Ten Considerations for Emerging Writers
I had the good fortune of being invited to an undergraduate fiction writing class to share my experiences as a published author. The class was a bright and lively group, and I am lucky to have met them. As I thought about what to share, I realized that writing seems like a solitary endeavor. And it is at times. But writing that's meant to be shared involves a community of readers, other writers, and industry professionals. Here's a recap of some of the experiences and considerations I hope emerging writers can use:
- Your Truth. Whether you write about real people and places or fantastical, speculative, or fictional ones, keep hold of your truth. My characters are fictional, but the truth of grief, trauma, love lost, and found is true. When you read and write, ask, "Does this feel true?" That is what the "experts" mean by "write what you know."
- The Morphing of Theme. The theme you start with, the premise, may likely morph as you write. You may write for your own entertainment or that of others, but you will also reveal insights about yourself. Ponder them, expand on them, and embrace them (even if they scare you).
- Who is Your Writing Community? At book clubs I've visited, in casual conversations, and at conventions, often people ask, "Does your husband read your work?" He doesn't. He doesn't ask me about his drywall mudding technique, and I don't ask him to comment on my fiction writing. (He's likely afraid of the interrogation I'd give him, poor guy, but my point is…) Partners are great, but they cannot fulfill all our needs in life. If you are fortunate to have a reading/critiquing mate in a life partner, great! Otherwise, it is essential to find your writing community, or even one other writer with whom you can discuss your craft.
- On Publishing.
Traditional: The publishing industry is tough. Any creative field is. Querying an agent, getting acquired, and being published by a big house is a long, hard road. But it can be done. Persistence and constant refinement of your product are key.
Self-Publishing: Publishing continues to evolve. Self-publishing is popular but requires the discipline of self-editing and revision, learning programs like Atticus for formatting, and design programs like Canva or Bookbrush. These are just a few of the many products out there to help writers get to print or eBook. You also have the option to hire editors and designers, and even book promotion specialists. Print-on-demand options like Kindle Direct Publishing and Ingram Spark have made publishing books easier and lower-cost.
However, with the rise of self-publishing comes a flood of new books to market. It is hard to get through the noise. Book marketing is a separate subject in itself. But meanwhile, as you polish, revise, and perfect your work, do your research if you choose to publish. Decide what's best for you and meets your skill set, time, financial resources, and desire.
Alternatives to writing and publishing a book: Maybe you don't want to write a book, but you have other writing to share. Subscription-based platforms like Medium, Patreon, or Substack are popular. Wattpad, Kindle Vella, and many others are online platforms to serialize stories. You can publish on your own website. New opportunities arise every day. Be open. Know your goals and keep focused on those. - Research. Research everything. Careful readers will know if texting didn't exist in the time period in which you write, or if colloquial or slang phrases were in existence then. Also, take liberties. It is your fictional world. Make stuff up, as long as it feels believable, which is why having classmates, cohorts, or constructive critique partners is so important. They check your believability and let you know if something made them pause.
- Your Writing Life. Be okay with how you choose to make a writing life. Everyone has an opinion on when, how, where, and why to write. None of it matters unless it works for you. Find what makes you happy and gets you in the flow of creative expression.
- Gratitude. Hold onto gratitude. Give thanks for the gifts you are receiving from instructors, fellow writers, editors, publishers, and readers. Find the folks with whom conversation feels like a warm embrace every time you talk about writing. Cherish them. They will sustain you during times of doubt. Pay it back and pay it forward, too. Offer your skills and provide feedback or help to others. We're in this together, creating art, and there is room for everyone.
- Be Creative with Non-fiction. Share what you feel is vital to honor (historical) or what you want in the world to come (aspirational). Whether through activism, inspirational writing, or professional/business writing, all writing can be done creatively. Non-fiction writing can be a way for writers to share their values and make the world a better place.
- On Artificial Intelligence. A good friend, when asked what he thought about artificial intelligence (AI), replied, "I prefer the real kind." Neither traditional nor self-publishing platforms will publish works that use AI. AI will, no doubt, be practical and time-saving in many contexts, but I believe it should not be used to make or replace art.)
- On Fonts, Graphics, and "Is it Me?" Like with every word, every sentence, and every page you write, you will become more mindful as you learn more about the craft of writing (and design if that is your interest). Be thoughtful about your choices. Book publishing includes the visual presentation of your book, including the cover and the interior design. How will your book's look reflect how it reads and how you, as an author, are represented? Learn about font combinations, cover design, and stylistic formatting choices.
Here's some fun insight into fonts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbW42uTKYo
(For the record, I feel like Garamond or, as a backup, Georgia.)
Keep reading. Keep writing. Keep learning. Keep a writing community in your life.
Do you have more to add? Feel free to comment below.
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