As I mentioned in my last post, I had a fantastic holiday break during which I spent my days being nothing but a writer. I finished a first draft of a novel, and have begun major edits on another. Before I started those edits, though, I sat down and took some time thinking about what I need to do to elevate my writing, to take it to the next level.
The publishing industry is in major flux, with mergers and the growing number of small presses and indie-authors. The reading public is also more demanding, requiring constant improvement by authors. The quality of writing that may have won a major award a few years ago is now what is expected of the average author. I love the challenge.
That’s why I enjoy the editing process so much. I have grown to love fine-tuning the prose, getting things just right, making sure the creative dream I had when I first wrote the story, becomes clear, vivid, real. But it isn’t enough any more. I’ve grown as a writer and so what I wrote a few years ago and thought was great, now needs a lot of work.
Facing that challenge can be daunting, but being the stubborn person that I am, I chose to take it on, to prove that it can be done. After all, growing and learing is a life-long process.
Where are you in your writing career? Are you satisfied or do you want to take it to the next level? What one thing will you do to challenge yourself in your growth as a writer?
Consider hiring a Coach to help stretch you, and get you to where you want to be. Not sure that coaching is for you? I offer a Complimentary 45 minute coaching session. It’s a great opportunity to explore what coaching is really like, and if it is the right thing for you. If you’re interested, send me an e-mail at sherrypeters @ outlook . com.
Other notes:
I am Guest Blogger today over at The Fictorians, discussing the importance of attending your local fan convention.
Don’t forget to sign up for the following workshop:
Plan for Success
January 20, 2014 – February 16, 2014
at Savvy Authors
Online
It is easy to create lists of projects we want to complete and goals we want to achieve. How often do those projects and goals get abandoned part-way to completion or even before they are started? No matter how good our intentions are or how hard we work to complete the projects, something seems to get in the way. This workshop is an intensive look at the four stages of project completion and how to overcome the fears that stop us.
I’m okay with where I am in my writing career at the moment, though my attention is focused elsewhere. They say no man can serve two masters, but hey, in the words of Eowyn, “I am no man!”
(That was a good one, I gotta use that one in a post.)
As for what I’m doing to challenge myself as a writer, I’m not sure specifically. I think the thing that I’ll end up working on is doing a more effective job of coming up with and writing characters with traits that are not like me. I’ve done more and more of that over the years, and found it’s freeing and fun. I’m not a particularly empathetic person, but the main character of my most recent WIP is. It works for the story, because of the nature of the main conflict of the metaplot that will arc through the trilogy. She doesn’t stand to lose much herself if she takes no action, but people around her do, and what drives the story is her need to pursue justice and fairness for people other than herself. I could changed her character in such a way that she did have something to lose along with those friends, but that would spoil the twist at the end.
That said, she’s still a character with a lot of agency, and her actions still drive the story. But instead of being cornered and acting out of desperation, she’s choosing her path because she feels it’s the right thing to do, and she’s that person with the courage to step forward and speak out.