10 Dates a Wanna-be Author Should Take

 

by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton

1.     Make a date to read, read, read.

Read everything you can in your genre.

Read HOW TO books in your genre.

Read reviews of books in your genre.

Read until your genre is as natural to you as your skin.

2.     Make a date to attend writer’s events:

Go to workshops, conferences, library talks, book signings, and writer’s retreats.

Listen. Ask questions. Gather resources. Network.

   

   3. Make a date with a critique group.

Getting feed back on your writing is invaluable.

Don’t argue or try to defend your work. You are there to learn.

      4. Make a date to write a list of things that you know a great deal about.

Write those things about which you are knowledgeable and passionate.

                                              5.  Make a date to collect word lists.

                               If you are writing about the sea shore, make a list of sensorial words

                               that will make your scenes come alive. Gather a list of active verbs, 

                               sounds, smells, everything that equates to the sea shore.

6.      Make a date to play the game of  “WHAT IF?”                 

What if an astronaut met a mermaid in a desert?

What if an anteater and an ant went on a cruise together?

What if a cockroach and a ladybug wanted to change the world?

See if any of these “what ifs” leads you to a new story.

7.  .Make a date to read to identifying why a story connected with you emotionally.

Good stories challenge your heart to see beyond what it knows. 

Use your discoveries to strengthen your own work.

8.   Make a date to edit.

Cut weak dialog, redundant words, and cut text that isn’t moving your story forward.

Be mindful of spelling and grammar.

Stay within guidelines given by a prospective publishing house.

Edit for word length. Research guidelines for the average length of certain genres.

                         9. Make a date to experience the world.

                      Go on a weekly adventure trying new things. 

                      Jot down your reactions.

                      The freshness of “being in the moment”

                      heightens the senses and leads to strong writing.

10. Make a date not to give up every time you hit a stumbling block. 

                 Put in the time to: educate, write, re-write, critique,                                   re-write, submit, rewrite, submit, submit, submit.

     This business is about not giving up. Tenacity must become your middle name.

     Those who give up will never get published. Keep at it and your time will come.

Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton is a prolific children's author. Check out her website: http://www.laurieknowlton.com/