Most writers just want to write. We don’t want to bother with mundane details. We especially avoid unwelcome information that threatens our comfort zone.
Just this week, I’ve been challenged by the learning curve AGAIN. A client asked me to use a certain program to edit her manuscript—a program that I find rather limiting and cumbersome. One reason why I find it limiting and cumbersome is that I haven’t been willing to take the time to fully learn it and to become accustomed to its idiosyncrasies.
I thought about what I put some of my clients through and how I advise so many others who come to me with questions. I am constantly asking authors to change their perspectives, their way of doing something or their expectations. I ask them to do more research, write with more clarity, create a book proposal or establish a platform. And most of them do their best to comply.
I also meet hopeful and struggling authors every week who won’t or can’t change something or try something that is apt to make the difference between failure and at least some measure of success. Some of them simply don’t want success badly enough.
We’re caught up in a strange moment in time. Everything and everyone is moving faster. We are trying to do and have it all, thus the quality of many of our activities and projects suffers. We don’t want to put in the time. We don’t want to back-track. We want to do our best with just a lick and a promise and then move on to another project.
Folks, if you dream of becoming an author—if you have something you really need to share or teach—then become bendy. Step outside your comfort zone, be flexible and willing to learn and grow. Stand up to the rather intimidating learning curve. Meet inevitable challenges head on. Adopt realistic expectations. Listen to your heart and to your mentor. And you will achieve a greater level of success.
In order to learn and to grow as a published author, read my book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and use the accompanying Author’s Workbook. Order this combo here: http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html
News Flash: We’ve had two excellent reviews come in for the newly revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. Barbara Florio Graham’s review appears in the Ottowa Independent Writer’s Newsletter and at my website:
http://www.matilijapress.com/reviews/press_rightwayreview.htm
And Dr. Tami Brady of TCM Reviews Newsletter, posted her review here:
http://tcm-ca.com/reviews/2042.html
And check out the resources section and the articles section at my website.
http://www.matilijapress.com/forwriters/resources.html
http://www.matilijapress.com/articles.htm
Here are a few articles in particular that you might find useful
What Can a Good Editor Do For You?
http://www.matilijapress.com/articles/write_goodeditor.htm
Book Proposal Basics (with an example of a successful book proposal)
http://www.matilijapress.com/articles/write_bookproposal.htm
Promote Your Fiction Book Through Spin-offs
http://www.matilijapress.com/articles/write-spinoffsfiction.htm
Visit this blog often. Comments and questions to me at plfry620@yahoo.com.