In celebration of National Novel Writers Month, we’re asking authors their perspective on novel writing and some thoughts to share with aspiring writers. We also offered a perspective from two of our trainers in this past blog. We wanted to highlight a few great perspectives we’ve received so far.
Mary Pat of The Hyland Diner provides her perspective on her goals when she started writing.
The problem was, I was working sixty-hour weeks on a regular basis. There was little time for me to advance my dream. That’s the moment that I decided my creativity was no longer going to be banished to the background of my life. I made a huge leap of faith, left that job with its very good pay and benefits and headed toward the unknown. As terrifying as it was, I immediately published my first novel, The Cyber Miracles, and four months later landed a good part-time job that paid my bills while I was free to spend the rest of the time writing. So far it’s worked. I have just published my seventh book.
Charles Ray shares his perspective on making writing a career goal.
If writing is your career goal, there are a number of preparatory steps I strongly suggest. Get yourself a good style book and learn the rules of good writing – grammar, punctuation, and word usage. Now that you’ve done that, the next step is simple – sit down and write what’s in your mind, and if necessary, break the rules you just spent all that time learning. But, break them with a purpose. You’ll, of course, need some other source of legal income while you hone your skills – many writers before you have had to do the same. But, never despair.
Jennifer Greenleaf, Maine Author and Freelance Writer, provides her feedback on aspiring authors.
Write because you love the art, not because you love the idea of making money. I’ve met so many aspiring writers over the years who dream of being millionaires or the next New York Times bestselling author and, while having dreams are great, it’s important to keep dreams realistic and attainable. You have to write – reading a lot about writing is NOT writing.
E. Stearns, Writer, shares his thoughts on persistence.
I keep writing because I can’t help doing it, and if I don’t work to improve I will only write bad stuff (freeze frame scenes, lazy little short stories that don’t get finished, etc.). It takes some discipline to finish a story, edit it, and find the right place to publish it. It’s also effort well spent.
Stay tuned to our blog for more great tips from authors for National Novel Writing Month!
