Passing The Torch….#MFRW #Authors #33

Dear Newbie Writer,

First of all, I congratulate you on your desire to write something more than a term paper!  Here’s some unsolicited advice, but never fear, this is short and sweet, and it certainly helped me twenty years ago.

1.  Write.  Write some more.  Don’t worry about getting it right; just get it written.  I’m going to say this again.  Don’t get it RIGHT, get it WRITTEN.  You can’t edit what’s not finished.  I don’t care if your 1st draft, either in longhand or typewritten or on a computer document, is littered with misspellings, comma splices, run-on sentences, or looks like it was written by a 3rd grader who hasn’t mastered cursive.  The point is, get your story finished.

2.  Don’t worry if what you’re writing isn’t ‘popular’.  In a Twightlight-Harry Potter-Game of Thrones-Lord of the Rings-Romance-of-every-kind saturated world, if what you want to write is about elves who interact with time-traveling dragons who save the world/solve mysteries/fall in love, then go for it.  Write whatever your imagination tells you.  Don’t write to the market, unless, of course, you WANT to write about what everyone else is doing.  Just do your research, especially if it’s  unfamiliar. Readers can tell when you’re writing about something you’re not exactly comfortable with, believe me.

So there it is, two pieces of the best advice someone once gave me.  I now pass the torch to you.  Best wishes and happy writing!

In case you’re not exactly satisfied, here is a link to more unsolicited advice.

I was disappointed last week:  At our local Watermelon Festival, I only sold 2 books, compared to last year’s six.  I then did another Mosey Down Main St, and only sold one book, compared to last month’s unprecedented 9.  I jokingly told my mother that Mercury needed to go retrograde again; people had thrown money at me in June and July! 

*I have no idea what ‘Mercury in Retrograde’ actually means; I just know many people on FB were griping about it!*

My next event is this Saturday, at the Petersburg VFW.  Heading back to Lafayette next Tues until the end of the month.  So far, I have 4, possibly 5 events in September, two of which are free. Two are paid for, and I’m still waiting for confirmation of the 5th.

Have a wonderful weekend, I should have good news to share next week!