Write a Book, but Be Prepared
“A word after a word after a word is power”—Margaret Atwood
To write a book is no menial task. The amount of work that goes into it isn’t for the fickle-minded. So before you begin bringing your book to life, ask yourself if you’re ready for this long (and oftentimes stressful) journey.
Before you start typing away, have a game plan ready. A good plan is crucial to making your writing process work. Use a calendar to mark dates and keep track of things to avoid confusion.
“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”—Douglas Adams
Make sure you’re mentally prepared for the all the heavy lifting. Writing a book needs commitment, so brace yourself for the long days. Even if things don’t fall according to plan, find the strength to power through and write on. Deadlines don’t finish themselves.
Speaking of deadlines, manage your time properly if you want to meet them. Pushing them back won’t accomplish things. More often than not, you’re going to have to put some things in your life on the back burner. Writing books are time-consuming tasks, so better reset your priorities if you want the job done.
“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”—Louis L’Amour
Although it’s great to have tons of ideas waiting to be materialized into words, to write a book is more than just staring at your monitor and clanking at your keyboard. On top of the writing itself, there’s a lot of thinking, procrastinating, and caffeine in between. Endless hours of sitting down and working isn’t as effortless as it looks. There’s the conceptualization, editing, omissions, and countless rewrites. The editing process alone is a heavy one—imagine having to cut multiple walls of text after sleepless nights of story writing. All these may seem easy on paper, but they’re much harder in real life.
As soon as you start writing your book, you may want to leave all your insecurities out the door. Turn your can’ts to cans. If you feel lost in the middle of writing, remember your reasons for doing it in the first place. A perfect masterpiece is just an idea, so don’t let the pressure of perfection get to you.
“The first draft of anything is shit.”—Ernest Hemingway
Don’t get wrapped up in the idea of writing perfect drafts. Mistakes do happen, even to the most experienced writers. Take your editor’s feedback constructively and apply them to your revisions. Once you get the hang of writing, you’ll hone your skills over time.
If things get tough on the writing front, remember that nothing’s wrong with turning to peers for support. Fellow writers and editors know the struggle of writing books all too well, so you’re not alone in this journey. Online writing communities are great for getting you motivated, so feel free to join some if you wish.
“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.”—A.A. Milne
After the writing (and rewriting) is done, now comes another battle: the publishing part. Whether you’re going for a traditional or independent route, just don’t take a deal that leaves you at the short end of the stick.
Marketing your book is also another story. Not everyone enjoys the things associated with this side, so find a strategy that works for you.
Once your book gets released, it’ll be for all the world to see. Rejections will pop up during this time, so arm yourself with a lot of resilience—you’re going to need it. Not everyone will be on board with your work, and that’s okay.
Your piggy bank may also need to wait before you start cashing in on your work. Unless you happen to luck out on writing a bestseller, writers often get little reward. Most advances are very small, so think twice before splurging.
Can anyone write a book? Yes. However, not everyone makes it to the finish line. If you’ve geared yourself up for this unpredictable roller coaster of an adventure, go ahead and start writing.
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