| Any professional writer will tell you the foundation | | | | your desk and never send it out, you've |
| of success begins with putting your behind in the | | | | effectively cut the lines of communication. It's |
| chair and writing. It's that old adage: a writer | | | | scary to submit your work. It's much safer to |
| writes. | | | | share it with Aunt Trudy, who loves everything |
| And it's true ... once you see yourself as a writer. | | | | you do. But if you're truly ready to call yourself a |
| At first thought, this may sound rather ridiculous. | | | | writer, then it's time to send your work to |
| However, as with most roles we play in life | | | | someone who doesn't know you, to someone |
| (parent, driver, spouse, homeowner), the success | | | | who cares only if the story or the article will |
| we achieve is directly related to how we perceive | | | | stand on its own. |
| ourselves in that role. If you struggle to see | | | | Send your work out into the world to be |
| yourself living the writer's life (with all the | | | | discovered. |
| self-discipline, rejection, and uncertainty that | | | | 4. Learn From Rejection |
| comes with it), you're going to have a far more | | | | You're going to be rejected. Every writer faces |
| difficult road to travel than if you have complete | | | | rejection. Even a powerful, page-turning novel of |
| confidence as a writer. | | | | intrigue can face rejection if it's not in line with the |
| So how does a beginning writer get there? | | | | goals of a publisher. So if you're going to be |
| Here are some tips to keep in mind ... | | | | rejected, take advantage and learn from the |
| 1. The Process | | | | experience. If the editor offers nothing more than |
| Every writer approaches his or her craft | | | | a standard rejection form, send your work to the |
| differently. In fact, while some aspects of a | | | | next editor. |
| writing routine may be consistent, others may | | | | If the editor offers some advice about improving |
| not. You may set aside a certain time of day for | | | | your work, honestly evaluate the comments. He |
| writing, but prefer to write on a computer some | | | | didn't have to say anything. The fact that he took |
| days or by longhand on other days. You may | | | | the time to offer suggestions is a huge |
| prefer to write in your office some days, or at | | | | compliment. That doesn't mean the suggestions |
| the local coffee shop on others. | | | | are right, but it does mean they are worth paying |
| The point is this: you need to find your writing | | | | attention to. If you keep encountering the same |
| routine. It doesn't matter when it is, where it is, | | | | suggestions over and over, then you need to |
| or how it's accomplished. It just needs to happen. | | | | take heed and make some changes. |
| And it needs to be comfortable enough that you | | | | 5. Be Persistent |
| look forward to doing it. So if writing in longhand | | | | Finished up a story or an article? Submitted it? |
| on a park bench is distracting and difficult, find | | | | What now? |
| another approach. | | | | Start the next project. |
| 2. It's True - A Writer Writes | | | | Don't wait to hear from your editor, get busy. |
| It doesn't matter what form of writing you chose | | | | You want to be a writer ... write. Never stop |
| ... novels, short stories, essays, blogs, articles ... do | | | | writing. Treat it as a business ... the next product |
| the work. Don't talk about writing. Don't fantasize | | | | should already be in production. |
| about being a great writer. Write. That's all that | | | | Conclusion |
| matters ... getting words on paper. The more you | | | | These are the things writers do. |
| do it, the more comfortable it will become and | | | | If you're just starting out and you want to |
| the better you'll get at it. | | | | become a writer ... do as a writer does. |
| 3. Submit What You Write | | | | It's that easy. |
| The sole purpose of writing is to communicate. If | | | | And that hard. |
| you hide your work in the bottom drawer of | | | | |