Considering the things I've learned over the years from reading various blogs and articles, browsing websites, observing the work of other authors and publishers, and my own experiences, I try to take away as much as I can by reading, watching, listening, and remembering. The Internet is full of great advice, lots of free advice for the taking, including this blog. You'll find nothing here that you couldn't find on your own by just browsing, reading and researching.
The only difference is that I'm trying to collect and share the information in one place, sharing as much as possible and hoping to contribute something of value to your journeys. So, for my first post in the Writers Should Know This Blog, I'll share what I can remember off the top of my head.
First things first. Are you serious? By that, I mean, if you're going to be serious about writing, be serious about writing. Be about it. Figure out why you write, and then own it.
Do you write for love of the craft?
Do you write for the sense of validation that you feel when others enjoy and appreciate your words?
Do you write for the hustle and racket you want to make off of it?
Do you write as a hobby? For fun? For cheap therapy?
Whatever your reason, if you're going to expose yourself to the world, it's probably better to know now than later that if you want to be a writer who gets read, you must take the craft seriously, and take yourself, as the saying goes, with a grain of salt. Start developing that thick skin and sense of humor as soon as possible. You'll need them.
Treat your writing like the business it will become. If you don't take your writing seriously, then no one else will, nor should they.
One of my biggest fears as a writer is not being read; or being read and someone thinking my work is garbage, which is decidedly worse, because people remember writers who peddle garbage.
I don't want to be remembered by any reader as a writer or publisher who peddles garbage. The most important reason is because I write for love of the craft, and it would break my heart if I delivered some crap to a reader. Another really important reason is that memories are very long and word of mouth travels really fast when it comes to bad writing. It's a credibility thing.
As writers, we should all want to be credible, unless of course, you're in it for the hustle only. Here's a hint: If you're a get what you can, while you can, from whomever you can kind of writer, then you're not a writer, you're a pissant hustler, who, frankly, has ruined a perfectly good word that was once synonymous with hard work.
We've probably all bought books by writers whose work left something to be desired, some probably even bestselling authors. But the thing is this. Readers may help you get on the bestseller's list once, but your first hit will be your last if the work is not any good.
I know many junk peddlers who have gotten my $10, $20 or $25 supporting their first books, but they'll not get me again. To paraphrase that old saying: You can fool some of the people some of the time, and maybe all of them once, but after that, it's time to move to another hustle. Leave the real writers to do this.
Well, I hope this starter post is helpful, and until next time, maybe it gives you some things to think about.
All of this is just what I'm learning as I go. Use what works for you, and brain dump the rest.
Take care, all. And happy writing!
~Regina. rys
NEXT POST: Take Your Writing Seriously, So That Others Will, Too
The only difference is that I'm trying to collect and share the information in one place, sharing as much as possible and hoping to contribute something of value to your journeys. So, for my first post in the Writers Should Know This Blog, I'll share what I can remember off the top of my head.
First things first. Are you serious? By that, I mean, if you're going to be serious about writing, be serious about writing. Be about it. Figure out why you write, and then own it.
Do you write for love of the craft?
Do you write for the sense of validation that you feel when others enjoy and appreciate your words?
Do you write for the hustle and racket you want to make off of it?
Do you write as a hobby? For fun? For cheap therapy?
Whatever your reason, if you're going to expose yourself to the world, it's probably better to know now than later that if you want to be a writer who gets read, you must take the craft seriously, and take yourself, as the saying goes, with a grain of salt. Start developing that thick skin and sense of humor as soon as possible. You'll need them.
Treat your writing like the business it will become. If you don't take your writing seriously, then no one else will, nor should they.
One of my biggest fears as a writer is not being read; or being read and someone thinking my work is garbage, which is decidedly worse, because people remember writers who peddle garbage.
I don't want to be remembered by any reader as a writer or publisher who peddles garbage. The most important reason is because I write for love of the craft, and it would break my heart if I delivered some crap to a reader. Another really important reason is that memories are very long and word of mouth travels really fast when it comes to bad writing. It's a credibility thing.
As writers, we should all want to be credible, unless of course, you're in it for the hustle only. Here's a hint: If you're a get what you can, while you can, from whomever you can kind of writer, then you're not a writer, you're a pissant hustler, who, frankly, has ruined a perfectly good word that was once synonymous with hard work.
We've probably all bought books by writers whose work left something to be desired, some probably even bestselling authors. But the thing is this. Readers may help you get on the bestseller's list once, but your first hit will be your last if the work is not any good.
I know many junk peddlers who have gotten my $10, $20 or $25 supporting their first books, but they'll not get me again. To paraphrase that old saying: You can fool some of the people some of the time, and maybe all of them once, but after that, it's time to move to another hustle. Leave the real writers to do this.
Well, I hope this starter post is helpful, and until next time, maybe it gives you some things to think about.
All of this is just what I'm learning as I go. Use what works for you, and brain dump the rest.
Take care, all. And happy writing!
~Regina. rys
NEXT POST: Take Your Writing Seriously, So That Others Will, Too
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