The Secret to Writing Success

Time for some tough love.

There’s only one way to become a successful writer.

You have to write.

 If you never get words on the page, you can never share your story.  

It’s not always easy and there could be a zillion challenges and it may take a while, but here’s the secret. 

A.I.C.

Ass in chair. 

You can read all the how-to-write books out there. You can read all the blogs on writing (including this one!) You can learn all about your favorite authors’ writing processes and listen to all their interviews. You can sign up for workshops and partake in endless writing exercises. 

And all of those activities may help you develop your craft. 

But if you never sit down—with your butt in that chair—and start typing (or handwriting) away at that blank page to tell your story, you won’t get far. 

What you write on that blank page doesn’t have to be good or even great, not for a first draft, but it’s the start you need.

It’s always okay to doubt yourself (every writer does!), so take a moment to validate your feelings. But then? 

Ass. In. Chair. 

Confidence Comes From Adversity

Scenario 1: my daughter orders a beloved book online; a few days later it arrives. She reads it.

Scenario 2: my daughter orders a beloved book online; it doesn’t come for weeks. She checks the mailbox everyday with anticipation and experiences the inevitable daily heartbreak. When, finally, it arrives, she squeals with glee. She can’t wait to dive in. 

In which scenario will she feel the book has more value? The second, of course, because she had to overcome adversity (interminable shipping delays) to appreciate her prize. 

Writers face a lot of adversity. Lack of time, writer’s block, rejections, crippling self-doubt and more. But when the payoff comes—whether it’s words on the page, a completed story or a publishing deal—it’s all the sweeter. 

Like our characters who have succeeded against all odds, so do we succeed. Like our characters who learn and grow from the obstacles in their path, so do we grow. 

Writing is hard, but that’s also what makes our efforts all the more valuable—to you and to your potential readers. 

Because maybe one day, your name will be on the book my daughter is impatiently waiting for. 🙂

…Accomplishment Better

I’m an achievement junkie. I set goals and I work hard to achieve them. When I do, I get my high. It’s why I make to-do lists. The hit I get from crossing off a completed item is addictive. 

Here’s the problem for writers, though. The achievement many of us strive for is a published book or completed story. But it takes so long and the payoff is so far off that we suffer withdrawal symptoms. 

Enter: accomplishment. 

Accomplishment comes from feeling like you learned something from a task you completed. That you grew in your skills, ability or perspectives. If achievement for a writer is publication, then accomplishment is the first draft of chapter one. You actually started your story! You learned how to get words out of your head! 

Accomplishments are also something no one else cares about (except your book coach. 🙂 ) Does finishing the first draft of chapter one get you adoring fans and glowing accolades? Of course not. Does it make you feel good? Absolutely.

That’s the benefit of accomplishment. You get the same high as achievement, only, it’s now in your control. And you can create your own constant supply. 

It’s not always easy to focus on what you’re learning and how you’re improving, rather than the end result—but it makes the long haul of writing a lot more enjoyable. And that’s the high we want. 

Finding the Right Writing Support

Eons ago, I had no other writing support besides my husband. The problem was, he didn’t share my interest in the craft. 

But I’d still bug him to read my writing. And not just read it. I’d ask him to comment. What’s working? What isn’t? He’d say it’s good—but how was that supposed to help me improve? So I’d push and I’d push and he’d finally say, well, maybe this character is a bit unbelievable.

And you know what I did? I got mad at him. Of course that character is believable! You just don’t know anything about writing! 

Is there any wonder he never wanted to read my writing? 🙂

That’s when I learned that the kind of support I needed from my husband was entirely different than the kind of support I found in my book coach. So we came up with a new way: I go to my coach for tough love that will improve my writing; I go to Scott for effusive praise. Now he happily reads my work and he happily tells me what he loves. 

If he does have suggestions, I’ve learned to listen. But now it works for the both of us. I get positive reinforcement. He doesn’t have the burden of trying to be a writing expert.  

So think about the best way your family and friends can support your writing. Maybe they have skills to help your craft. But if they don’t? That’s okay. That’s why I’m here. 🙂

…Writing Is, Too

When I was in high school, I walked into my Grade 12 English class, stoked to learn my boyfriend would be in the same class. But the next day, he handed me a note saying that “God did not want this relationship to work out.” 

How could I compete with God???

It turns out “God” was right. 

Years later, I met an old high school friend who, it turns out, is the love of my life. We’ve now been together for almost 25 years. You know what I discovered? He was in that very same English class! The one I was despondent about because of that other guy. Had I known my true love was sitting there… 

We can never predict how we’re going to achieve our ends. In high school, I thought I was doomed to a life of spinsterhood; yet all along, my prince was there. 

I don’t know how I’ll make my mark as an author, but I suspect the more I try to plan it, the more it may backfire.

Since I could never have predicted the outcome of my love life,  maybe that crazy, who-the-hell-knows attitude is just as relevant in my writing. It gives a me wonderful sense of freedom. I can’t plan everything, so maybe I can just enjoy the ride. 

And maybe someday, in ways I can’t yet imagine, I’ll find the writing success of my dreams—even dreams I didn’t know I had.

Maybe, in ways you can’t imagine, you will too. 🙂

Enjoy Your Dreams!

There are dreams you can’t fully control (ahem, famous bestselling author, perhaps) but that doesn’t mean you should ditch them. Heaven knows writing is hard enough; why not occasionally indulge in a break from reality? 

Speaking of Heaven, that’s my dream-you-can’t-control. My YA fantasy novel, The Violet Feathers Chronicles: Heaven will be published next year. I love to imagine that momentum builds and it finds such a large, appreciative audience that Hollywood comes a-calling. 

In fact, I’ve already cast my movie. My story is about archangels at war in the Seven Heavens, so who better to play my angels than Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins from the hit TV show Supernatural?? The show also featured archangels at war and I’ve already seen Jared play one version of Lucifer—imagine him portraying my version! And Jensen would be brilliant playing Gabriel, Lucifer’s once-best-friend-now-turned-arch-enemy. Oh, and Misha’s character on the show was an angel. 

Considering a) my book is not yet published and b) has not yet made a mint c) I have no movie deal and d) I don’t have Jared, Jensen or Misha on speed dial to say, hey guys, wanna star in my movie?, this dream of mine remains just that. 

But who cares? It’s just plain old fun to play around with these scenarios in my head. So yes, put the work into your writing; yes, persevere, but hey, why not dream a little dream at the same time? 

Hierarchy of Dreams

We often avoid the distinction between dreams and that can lead to frustration and disappointment. Yet if we call out our dreams for what they are, we can manage expectations. Here’s the ladder of dreams:

• Utterly impossible, so no effort is required on my part except my fertile imagination. 
  • Example: flying to the moon. I’d love to see Earth from space. But I have zero interest in what’s required to get there—either as an astronaut or a space tourist. 

• Possible, but way too much work and sacrifice. 
  • Example: travelling around the world for a year. I’d love to experience as many different cultures and places as I can. But I’m not willing to dive into the logistics or financial sacrifices, so maybe I’ll settle for a trip or two every now and again. 

• Possible, but it’s completely out of my control.
  • Example: my blockbuster bestseller becomes a cultural phenomenon. Maybe I could write such a book, but the actual impact depends market forces and readers. My own efforts can only take me so far. 

• Possible, if I’m willing to put in time, energy, grit and perseverance. 
  • Example: writing the best book I know how; searching for every authentic opportunity to find and engage with readers. 

I focus my efforts on the bottom rung; I enjoy imaging the second rung; I’ve let go of the third rung and maybe I’ll simply write a story about the top rung—which, gee, circles back to the dream I do have control over. 🙂

We Do Our Best

The 1984 movie Amadeus is about the 18^th century fictional rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and fellow composer Antonio Salieri. Mozart, a transcendental genius, is also portrayed as obscene and immature, and Salieri, who devoted his music to God, has a crisis of faith. Why would God bestow such gifts on a man such as Mozart when he, Salieri, is so devout? 

The movie is powerful; the actors extraordinary. But why the movie stays with me all these years is its message to me, a 21^st century writer: 

I am Salieri. 

Okay, I’m not in an existential battle with God, nor do I plot the death of my enemies, but I feel his pain. He’s talented. He works hard. He follows the rules. He does everything he’s supposed to. And the glory goes to another?? A genius whose work seems to require no effort??

I’m talented. I work hard. I follow the rules. Yet I’m not among the literary geniuses. And, like Salieri, sometimes that stings. 

But here’s the silver lining: geniuses are rare. Maybe there are some writers whose first draft is perfection but honestly, most of us aren’t geniuses. Including our own literary heroes. 

If you are the genius writer for whom the process comes effortlessly, I commend you. For the rest of us? We are Salieri: we recognize our passion, use our talents to the best of our ability and have to work damn hard. 

And I’m okay with that.  

When It’s Hard to Enjoy Writing

How do you write an engaging story? 

The same way you eat an elephant. 

One bite at a time. 

One word at a time. One idea at a time. 

We live in a society of immediate gratification (remember “appointment television” where we had to wait until a specific day and time of the week to watch our favourite show and if we missed it, we missed it? Yeah, my kids have never heard of such an archaic concept.)

But writing a book is the prime example of delayed gratification—at least for a completed job. So how to keep motivated during the long, challenging slog?

By not only eating that one bite at a time, but also by enjoying it. 

Slap yourself on the back for that one word on the page—it’s one more than yesterday! Give yourself a high-five for jotting down that new idea (even if it’s terrible!). Celebrate your discussion with your spouse, partner or friend about your characters. 

Renowned author Agatha Christie is quoted as saying, “The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes.”

In that case, be sure to reward yourself when you have a clean kitchen. 🙂

In other words, create your own victories. Writing is hard enough; you deserve ample rewards. 

Writing can be Manageable

Here’s what writing is like: cleaning out a closet. 

And you know how much fun that is, right? 🙂

Bear with me: our heads are stuffed full of ideas—some terrific, some garbage, some that just don’t fit anymore. When we brainstorm, write an outline, write a draft, we’re getting those ideas out of our head onto paper (fine, computer files…). That’s like pulling everything out of your closet and throwing it haphazardly on the floor in your bedroom. But now it’s overwhelming, right? Where you once had a big, whopping mess in your closet, hidden away from anyone who came to visit, now it’s visible to everyone. (“How’s your writing going?”)

But you have to just dive into that pile in front of you. Pick up that pair of shoes, decide if you’re going to keep them, throw them out or give them away. That old sweater you think you may someday wear? Gone. But you love that scarf even if you’ll never wear it. For now it stays. 

You sort. You ponder. You analyze each item. Now you know what you want to keep. Now your closet is clean and empty. Now you can put things away neatly, organized in a way where you can easily find everything. Now you have your story.

And when the next person knocks at your door? You’re excited to invite them in and proudly show them your hard work.