Hi, guys!
So, I’m sure that, of the people here, the majority of you found your way here from Instagram or Facebook.
Which means that you likely saw the Shatner/Captain Kirk meme about novels not completing themselves. If not, don’t worry because that’s the gist of it.
Novels don’t write themselves.
There’s this problem called procrastination, though. It seems to get the best of everyone, at some point or another.
But it doesn’t have to.
Now, the first problem here isn’t actually the procrastination. It’s why you’re procrastinating.
Are you afraid your work won’t be good?
Here’s a hint, it can’t be good if you don’t write it.
Maybe you don’t know where to start.
Maybe try outlining.
I don’t do it, but it helps a lot of people.
Just don’t get so hung up on all the tiny details like the birthday of the MC’s fourth cousin three times removed, who plays no role in the story, but you feel like you should have everything lined out before you put a single word of prose into a document, when really you’re just procrastinating again.
Maybe you’re procrastinating because secretly you don’t want to write, but don’t know how to admit that to everyone you’ve already told that you’re a writer. (If that’s the case, you need to address why you’re afraid to be honest with those people.)
No matter what, you need to figure out why you’re procrastinating.
Then, you need to cut the bullshit.
Quit pretending all those DVDs need re-alphabetized, or whatever you’re doing to avoid writing.
If you don’t want to be a writer, that’s a different matter altogether. You have to come to terms with that.
But if you do, if you want to be a writer, then at some point…
You have to write.
That’s literally all it takes.
So get out of your way and write.
If you’re afraid that it’ll be bad, type one terrible sentence, just to get your fingers on the keys, then just don’t stop. It’s not like you’re going to write a bunch of stuff worse than that first sentence.
And if you do?
So fucking what.
First drafts aren’t perfect. They aren’t meant to be.
They’re just meant to be written.
You’re going to go through multiple rounds of editing, anyway, be it self-editing, having a friend who’s a grammar nut go through it, or hiring a professional.
And if you’re not editing anything, if you’re self-publishing your first draft, you’re doing this wrong.
That’s about the only thing in the writing world that can, without a doubt, be judged as right or wrong. Everything else is subjective as hell.
But if you’re not editing AT ALL before publishing, you’re doing it wrong.
So lighten up.
Get over yourself.
Your first draft will not be perfect.
And that’s fine.
It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be written.
Get rid of all the pressure of getting it perfect and write something.
Anything.
Even if you delete the entire scene from the final story.
So long as you’re writing.
Now, I’ll step off my soapbox. Lol.
This past week, I completed my last round of pre-professional edits on The Gem of Meruna. It’s going off for proofreading in October, at which point I’ll likely announce the official re-release date.
I made huge headway on editing my post-apocalyptic novel, formerly known as After. I’m changing the title because I don’t want my story to get lost beneath the pile of other stories called After.
I came up with a new title and put together a mock up for the cover, which I really like. It got a positive reaction from my husband, who knows a thing or two about art/design, and I’ll be asking some writer friends for their opinion soon.
I also decided to change the title of Salt and Silver to avoid clashing titles with a fellow writer, and even came up with a new one. And a potential cover design idea for it.
And…super exciting…I ordered the copies of Soul Bearer that I’ll be giving away! They should be here within a couple weeks, at which point I’ll plaster pictures of them all over the internet and announce the official rules and prizes.
And I started reading Bird Box. And made it like halfway through. I’ll post a review when I finish it, of course, but so far I’m enjoying it. I’m definitely glad I watched the movie first, thus avoiding the inevitable “I can’t believe they left that out, now I’m angry” moments.
Holy crap, guys.
I didn’t realize how busy I’ve been. Lol.
For now, though, I need some sleep. Work dragged on today, and I am exhausted.
Keep reading. Keep writing.
Later.