment.
So... I struggle with this on a daily basis. I don't even really need a friend or family to suggest it (although some have) and I don't know what to do about it. I have this feeling that everything cycles through major moments but there's always an audience who wants more. You want to focus on that audience. You want to make sure that you're engaging the reader with the best story that you can put forward and the vampires / werewolves / what have you are the icing the cake. Your narrative should push through everything, not the fact that you have a monster of the moment or a situation of the moment. If you look at the classics, even those that are genre classics, you'll see the common thread is more towards the narrative than anything else. Jane Eyre is one of the best classical Gothic novels out there because it's more than that. The Gothic is the backdrop and you're more worried about Jane and wondering what the fuck is up with Rochester. So, yeah, don't worry about what you're writing is out of vogue at the moment. Worry more if you're writing a story that will engage readers.
Tip 4: You should get as much feedback as possible before sending it off to agents.
This is mostly true. You should get feedback and edits from an editor that is not yourself. You should try to have beta readers and be in writing communities and everything else. It is true that the more eyes the better on your novel before you send it off. However, make sure you're not using it as a way to drag your feet because you're worried about agents liking your novel. You could get all the feedback in the world, but if you're not sending it out, you're not getting anywhere. So just be careful and make sure that you get feedback, you process and make the changes, and then you send it out. Just send it out. The worst thing that any agent will say to you is no. Or at least, that's my experience so far.
I hope you enjoyed this segment of A Writer's Life. I do hope to do more in the future. What are some of the odder tips that you've received as a writer? Or what are some of the best tips that you've gotten as a writer? Let a comment down below and, until next time, happy writing.
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