Writing isn’t for wimps or what I learned during in my journey … by Pat Nichols

 

If you're just starting out in the business of writing, you'll soon learn that there's a lot to learn. Pat Nichols shares some of her experience. 

Lesson one: 

Nine years after retiring from the corporate world the loss of a close family friend inspired me to write a story loosely based on her life. Why not? I loved to read and thanks to my career I had plenty of experience writing business letters, training materials, even some newspaper articles. So, I opened my laptop and typed chapter one. A year later I finished the manuscript with images of publication dancing in my head. 

Until…

Rethinking Your Writing Goal by Emily Conrad

The problem first developed as I collected critiques on my work.

It didn’t strike me as a problem, though.

Instead, this problem masqueraded as a goal: To write submissions so good, my critique partners had as few comments about weaknesses in my manuscript as possible.

The more positive comments I could win, the better.

As I advanced in my writing career, I took those goals with me. Only, then, in addition to wanting to avoid constructive criticism and earn praise from critique partners, I also hoped to achieve the same from editors and readers.

Why do these tandem goals—avoid criticism and earn praise—now strike me as problematic?

Where Do I Begin? by Annette M. Irby

Dream*

On October 20, 2020, one of my publishing dreams came true. A team of fellow authors and I published a Christmas novella compilation together. (see below)

Probably twenty years ago now, I spent holiday seasons reading Barbour Publishing’s four-in-one novella compilations. I loved them—historicals. Contemporaries. Small-town, countryside. Homey. Romantic. Christmassy. These collections became a part of my holiday tradition. They inspired me, creatively.

And I dreamed of one day being a member of the team who published a novella collection.

I had no idea how long I’d have to wait.

My Tip for Getting Through the Hard Times by Dawn Kinzer

My Tip for Getting Through the Hard Times

This too shall pass is a familiar phrase. It’s so popular that when I did an internet search, I discovered hundreds of examples of where it’s been used in speeches, books, and social media memes.

Don’t worry. I’m not going to list them all here. 😉

Why has the expression been shared numerous times over history?

The answer is simple. It offers hope—and hope changes everything.