Several weeks ago I gave a talk hosted by the library here in La Quinta, CA entitled, “Local Author Series.” In an effort to promote reading, writing and greater community connections, I agreed to share some of the things I’ve learned after nearly 30 years of writing. But rather than just make it a show-and-tell all about me, I approached the presentation with the intention of helping others curious about writing and who might be looking for encouragement. After all, I believe like author and mentor Julia Cameron, that we are all innately creative. And what often leads to artistic success is mostly the audaciousness of not giving up.
As for myself, I had no clue I would grow up to be a writer. My working-class neighborhood contained few professionals, let alone writers. Yet, my curiosity, my desire to experiment, grow, learn and then share that information, led me constantly to expanding adventures. Then sometime in my early 30’s, I began to recognize a voice inside of me that wanted to express itself in a bigger way. Regardless of my lack of training or education, writing became the obvious choice. I’m convinced that the how or when we decide to create matters little. What matters most is our courage to let it out and share it with others.
Writing
Here are ten tips I’ve learned through the years about writing:
- Give yourself permission to be a bad writer. We all have to start somewhere and comparing your writing to the best writers in the world will only cripple your energy to start and continue.
- Annie Lamott says, “Write just one inch at a time.” If you want to be a writer, you have to write. And keep writing. Don’t fool yourself into believing that writing is a magical thing that only happens to the most talented. Be audacious! Write!
- Good and done is better than perfect. Sure, some art is more precise than others—but seldom is it ever perfect. Artists just have to stop at some point and say, “Done.” Perfectionism kills more creativity than just about anything else.
- Make your writing as much a part of you as breathing—similar to a spiritual practice—then regardless of the outcome, you will benefit.
- Be very clear about why you are writing—what are your intentions? If you are doing it for solely for the money then realize that it is difficult to work and only a small number make significant income. But as Confucius said, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
- Discipline is critical. Learn to avoid distractions like the television, Facebook, Twitter, or your phone.
- Keep reading. Anyone who wants to be a writer must read. If you want to do videos or podcasts, listen to those—just don’t confuse the one with the other.
- Never let critics stop you from writing. As author Rob Sheffield said, “You can’t control who reads your work or how they respond. What you can control is how much your writing means to you—if you write about things that fire up your passions, things that stimulate your neurons, writing will probably make your life better, whether anyone else reads it or not. That’s not the only reason to write, but it’s a good reason.”
- Don’t do it for the money. (I say this about everything—but especially writing!)
- Don’t try to make other people happy, to get others to agree with you, or let others define how writing must be done. As Stephen King says, “Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enrich your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”
Publishing
In 2003, a small independent publisher in Scotland named Findhorn Press published my first book. Well known in its particular genre, I thought being published by that company was the ticket to a successful writing career. Now after two books published by traditional publishers and three self-published through Amazon, I’ve learned a few things about publishing as well.
- Don’t assume that landing a publishing deal is a key to writing success.
- Having your publisher help you with editing, cover design and other publishing details can be helpful—but it can also be a battle.
- Whether you publish your book yourself or you have a more traditional publisher—nearly all the promotion and marketing will rest on your shoulders.
- It used to be very expensive to self-publish. Now it is possible to publish your own small printed book for about $2.50 or $.0 if done as a kindle book.
- It is possible to make a much larger profit on your own self-published book if you also know how to market it well. Distribution and marketing is key.
- You can literally do it all yourself. But you have to be willing to accept the quality of your product—and judgments on that choice.
- Just like with your writing—be clear about “why” you want to publish.
- Don’t do it for the money!
- Learning to self-publish in both print and ebook is like learning another language and staying current with trends. Don’t be afraid to try. If I can do it anyone, can.
Blogging
In 2007 I decided to try my hand at a blog. I started with a blog focused on the environment and then six years ago switched to SMART Living 365.com. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned so far.
- Realize that blogging is a LOT more work than most people realize. It only looks easy when it’s done well.
- Be clear about your intentions/purpose for blogging, just like for writing or publishing. The “why” you do what you do matters more than you realize.
- If you go into it to make money, please understand that it takes as much, if not more work to be a successful blogger than it does to start and run any successful business.
- Growing a blog following takes time. Patience and discipline are necessary.
- Choose a name and a “topic” that excites you and inspires you to want to keep doing it for a long time.
- Don’t try to make your writing please your family and friends. Write what satisfies you, and sometimes your friends and family will like it too.
- Try not to get obsessed with numbers and counting—most of those markers are just a distraction.
- Don’t worry if others leave comments or not. Be satisfied with the occasional word from people that they are getting something positive from your site. And remember, more comments means more work.
- Only use your own photos! (Or at least make sure each is genuinely copyright free.)
- Prepare for the unexpected—especially if you created and manage your blog yourself. Computers crash. Websites go blank. Uncertainty is guaranteed, so get comfortable with change.
- Don’t fight with trolls. The more you allow critics or trolls to get under your skin the less you’ll create.
- Try not to compare your blog or your writing to others. Be yourself.
If you believe that success is only achieved when lots of money is made, then my writing career surely falls short on that measure. But if you believe that real wealth comes from meaningful work, the opportunity to create, growing self-awareness and service to others, then writing offers that gift to any of us who consistently puts words to paper. As usual, the SMART approach is to stay awake, aware and audaciously alive regardless of how you decide to create.
Excellent advice here. The discipline aspect is the hardest part to get across to people. When people find out we are writers, they often say, “Oh wow, I’ve always wanted to be a writer.” My response is, ‘the only difference between you and me is that I DO it.” Giving ourselves permission to be bad writers is probably the best advice ever – which is probably why it’s at No 1 on your list! 🙂 Great post.
Hi Gilly! Thank you. You’ve been writing long enough that I doubt anything was really new to you…but if you’re like me, you can use the reminders. And YES!!! to us remembering just to keep writing no matter what. ~Kathy
Kathy,
Was reading the reviews on your latest book (I will order it) and noted that you also blog. I have signed up and look forward to receiving your tidbits and ideas from 30+ years of recording them. I lived in La Quinta for half dozen years and still visit friends there from time to time.
Jim
Hi Jim! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and sharing your thoughts. I’m glad to found my ideas helpful. And I’m hoping you think the same about my book 🙂 La Quinta is a wonderful AND inspiring place to live and work. If you are around at the end of January (the 31st) Thom and I will be doing a discussion group about Rightsizing and would love to meet you. Just let me know if you’ll be in town then. And thanks for your comment. ~Kathy
Wow, this is an awesome post, Kathy. Thanks for the helpful tips and quotes. I agree with all of these, especially the ‘don’t do it to make money’ philosophy. Blogs don’t make money and if that’s all the purpose is, they get pretty boring really fast. #12 is so important too.
Hi Lisa! Thank you for confirming some of my thoughts about writing and blogging. I know you’ve been doing it for quite a while now and as you know, there is so much emphasis on “making money” with them. And yes, I’ve read about a few that do, but I agree…I tend to find them mostly boring because they write either tend to write sponsored posts about anything that anyone will pay them to write and/or their writing often becomes repetitive. I think the only way for us to stay “fresh” is to write about where our curiosity, thoughts and feelings are being led–and that seldom translates to being as “marketable.” Far better to gain the inner benefits of blogging and stop chasing after the dollars that may or may not come with a lot of work IMHO. Thanks for your thoughts. ~Kathy
Every writer should print out this post and paste it to their wall, right above their computer. It’s all good advice, but I esp. like #7. I sometimes think there are more writers in America than there are readers; but the more we read the more we learn about technique, style, organization … virtually every aspect of the writing process. Thanks for the great list … and for the encouragement!
Hi Tom! Thank you! I appreciate you confirming some of the thoughts I’ve had about writing. And isn’t it strange to run into a writer who doesn’t read? I’m sure we all have but it just seems strange to me that we wouldn’t be as in love with reading as we are with sharing our own ideas. Plus, if I didn’t read I wouldn’t have access to half of the thoughts I come across that I want to share in my writing. Glad I was able to encourage you! ~Kathy
Such great information! As a blogger, I found that section most interesting, especially the part about ignoring the numbers. I’m working on it! I must admit I enjoy receiving comments—they sort of validate my work!
Hi Diane! Isn’t it easy to get obsessed with numbers though? I think that’s because it serves as a measurement with a practice that is difficult to measure in so many other ways. While I’ll admit they can measure certain things, I just try to remember they don’t measure the really important things–like the satisfaction and rewards I get from writing and connecting with my blog. And yes, comments can be rewarding but again, I tend to believe there are LOTS more people out there reading our work than who will ever comment. I try to write for them as well as myself. Thanks for your thoughts on this! ~Kathy
Great expert tips from the expert herself! Shared! Would love to reblog this or feature this in my blog!
Hi Terri! Hahaha….I consider myself just a “student” and nowhere near an expert…but I appreciate the compliment. And yes, I would be honored if you would like to share this with your followers. Let me know if you need my byline 🙂 ~Kathy
Great tips Kathy. Good and done is a stumbling block for me. Sometimes I cringe when I press publish, especially on sponsored work.
Hi Lizzie! Even though I’m not a perfectionist, I still twinge a little after publishing so I know the feeling. But ultimately we have to do it right? And I agree, it does seem to ramp up the desire to be perfect when it is a paid client. I have that with my freelance work too. But fortunately, I have been doing it so very long and over the long haul have only had to redo my work because of an error once in 20+ years. So the odds are still in favor of getting it DONE even when there is some hesitation. Let’s be audacious and be happy with good and done. ~Kathy
Great info. I loved your points about blogging and they really all rang true (except the one about comments – I love getting and responding to comments). I have a friend who just started a home-focused blog (decorating, cooking, organization, etc.) and is just now – even though I warned her – realizing how much time and effort it requires. I hope she can keep it up, but I wonder if she will. I am putting together a presentation on blogging for a local organization. I hope you don’t mind if I highlight a few of your points (with credit, of course).
Hi Janis! I think many of us have a sort of love/hate relationship with comments. For example, last week I did my first repost (because I was out of town) and didn’t get one comment on it! It’s so easy to question ourselves when things like that happen. I personally thought it was a great post–that’s why I picked it to repost. But apparently it didn’t “stir” enough people to say anything. That’s why I think it is so very important to remember that regardless of whether you get any comments or not, we still have to be confident about our work. Still I DO ENJOY comments when they come….so THANK YOU!!! ~Kathy
Amazing to “read” all that you have learned as you have written over these 30 years!
Hi Gary! I have been doing it for a LONG time haven’t I? What often happens though is that it becomes such a part of you after a while that you don’t always take the time to really be “mindful” about this. It was rewarding to make the list and remind myself why I do what I do. Thanks as always for your comment. ~Kathy
Great advice, Kathy!
Thanks Barbara! I’m sure you’ve got thoughts you could add? Feel free! ~Kathy
Another fantastic post! I’ll be sharing it on my professional Facebook page. I think a lot of my readers will find this information extremely useful. Personally, the publishing portion was an eye-opener for me. Terrific that you have had experiences in every area to share. You should consider mentoring those who have started a book and are looking to get it in front of the right eyes whether by self=publishing or another road. I think you would be great at it!!
Hi Wendy! Glad you found my thoughts on publishing helpful enough to share with all your followers. And I am always happy to help others because, like all of us, I’ve been so very fortunate to have received help every step of the way. Please just ask (email) if there is ever anything I can do to help. ~Kathy
All very good advice.
Thanks Carol!
What a great post Kathy.
In art, and writing is an art be it blogging or book published, you do need a tough skin. Critics will do their thing, people won’t ‘Get IT’ what you do and those creatively suppressed won’t understand the time versus money quotient.
I think your presentation was so full of information, and encouragement that your audience will properly ask you to come again. For those just starting out you gave a lot of information that they may need to hear repeated!
Hi Haralee! Yes, having a thick skin sure helps. But in my case I think it has taught me through the years to stop paying so much attention to the voices “outside” my head and more on the voices in mine (and my heart). Plus I love the quote by Einstein that says, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinions courageously and honestly.” And while I truly hope those in attendance found value, but like I said to Susan in my reply to her comment, just like with writing, I received as much for just doing the list. Thanks so much for your comment. ~Kathy
Kathy, this is such a wonderful list! Writers usually come in quite starry-eyed, and then the entire process, not to mention the biz side of writing/publishing, wears them to a nub. If they could all just read this beforehand!
Odd endeavor indeed, this writing stuff. But despite all the falls along the path, I wouldn’t have my life any other way 🙂
Hi Susan! I know in many ways I am “preaching to the choir” with a lot of this but I really found it helpful for me to sit myself down and come up with these. (Nothing like a 45-minute talk to motivate a person!!!!) And afterwards I was so glad I did because it reminded me of all these things that I know we know, but don’t think about on a regular basis. Writing is really so rewarding and I want to encourage as many people to do it as possible. Aren’t we who already do it so very fortunate? ~Kathy
I have a gardening blog which began as part of a (scam) online marketing course. I got little out of the course bar the blog. I have made 37 cents in two years! But I really enjoy writing it and people seem to enjoy reading it, and so I keep on with it for our mutual pleasure.
Hi Kathy! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. And sorry you got taken by a “scam course.” But as you might suspect, I tend to believe that there is a silver lining in everything and it sure sounds like you’ve found one with your experience. Writing CAN be so very rewarding if we keep our intentions in mind and realize how it can benefit us beyond the obvious. Thanks for your comment. ~Kathy G
Valuable information. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cindi! Thank you! Glad you found it helpful and hopefully inspiring! We writers need to support each other for sure. ~Kathy