Recently, I received the following email:
Can you recommend a writing course for me? I want to learn how to write fiction / biography.
My gut reaction was, “I can’t teach you to write! You either can do it, or you can’t.”
This message came from an old writing friend. One that I know has talent and the writing bug. Honestly, I was confused. As I looked at the question, I realized she wasn’t asking how to write, she was asking how to get published.
How do you write? Open the heart and the head and put them on paper.
A writer writes.
That is who we are and what we do. No one can teach us how to do it.
I and other teachers can provide tools to make writing easier. Tools that will improve your head’s ability to process and spit out the words of your heart. But ultimately, sitting at the computer (or with notebook in hand) and writing is the only way to write.
Many writers that want to transition into being authors or published writers, spend huge amounts of time and money searching for the magic formula that will get them published only to find out they didn’t need any of it.
So here it is, for free, Sara’s Seven Steps to Successful Publishing.
STEP 1: Find a Topic
Topics are everywhere. You only have to be open to accept them when they fall into your lap. Brainstorming is the best way to get new ideas. Whether you are a list writer or a mind mapper, take ten minutes a day to just generate ideas. Although these ten minutes may not initially feel like they’re making you money, in the long run, you’ll thank me.
Here are some places to begin:
Fiction: What if, Unusual character pairing, describe the kid with the #1 Baby Name, quirky true stories fictionalized, etc.
Non-fiction: Interviews, Current Events, Social Media trends, etc.
STEP 2: Research and Outline
How you go about doing this will entirely depend on what it is you decide to write. Fiction, with the exception of historical fiction, requires a lot of plotting but not so much research. On the other hand, non-fiction, like feature articles, is all about the research, interviews, etc.
The more detailed an outline you have, the easier your work will be in the long run. Also, if you research before you write, you don’t have the excuse of research preventing you from writing when you get to writing time.
Keep in mind that research can be a black hole. Writers love to read as much as we love to write. Give yourself a time limit of how long you’re going to spend researching/outlining and stick to it.
Step 3: Write the Story
Start with the first word and end when you reach the end.
This is the time to get the words on paper. Do not be concerned with fact-checking (you did that in step 2 remember? And can always come back to it in Step 4 if you’re nervous). Do not be concerned with grammar and spelling (leave that for Step 4).
I repeat, this is all about getting the story on paper in whatever way works best for you.
Writing and Editing utilizes two different parts of our brain: Creative and Analytical. Give each half of your brain its chance to shine. Step 3 is creative. If your inner editor is nagging you, kick her to the corner and remind her she’ll have her say in Step 4.
Step 4: Polish until it shines.
After you have set the story aside for a period of time (a couple days for a short piece, a month or two for something longer), it’s time to pull it out, dust it off and get it in shape for publication. This is the first step the separates the Writers from Authors.
Here is where we edit. Call back your inner editor and give her free rein. She will make sure we are presenting our very best work.
If you’re nervous about quality, send it to someone to read. A beta reader or a mentor can help make sure the story you wanted to tell is getting across to the reader.
Again, do not allow fear to win out. Editing makes our inner writer vulnerable. But we can’t improve unless we listen to criticism (even our own), internalize it and move forward.
Step 5: Submit It!
You will never publish if you don’t submit.
I repeat. You will NEVER publish if you don’t submit.
Think about the last time you stayed in a hotel. Did a porter arrive first thing in the morning with a continental breakfast at your door? Probably not, unless you ordered room service.
An editor doesn’t know I want to publish unless I ask. Submitting, is me asking.
So, look for the best publisher/magazine/blog for your piece and send it in. To your top choice.
Step 6: Repeat Steps 1-5
Don’t wait for a response! If you want to take an hour to celebrate your submission, please do. But then go back to your list of ideas (remember we were making ideas 10 minutes a day?) and start again with a new one.
In other words, pick a new what if to be the premise of your next story. Go to the cashier at the local corner market and ask for her story. Whatever you choose, write the story and send it in.
Step 7: Accept Rejection and Move on
This is probably the hardest step on this list. I once got hit with THREE rejections in my inbox on the same day. I couldn’t write for a month. I knew I shouldn’t take it personally. But, boy, did that feel personal!
My biggest mistake was that those were the only three stories I had out and instead of sending them back out, I wallowed. None of them were published.
If a story comes back with a no, send it out to a different magazine until you get a yes. I had a student in one of my classes that always did this. She had ranked the magazines she wrote for and started at the top and worked her way down the list one story after another. She sold nearly everything she wrote.
And you can too! There is no miracle cure or magic course. A Writer becomes an Author by Write. Edit. Submit. Rinse. Repeat.
Very informational! and a fun read, not that we could expect anything less from you! With a good review at the end.
Now to find the time…
Thank you!