Tag: Investment

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Tip #3

James Michener read many other author’s writings. Not that he wanted to copy them – not at all. But reading other’s writings helps us establish our literary direction and form our own voice.

Tip #3. “I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody else does is of no concern whatever except as an interesting variation.”

Learn to write well. You must study and practice, but be your own person. Develop your own style. Excellent writing normally does not materialize overnight. As one mentor suggested: write – write – write – and keep on writing.

So, go ahead and dream about becoming a famous writer, but invest the time to help you reach your goal. And don’t forget to learn how to …

Write Creatively.

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Write 18 and Sell 3, or Write 2 and Sell Hundreds?

I spoke with a man several years ago who had written 18 books. I was impressed with his productivity and his diligence, until he inadvertently revealed a bit of information he meant to keep hidden: He had sold only 3 books, and feeling dejected, was giving them away.

One of the men in our writers’ guild had written 2 books. But guess what? He had sold over two hundred books within 2 years, and many orders were coming in.

What was the major difference?

The first man didn’t know his audience … if he even had one. He wrote for the love of writing, and there is nothing wrong with that, and just expected people to buy his books. But if a writer wants to sell books ……

The second man had targeted an audience for each book. He wrote both books with that specified group of people in mind. Therefore, it’s accurate to say that he wrote to those people, and his sales verify it.

The following is what an acquaintance said about establishing an audience. “Your target audience is the group of people who would be the most helped or entertained by your book. Your readership might extend past your intended target audience, but the target audience is who you intentionally aim for.”

So, write for the love of writing. Write what you are about passionate about. But also be sure to identify your target audience for each book you write. And make sure you …

Write Creatively.

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Long-Term Benefits

In my high school days, I sometimes stayed up all night trying to get ready for a test. While I might have passed the test, I didn’t remember much. I eventually learned that spending time gaining temporary benefits often resulted in an overall loss, but investing time paying continuous, daily attention to life provided long-term dividends. Therefore, I began developing good study habits.

How do I apply that to writing? I’m glad you asked.

Don’t expect to sit down and write your book overnight. Be Proactive. Don’t create or accept excuses for lack of progress. Respond properly to situations, but stop being overly concerned about things over which you have no control. Don’t get stressed, but focus on what you need to be doing.

Take that vacation. Enjoy your anniversary. Spend time with family. But don’t forget that blogs and books don’t write themselves.

Can you write your book in a month? Yes, it’s possible. Some people know what they want to write and can write fast. If you are writing a novella (18,000 – 40,000 words) or a nonfiction book, it is possible to finish a book in 30 days if you are dedicated and consistent with your writing sessions.

So determine your goal, establish your pace, and identify a good editor. Author, speaker, and teacher John Bytheway said, “Inch by inch, life’s a cinch. Yard by yard, life’s hard.”

Remember that P&L Publishing and Literary Services (plpubandlit.org) is here to assist you. And don’t forget to …

Write Creatively

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Editors are an Unnecessary Expense … or Are They?

Often, what someone tries to convey in writing isn’t what the reader perceives. Also, the writer sometimes makes errors that his or her own mind glosses over. That’s why, after the document is completed, the author needs to become objective. So edit it: read it, and rewrite it . Make sure you take the time to revise it and make the story say what you want it to say. Edit the document to the best of your ability, then be willing to ask a knowledgeable friend to review the manuscript for you. But often close friends and family members don’t want to hurt your feelings, and that can color their judgment.

Marie called. She was distraught because she asked for and received advice from numerous friends about how to proceed. However, the advisors conflicted with each other and deepened her confusion. After we answered her questions and helped her understand what was involved, she hired our P&L Publishing and Literary Services editor who helped the message flow smoothly.

Editing takes time because the editor objectively reads every word. Depending on the genre, size of the book, and the level of editing the author requests, the process can take several days to a month. A good editor will not hurry because he/she wants to assure that your book is excellent. With that in mind, P&L’s highly experienced editor endeavors to complete the job within two weeks. Check P&L out at https://plpubandlit.org/.

The following statement may not surprise you, but you might not often think about it: A well-written book generates more sales than a poorly-written book. Therefore, give a lot of thought to editing. If you are good at it, you can save money. Otherwise, a good editor can help you make the sales, and therefore, earn you money. For a few more ideas, order our book, Publish Your Book the Easy and Inexpensive Way. (https://www.amazon.com/Publish-Your-Book-Easy-Inexpensive/dp/B0BVT8KWN2)

Write Creatively

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Fulfilling Your Dream of Writing – Step 8

What have we discussed for the past 7 sessions?

Okay, so it hasn’t been a discussion; it’s been a monologue. But you know what I mean. What ideas have I mentioned and you’ve (hopefully) been considering?

  1. Choose a comfortable place to write.
  2. Develop a writing routine.
  3. Decide on a theme.
  4. Design your three basic sections.
  5. Define your characters.
  6. Draw on your imagination. (That is my favorite.)
  7. Grab your reader’s attention. (That was my most difficult.)
  8. …… Oh, we haven’t talk about his one yet. Well, let’s get to it.

The first book I wrote years ago was titled Charter of the Christian Faith. I worked hard at it. On one hand, friends and the publisher were pushing me to get it done! And, let’s be honest: I was hoping to sell a lot of them.

On the other hand, some relatives and the publisher were telling me that I was building in some fatal flaws. One interesting factor was that the publisher was on both sides – pushing me to get it done and strongly suggesting that I make major changes. Have you ever felt trapped? Yep, I felt trapped like a hungry coyote.

I gave in to the pressure and had it published – flaws and all. But I rewrote it some years later and republished it under the title, Truth not meant to be Hidden. Same basic info but I took out the unnecessary stuff, had it edited, and now the meat of the book can be found, eaten, and digested. (You can find the book at https://www.amazon.com/Truth-not-meant-Hidden-Becoming/dp/B0BRYWHZDS.)

Step 8 that I missed in that list above is simply, Give Yourself Time to Write.

Unless you’re a professional writer with deadlines to make while earning large bonuses, do not crowd your calendar. Yes, you may have a deadline, and you may need to put your pen to the paper…or fingers to the keyboard…but plan accordingly. You have a lot of other responsibilities in addition to writing, so give yourself time to relax. Allow yourself to efficiently and effectively meet your deadline without getting stressed out. If you remember to develop your writing routine, and stick with it, you will surprise yourself in how much progress you can make.

You might have already figured out that pressure can put the lid on creativity. It does for me. So develop your writing routine. Make your list of characters and let your imagination tell you what they’re doing…or going to do. And if you are writing well, your characters will grab the readers’ attention.

There are a great many other ideas on the internet. Take a class on creative writing. Join a writer’s club. Ask questions. Interacting with other writers can be a great source of inspiration and encouragement.

This 8-step series is completed, but come back Monday. And while you’re waiting for Monday, check out our web site at: https://wordpress.com/view/plpubandlit.org.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Write Creatively.

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Fulfilling Your Dream of Writing

Have you found it difficult to write a book? I understand, because in the past I had a hard time writing a simple blog. But listening to and reading from professional writers has set me free.

Writing is an expression of who you are and what you believe. Writing a Sunday School lesson, a blog, a letter to a friend, or a book is a series of word-pictures. If you write your story well, the readers should be able to see the action in their mind. They should almost see Moses standing in front of the Pharaoh, feel the tug of fish on the line, hear the sound of the gun, smell the perfume in the air or the smoke from the fire. But you, the author, must spell it out so the reader can enter the story.

Therefore, you need to create the atmosphere for yourself so that YOU can enter the story as you write it. And that’s a major key to good writing – enter and live the story as you write it.

Come back tomorrow and start learning these 8 ideas that have made my writing life a lot easier. And please feel free to copy them.

Write Creatively.