Writing Tips In Perspective

Books are a subjective business. I’ve been a librarian for nearly fifteen years and have worked in libraries for more than twenty, so I’ve seen it all. Readers are drawn by different appeal factors, such as plot, character, pace, and much more – so a book that shines for one reader could be a dull rock to another.

As writers, we’ve all heard advice. Writers who have succeeded in one way or another – financially or critically – are happy to share what worked for them, hoping that others will succeed as well. But in such a subjective business, with so many different kinds of writers, everyone’s mileage is going to vary. Let’s break down some of these frequently-given tips.

1. Write what you know

This is often a good place for new writers to start. We all have to figure out how to put sentences together in a way that makes sense, and a lot of mental work goes into researching topics we don’t know or understand. But by limiting oneself to writing only what we know, we can’t grow as writers. Audrey Niffenegger isn’t a quantum physicist, but she still wrote The Time Traveler’s Wife. Tana French wrote the masterful In the Woods from the perspective of a man. Those books wouldn’t exist if the authors had stuck to what they knew. A better piece of advice might be to harness your own empathy while writing. If you’re in a character’s head, writing about something you don’t know about personally, think about how you would feel if you were in their shoes. Write that.

2. Write every day

I used to berate myself if I hadn’t sat down at the keyboard at least once in a day. True, writers need to develop a writing habit, and writing for even a few minutes per day is a great way to establish that habit. But it’s not worth it to get down on yourself if it doesn’t happen. The time you spent worrying could be used to do something much more productive – whether it’s butt-in-chair time or brainstorming about a new project while folding laundry. As long as the book, or story, or essay is percolating in your head, you’re doing the work. I have two small children and a full-time library job, plus lots of side gigs – I don’t always have the mental space to sit down and string words together. It’s better to set small, achievable goals and find the time in my week (or month) to meet those goals.

3. Write the book you want to read

I have a soft spot for this piece of advice, because I’ve written several books that I would have loved to pluck off the bookstore or library shelf. This tip is inspirational and can really drive the passion a writer needs to get the job done. Sadly, if you want to publish traditionally, there may not be a market for the book you want to read. This is where some true navel-gazing comes in. What kind of writer do you want to be? Do you want to publish for the genre market, or will you lean literary? Which agents or publishers will align with your vision? The book of your heart may have to languish in the drawer until the market calls for it. Or you can go the independent route and market the book as you see fit.

4. You need to hire an editor

Editors are so, so necessary. Every piece of writing needs another set of eyes on it. And there are many amazing editors out there who earn every cent of what they get paid. But depending on the publication route you choose, you may not need to pay an editor out of your own pocket. You can join writers’ groups, online or in-person, and meet beta readers or critique partners who will help you gain some perspective on what you’re writing. Find the audience for the book you are writing – remember what I said about this business being subjective? Your target readers will be your champions, because they are whom you’re writing for. You can use the library and Internet resources to research industry professionals, and then you can submit queries. I crowdfunded my first novel, which will be out next year, and that led me to my publisher and editing resources. The only time you really need to hire an editor is when you’re independently publishing your book. Your book needs to shine to stand out amid a crowded indie market, and you’ll need both a developmental and a copy editor to do that. It’s not cheap, but you have lots of options available to you.

5. You’re not a writer unless you…

Write every day. Have something published. Have a novel published. Have a novel published by a Big Five publisher. Win an award. Get on the New York Times Bestseller list. I have heard so many of these myths, often from other writers getting down on themselves because they haven’t met a goal they set for themselves. Put those little voices out of your head right now. If you sit down and write, if you put words together on a page semi-regularly, if you are a storyteller – you are a writer.

What writing advice have you gotten that didn’t make sense to you? Or, what writing advice did you dismiss at the time but now embrace? Tell us!

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Cari Dubiel juggles writing, librarian-ing, mom-ing, and bassooning in Northeast Ohio. She is the Head of Editing for Writing Bloc, a cooperative writing community, and a past Library Liaison to Sisters in Crime. Her novel, HOW TO REMEMBER, is in production with Inkshares. Cari won the 2017 Hugh Holton Award from the Midwest chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, and her short story collection, ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE, was selected for wide distribution by the Indie Author Project and Library Journal. It has been downloaded over 5000 times.

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips