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| Pamela S. Thibodeaux |
Write. Doesn’t matter if it’s daily,
weekly, or two to three days a month, just make time to write consistently.
Don’t worry if it’s dribble to begin with, just write. Whether you’re at a
desk, the kitchen table, the library, or a coffee shop, get in the habit of
sitting in your writing space and putting words on paper (or computer, or
notebook, or iPad…you get my drift). Forget the rules and write the book you
want to read. You can always check for publisher guidelines and edit/revise
your project to fit, but those first drafts can be whatever you want them to
be.
Edit. Most projects need a minimum
of three edits…. Initial edit is where you layer in descriptions, the five senses,
etc. Second pass, where you check for plot holes and pacing. Third round,
you’ll check for grammar, punctuation, etc. Make sure you take at least two
weeks to a month between edits. If you don’t, chances are you’ll miss mistakes
that could cost you a contract or precious time in edits after the contract.
While you’re letting this one cool, start another. Keep several projects in the
works at all times so you don’t worry this one to death.
Query/Submit. At some point you’ve got to
turn that baby loose. Even if your initial submission is to a critique partner
or group, don’t let fear stop you from getting the feedback necessary to help
you grow as a writer and produce the best work you can. Read the last two
sentences above—they apply here too. Keep writing while you wait to hear back
from your submission.
Revise, Re-submit, Resell. This applies mostly to
articles and essays but sometimes you can even revise/rewrite a story and sell
it elsewhere. Make sure you abide by any current or previous contract limitations
and if someone doesn’t normally take reprints, be sure to let them know the
extent of changes you’ve made that add a whole new twist to the version you’re
querying about or submitting to them.
Promote. Okay, you’ve sold a book or
two or a dozen articles. There will be no (or very few) sales, reviews, or new
opportunities, if you don’t let people know. Set up a website, Facebook,
Twitter, and Amazon Author Page. Spend a few hours a week building your fan
base and readership. When you do a book signing or speaking engagement, ask for
the name and address (email too) of everyone who buys a book. This is your readership. Ask if you may
add them to your mailing/newsletter list. Don’t bombard them, but keep in touch
on a regular basis, whether that is monthly, quarterly or even annually.
These
tips and hints apply to the craft of writing but here are a few more:
Keep good records. Writing is a business and
even unpublished authors can claim business expenses such as office supplies,
ink, business cards, etc. Check with a CPA or tax preparer and don’t miss out
on these valuable deductions—especially when you begin to make money.
Take Care of Yourself. Sometimes life throws us a
curve ball or hand grenade and we have a hard time focusing on writing. Don’t
worry about your career at this point. Take the time you need to recover and/or
regroup and start over. Real writers never quit. We may take an extended leave
of absence but at some point, we always return to our passion.
And
last but certainly not least…
Don’t Quit! Writing is a gift and a talent
given to you by God. Don’t hide your gift or bury your talent.
Bio:
Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a Lifetime
Member of Bayou Writers Group. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as
creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an
Edge!”™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel
without decreasing the message.”
Website; Pam’s
Wild Rose Blog;
Facebook; Twitter: @psthib
Can the love of God and the awesome healing power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives?
Find out in…The Visionary ~ Where the awesome power of God's love heals the most wounded of souls.
