Things to Remember Always About Your Writing

Writer Development

Apr 4

Your writing talent is necessary. It is necessary to create thousands of pages of material every day. And there are simply not enough talented writers to keep up with demand.

If you can write well, you WILL sell your work. There is always a demand for quality materials.
Writing requires SOME natural ability. Writers gain most of their skill through learning.
Study, practice, and constructive critiques can make you a marketable writer. All three are mandatory.
There are no natural writers. Some writers may need to develop a bit more to become marketable. Others might have an easier time picking up the craft. ALL writers must work at it.
Your creative writing degree is not that big a deal. This only shows your ability to pass a degree program. It is not an indicator of success, talent, or potential. It was just your path to learning the craft.
Every writer’s path is unique. There is no one definition of success.
However, the goal of every writer should be to sell the best version of their work possible, to be read by as many people as possible.
Storytelling is an art form. Writing is a business. It is necessary to keep those concepts separate. Do not let the “Artist” make any business decisions. Do not allow the “Businessperson” to have access to the creative process.
A large part of the writing business is rejection. You can reduce that if you know your genre and understand the publishing companies. But it helps to have a thick skin and not take rejection personally.
Finish your work. You can fix everything in the editing process. Everything.
There is no such thing as negative feedback. There is such a thing as tactless and undiplomatic feedback. Hire pros with experience and a kind heart. But all feedback can be helpful. Any input can be valuable as you develop your work. Still, why not make it something pleasant?
Cutting words, altering, or removing characters, and deleting entire scenes are part of the creative process; NOT a sign the novel is not working out. Keep writing.
Your first draft will be crappy. It will not be what you envisioned. It may even discourage you from finishing your work. Who cares? You are not trying to market your first draft.
This is a lifelong process. Write, self-edit, write, get professional editing, grow, write, then sell. Start the process again.