Exactly one year, one month and a day ago, I wrote my first Scribe’s Madness post. What started as a virgin attempt at blogging turned into a labour of love. The past year brought me closer to realizing my writing goals and connecting with wonderful writers from different countries and across genres. I am thankful to the people who follow the blog, send in their comments, offer ideas, share their struggles and successes and keep in touch over email. I couldn’t do this without you!
On to the lessons learnt. Here they are…*drumroll*
1 – Draft a Writing Strategy
I cannot stress this enough. By far, the most productive thing I did for my writing in 2014 was draft a comprehensive strategy for it. I set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound = SMART), I put in place processes and schedules, I monitored my performance, in short, I approached it like I was drafting a strategy for a multinational. The result: writing output doubled and writer profile raised by having an actionable plan.
2 – Improve Your Capacity
We would all like to believe that natural talent will carry us through and it does factor into a writer’s success but most of it is the hard slog of continually improving upon your ability. It doesn’t just have to be writing ability either but could be enhancing your capacity to build a writer platform or learn about the publishing industry. Even seasoned writers stay sharp by teaching classes, attending conferences, networking. Invest in yourself.
3 – If You Don’t Read, You Write Crap
This is one of those lessons that seem obvious but interestingly, can get sidelined. So many writers I met over the past year complained that they did not have time to read or weren’t reading at all in favour of writing and then tortured themselves over the quality of their writing. I think it’s fairly easy to tell the writing of someone who is a voracious reader from the writing of someone who isn’t. The expression, the depth, the structure, layering, techniques tell the tale.
4 – Audacity Gets You Started, Tenacity Sees You Through
Persistence was the hardest lesson of all to learn in 2014. It’s not enough to have the courage to begin, you must follow through if you hope to get anywhere. You must get the bit between your teeth and like the Juggernaut, barrel your way through writer’s block, low motivation, rejection slips and other writing perils. If you can stick with your writing even when you feel all is lost, you will come out the other end, battle-hardened and victorious.
5 – Live!
Not exist. LIVE. Feel each moment deeply. Really LOOK at the world around you. I think this was the most valuable lesson for me. Good writing comes from nurturing your inner life and bringing a fresh eye to your surroundings. The richer, broader, more varied your experiences, the more it enriches and informs your writing. Expose yourself to new adventures. Step out of your comfort zone.
Here’s to a new year of writing. Until next time!
Leave a Reply