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Set GOALS! You can’t score at home plate unless you touch each base. Set small goals to achieve the large, final goal.
- Stories that lead to deep discussion, (i.e. controversial or with plenty of deep emotions) = unforgettable = attention to your book and you = marketing and sales.
- Fine as the eyes of an outfielder, SEE, SMELL, and FEEL what you’re describing. If you’ve actually witnessed a traffic accident, or death, or if you imagine yourself in these situations, PULL from your memory, utilize your senses, experiences and IMAGINATION. Do not settle for an average sentence or paragraph. The flowers were in full bloom. So? I can’t see them, can’t smell them. In a meadow? In a tiny flower box? How do you want your readers to feel from your description of these flowers? Why are you putting these flowers in your story?
- Joining more than one writing organization is okay. Learn from great individuals that are part of winning teams.
- Stories from rare POV’s = unforgettable = attention to your book and you = marketing and sales. Therefore, your voice(s) must be unique. There’s only one Babe Ruth.
- Fiction writers take readers to a whole different world by asking, before and during their drafts, “What if?” What if people lived on Mars? Andy #Weir took us there and showed us in The Martian. What if there were more Guantanamo’s? David #Baldacci eradicates boredom in his mystery, Walk the Line. What if a college student wrote a paper and exposed oil companies vs the environment? John #Grisham draws readers into The Pelican Brief while linking two controversial subjects, and showing one possible outcome.
- Read/enjoy more books.
- Recognize your weaknesses. And fix them! For affordable prices, and some free presentations, let alone how-to books, I keep learning how to develop and improve my talents. The great Hank Aaron struck out 1,383 times. However, he hit 3,771 balls with 755 home runs and a batting average of .305. He was inducted into The Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.
- Before submitting something to a contest, editor, critique group, blog or literary agent, read your work aloud. Reading aloud using zero inflection and/or phonetically employing each syllable, may flush out poor word choices, redundancy, too many “ly’s” and spelling mistakes. That said, mistakes are bound to happen.
- Research. Don’t base your information and/or technical terms on what you’ve read previously. Because if the author of that work is incorrect, guess who else is?
- Make memories, not regrets.
- Twists = character development, (as well as, adding to clues/twists and creating another reason for us to keep reading). In the movie, Unknown, the audience becomes as confused and frustrated as the main character. But we have to keep watching!
- Cussing can add to character mood and possibly development. That said, keeping swearing to a minimum helps make an average writer into a great author.
- Cherish your critique group, collectively and individually.
- Exercise your body. (Disclaimer: TMI. This past year, I’ve gained way too much weight.) My workouts consisted of walking from chair to fridge. Deep knee bends came later when I dropped a bag of peanuts. Okay, okay. Sheesh.
I’m learning how harmful “white room dialogue” is to a page, let alone story. For example: http://ladyknightediting.com/white-room-dialogue/
- Don’t give up. “If it is to be, it is up to me.” William H. Johnsen
As Stephen R. Covey explains, “Hence, highly successful people are continually learning and striving to better understand the world around them…
“Get this clear: confidence is a direct reflection of past performance. Hence, yesterday is more important than today. Luckily, today is tomorrow’s yesterday. So, even if your confidence today isn’t optimal, your confidence tomorrow is still within your control. Success, health, and happiness are all consequences. They are byproducts. They are effects, not causes.”
Keep writing and score the homer!