1. Take yourself seriously
This is the most crucial commandment—and the most difficult
to follow. Many beginning writers feel guilty about working so hard at
something for which they haven’t been paid a cent. Immediate family members or
friends may look on writing as a harmless little hobby, to be encouraged only
when it doesn’t interfere with their own lives. Because of the cavalier
attitude of others, writers may fail to prioritize writing as a necessary part
of their lives, regardless of whether or not money exchanges hands.
You must emphatically demonstrate to yourself and to others
that writing is a part of who you are, not just an amusing pastime. The measure
of being a writer is not how much money you make, but how important writing is
in your life.
2. Act like a professional
To be taken seriously as a writer, you must act like a
professional writer. That means whenever you deal with other professionals in
the writing business, such as agents, editors and publishers, you should act
the same as you would for a job interview, and present a professional
appearance. This is especially important in cover letters and manuscript
preparation.
First, proofread for grammar, punctuation and spelling
errors. I have heard many editors admit they sometimes reject a manuscript
within the first few pages solely due to the number of grammar, punctuation and
spelling mistakes. After months or even years of hard work perfecting your
story, novel or screenplay, it would be a shame to have it rejected just
because you didn’t bother to check your spelling or fix a sentence fragment.
And don’t rely solely on spell-checking and grammar-checking computer
programs—they make errors all the time. If grammar is your weakness, then find
someone, either a friend or professional, who can proof the pages for you.
Second, perfect the format. The place to be creative is in
your writing style, not the manuscript format. Avoid fancy fonts. They’re
distracting and hard to read. Stick to standard margins. Narrow margins crowd
the page and slow the story’s pace; broad margins make it appear as though you
don’t have a substantial story. Don’t design your own cover. It smacks of
desperation.
Third, polish the cover letter. Just tell the editors what
they need to know. That includes: (a) a brief summary of the work, one to three
paragraphs, and (b) anything about yourself that might be relevant to the work
(if you’re submitting a police procedural novel and you’re a journalist who
worked the crime beat, that’s relevant). Avoid overhyping yourself or the work
by making extravagant claims: “This will earn millions of dollars!” or “The
world has never seen a novel like this before!” Hyperbole makes agents and
editors less eager to work with you.
3. Write your passion
Some beginning writers try to write for whatever trend is
popular. But by the time you finish your manuscript, get an agent and send your
work to a publisher, the trend will be on its way out. You’re more likely to
produce publishable material by writing what you’re passionate about. If you
love romances, then write one. If you love mysteries, then that’s the genre for
you. You don’t have to write only that genre, but as you first start out, if
you write what you know, you’ll have a stronger feel for the proper conventions
to include as well as the cliches and stereotypes to avoid.
Ultimately, all that matters is that you care about the
material and convey that passion to the reader.
4. Love the process
If you want to become a professional fiction writer, you’d
better love the writing process. That doesn’t mean you don’t have doubts, fears
and an aversion to your computer. It means that despite those hesitations, you
still sit down and write. Even after you’ve sold your novel, finished your
book-signing tour and watched Brad Pitt star in the film version, you still
have to spend most of your days at a computer. That process must thrill and
delight you, since all the rest of the celebrity trappings are only a small
part of what you do.
5. Read—a lot
While it’s a very good idea to know your genre, the best
writers don’t limit their reading to that genre. Artists need to experience
other artists’ work, which can teach and inspire as well.
When I read a fascinating novel or watch an insightful
movie, I can’t wait to get back to my own writing and make it better. This also
works when I read a boring novel or watch a cliched movie; then I can’t wait to
make sure I haven’t made similar mistakes in my work.
Reading nonfiction is also helpful to fiction writers. I’ve
been so inspired by articles on scientific discoveries, political events or
historical facts that I’ve later made the ideas significant parts of my fiction
works. A 10-line filler in the newspaper about the auction of Napoleon
Bonaparte’s penis inspired the opening chapter of my novel Earth Angel.
6. Stick to a schedule
The main difference between successful writers and wannabe
writers is not talent—it’s perseverance. They finish what they start. Create a
writing schedule that works for you and stick with it. Two types of scheduling
work best for most writers.
1. The Gridlock Method. Fill out a weekly grid with all your
responsibilities that cannot be changed—work, school, family, etc. Find
two-hour blocks on at least three days of the week that you can claim for
writing. Announce to your family and friends that those are your writing hours,
and you are not to be disturbed during that time except for emergencies. (Be
sure to define “emergencies.”)
2. The Spare-Change Method. This method is for those whose
schedules are less predictable. On a calendar, write the number of pages you
intend to complete per day. Regardless of how busy you are that day, commit to
staying up until that number of pages is complete.
Whichever method you use, the result will be the same: You
will end up with a completed manuscript.
7. Be critical of your work
Writers live with the hope that someday they will read what
they’ve written and not want to tear it up. The bad news is that the better you
become as a writer, the more critical you are of your writing. The more you
know about writing, the less you can tolerate bad writing (your own or
others’). The good news is this critical ability will make you better. You will
learn to reject the predictable and strive for invigorating style, plotting and
characterization. Stop worrying that you’ll never be a good enough writer, and
embrace the inner critic.
8. Develop thick skin
As a beginning writer I dreamed of the day when I would
never have to face another rejection. Forty published books and 12 sold
screenplays later, not a day goes by when something I’ve written or proposed to
be written isn’t rejected by someone. Usually some publisher or producer buys
what I’ve written, but not always. I still have a few unsold novels stashed in
my garage, rejected stories and poems in my filing cabinet, script treatments
on my desk.
Rejection still stings. But it doesn’t hurt as long as it
used to because I have so many projects to pursue. I no longer mope around and
curse the short-sightedness of a universe that fails to recognize my genius. I
just work on the next project. And if the same manuscript keeps getting
rejected for the same reason, I re-evaluate the work and maybe rewrite it.
9. Trust your editors
First, I’m going to broadly define editors as not only
professional editors at publishing houses but also writing teachers and writing
workshop members who read and offer editorial suggestions. Most editors aren’t
frustrated writers—some are accomplished writers publishing more than you. In
general, they have your best interests at heart. That doesn’t mean you won’t
have disagreements with their suggestions. You most certainly will. You may
even be right sometimes. But you will miss out on some very helpful suggestions
if you refuse to listen.
The goal of most editors is to help you best realize the
story you want to write. Because they come at it with fresh perspectives, they
may be able to see flaws that you can’t because you’re too close to the work.
My typical first reaction to editorial suggestions is this:
“What an idiot! You understand nothing of what I’m trying to say.” An hour
later I think, “Maybe that’s not a completely stupid idea.” After I incorporate
the idea I think, “I’m a genius to have thought of this change.” Point is, I
have learned to carefully consider each suggestion. Sometimes I reject them,
but many times those suggestions have significantly improved my work.
10. There are no certainties
William Goldman said it about Hollywood in his excellent
primer for screenwriters, Adventures in the Screen Trade (Warner Books), but it
applies equally to all writing. No one knows for sure what’s going to sell and
what isn’t. If an agent from a big agency or an editor from a major publisher
rejects your book saying that no one’s interested in that type of story
anymore, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Think of all the
“knowledgeable” studio execs who rejected Star Wars or big-shot editors who
turned down The Godfather.
You must develop your own instincts about writing and have
faith in them even when no one else does. That doesn’t mean you will be
inflexible to suggestions, it just means you will feel confident in whatever
decisions you make.
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