It's hard for me to imagine but I've been doing this for five years now. When I say five years, I mean daily. I write something everyday. A little less than five years since I told my husband, "Hey, I think I want to be a writer." Four years since I let a friend read my very first manuscript. Thank you, Amy. It doesn't seem like it's been that long yet it also seems like it's been forever. I used to write as a child. Make up characters and stories in my head. So, in a sense I've always written, just not necessarily on paper or from beginning to end.
As I've shared here before, I've also done a lot of research during this last five years. Research on agents and publishing. Research on technique and trends. Research refreshing myself on grammar and structure. Through all this, I've learned a lot but I'm not sure I really needed to. (What?)
Let me clarify. If you want to become published, whether traditionally or electronically, you need to do a lot of research to protect yourself. Unfortunately, there are a multitude of ways to take advantage of would be authors. Educate yourself on all the inner workings of the industry. I've blogged a lot about this topic and sites to help you. Use them, please. On this, I believe wholeheartedly in research.
Grammar and structure. You need to remind yourself of the basics. Its or it's. Lie or lay (this one still gives me fits!). Even, compliment or complement. I could go on about this forever. Formatting dialogue was another topic I really had to brush up on. Nothing is more of a turn off to agents or publishers than poor grammar.
Here's where I think I should stop with the research. I'll tell you why. I've been doing a great deal on POV lately. First person or third person? Single POV or multi POV? There are a lot of articles and blog entries out there telling you which one is right or best but when it all comes down to the truth it's really a matter of preference. There is no right or wrong way. Go to a book store one day and read through various works on the shelf. You will see everything, and I mean everything. Third person limited is probably the most common but not necessarily. There are a lot of variations now and sometimes even in the same book. I just read a Beth Harbison book recently where the character's current self is written in first person while chapters devoted to her much younger self are written in third person. It worked and took me several pages to even realize what she was doing.
If you let it, all the research will drive you crazy. One thing you read will make you doubt your WIP. Do I have too many POVs? Would it be better in first person? Should I add an omniscient narrator? Not bad questions but ones you need to work out yourself by deciding what best fits the story, not to please other people. Another thing you'll read will make you think you're on the right track. Still, it's all about writing the best manuscript you can and, if you want to be published, finding someone else who likes it.
Probably the most important thing I've learned? Drum roll, please. Keep writing. Gasp. What's that you say? Too simple. Well, you'd be correct. There is no better way to make yourself excellent at your craft than to practice. You were right, Dad. Practice makes perfect. I am a much better writer five years later. That I know for sure.
I know there are others our there who've been doing this a lot longer than me and still probably unpublished. I would love to hear from you. What have you learned too?
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