When I really tried soooo hard to write my novel series back in the day, I worked, and worked to try to make it perfect. You know what? They are still not finished. BUT, since I have basically "cared less", I have finished short stories, and a novella. I write faster, and yes, even better.
Once I gave myself permission to fail, I succeeded. The obsession of perfection is one of the leading causes of performance anxiety, AKA, writer's block. It is the fuel to fear. Come up with a decent idea, throw it down on paper, and follow through until fruition. Then, draft it, and try to make it perfect. "Try", because there is no perfect. Just your best, but your best comes after The End of draft one.
No one becomes Stephen King over night, not even King himself. Only through the maddening of failure, and overwhelming odds can we flourish. Conflict gives writers the fuel they need to create. That is why some of the best works come from some of the worst times in the author's life. Own it, don't let it own you.
The very crap, the bane of your existence is fodder for the muse. Life can really suck, but it can suck less if you use it. In a short story I'm keeping on the back burner for now, I use so much of my own crap. I won't get into the details, as a lot of it will be obvious in the story, though some of it is changed based on the character's experience. I use it. My life may never get any better. My bane may only grow worse, but that doesn't mean my writing has to suffer. (Which this post kind of reflects one of my previous posts on how ignorant people inspire me)
I can't offer professional tips like an author with decades of bestsellers, but I can offer what “I”, as a student who is slowly achieving his dreams, has gone through.
When I was working so hard before, I had few people who could help me. It took me forever to get a computer to work on, so my social media was zilch. But since getting connected, I have met several authors who are far more professional than me, have achieved far me than me, who have been amazing enough to help me. I try not to ask too much because they are very busy, but still they have done more for me than I have ever hoped.
A writer starting out needs more than a “how to write” book, though a few of those are a good place to start, (like Plot And Structure, by James Scott Bell or On Writing, by Stephen King). Writers need other writers who have been there, done that, and got the kick-in-the-junk to prove it. So to speak.
It is from those writers that we who reach for the glory of being published learn. Not only do they offer their experience, but can direct to to how-to books to read, and blogs with tips that can make you into a great author. Though, that mainly comes from you willing to craft and hone your skills by reading, writing, reading, writing, reading, writing, then editing, editing, editing, writing, reading, etcetera. Which will come in handy when reading said blogs and how-to books. I can point you in the direction, but the ability to make-it or break-it, is completely up to you. It all boils down to what you are made of.
Me, I'm just a schmuck who slaves away in fast food, who has done so for the pass thirteen years. But yet, here I am, intellectually flipping the bird to my self-doubt, to my enemies who said I couldn't do it, and I'M DOING IT.
I always try to be humbled. I hate people who hold their nose so high that I pray for rain. But, to myself, and to my enemies, I am the end-all, be-all. I will win, I will succeed. But I have to continue to earn that. I can't just say it and be a superstar. It takes daily work. Even if I'm not at the keyboard, I am reading newspapers, books, magazines, and yes even Facebook updates. A lot of my writing has improved by comments that I wrote then deleted. Most of my comments you never see. Because I will go on a great rant then realize two things: one, nobody is going to care. Or two: this is going to start world-war-three. Possibly bring a zombie-apocalypse down on the whole world. But the practice I get from it makes me a better writer. Some of it I even save.
Becoming a success is not about writing the next great American novel, it's about a lifestyle, about always being in thought, always writing, reading your craft. This isn't just a job, or a hobby (and never tell a writer that is a hobby, we will gouge out your eyeballs with our pens), or sitting on our butts doing nothing (never tell a writer that the are or the same fate will ensue), or something we aspire at (never tell yourself you are an aspiring author, I will thump you). It is you. If you want it bad enough that you have to have it, then claim it! You write, you are a writer. It is who you are even when the pen itself is not in your hand. The muse inside never goes away. Sometimes she/he lurks in the shadows, falls asleep, but the muse is always there.
You think in the classic Star Wars movies, that Luke Skywalker stopped being a Jedi the moment his lightsaber went back into the hilt? No. Yes, he always had the force, but, the muse is like the force. It is always with you. The more you depend on the muse, the stronger it becomes. And the more you read, the more you look at the world, and people through the lens of storytelling. The reason is, the muse is feeling the itch of creativity.
Though I suggest as much as possible you keep a pen and pad on your person at all times, always allow your mind to create even when you can't write it down. Think of it as Jedi training. Focus. A writer does not be come a writer without focus.
Just some thoughts on the subject, I hope this helps a little, and remember to keep writing. Keep reading. And when you finish a draft, keep editing. At least for three or four drafts. Check out some of my favorite links in my blog-roll to your right. I have blogs on that list that post the most often, and they are awesome blogs for writers.
See ya around!
