I'd be Published BUT I don't write

Billie said...

Wow! What an encouraging post and comments! I guess some would view it as a downer, but I feel it encouraging because it affirms the feeling that I have. I would like to be published, BUT I haven't written anything! Ok, you can stop laughing. I write...on my blog...birthday cards that end up turning into books...in journals to my kiddos. MY point is I like to write...and I can write. In fact this has become a spiritual thing for me in that I am beginning to recognize I have some God given ability and it may be wrong to not use it. That being said, I still don't know what to write. I always have an opinion but I guess I feel like I'm not much of an expert on anything and that it's all been said before. Ok...I feel better. Now my 1st book is complete. Sorry for all of the words. I guess I am a writer at heart after all!

The first thing that comes to mind is this parable from Luke 19:

12 Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be king over us!’ 15 When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. 16 So the first one came before him and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And the king said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.’ 18 Then the second one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 So the king said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another slave came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth. 21 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 The king said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to his attendants, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.’ 25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten minas already!’ 26 ‘I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!’”

I totally don't mean this to be a harsh post, warning would-be-writers of gnashing teeth and outer darkness, but I would encourage you to take seriously the gift He's given you. You actually may be doing that. Some of us naively think that if God has given us a gift to write it automatically means publication.

Not necessarily so. God honors unpublished words. Those words you write to encourage people are His tools to touch many. Don't despise those unpublished words. The real key is this question: Is God calling you to write for a wider audience? If not, then joyfully take your talents and sow them into your loved ones. If He is, then take seriously His call to you.

God gives us all gifts. It matters what we do with them. When we get to heaven, we'll be asked. We'll see how many times we buried those talents out of:

• fear of rejection
• worry
• laziness
• inferiority
• lack of courage
• giving up too easily

Here's a practical step, though: Write anyway. To become a writer, write. It's a simple thing, really. Write everything. Let your words come out of your heart, let them flow. Don't worry about publishing them just yet. Just let them out of their prison so they can sing on the page. It could be that God is calling you to write because you have emotionally shut down, and He knows that you will be healed and released through your pen. And maybe eventually, you'll revisit those words and tame them a bit, letting them fly into the world of publishing so that they reach a wider audience.

If God has given you the gift of writing, and that has been confirmed by others (as well as in your heart from the Lord), decide today to write. Set aside your fears. Think in terms of the Kingdom of God rather than the Kingdom of Publishing. Write, write, write.

CIC: Crazy Industry Chatter: Be Positive

I now subscribe to Publisher's Weekly, which has been a boon of information. One thing I read recently was this positive report from Baker/Revell:

"Baker Publishing Group reported record results for its fiscal year ending April 30, 2008, with publishing sales up 16%, to $57.9 million. President Dwight Baker emphasized that although sales of its bestselling 90 Minutes in Heaven helped the company achieve the gain, "this is much more comprehensive, with growth in all divisions." Revell was up 26 %; Chosen, 25 %; Baker Books, 15 %; Baker Academic, 13 %; Brazos, 10 %, and Bethany House, 9 %. "In just about all channels and all categories we are up," Baker said."

Mike Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson said these wise words in response: "I think in large part you get what you expect. If you buy into the assumptions that we are in a recession, consumers aren’t buying, retail traffic is off, and books aren’t selling, then guess what? That is probably what you will experience. Call me a incorrigible optimist, but I am not buying it. I believe in growth, and I am planning for it. "

Let's bring this from the Macro level down to the micro level, shall we? How much does your attitude effect your writing? Do you write with a wet blanket over your words, woe-is-me-ing your lot in this publishing life? Do you feel your words are in vain? That they'll never be published?

When I first started getting very serious about publishing at the beginning of this century (an interesting way to put it!), I felt that someday, Lord willing, I'd be published. Why?

• Others have told me I had a gift.


• I knew I had it in me to improve and learn.


• I sensed God pulling me in this direction.


• I began seeing moderate success, first in newspapers, then magazines.

Even when rejection hit, even after I wallowed in my own pity party, I got back into the publishing game and kept at it. That's why tenacity's so important. I shudder to think it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn. I'm simply saying that if you are truly destined to be published, you'll keep going. You'll be persistent. You'll keep at it. You'll stay positive.

Now, it may be that the Lord wants you to have a different platform than the one you imagine. You may be writing words for the world, with a vast audience on the web, rather than a limited one in print. Who knows? Don't limit God to simply being published in books. Let Him direct. Let Him choose the path of your publication.

And like Baker Books, continue to be faithful, even when the economy sings woe is me.

How one mommy author got published: Sherri Sand

I met Sherri Sand in 2003 at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. (Note: This picture is taken at a later conference, when it was actually sunny!) It was raining, and as I ran into the building where my class would be, I deflated my soggy umbrella and left it at the door along with all the other black umbrellas. I dashed into Nick Harrison's class. He's an editor at Harvest House, and he was talking about fiction. I settled myself, then suddenly had the urge to turn around.

There behind me was Sherri Sand, smiling. We instantly hit it off, starting a conversation that has lasted until today. We, both unpublished, had dreams of publication. We read each other's stuff. She prayed for our family in France. I remember reading her words and knowing-knowing-knowing that someday she would hold her book in her hands.

And now she can.

Why? Sherri persevered. She wrote and wrote and wrote. She refined. She studied the craft. She kept at her dream even as she raised her children and loved her husband.

Here's a recent writing interview with Sherri:

How did you begin your journey of writing a novel? Is it something you always wanted to do?

I always wanted to write. Even as young as eight, I can remember telling people I wanted to be an author when I grew up.

Tell us a little bit about your writing process. Do you have a direction in mind that you want to go? Or do you just see the characters acting out the story in your mind and simply write it down?

I usually follow the characters and then get a glimpse of where we’re going and try to keep the story moving with those goals in mind. I have had whole scenes settle into my mind at the most inconvenient times. It can be a challenge getting it all down onto a grocery receipt at the next stop light!

What would you suggest to someone who wants to become an author?

Start attending writer’s conferences. And if the cost is an issue, order tapes or CDs of the various workshops. Also join a critique group and really listen to the feedback. When I get input from my critiquing partners, I make a point to set aside any defensiveness and adopt a thicker skin. It’s not fun to find out that every word you write isn’t brilliant, but if you take the comments constructively you’ll become a stronger writer.

How do you find time to write? Any tips for someone who is working full time?

Set a word count goal. I try to write 1000 words a day, five days a week. If finding the extra time is difficult, start with 300 words a day. At that pace, you’d complete a full length novel (80,000 words) in one year. But the most important factor in writing is to turn the editor in your head off. Writer’s block comes from trying to create and edit at the same time. Don’t wait for the perfect idea to come floating along. Start writing now. Write anything. You want to create the habit so the ideas will come. The fear of failure keeps us from giving feet to our dreams—true failure comes from not trying at all.

What are the top three tips you have for submitting a successful book proposal?·

• There are many excellent books on how to write a proposal. Study them. It will ensure that the proposal you send in is polished and professional.


• Don’t make the mistake of submitting substandard writing assuming that an editor or agent will see your potential and take you on. Make sure it’s your very best work before submitting it.


• Get feedback from other writer friends or a critique group before submitting it. You’ll be amazed at how an already strong proposal can get stronger.

Here's a blurb about Sherri's book, Leave it to Chance:

Single mom of three, Sierra Montgomery is desperate to find a new job to keep from having to move back home and be smothered to death by her mother's good intentions and overbearing love. So when Sierra inherits Chance, a quirky old gelding she doesn't have a clue what to do with, she thinks her best bet may be to sell the horse to cover another month's rent--a decision that devastates her children.

Enter Ross Morgan, a handsome landscaper who just happens to have an empty barn and fenced pasture... perfect for an old horse to live out his days as the pet of three wounded kids. Ross develops a soft spot for eldest child Braden...and he just might have one for Braden's mother. But what he doesn't have is time for distractions--he's got a landscaping business to run and nursery plants to tend.

But there's just one problem. Sierra's terrified of horses and--thanks to her past--wary of attractive men. Yet seeing the way her angry son idolizes Ross and adores that old horse forces Sierra to confront her fears. Will she remain distrustful and self-reliant, or will she seek help from God and those who love her?

You can purchase Sherri's inaugural work here. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK, leave a comment below. I'll pick a winner from this post and a similar post over at Relevant Blog. Be sure you give me a way to contact you. And if you'd like to know more, hop on over to the other blog tour participants below:

Amber Miller

Blog Tour Spot

Camy’s Loft

Chatter Matters

A Christian Romance Writer’s Journey

Cliffy’s Mom’s Blog

Fictionary


Flying Changes

The Friendly Book Nook

Horse Book Reviews

I Don’t Wanna Blog

In the Dailies

Leap of Faith

lighthouse-academy

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Margaret Daley

Ma Space

Musings on This, That & The Other Thing

Mystery, Suspense and God, Oh My!

Net’s Notes

Novel Journey

Penning Prose

Portrait of a Writer . . . Interrupted

Readin N Writing with Patricia

Real Women Scrap

Relevant Blog

Sharon Hinck

Sips ‘n Cups Cafeteria

Smells Horsey

Toni V Lee

Writing by Faith

The Writing Road.com

Win a Free Website or Blog Design!

Ashley and George, the creative brain trust at Tekeme Studios are running a VERY cool contest on their design blog. Simply add a comment to this post WITH your email address and be entered to win a free website or blog design (not including hosting). Drawing is June 10th. These are the folks who designed my banner and template here at Wannabepublished. They're very, very good.

AFP: READ! by Robin Shope

Today's great piece of advice comes from author Robin Shope. You can meet her here. Here's a fun thing: Anyone who comments on this post for the next week will be entered to win a $25.00 gift certificate to Amazon! Hooray! So make a pithy comment and, perhaps, win a prize. Good luck!

***

A few years ago I signed up for an evening writing class. During the first session the instructor had us take turns introducing ourselves and telling a bit about why we were interested in writing. The answers varied. What stunned me were the comments made by many of the aspiring writers. Three of the ten admitted they never read anything! Not magazines, not newspapers and not books, yet they were anxious to get started on their novel.

My jaw slacked. I could no more separate the writing from the reading than be a Christian without reading God's Word. To my amazement the instructor not once addressed the importance of reading and I wondered how he could teach this class. I must admit it wasn't an informative class. No wonder. How can one write when one does not read? Basic development begins with oral language then reading and then writing. I taught middle school Language Arts
for a number of years. There is so much we absorb subconsciously from reading; character development, basic plot, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and that is for starters.

A lot has been said about being a member of a writer's critique group and I do agree that it is important. Yet I get so much more out of my book club. As I did with my students, we discuss aspects that make us analyze our text and force us to look deeper into the story. Such as in the book Tangerine, how did Mike Costello's death effect the community?

As you read ask yourselves questions such as what is the reflection of the theme and what methods does the author use to reflect this? How is the conflict handled? I suggest using a plot line graph for the introduction of characters, the rising action (one problem is solved as two
more emerge), the turning point and the falling action to the conclusion.

In reading, notice particularly how chapters start; what strong words are used to draw the reader in? What is the hook the author uses to make the reader go into the next chapter instead of going to sleep? Make predictions about the characters, one positive and one negative. Connect what you are reading to your life. Take out your highlighter and mark what I call the visualization factors such as sight, sound, touch, smell. If a sentence catches your attention read it aloud.

Gone are my days of just picking up a book and reading it for pleasure. I pick up a notebook with my reading pleasure and take notes. So my advice is this...READ. Only when you
understand the elements of a novel will be ready to write one.

Good Things at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference

I had a terrific time in Colorado soaking up mountains and clean air and wildlife. Thank You Jesus! He always knows, doesn't He, when we need a time of refreshment, though I will say I'm pretty darned tired about right now. Though I didn't walk away from the conference spiritually refreshed, I did feel like the Lord was kind enough to use me to refresh others. So in that, I feel a deep satisfaction.

I spoke about France briefly. (I can't share details yet without it being too painful.) But I did talk about responding to an email that asked if we felt we missed God by going to France. I said it was an American thought that if God is in something, it will be successful. God doesn't call us to success; He calls us to obey. And sometimes, we won't see success in the here and now, and maybe not even in this lifetime. The question is: will we obey Him even if it means we won't succeed? A sobering, yet freeing thought indeed.

I also spoke about fear, how so many of us don't write things (particularly about family) because we're afraid of what people might think, or we worry we'll offend. And yet, sometimes God calls us out of our comfort and asks us to write true-and-kind words. And so many shrug away, afraid to do it. The question: Do you trust God with your words? Do you trust Him enough to carry you if you say hard things? Is He big enough to hold your loved ones in His hands? After that mini-talk, we had a round table discussion where the Lord set people free to write their stories. I'm terribly humbled by it all.

For the keynote, I spoke about well writing--writing from the well inside where Jesus fills us with rivers of living water. I shared Aidan's story, about his passion to dig wells in Africa. I challenged writers to create the kind of well-like writing that shows the irresistability of Jesus. I beckoned writers to stay close to Jesus, to resist filling themselves with the religion of the day (materialism). At the end of the message we sang "Everything" by LifeHouse. When I opened my eyes after singing, the front of the place was filled with people kneeling, crying, and giving their hearts afresh to Jesus. Check on the Colorado website if you'd like to order any of the talks.

So in all that, I felt deeply refreshed. Knowing that the words I spoke incited such a change and desire for Jesus humbles me. Deeply. And I'm so thankful that folks came up to me at different times in the conference to tell me how I'd helped them (through the Writer's View, Wannabepublished, etc.) I needed to know that. It takes a tremendous amount of my time and energy to do both those endeavors, so to hear they were bringing transformation encouraged me. Sometimes you just need to know your words and actions touch others.

God blessed me with some lovely times with friends. I came up early with Paula Moldenhauer. We had deep conversations, lots of laughter, and went snow hiking. I'll post pictures when I upload them. I also had the privilege of rooming with Alice Crider from Multnomah. We had a great time together. My friend Anne drove up from Boulder to see me speak on Friday, and so did Danica. How cool is that? I had terrific conversations with so many folks, and I had the opportunity to connect with Patty Hickman. We had so many quirky similarities that we both marveled. Kind of like meeting a long lost sister. It was also so fun to see my friend Jodie Westfall take pictures of authors. She was in her element up there, though, she too suffered from the same sickness.

My one regret other than being sick the whole time? Not praying with folks. My schedule was so packed (and I felt so weak and tired from either a parasite or altitude sickness) that I flew from one thing to another, getting increasingly tired. I wish I had taken the hand of everyone I saw and said a prayer. But God knows these things and holds them in His hands.

A Little Hiatus

I'll be teaching and speaking and critiquing this week at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Please pray for me! I'm so looking forward to connecting with other writers and industry folk, and I'm thrilled to be in the mountains again. Above is a picture from our family vacation in Colorado last summer. Weather forecast? SNOW and BRRRR and cold. It'll be weird to go from 80 degrees to 29.

AFP: Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: Terri Kraus

Today we have author Terri Kraus, sharing a little tidbit about the big picture of writing. Terri, take it away...

*****

Whenever I talk to aspiring writers, or interact with them at a writer's conference critique session, I find that many of them are obsessing over things like grammar, punctuation, format and other details. While we certainly all want to continually work to perfect the craft of writing, what is also vital is to remember that writing is an ART, not a science.

Instead of focusing on perfection in the mechanics (which is what editors are for!) focus on the bigger picture first:

• finding the story that you absolutely can't NOT tell;


• creating characters that readers will really really care about, who can make them weep and laugh;


• sharing the message that is on your heart--in short, communicating the passion that you feel, that will make the book compelling, memorable and will keep the reader turning the pages.

If you're all bound up and tight, worrying about the "small stuff", it will be difficult for that to happen!

TERRI KRAUS
http://www.terrikraus.com/

YQA: Seven Touches

On The Writer's View, I shared about how typically a consumer needs seven touches before they'll purchase a book. Member Ariel followed up with this question:

Would you mind elaborating on what the other six "touches" are?

Answer: Those are inspecific touches, meaning typically a consumer needs seven points of contact about a product before they buy it. It can be a TV ad, a friend’s recommendation, a radio interview, a colleague’s encouragement…any number of things. And lately, a lot of touches are happening via the web. That’s why blog tours and virtual book tours are important.

Here’s a possible scenario:

Once upon a time, Carly Consumer is worried about the culture and its influences on her kids. She googles “postmodern and parenting” and lo-and-behold, my website comes up. (one touch). She clicks over to my blog (another touch), then goes to Amazon to read reviews about Authentic Parenting (touch three). But, she’s tired of spending her money on gas and groceries and having too little money left at the end of the month, so she balks. Later, her family pastor writes a plug for Authentic Parenting in their church’s family newsletter (touch four). Her best friend Barbara Bookbuyer rushes over to her after church and says, “Carly, you need to read Authentic Parenting. (touch five.) Hmmm, Carly thinks, maybe I should. But she doesn’t because, again, that pesky money thing. So she drives home, only to look up at a stoplight and see a giant billboard with Authentic Parenting emblazoned across (one can dream!) (touch six). On Monday, she drives to her local Christian bookstore to pick up a Thomas Kincaide coverlet and sees the book on an end cap. (touch seven). She grips the book to her chest, tears streaming down her face, and uses rolled up pennies she’s saved for a rainy day to purchase the book. And then, of course, her life changes. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband starts cooking all the family meals in gourmet fashion, and she wins Mother of the Year. All because of seven touches.

Editor and Agent Appointments

Agent Rachelle Gardner addresses the question, "Should I get an appointment with an agent/editor if I'm not yet ready with a project?" It's certainly worth your time to read her post.

Ever Wonder what a Publicist Does?

There's a great post over at Novel Journey about what a publicist does, how it differs from marketing, and what would be a waste of publicity dollars. You can read it here.

CIC: Crazy Industry Chatter: How to WOW an editor or agent

This post comes to us from Beth Jusino, an agent at Alive Communications. These hints will help you craft a nonfiction proposal or fiction proposal that wows an editor. It'll help you as you consider what you will write for your next project. Thank you, Beth, for wise words.

***

What does WOW:

Here are a few "Wow Factor" suggestions that seem to be making a real difference in publishing committees these days:

1. Know why your book is relevant NOW. Is there a recent (within the past 12 months) survey that points to the need, or is there an event coming up in the next 12-18 months that would make your book particularly timely? (When we took Lori Smith's "A Walk With Jane Austen" to publishers in early 2007, it was critical to show them that there would be a major studio release of Becoming Jane in 2008 and the new Masterpiece Theater releases of all the Austen books at roughly the same time. We showed them that they could drop a book into the perfect storm of media attention.)

2. Know how to summarize your project in 1 line and 1 paragraph, in ways that marketing and sales people (ie, not editorial "word loving" people) will understand. Spend the time to make this shine - if the team can't get your concept in 10 seconds, chances are they won't invest 10 minutes.

3. Have a great title. Again, don't skimp on the time you spend with this - this is the first impression you will make, and publishers will turn down a project if they don't think it has a title that grabs the consumer's attention. Your goal is to get attention from the very first line and to make a publisher keep reading. So test out titles and see what gets attention. Run titles through Amazon to make sure they haven't been used.

4. Know what you can do to market your book. An author's personal commitment and resources to support their own project are often deciding factors for publishers. An author who knows how to successfully query articles and work with periodicals (and has contacts in those fields) makes the possibility of print media more likely. An author who is regularly traveling and speaking nationally creates name recognition that can translate to bookstore sales. An author who regularly blogs (or podcasts) about topics relevant to a book proposal and has a significant following online brings a built-in audience and low cost marketing channel to the discussion. And while this may seem crass, an author who brings financial resources (either their own or commitments from those who support them) will get the attention of a publisher, who sees more opportunities to help launch a book.

What Doesn't Necessarily Wow:

Okay, this list might hurt a little... but here are a few tough-love thoughts on what I've seen authors rely on that do NOT add (or at least, do not add much) to their proposal's WOW factor when it's being reviewed by a book editor or agent:

1. Occasional local speaking engagements (less than once a month, within a 100 mile radius). These are good building blocks to a platform and wonderful ministry opportunities, but do not build the brand and name recognition to support a book on retail shelves across the country.

2. Endorsements. Publishers will consider endorsements and personal relationships with "known names," but the general sense right now is that endorsements don't sell books. Unless the endorsement comes with a commitment from a ministry to carry your book in their retail channels and order 1500 copies from the first print run, don't depend on it to bring you a contract (or an agent).

3. An author's passion that the reader SHOULD do something, or learn something. Readers do not like being told what they should do - they will not pick up a book that promises to wave a finger at them and tell them how to become better people. Instead, look at your WIP as a way to help the reader learn what they CAN do - instead of writing a book about why Christians SHOULD witness more and offering a step-by-step guideline to evangelism, consider writing a book about how a reader CAN change one dozen lives for eternity if they accept the challenge to share their faith in the next 24 hours. (See the difference?)

4. Writing articles in magazines or newsletters that are not connected to the content of your proposal. Writing holiday tips for Detroit's local magazine will not help your book about the spiritual disciplines. (It may help you learn more about the craft and help pay the grocery bill. Just don't expect it to be the deciding factor on your book proposal.)

5. Similarly, getting media coverage (like a newspaper story or a TV appearance) about a topic not related to your book proposal. If you were interviewed on the Today Show 3 years ago about your amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe, it will not WOW a publisher/agent reading your proposal. Don't spend the money copying DVDs of your appearance to send with the proposal.

Note: I'm not saying that these things aren't important, or that you shouldn't be investing in them. There are many steps on the writing journey, and everything listed above offers a step in the journey toward publication. But when you are putting together a book proposal and asking about what really matters (or when you are looking at a stack of rejection letters and asking what you were missing), think about what you were prioritizing, and what you were counting on to WOW that publishing person.

TWC: The Writing Craft: Don't Write Scared

When we're telling personal experience stories on the page, particularly those that are painful, we should exercise caution in our disclosure. I spent my teen years as an "Over-proclaimer," telling everyone and anyone my tales of woe. Then in my twenties, I realized my mistake and believed, naively, that I'd been entirely healed of my past and that to share my story would be an indication that He hadn't healed me.

Thankfully, in my thirties, I realized there are two extremes: over-disclosure and under-disclosure. One is annoying and self-serving, the other is self-protection. So, I'm walking a third path now, monitored, hopefully, by the Holy Spirit. I am telling the stories He tells me to tell, without fear.

I wonder, though, in this, if we let God really tell us what He wants us to write for others. Has He released you to write a painful story, but you've shrunk back in fear? Don't let fear hold you back. Tell the story He's laid on your heart. Trust Him to help you temper the words.

I'm reminded of an amazing scene in one of my favorite movies, Strictly Ballroom. Everyone danced only as the "federation" told them to. At the end, someone breaks out of the mold. He tells another fearful dancer, "We lived our lives in fear." I wonder how many of us live our lives in fear, not spilling the stories, not risking, not sharing, because we're afraid of our own words.

Darkness and Light in Writing

I posted about my journey in writing redemptive prose over at The Master's Artist. Click here to read the post and leave a comment.

AFP: Why Keeping Your Day Job Makes you a Better Writer: Sharon Dunn

Today, I'm privileged to host Sharon Dunn, author of Death of a Six Foot Teddy Bear. She's here to dissolve the myth that true writers only write, that day jobs are obstacles to publishing nirvana. Take it away, Sharon!

***

It’s every writer’s dream to have endless time to write, but is ten hours at the keyboard the most beneficial? I found that even after I sold my first book, working for a steady paycheck made me a better writer.

A “real” job provides structure causing efficient use of time. Tasks usually expand to the amount of time allotted for them. The problem with having eight to ten hours to write is that it often gives a writer too much wiggle room, making them more likely to procrastinate. It takes a great deal of discipline to use all those hours productively.

Sometimes less time is better. I first started to write when I was pregnant with my oldest son. While my babies were little, my husband watched them for an hour or I wrote while they napped. Knowing that I only had limited time to write made me very productive--no head scratching/chair wiggling/coffee making time allowed. When I sat down to write, I had already mentally brainstormed what my first couple of sentences would be. I continue to work part time at a college and I have found that I get just as much done as when I am home for Christmas or Spring break.

It is possible to work full time and still produce as a writer. Robin Lee Hatcher author of Beyond the Shadows worked full time as an office administrator. As a single mom, she was the sole support for her family. She set aside 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday mornings to write. “I wrote long hand on legal pads in the evenings (no computer back then) and typed the manuscript on the office typewriter on coffee breaks and lunch hours. I wrote in every spare moment I had.” Robin structured her writing time around work and family, publishing nine novels before quitting her day job to write full time.

Writers may think the lack of time is what keeps them from being productive. In fact, the barrier is usually something different and claiming lack of time is the excuse. Even the busiest person can find an hour a day to devote to writing if writing is really what they want to do. The question that needs to be asked is not do I have enough time to write, but what I am willing to give up in order to write? How bad do I want to make this dream come true? Planning writing around a work schedule often makes a writer more efficient.

Sharon Dunn is the author of five mysteries including her latest Bargain Hunters mystery Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear. You can read more about Sharon and her humorous who-dun-its at http://www.sharondunnbooks.com/