So when Angela asked for any volunteers to post while she was away, I happily volunteered because, hey, I’ve got a book coming out in print August 2009. My happiness quickly deflated when she said “But, this can’t be a strictly promotional post. It should be fun and informative.” Ugh! I had five days to come up with something witty and I’m not very witty, especially on the spot. In any event, with a little help from a friend, I came up with something that I hope meets the standards.
TWELVE THINGS I’VE LEARNED SINCE I STARTED WRITING PROFESSIONALLY……
1. There are guidelines even for your imagination.
2. Writing is a solitary profession.
3. I can come up with enough words to write an entire book.
4. Characters don’t like it when you ignore them.
5. Research can be fun and interesting.
6. A plot is more than a final resting place.
7. Research can be boring and tedious.
8. The right critique partners are a blessing.
9. It’s still about being in the right place at the right time.
10. Promotion sucks.
11. Getting published is only the beginning.
12. Every story has already been told; you have to tell it with a new twist.
Now these are not in any particular order. Over the eleven years I’ve been writing on a professional level, all of these things have come into play at different stages. I know I’ll be dealing with them again.
Have a wonderful Sunday….
~~Sloan McBride (www.sloanmcbride.com)
P.S. Book One of my Time Walker Series, “The Fury” is coming out in print August 2009. Please drop by my website to read reviews, an excerpt, and see the new book trailer I created.
Sloan,
Thanks so much for # 12.
As a lurker and closet writer, I have wrestled forever with the thought that I could not be original enough to interest others. Seeing you statement in words was a shot in the arm.
Noelle
I’m glad I could help, Noelle. After coming up with these 12 things, it got me thinking. I am going to work on an article concerning the 12 Things I’ve Learned. I felt these could be addressed more fully. Look for it in The Samhellion at Samhain Publishing in the (hopefully) not to distant future.
~~Sloan
Hi
Thanks for sharing.
I love how #5 and #7 are opposites of the same thing.
Congratulations on being what I aspire to become – a professional published author.
THE FURY looks good. Loved the trailer. It’s on my ToBeRead list!
…Plus it’s a Book One so if I like it (don’t see why I wouldn’t) I have a NEW Series to read!
Love from Canada
twitter.com/RKCharron
xoxo
Rob, I won’t lie and say being a writer is easy, but it’s very rewarding. Knowing that I’ve created something that gives other people as much pleasure to read as it did me to write (while maybe not in the same way) makes me feel ecstatic. As to research, well sometimes it is fun and sometimes boring depending on the subject…..but always necessary….LOL Good luck and keep at it.
Thanks for putting The Fury on your TBR list. I hope you enjoy it. The Time Walkers are close to my heart.
~~Sloan