Thursday, August 15, 2013

Just shut up & write

I can't believe how quickly the last couple of years have gone. A demanding job--two of them actually, plus a part-time one--have really cut into my writing time. But who cares about that? Excuses, really. We all have them. Jobs. Kids. Obligations. Aging parents. A personal life. Blah. Blah. Blah. Who cares? Our job is to shut up and write. The changes over the past two years in my personal life are nothing compared to the overwhelming, roller coaster, whirlwind changes in the publishing industry. The last time I updated this blog--Lord, forgive me--little was being said about e-books. Only a few friends owned e-readers. We writers were still courting the big publishing houses. So much has changed. I still can't wrap my brain around it all. But I'm not going to waste time on this post about seeking publication or if you should go Indie or hold out for that elusive contract with the Big 6 or try Amazon KDP with your new release? The point of this blog is to prove that you can write a novel. If all the changes in the industry and programs like Smashwords & CreateSpace haven't convinced you to just shut up and write your novel, I don't know what will. It's possible now for anyone to publish a novel--and make money at it. But we have to write it first. And it better be absolutely fabulous.
So what's stopping you? You have a story inside you or you wouldn't be reading this. You probably have several. In the last week I've thought of 3 new projects I'd love to have on the market by the end of the year. January is one of the biggest selling months for e-books because everyone is loading up the new devices they got for Christmas. If we're going to be ready to capitalize on that, we need to shut up and write. I know you're busy. You can barely find a moment to think, let alone work on your novel. But make a commitment today. Even if you aren't reading this post in real time, commit right here, right now to how many words you are going to add to your novel today. 10? 100? 1000? 5000? No goal is too small. You don't have to impress me or keep up with anyone else. Throw out a number and then check back and let the rest of us know how you did. Accountability leads to productivity. Set a goal, just for today, then shut up and write.
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8 comments:

  1. Teresa SlackAugust 15, 2013 at 9:30 AM

    Lot else going on today but I'll commit to 1000 words since I opened my big mouth and started this whole thing.

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  2. blessedwith12August 15, 2013 at 10:13 AM

    Would you say the same basic principles about getting published apply to nonfiction writers? The book I have inside me would be true story/inspirational not a novel.

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    1. Teresa SlackAugust 18, 2013 at 11:12 AM

      Definitely. Nonfiction is a different animal, but doesn't it boil down to getting the words on the page? For me, it does. I have so many ideas. I'll start one, then hit a roadblock and move on to the next project, even though I truly believe in the first project. Regardless of what we're working on, it's so important we remain focused until we reach those two beautiful words...THE END. Some of what we write is brilliant. Some is terrible. Most falls somewhere in between. But we'll never know what we have to work with until we sit down & write. Thanks so much for posting.

      Delete
  3. JS ClarkAugust 16, 2013 at 11:59 AM

    I thought it was a competition . . .

    But I'd be losing because [insert obligations]. It's definitely a great opportunity these days. I used to worry a little that it meant good writing would get drowned, but it really just means word of mouth becomes the advertising that counts the most (as it should).

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    1. Teresa SlackAugust 18, 2013 at 11:15 AM

      I was always afraid to open up the throttle & just pour the words on the page for the same reason. I thought it would be horrible. For the most part, it was pretty horrible. But I would come back & see there was actually some useable stuff in there. So we must keep writing, regardless of how our inner editor tells us no one will ever read it. We need to silence that inner editor as well.

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  4. Teresa SlackAugust 18, 2013 at 11:16 AM

    1533 on the day I issued this challenge. Let me know how everyone else did.

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  5. blessedwith12August 22, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    I'm still thinking and not writing...still afraid of the rejection...still afraid that I'll begin and never finish. To paraphrase a line from Facing the Giants, "I can't get any more unpublished than I already am!" I really need to quit playing on Facebook and Twitter and write something of importance!

    Do you think there is a good market for non-fiction on ebooks too?

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  6. Teresa SlackAugust 27, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    Don't know the stats but nonfiction probably sells better. Everybody is looking for information. Ebooks are inexpensive to produce & sell cheap. That's why they're popular. Whether you're selling recipes or advice on fly fishing, someone out there wants to know what you know. Give them your expertise. And make money at it. But you have to write the book first.

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