Things Every Writer Should Think About:

• Acknowledge yourself as a writer and be proud that you are one.
• Realize that you can’t be writer, editor and critic all at the same time.
• Learn how to hear and when to accept feedback.
• Identify the kind of writing you write.
• Keep a journal of your ideas.
• Recognize the time of day or week that is the best time for you to write.
• Respect your writing time. Write daily if at all possible.
• Use your writer’s voice to speak to readers with all the joys, sorrows and celebrations that real people experience.
• Understand that writing creates shape and meaning that real life may not have.
• Read, read, read current and classical works.
• Learn to read genres you don’t currently read and step back to discover why it works, not why it doesn’t work.
• Dissect your story if it goes off track. Examine each chapter or section and make it as powerful and focused as possible.
• Become knowledgeable about the publishing business.
• Build a network of publishing contacts and maintain them.
• Remember that discipline and focus makes the difference between wannabe writers and published writers.
• Know that every writer’s path to publishing has its own story just as every writer works differently.
• Read rejection letters more than once and give yourself time between readings.
• Celebrate the steps you take to discovering your writing life, as this process is known as success.