Writing Reflections
I've been getting quite a few publishing questions lately so I thought I'd post some reflections on my writing journey. I'm certainly no expert :) But happy to share.
Most writers are most concerned about one thing: how do I get my book published. It's tough to get your foot in the publishing door. My short answer is supernatural synchronicities. I really believe that if God has called you to write the book, you'll meet the right people at the right time. In the meantime, keep writing like it depends on you and praying like it depends on God. Like most authors, I got a rejection letter before I got offers. It is part of the process.
I recommend self-publishing your first book. That is what I did with ID: the True You. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I also recommend finding an agent. I wish I could tell you how but I honestly don't know. I found my agent via Brian McLaren. If anybody has any tips on finding an agent, feel free to comment.
Here is my advice: focus more on writing your book than getting your book published. If you really believe in what you write, you won't give up till it gets published.
Here are some writing tips from a guy who is trying to figure out how to write!
#1 Write for intrinsic reasons
If you write for the wrong reasons your dream will short-circuit. I often ask aspiring authors if they are willing to write a book even if it doesn't sell one copy. That is the litmus test because it reveals whether they are writing for extrinsic reasons or intrinsic reasons. Writing for intrinsic reasons is like singing in the shower. You write, first and foremost, because you love to write. In fact, you can't not write because you feel called to write. Every author who believes in what they write wants to sell as many books as possible, but that can't be the driving motivation. Don't write because you want people to read. Write because you've got something you have to say.
#2 Find a Writing Rhythm
Half of writing is rhyme. The other half is rhythm. My peak writing hours are six AM to nine AM. In fact, I get more accomplished before my official work day starts than I do the rest of the day. I hit a point of diminishing return around Noon. My mind is too cluttered to write straight. I also find that sometimes I need to walk away from whatever I'm writing for twenty-four hours to regain my perspective.
#3 Find Your Voice
Writing a book is baring your soul. You feel intellectually and spiritually vulnerable. Writing forces you to come to terms with who you are and who you aren't. Unfortunately, many authors hide behind their words. You don't feel like you know them any better at the end of the book than you did at the beginning. I try to write as if I'm having a conversation with someone over coffee. Keep it real. Keep it personal. Don't just share your thoughts. Share your life.
C.S. Lewis said that every life consists of a few themes. Finding your voice is giving expression to those themes--your core convictions and core passions. Write about the things you're passionate about. And dare to be different. Don't be afraid to express your personality and originality in what you write.
#4 Know Your Writing Strengths & Weaknesses
Writers need editors because all of us have blind spots. A good editor understands and complements an author's weaknesses. I know my strength is saying old things in new ways. I juxtapose truth in creative ways. I'm insatiably interested in everything so I import knowledge from a variety of disciplines--everything from physics to business to philosophy to neurology--to add density and variety to my writing. I'm good at conceptualizing truth in creative ways, but my weakness is application. And I recognize that in my own writing and preaching. I'm a thirty-thousand foot thinker. I tend to fly circles around the airport so I need editors who help me come in for a practical landing.
#5 Tie Off the Umbilical Cord
I'm a perfectionist by nature. I will keep revising a manuscript till Kingdom Come if I don't have a deadline, but at some point you have to tie off the umbilical cord so a book can take on a life of its own. According to Parkinson's Law, the amount of time it takes you to complete a project depends on how much time you have allotted. If you have a month, it'll take a month. If you have six months, it'll take six months. One way that I've overcome my perfectionism and procrastination is the 80% rule. I send my chapters to my editors when I feel like I'm 80% of the way there. It relieves some of the pressure I feel to make sure every chapter is perfect.
Most writers are most concerned about one thing: how do I get my book published. It's tough to get your foot in the publishing door. My short answer is supernatural synchronicities. I really believe that if God has called you to write the book, you'll meet the right people at the right time. In the meantime, keep writing like it depends on you and praying like it depends on God. Like most authors, I got a rejection letter before I got offers. It is part of the process.
I recommend self-publishing your first book. That is what I did with ID: the True You. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. I also recommend finding an agent. I wish I could tell you how but I honestly don't know. I found my agent via Brian McLaren. If anybody has any tips on finding an agent, feel free to comment.
Here is my advice: focus more on writing your book than getting your book published. If you really believe in what you write, you won't give up till it gets published.
Here are some writing tips from a guy who is trying to figure out how to write!
#1 Write for intrinsic reasons
If you write for the wrong reasons your dream will short-circuit. I often ask aspiring authors if they are willing to write a book even if it doesn't sell one copy. That is the litmus test because it reveals whether they are writing for extrinsic reasons or intrinsic reasons. Writing for intrinsic reasons is like singing in the shower. You write, first and foremost, because you love to write. In fact, you can't not write because you feel called to write. Every author who believes in what they write wants to sell as many books as possible, but that can't be the driving motivation. Don't write because you want people to read. Write because you've got something you have to say.
#2 Find a Writing Rhythm
Half of writing is rhyme. The other half is rhythm. My peak writing hours are six AM to nine AM. In fact, I get more accomplished before my official work day starts than I do the rest of the day. I hit a point of diminishing return around Noon. My mind is too cluttered to write straight. I also find that sometimes I need to walk away from whatever I'm writing for twenty-four hours to regain my perspective.
#3 Find Your Voice
Writing a book is baring your soul. You feel intellectually and spiritually vulnerable. Writing forces you to come to terms with who you are and who you aren't. Unfortunately, many authors hide behind their words. You don't feel like you know them any better at the end of the book than you did at the beginning. I try to write as if I'm having a conversation with someone over coffee. Keep it real. Keep it personal. Don't just share your thoughts. Share your life.
C.S. Lewis said that every life consists of a few themes. Finding your voice is giving expression to those themes--your core convictions and core passions. Write about the things you're passionate about. And dare to be different. Don't be afraid to express your personality and originality in what you write.
#4 Know Your Writing Strengths & Weaknesses
Writers need editors because all of us have blind spots. A good editor understands and complements an author's weaknesses. I know my strength is saying old things in new ways. I juxtapose truth in creative ways. I'm insatiably interested in everything so I import knowledge from a variety of disciplines--everything from physics to business to philosophy to neurology--to add density and variety to my writing. I'm good at conceptualizing truth in creative ways, but my weakness is application. And I recognize that in my own writing and preaching. I'm a thirty-thousand foot thinker. I tend to fly circles around the airport so I need editors who help me come in for a practical landing.
#5 Tie Off the Umbilical Cord
I'm a perfectionist by nature. I will keep revising a manuscript till Kingdom Come if I don't have a deadline, but at some point you have to tie off the umbilical cord so a book can take on a life of its own. According to Parkinson's Law, the amount of time it takes you to complete a project depends on how much time you have allotted. If you have a month, it'll take a month. If you have six months, it'll take six months. One way that I've overcome my perfectionism and procrastination is the 80% rule. I send my chapters to my editors when I feel like I'm 80% of the way there. It relieves some of the pressure I feel to make sure every chapter is perfect.
7 Comments:
Hey Mark,
Just thought I'd let people know that the Mount Hermon Writers Conference is an amazing event where you can submit your writing and get to meet with publishers face-to-face.
My wife has gone and it's really allowed her to get her foot in the door.
http://www.mounthermon.org/writers/
I don't know if there's any openings for the one coming up in 3 weeks or so, but there's always next year!
Hope this helps someone.
Wow Mark, these are great tips. Thanks for taking us with you on your writing journey via the blog. For me you've put a personal face on the publishing process and made it seem "doable."
Mark,
Last night I read "A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway. It is all about his early years as a writer in Paris. Pretty amazing book. One of the things he said seemed to jump off the page when I read it.
He said that when he was struggling with what to write he would stand and look out over the roofs of Paris and think, “Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.”
Anyway, in my mind that seems to be what you are saying in your first principle.
Thanks,
Paul Stewart
Paul,
I wish I was saying that--that is good stuff :) Thanks for the inspiration. I'm going to go look at some monuments or something...
Mark
PM:
Great stuff as always. I'd be happy to offer up any insights and advice I can to those who may be looking for an agent or how to get started in the publishing world.
I've helped a number of authors get started and have many agent and publisher contacts / relationships.
Any inquiries can be sent to daniel@bookmarketing101.com
This is amazing. As someone who knows that a book lives somewhere inside and is working its way out, this makes the whole process a lot more achievable
Good job. Very encouraging. I agree with you about self-publishing the first one. I did that too. It gave me an idea of what is involved in the entire publishing/marketing process.
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