Don’t be afraid to ask “dumb” questions.
Many authors I know started their story with a question. It may be that they were traveling somewhere new, saw something different, and asked a question about it. I’ve learned not to shy away from curiosity simply because of self-doubt. Keep asking.
Stick with it.
If it’s an idea worth writing about, keep writing. You’ll either get tired of the idea and decide to put it on a shelf for “someday” and come up with something else, or you’ll get more energized by it the more that you write.
Research, research, research.
Don’t just research for your book — research your book. See if there are others like it on the market. Even if there are, yours may have a different hook, appeal to a different reader, or have a shift in perspective. Plus, it’s written by YOU. There’s only one of you, so don’t discount your idea upon first Amazon search. But also, yes, research your book. Research the nonfiction, the fiction, and yes, even the memoir. You can tell it from your memory and your perspective, but describing specific details about the places and people surrounding your book will always resonate more with your reader.
Everyone doubts.
Someone told me not too long ago that the difference between a published author and a non-published author is just choosing not to doubt oneself out of the pursuit. As the author of more than 20 books, she said discouragement and doubt are normal — don’t let them keep you from missing out on something incredible.
Be consistent.
I’m still working on this, but one of the authors I know writes for an hour every day. That’s it. But consistency over time equals a finished book, a revised article, a query … you see my point.
Find a rhythm that works for you.
Just as my friend’s rhythm of writing for an hour a day works for him, it doesn’t work for me. I have had to play trial and error (multiple times) to figure out what works for me. But finding a rhythm for writing means you’ll start getting better at #5. I am beginning to learn this in my own life, and I’ve had so many tell me this over the years.
Read widely.
I’ve written about this before, but reading beyond your chosen genre is crucial to becoming a better writer. Don’t just read craft-related books. Read fiction, nonfiction, kids’ books, all sorts of things. Creativity in others can be “borrowed.” What I mean by this is when we are feeling “stuck,” reading someone else’s genre can ignite a new idea or just a forgotten passion for the reflection that comes with writing words on a page.
Write other projects.
One of the authors I interviewed last summer said she always works on a nonfiction project while working on a fiction project (obviously, not literally at the same time). It helped her to have two things going so that she could switch to the other project when she hit a roadblock. I’ve found this helps me too. I will often work on alternate days, such as a picture book on Mondays and Fridays, and a middle-grade novel on the other days.
Take a break when necessary.
It’s easy to get too far inside your story and then lose track of reality. I’ve found that many authors have completely different hobbies that help ground them in reality. One I know hikes; another is a runner; yet another is a scorekeeper for Little League games on the side. Whatever it is that helps you step away for a while, keep that. Taking a break regularly will make you a more focused writer during your writing sessions.
Keep trying to get to know your reader.
Just as spouses don’t assume they know the breadth of one another on the day they get married, so it is with your reader. Hang out where your reader hangs out (not in a creepy way, of course); watch a show that your readers tend to watch. Listen in when you’re at a restaurant if you are seated near someone in your “ideal reader” category.
(Okay, so we’re doing 11, despite the title). Don’t forget what led you to write in the first place.
It is very easy to get caught up in social media, numbers, reviews, publishing, queries, etc. But if the love of writing is what drew you to it, keep that the main thing. It’s what drives you to be better and to enjoy the process as you grow.
Speaking of learning from other authors, join me in my summer series: Author Your Summer. I’ll be interviewing authors on IG — @brooke_turbyfill — starting tomorrow, June 25 at 2 p.m. Then, if you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ll get extra content that my social media followers won’t. So stay tuned to your inbox this summer. And if you think a friend would enjoy learning about writing from “listening in” on other authors’ remarks, would you share my newsletter or tag them in my social feed?
Hope to see you there!
Keep writing,
Brooke