Being Teachable

I am reluctant to say this, as writing is a very meticulous skill with rules that must be learned and practiced, but here it is:

I never graduated high school.

Then life happened. I started writing a book in my early 30s. While charisma and the art of storytelling can take you far, if you do not know the industry of writing, it is unlikely you will be successful. This was me.

I attended my first writers conference shortly after finishing my book. It was not Colorado Gold, but it was valuable. For the first time in my life, I was in the presence of successful authors, creators, agents, and editors. Not only were they nice, but they were so willing to pour out their knowledge. This was when I decided that these people, who were now my new friends, would one day be my peers.

In September of last year, I decided to quit my job in corporate healthcare. I resolved to publish my book and get an English degree. By December, I signed my very first publishing contract on my very first idea and within 31 months of putting those first, horribly clueless words on the page. I was also well on my way in school. With my military experience and credits from one good first try at college, I am now about 50% done with my English degree with a 3.92 GPA.

I never graduated high school.

I might not have been very teachable then, but that changed when I found myself insignificant in a field that I knew in my heart I wanted to be a part of. In a world where the history of the written word is just as relevant as present trends in literature and the only way to know how to write well is to also read well, I was lacking. I knew it was unlikely for me to be the next Stephenie Meyer or JK Rowling or even Veronica Roth. I also knew that if I wanted to be someone who was sought after, I needed to learn as much as I possibly could, and maybe even have a degree to back it up.

So how does one become “teachable”?

Everyone is different, but if you’re finding yourself held back in your writing career, maybe it’s a good idea to reach out to a fellow writer you look up to. Before you do that, keep these things in mind:

1. Let go of the chip on your shoulder. This advice is very similar to “kill your darlings” in that you must take down all those strong defenses that keep us from getting hurt. For most, this is a manageable and temporary discomfort. For others, it could be the exact moment they stop reading this article. To be teachable, we must be able to acknowledge we’ve been doing something wrong.
2. Know your optimal learning preference. Many writers learn best by reading or even doing things hands-on. By knowing the best way you learn, you know the best format to seek information. (HERE is a quick quiz to find out your optimal learning style.)
3. Have an idea of what areas you need help in. It seems silly to say, “You should know what you don’t know.” But the truth is we don’t. I did not know it was a terrible cliché to begin a book with the main character waking up and getting ready for work. This was my first chapter for nearly two years. It was not until I pitched my work in person that the agent suggested I change it and try again. This is where a good query and first pages critique is really helpful.
4. Be willing to be put in the work. Once I was handed a book on marketing. I bowed to the man as if it were the Pope’s personal Holy Bible. With this book, I taught myself search engine optimization (SEO). If you ask someone how to build a shelf and they give you instructions, don’t be angry that they did not build it for you!
5. Know who you are asking. Generally, the writing community is one with a common goal. Deep down, we all want the art of writing literature to stay alive. Therefore, most of us are willing to help fellow writers. It is not necessary to read a person’s work before reaching out and asking them a general question, such as “How does the first line of my query sound?” It is, however, necessary to know their work if you have a question of genre or the like.
6. Know what to use and what to leave be. Your unique writing voice could be the ripest peach on the tree, but there will always be someone who hates peaches. Sometimes, you may encounter someone in the writing community who makes you feel like your work is no good (Rachel Craft just wrote an awesome article about this HERE). If advice only points to the flaws without a solid and positive solution to make it better, it’s not advice at all. PLEASE get another opinion. Do not stop pursuing your dream because someone failed at being constructive.

Before I end, I will leave you with this invitation to ask me your questions. While I am new at writing, I am nearly an expert at finding information. With respect to my personal life, I might not answer right away, but I will answer. If I don’t know how to help, I can definitely point you in the right direction because in the end, I am just paying it forward. CHEERS!!!

Dacia M. Arnold is an author of adult light science fiction. She enjoys writing main characters who are otherwise normal people with extraordinary abilities. To say she is an author and a mother would only be scratching the surface. She an avid karaoke singer, a master crafter and a thrift-ster. She is also a ten-year Army veteran and served two tours of combat as a medic.

Dacia’s first full-length novel incorporates almost every aspect of her life. APPARENT POWER is an award-winning story following a mother on a journey to find her son before a rising, post-apocalyptic government does. APPARENT POWER is due to be released by Immortal Works Press in 2018. You can read more about Dacia and her work on her website.