A Few Tips For Writers...
  1. If you’ve ever wanted to write a book, why not start? It doesn’t have to be perfect, it
    doesn’t even have to be good, but if there’s something inside you that wants to try, you
    should give it a try. There are many great reasons for writing besides getting published.
    Don't think about what comes next until you actually finish a book.So my next
    suggestion is…
  2. Why not finish? Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect, or even good. But there’s a huge
    sense of accomplishment that comes with typing “The End” at the bottom of the last
    page. And the truth is, many, many people have started novels. Not so many have
    finished them. All that holds you back is perfectionism. Get something down and fix it
    later. That’s the little known secret of all writers. First drafts are crap, yes, but they are
    also useful.
  3. Plot or character? Some writers come up with elaborate plot ideas before they actually
    start on a story. As they continue plotting, different styles of characters will emerge until
    they have a more complete picture. Some writers, like me, first get an inkling for a
    character or group of characters and when we explore those characters, the plot
    unfolds to us. You have to start with something, so find the type of little seed that works
    for you. (Don’t feel like you have to copy another writer’s style because they are more
    experienced!)
  4. Once you have something written, get feedback. Writing can be lonely, but it isn’t a lone
    process. You need others to tell you what’s not making it from your brain to the page.
    You need others to tell you why they’re not in love with your characters the way you
    are, and to point out where they’re losing interest in your story. If you can’t find readers
    who can give you this kind of feedback, check out www.critiquecircle.com - a warning,
    though. It will take time and experimentation to find the critique group that fits your
    needs.
  5. Eventually you will need others to point out grammar and spelling problems, but that’s
    your last concern. Too many aspiring authors consider “spell check” to be the same as
    a revision. A true revision is where you rearrange plot points, add or subtract them,
    adjust character traits, trim excess, and balance narrative with dialogue. I completed
    over thirty drafts of my first novel, but many of the early drafts only focused on the small
    grammar details, which only helped me to tire of my own story more quickly.
  6. Write for yourself. It’s fun to see what’s selling and what’s “hot” right now in fiction, but
    the truth is, by the time you write a novel you won’t be able to keep up with the trend
    anyway. Also, I believe you can see through it when a writer is trying to write for
    someone else. Write the story that excites you. The one that’s burning in your gut to be
    told!
  7. And my final piece of advice: Read a lot. Write a lot. This makes all the difference in the
    world!


I'm always happy to answer questions from aspiring writers (just please don't ask me to read
your work - I wish I had the time, but I do not.) Please feel free to drop me a note anytime, and
I wish you much success in your writing endeavors!