It was bound to happen. I couldn’t be the proud owner of an author blog without eventually dishing out some unsolicited writing advice. And I won’t lie, I love sharing writing tips – probably because it makes me feel like I’ve actually figured out some small part of this whole writing gig. To that end, I’ve compiled the biggest takeaways from my writing and publishing journeys to date. It treads the same old ground as other writing advice posts, but there’s one thing that sets mine apart: a handy mnemonic device! So, without further ado, I present the Five Ps. (Parts of this post were earlier published here.)
- Practice: For many years, I bought into the myth that writers are born, not made. I avoided craft books because writing wasn’t something you could learn from a manual. Because of this misconception, I…didn’t write. For years, I sat around waiting for the books to write themselves. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that I had put in the work if I wanted to be a writer, that writing is a craft that must be practiced and honed. So my first piece of advice is shockingly simple: sit down and write, then edit and rewrite, attend workshops and conferences, consult with critique partners, and maybe even try a craft book or two.
- People: Make writing friends, and do it early! Not only will critique partners make your writing better, they’ll also become the only people in your life who understand this bizarre, borderline sadistic endeavor you’ve undertaken. No matter how well-meaning and engaged your non-writing friends are, they just won’t “get it.” Your writing friends, on the other hand, will know what a full request is, and why it’s a really big deal!
- Patience: We’ve all heard it before: writing is slooooow. And I’m not just talking about waiting for responses from agents and editors. Aspiring writers must also be patient with themselves and with the process itself. It can be tempting to send out a draft the moment you reach “The End” because you’re on such a high. But trust me on this – take the time to let your manuscript marinate. Put it in a drawer (literally or figuratively), close the drawer, and walk away. When you come back and edit your work with fresh eyes, you’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to recognize and fix the weak spots.
- Perseverance: Anecdotally, I’ve heard that it takes five to ten years to get a book deal once you start writing seriously, and my own journey fits that pattern. There’s no way to take the sting out of rejection (if I figure out how, I’ll let you know), but if you consider each no something you must earn before you get to yes, the rejections become almost worth celebrating (almost!). Think of it like one of those loyalty cards you get at a sandwich shop. You have to get all your punches before you get the reward.
- Perspective: This is the most important piece of advice I can give to writers embarking on a publishing journey: remember why you started writing in the first place. It should be rewarding, if not always fun. If writing is making you miserable, ask yourself why. If you’re consumed with the extraneous parts of it – the pressure to impress on social media, the stress of finding an agent, the jealousy at other authors’ successes – take a step back and regain your perspective. Most writers didn’t start down this path for the Instagram likes, maybe not even to get published. Most of us got into it because we simply love to write. Stay connected to that motivation.
So there you have it – the 5 Ps. Hopefully some of the above resonates with you. If not, onto the next obligatory writing advice post!