All the Things I’ve Been Pondering
I like to live in my writing cave. My writing cave is awesome. And it is insulated from the world, so that’s nice. But occasionally I do have to let my mind wander outside of it and…*gasp* even wander into the future, which is something I REALLY don’t like to do. I’m an In the Moment sort of girl. I like to live in the now, and let tomorrow take care of itself.
But…that’s not always feasible. In fact, it’s pretty ill-advised in some respects. I’ve realized some really important things recently and they pertain to the side of this business that is BUSINESS (never forget that’s what writing is when you’re aiming for publication, or when you are published. It is a business and you are a business person.)
In fact, I’ll lead with that:
1. This is a business, and you are a business person. Respect yourself as such. There’s no need to put yourself down, neither is there any reason to let your ego inflate. Think of how you felt at the other jobs you had, or were working to get. I think we’ve all felt a certain measure of confidence in our skills at various jobs (I am a kick butt barista and a fairly competent bridal consultant) so why can’t that translate to the writing world? I would never have said ‘oh, my lattes are only okay. You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want.’ 😉 I’m simplifying, I grant you, but remembering that this is business, a job, can be, I think, really helpful.
2. Goals are your friend. Have goals. Have a plan. Have it in advance. You need to know what you want out of this business. If it’s just to sell books to whoever you can, that’s fine. If you have a strategic plan of where you want to be in five years, and who you want to sell to, and what your image should be, and how you should brand, that’s all fine too. But it’s important to know what’s important to you. Because sometime…you will be faced with a decision that might seem great, but it won’t advance your plan, and in that moment, it’s good to know: what’s important to me? (And really, that’s something no one else can answer for you…which leads to…)
3. Everyone has their own plan. Someone else’s plan might be different from yours, but that’s okay. Your plan has to be right for YOU. There’s a lot garbage that flies around about how your plan should be JUST LIKE WHOEVER WHATEVER PERSON THAT BLOGS A LOT OR SPEAKS AT A LOT OF CONFERENCES OR SITS NEXT TO YOU AT A BUS STOP. And you know…that’s silly. You’re you, and what works for you, and what you want, will be different to what other people want, and what works for them. It’s okay for people to have a different strategy/plan/goal than you. It’s okay for yours to be different from theirs. It’s about what you want, and what makes you comfortable. You should never assume that just because someone else doesn’t have the same viewpoint/set of plans/concerns etc, that they haven’t thought things through. It may just apply to them differently.
4. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t. It either breeds a false sense of superiority, or a bad case of inferiority, and neither one are helpful. You have to compare yourself to YOU. How far you’ve come. You have to keep your eyes on your own writing. Let yourself be proud of how you’ve improved, let yourself enjoy what you’ve written. And kick your butt if you’re not living up to YOUR OWN potential. Which leads to…
5. If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it. There are a lot of things in this business that are out of your control. From how long an editor or agent takes to get back to you, to how an editor will feel about a MS, to whether or not people actually buy the book once it’s out. But not amount of angst will change that, and it may very well affect that which you can control: your writing. Save your energy and your focus for that. Write the best book you can, and then when that’s finished, write the next book, and make it the best book you’ve written. Submit. Write more. That’s portion of your success is all in your hands. YOU HAVE THE POWER there. Take it, own it. Do it like Nike.
And that’s my brain vomit about the business of writing.
Comments
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Some food for thought there Maisey.
It’s taken me a while to start thinking about my writing in business terms, but I think you’re absolutely right, you have to treat it like that if you want to be truly successful.
I’m a real devil for constantly refreshing my e-mail for a few days after I’ve sent a sub in. I find it so HARD to wait for a response to something I’m really excited about.
But I’m taking the power. Right now.
Christy
Niiice.
6. This is a business, it’s not your life. Your books are not you–people can dislike what you’ve written and still like you. Your writing is not your life–job satisfaction is a good thing, but so is balance. With family, friends, health.
Your business career should not be the only thing that defines you. Especially not in your own mind.
😉
Add Motivational to your list of things you do well.
Christy, I’m as impatient as anyone when it comes to waiting! But starting a new project helps me chill out. I’m doing that this weekend!
Vivian, very, very true. I spent some time really thinking about that maybe a year or so ago. This is what I do, not who I am. If it went away tomorrow, who would be there? What would be there? The only truly irreplaceable things would remain. The things that really make me who I am. 🙂 So good to take time to remember.
Marcie, thank you!
As often happens this post came at just the right time. Thank you.
This (writing as a business) is what I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, but you point out exactly where I go wrong.
I’m going to bookmark this post. Print it and stick it to my computer. Memorize it. Read it every morning before I get to work. Something like that. 😉
4. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Don’t. Don’t. Don’t.
Too easy to do, so I appreciate the reminder. Usually occurs with the comparing to successful author scenario, rather than comparing to a fellow unpublished writer. I mustn’t compare, I’m just going at my own pace (I just wish my pace were faster!) And I’m doing all I can, so there! *inferiority complex backs away, palms raised*
Madeline x
Geertrude, everything is a process. I remember some days…and forget on others!! Glad it was helpful to you!
Madeline, it’s SO easy to do. And it takes away from what you’ve achieved, which is why it’s so dangerous. I think of what they used to say in school…eyes on your own paper.
Excuse me while I send this link to every writer I know… Srsly, Maisey, you make so many great points. Every time I hear of someone’s success in the writing world I feel two things, complete and utter happiness for them (for reals!) and a feeling that I better hop to it before I get left behind. That second feeling doesn’t last long. I may use the “Eep!” to get my butt in the chair, or push through some edits I’ve been avoiding, but I never let it linger. This is a race with yourself, and anything else is just the devil talkin’. 🙂
It also took me awhile to come a place where I can look at this as a business. It’s easier to keep focused when the writing is the writing and not your ego. It is a book, not my baby. That makes it so much easier to take real pleasure in other writers’ successes and not compare myself or allow bitterness to dim my pleasure in my own accomplishments.
Now a plan. That I’ll have to think about. So far, it’s just been “write better.”
Jessica, that’s SO true. This is a race with yourself. Everyone’s story of how they got ‘there’ is different, and yours will be no exception. You have to take your journey, not someone else’s!
Julia, I think that’s a great plan. I actually think that should be at the forefront of my own plan. Always write better, always have that matter. And yes, you’re right, I think seeing it as a business is FREEING. I don’t HAVE to have all my emotions locked up on this book, or on my personal feelings, etc. I love what I write, and I love my books (I do!) but I don’t have to take things personally if they get rejected or if someone doesn’t like them. Or if someone doesn’t like me!
Bitterness is a great thief of joy. I think it’s the most dangerous thing to let take root, because a little bitterness poisons even the sweetest thing, and once it gets a hold of you, it’s hard to get rid of!
Morton, sory! I didn’t see your comment! My blog is eating things I fear. :{ Thank you very much!
Your “brain vomit” is better than a lot of people’s much masticated kernels of wisdom.
Appreciate the kick in the tail, especially re: churning over the bits I can’t control, so that I don’t have the energy/wit to work on what I *can*.
Love this, Maisey. Thank you. I’m with Julia–my “plan” hasn’t gone far beyond “write better”, but I suppose I should be thinking more than six months ahead.
Wel, thank you, Beverly. I try!
Karen, It’s hard though, and at different stages, different parts of The Plan become more obvious and more important. I think being a better writer should ALWAYS be a part of it!