Anne H. Janzer's Blog, page 12

Endangered: Open Attention

“Stop looking out the window and work on your task.”

Startled, the young boy looked up at the preschool teacher next to me, then returned to sorting the blocks on the tray in front of him.

The preschool teacher had spoken gently, but the words landed with a discordant crash on my ears. And I felt indescribably sad—for this child and for all of us. I decided, in that instant, that this was not the right place for my son.

This happened years ago, but the words stay with me.

If we cannot daydream in preschool, when can we daydream?

Unfortunately, society doesn’t look favorably on wandering minds. Preschool is only the beginning.

When we gaze out the window or let our minds wander, it seems like we’re not doing anything. We don’t feel “productive.” Yet, that kind of open attention is the source of much creative insight. And we have less and less of it with each passing year.

The disappearance of mind wandering

We have limited windows for letting our mind wander. And we may think of this as “wasted time” and fill it. When waiting in line, we grab our phones and check email or social media. When taking a walk or driving, we bring along a podcast or audiobook.

According to research by the Audiobook Publisher’s Association published on Findaway Voices, audiobook sales are growing every year. More than half of audiobook listeners are making “new” time to listen to audiobooks.

Don’t get me wrong—audiobooks and podcasts are great for authors. I love listening to podcasts and taking part in them. All of my books are available as audiobooks. The more ways I can reach people, the greater the impact of my ideas.

But where does that growing amount of listening time come from? According to the report cited above, people make time to listen to audiobooks:

While doing chores or houseworkWhile exercisingWhile going on walks

What do these activities have in common? They don’t demand our full attention. (That’s why they’re great for audiobooks and podcasts.)

While these trends favor authors, they endanger writing and other creative endeavors. If we weren’t listening, we’d be letting our minds wander, in a state of open attention.

Open attention isn’t a waste of time for writers. It’s how we fuel incubation and creativity.

Protecting open attention (and creativity)

How can you protect your mind-wandering time?

Go outdoors without your headphones. Take a walk. Research from Stanford University shows that the act of walking improves divergent thinking — a hallmark of creativity.

One of my favorite places to walk … and let my mind wander

Balance open and focused attention. You don’t have to give up the things you love to listen to. Give yourself time to daydream or think about your writing before listening to that podcast or audiobook.

Let go of the guilt. If you remind yourself about your writing projects during these unstructured times, you’re not being unproductive. On the contrary, you’re fueling creative productivity.

Protect and defend the windows of open attention in your life. And then use them to seed your writing.

Getting Bogged Down in Revision

Image of truck stuck in the mud in the desert.

Just one more pass through this thing, then I’ll post it. Maybe tomorrow. It’s not good enough yet.

If you embrace the “write a messy first draft” mantra (and you should!), then you rely on revision and self-editing to make that draft presentable.

Great writing rarely shows up in the first draft. Revising is an essential part of the writing process, and you owe it to your readers.

But it has risks. You might spend all your time polishing the prose and never publish and move on.

Have you ever gotten stuck in the revision process? If so, you’re not alone.

Over the past few years, hundreds of people have taken a short online course I offer on revising and editing your own work. As part of the course, they identify their key issues with revision.

Here is the top problem identified by course attendees: “I spend too much time on it … I don’t know when to stop.”

Bar chart showing responses to problems with revision.

These responses come from people who signed up for a course on revision and self-editing, so may not represent the world at large. Even so, it’s a common theme.

Why do so many of us get mired down in self-editing and polishing? Here are a few possibilities—see if any fit your situation.

Inefficient revision processes

When we don’t approach revision logically, we make more work for ourselves. For example, we might spend hours polishing words that we later cut because they don’t work or the piece is too long.

Be smart about revising and editing:

Ahead of time, scope how much time you’re willing to invest in this work. (Some things deserve more careful editing than others.) Give yourself a deadline.Use a telescoping approach, starting with the big-picture questions like “does this work?” Then read it for flow. Focus on word choice and punctuation last.Use software to streamline the final polishing and checking. (Remember that you may not accept all of its suggestions.)Resistance in disguise

Revision can be a disguise for Resistance—that force that keeps us from doing important work. (See my post on Resistance.)

The disguise works well. When you’re editing and tinkering, of course you are working on your writing. But ask yourself, does this effort replace other, more important writing?

It can be easier to polish sentences you’ve already written than to create new ones.

If you’re partway through a draft and would rather tinker with what you have than keep going, look for the signs of Resistance. Face it and forge ahead.

Fear

What if there’s a typo or I use the wrong word? What if everyone thinks I’m a terrible writer?

Putting work out in the world is frightening. The higher the stakes for a piece, the more time we will want to spend polishing it. That’s only natural.

But when fear takes over, the inner critic’s voice grows louder and harsher. Pretty soon, nothing on the page is good enough.

We can easily lose perspective.

If you’re feeling fearful, it might be time to seek encouragement from others. Or, let your work sit overnight and approach it with a fresh perspective.

Perfectionism (and spider webs)

We can also get stuck in revision out of a misguided impulse to create something perfect. (Perfectionism is another guise for fear and Resistance.)

Whenever I’m ready to publish a blog post or a book, I remember the myth of Arachne.

As Ovid tells the tale, Arachne could weave like nobody’s business. She was fantastic at it. She clearly invested her ego in her work—claiming the gods had no part in her excellence in weaving.

That boast bugged Athena (Minerva to Ovid), who promptly challenged her to a contest. Arachne wove something beautiful and perfect, which enraged Athena, who beat her over the head. (Yeah, perfectionists can make other people react that way!)

According to Ovid, Arachne hung herself in shame and Athena, perhaps feeling rather badly about her behavior, brought her back to life, transformed into a spider.

Her descendants still weave in my garden, rushing to repair their perfect webs from damage from rain, insects and wind. They remind me of the impossibility of perfection.

Don’t tempt the gods by trying to be perfect, or investing too much of your ego in your writing. Do good work—work that serves a purpose or is beautiful—then leave it for others and move on.

Are you Planning or Resisting?

Dock and ladder on a sparkling lake in summer

A child stands at the end of a dock on a summer afternoon, gazing into the lake. She wants to jump in and swim, but spends a long time preparing herself.

She sits on the edge of the dock and dangles her feet in the top inches of the lake water. It feels icy on her warm toes. She stands up and steps into an inflatable swim ring, so she’ll bob up and keep her head dry when she jumps in.

The water looks both inviting and scary.

She grabs the ladder at the end of the dock and lowers herself on to the top rung. If she waits long enough, even her ankles get accustomed to the cold. But that next step … that one will be hard.

Back up the ladder, she puts her towel on the dock where it will be right at hand when she gets out after the swim.

Her family, already in the lake, shouts encouragement. “Jump in! It’s fine once you start swimming.”

That’s how I feel sometimes when chatting with people who are planning their writing projects. Like the reluctant swimmer, they linger on the dock rather than diving in. They gather tools they might need. They test the waters.

Planning and preparation are convenient disguises for Resistance.

Recognizing Resistance

In The War of Art, Steven Pressfield describes Resistance (with a capital R) as a powerful force that keeps us from taking risks. He writes:

“Resistance cannot be seen, touched, heard, or smelled. But it can be felt. We experience it as an energy field radiating from a work-in-potential. It’s a repelling force. It’s negative. Its aim is to shove us away, distract us, prevent us from doing our work.”
Stephen Pressfield

Resistance is most powerful when it operates in the shadows—when you sense its inhibiting presence rather than examining it directly. To avoid being seen, Resistance often hides behind other socially-acceptable behaviors.

Here are a few of the forms that resistance takes for the writers that I speak with:

Planning and preparation

Resistance often looks like planning and preparing. It sounds like this:

I need to research tools for managing my notes and writing before I start the book. Should I take a class on Scrivener?

In the summer, I should have a several uninterrupted weeks to write, so I’ll wait for that.

On the surface, these statements appear reasonable. But the perfect time to write never really happens.

If you wait to get all your ducks in a row, they may migrate south.

Three ducks in a lake. Words: Don't wait to get your ducks in a row. They fly off.

You won’t really know what tools you need on a writing project until you’re in it. Write using whatever tool you know and like today.

If you discover you need more structure, by all means, find another tool. But you cannot evaluate a writing platform like Scrivener fairly until you have a project ready to work with. Even then, you have to be in the middle of it to really learn.

You don’t know what you need until you’re swimming in the writing.

Waiting for the original idea

When I come up with an original idea, I’ll start writing.

Someone already wrote the definitive book on my subject. No publisher will want mine.

Originality is overrated. If you invest deep thought and research in your work, the result will be uniquely yours, even if other people have covered the same territory.

You probably have a unique approach or perspective. You may not discover it until you’re working on your project.

If you’re waiting for that original idea, ask yourself why originality is so important.

Isn’t there room for more than one book, blog post, video, or podcast on a topic?

(I certainly hope so, because an army of excellent authors write about writing.)

Will someone find value in your perspective on this topic? And if so, would you withhold it back them out of some internal commitment to originality?

Here’s an idea—write about those other works that inspire you. Share them with others, while offering your unique lens

Jump in

Remember the girl on the dock? That was me on family vacations. I loved swimming. Yet every single time, I dithered on the dock, negotiating with Resistance. In doing so, I lost valuable time in the lake.

Jump into your writing project. As you work, you’ll figure out what you want from tools. Your unique angle will come into focus. You’ll learn how to get the help you need.

You’ll figure it out.

Silhouettes of kids who jump off dock on the lake at sunset.

Come on in. The water’s fine.Related writing

Related post: Writing, Courage, and Community

For inspiration on writing a book, see Get the Word Out: Write a Book That Makes a Difference.

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Published on January 11, 2022 11:14

Planning Your Writing Year

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Annual resolutions and plans have a disconcerting way of dissolving partway through the year.

At the start of 2021, I resolved not to write a book in the year. Get the Word Out released in November of 2020, and I intended to spend 2021 promoting and supporting it.

Nevertheless, 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Emails appeared in September. It was not in my plans for the year, but I’m happy to have written it. (Thanks to Melissa Wilson for inviting me to do it!)

That’s the thing about plans. We need them until we abandon them.

Plans are like outlines. From my Nonfiction Author Survey: only 6% of the published authors surveyed wrote a book that matched their initial outline exactly.

As writers, we need both the Muse and the Scribe (the creative and the focused/disciplined parts of ourselves). Planning definitely belongs to the Scribe. It’s necessary, but not sufficient.

The planning paradox

The plotter/pantser dilemma applies to more than fiction.

If you’re not familiar, in the world of fiction:

Plotters are people who plan out everything before writingPantsers, in contrast, see where the writing takes them. (They write ‘by the seat of their pants.’)

Fiction writers stake out positions in one camp or the other. Most inhabit a combination of the two approaches.

The same tension applies to our writing plans.

Plans motivate us to act. Yet creativity means looking beyond the obvious. We need to be creative not only about our manuscripts, but about our writing lives in general.

Tweet this: #Writers need to be creative, not only about our manuscripts, but about our writing lives in general.

The musician Questlove puts it this way:

“Creative life sometimes means knowing when deviation from the plan should become the new plan.”
Questlove, from Creative Quest

So, what do we do?

Do we outline or not? Do we make plans for the year, knowing (from hard experience) that life intercedes?

Just as with outlines, we need plans to set off in the right direction, so we can be on the trail when an interesting turnoff shows up.

Here’s my planning compromise:

Plan the process, not the results

I have no idea what the year ahead will bring. The only thing I can control is how I approach each day—my process.

At the start of 2021, I committed to write something every day in a story journal.

You know what? I did it!

Oh, some days the entries were more observations than stories. Some started and fizzled out.

And I missed a few days of entries, especially when traveling.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was fascinating. (Read my mid-year reflection on the experience.)

I committed to the process, not the outcomes. Then I had the joy of exploring those outcomes.

Lessons from the my story journal experiment

I was tempted on occasion to abandon my story journal project. But I didn’t, partly because I’d committed to and blogged about it publicly. How can I face my readers if I don’t follow through?

Here’s the lesson from that experience: Accountability strengthens our process.

Also, some days my entries were quite short—scribbled down within five minutes. But simply showing up maintained the momentum.

Another lesson: Start with small commitments you can sustain.

What’s your (process-focused) plan?

How does this make you feel about planning for 2022? More relaxed? Curious and open to possibilities?

Find someone to share your plans with. Share them with me, if you’d like. I’ll check in and see how you’re doing. Maybe that will help you stick to your writing process!

The Gifts of Writing

Open journal, with cup of coffee, rustic pencil, and greenery

I never regret time spent writing.

It doesn’t matter whether I’m scribbling in my morning pages or story journal, working on a book, or crafting these posts. I always emerge more in tune with myself or others.

Even when you’re doing it for others, writing is a gift to yourself.

When you’re working on a deadline or powering through a manuscript, it’s easy to see writing as a chore. When that happens, you might lose sight of its magic.

So, let this post be a an invitation to welcome the gifts of writing into your life.

The gift of introspection[image error]

The world moves pretty quickly, particularly during the holidays.

When you pick up a journal and a pen, you take your foot off the gas for a moment. Writing gives you the chance to slow down and reflect on yourself or the world around you.

Even when I’m busy—especially when I’m busy—I take a moment with my pen and journal to find a story from the day, or to write in my morning pages journal. Almost without fail, my effort is rewarded with a moment of clarity or insight.

This gift costs nothing but a pen and paper and a few minutes of your time.

The gift of creativity

When you start a daily writing habit, good ideas arrive, trickling in slowly or rushing the doors, like guests to an exclusive pop-up restaurant.

The secret of creativity is this: it’s not a passive trait. It’s active. You need to be looking around, working, engaging. Writers need to be writing.

My book The Writer’s Process offers the Muse and the Scribe as characterizations of the different mental processes involved in writing. The Muse (the creative one) doesn’t like to appear unless she knows that she’ll be welcome.

The best way to welcome the Muse to your writing is through action—show up and write. Anything.

Even if you don’t feel creative, something magical happens when you write every day. You get more ideas. Instead of getting “used up” when you write them down, ideas multiply.

Having an abundance of ideas to explore is like having a bookshelf loaded with books you want to read. This is true wealth.

The gift of expanded perspective

Although it seems to happen entirely inside our own heads, writing is also an exercise in understanding others. It’s a gateway to empathy.

Writing is, at its core, connecting with other people’s brains.

Fiction writers inhabit the minds of the characters they create. Memoir writers explore the perspectives of the other people in their experiences. Nonfiction writers need to understand the reader’s perspectives and motivations, and then connect with them. That’s a core tenet of my concept of servant authorship.

Writing gives you a chance to put yourself in someone else’s place, inhabit their mind. That’s cognitive empathy in action.

What gift will you give yourself?

If you always write for publication or work, consider doing something just for yourself: Morning pages, a journal.

(Read about my story journal experiment, which is still going!)

If you write for yourself but never share it, consider giving the gift of your words to someone else. Write someone a thoughtful note about their impact on your life. or put a blog post into the world.

Connecting with others through your words is a gift—to them, and to you.

Books for Writers, 2021 Edition

A book with a red bow, with bookstore shelves in the background

You don’t need to know someone’s size, allergies, or living situation to send them a book. A book encapsulates a few hours of time spent with a thoughtful author. What a gift!

Every December I share a list of books for writers and authors, plucked from the many books I finished that year. This list reflects a year of eclectic reading. (This is a small subset of the books I’ve enjoyed this year.)

Maybe you can find something for those difficult-to-please folks on your gift list.

(Note: Most of the links in this post are affiliate links to BookShop. You can find all of the titles on Amazon as well without much effort. Bookshop supports indie bookstores, and affiliate fees help support my serious book buying problem.)

Books for writers book covers

How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy. You don’t have to know Tweedy’s music to appreciate his take on creativity. This book would be fabulous for anyone who is curious about song-writing.

Humor Seriously by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas. Humor is hard, but these authors demystify it. They may inspire you to make your work emails entertaining.

Journaling Power by Mari L, McCarthy and Finding Your Joy Spot by Leona deVinne. I recommitted to morning pages this year, partly inspired by these books. Both offer guidance, prompts, and inspiration. Either book would make a lovely gift paired with a journal.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders. Do you know someone who writes short stories, or who simply loves them? Reading may give you new insight in how to read—and write—the short short story.

The Story Advantage by LJ Bloom. Written for a business audience, this is a terrific introduction to the art of telling a story, in person or in writing. Read my review of The Story Advantage.

Books for authors book covers

Here are a couple newer books about the business of writing books.

Amazon Decoded 2nd Edition by David Gaughran. Every author—traditionally published or not—should understand Amazon. And there’s no better, or funnier, guide than David Gaughran. Read my review of the 2nd edition of Amazon Decoded here.

Wide for the Win by Mark Leslie Lefebre. Indie authors need to understand the range of their options beyond Amazon. This book helps you see the full range of options available to you.

Books for uncertain times book covers

Do you know someone who is reeling from the changes at home or at work in the past year? Give them the gift of inspiration and support with one of these books by change-makers I admire:

Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change by April Rinne. How do we deal with constant change? By developing our flux superpowers—slowing down, identifying our “enough” and more. Read my review of Flux.

Standout Virtual Events by David Meerman Scott. Virtual event are going to be with us for a while. This is a useful guide on how to do them better.

Undisruptable by Aidan McCullen. If the business world is moving too quickly for you, search for inspiration and courage in this book.

You Are What You Risk by Michele Wucker. Risk has been our constant companion for the last year or so. This book gives us a new vocabulary and lens for dealing with it—and with each other. Read my review of You Are What You Risk.

Short business books (the 33 Ways series)[image error]

This year also saw the birth of a new series of short, actionable business books, 33 Ways Not to Screw Up…

…Business Emails. Everyone writes emails at work, and we can all do better! This is my contribution to the series. (It’s also available as an audiobook.)

…Consulting. Marge Johnsson offers golden advice for consultants, whether you’re just starting out or taking your practice to the next level.

…Creative Entrepreneurship. Saudia Davis is a force of nature. In this book, she shares her insight and inspiration for creative entrepreneurs of all types (including writers!)

…Your Financial Life. Year end is a great time to get your financial life in order. Use this book by Jay Kemmerer as a guide.

A few other favorites from the year book covers

My reading this year has covered business, science, history, and more. Here are a few of the highlights:

Breath by James Nestor. I’ve changed the way I breathe since reading this. Fascinating!

The Confidence Men by Margalit Fox. A real-world prison break too crazy to be made up.

The Eloquence of the Sardine by Bill François, translated by Antony Shugaar. You’ll look at the ocean with wonder and amazement after reading this lovely collection of the sea’s stories.

The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul. Our intelligence is not contained within our brains!

Fuzz by Mary Roach. An entertaining look at human conflict with the natural world, from the always-entertaining Mary Roach. (This may be my favorite of her books to date.)

The Oasis Within by Tom Morris. A short parable introduces you to the writings of this wise, witty philosopher.

Remember by Lisa Genova. A well-written, entertaining and accessible primer on memory.

Other ideas

Haven’t found the perfect gift yet? Here are a few other thoughts:

Peruse my BookShop storefront for other books.Consider pens, pencils, or journals—writers can never have enough of them.Autographed books: Let me know if you’d like me to send a physical copy of any of my writing books (like The Writer’s Process) with an encouraging note attached!Writing or book consultation: Book a 30-minute consultation with me for your writing friend (even if that’s yourself!) . And if you want it to be a gift, contact me and we’ll work it out.

In the mean time, enjoy the holiday season and spend some time with a good book!

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Published on November 30, 2021 11:34

Consistency in Writing

Consistency is hard. That’s why it’s so rare—and so valuable.

As a writer, you need consistency for many reasons:

Improving your craftFeeding creativity and generating ideasBuilding an audience or an author platform

All of these goals require consistent effort over time.

The importance of consistency came home to me recently reading Mark Schaefer’s new book Cumulative Advantage* about the fact that advantage breeds advantage.

In the book, Schaefer offers a formula for how creative innovative ideas take off, or books become best-sellers that lead to a friendship with Oprah. (Hello, Tim Ferriss.)

Authors who already have platforms have more success with their next books. Success breeds success.

Many factors contribute to wild success: identifying a “seam” of opportunity, leveraging that seam with a “sonic boom” of promotion, getting others to help you spread the word. And of course, luck and personal fit come into play.

But his formula includes building momentum through constancy of purpose.

Here we are again—consistency. Schaefer writes: “Consistency is more important than genius.”

How can you introduce consistency into your writing life? Here are a few ideas.

Find the right pace

Maybe you’re one of those people who can publish a blog every day. Seth Godin does, bless him.

I’m can’t do it — and I’m a writer.

For years, I blogged every week. Over time, it felt like a chore—which probably showed in the writing. And the blog work pushed aside other writing that I wanted to do.

A couple of years ago, I switched to every other week. I told my subscribers. Nobody complained. I suspect that most people didn’t notice.

This schedule (usually) gives me time to put together a thoughtful post.

If you want to blog every day, go for it. It’s more important to me that I write every day than that I publish every day. That leads to the next point.

Set small minimum goals

Whether you’re writing a journal or publishing a blog, there are days you’ll want to say Nah, I’ve got nothing. I’m too tired.

Challenge yourself to meet at least a small, minimum effort—say, five minutes.

hand writing with green pencil in blank journal

My voice teacher Julia Nielsen led a fantastic “How to Practice” seminar this summer, and referred to James Clear’s “Two Minute Rule” (from Atomic Habits*). She suggested that five minutes of warming up, mental singing, or repertoire study could count as practice.

The same thing applies to writing.

You can always find five minutes to tinker with the next blog post, write in your journal, or revise your manuscript in progress.

It may not be the hours that you envision being necessary. But you’re still writing, reinforcing the habit, reminding yourself and the universe that you are a writer.

Good ideas may appear in those five minutes.

Even showing up for a short time, you feed the background mental systems (the Muse) that are critical to creativity.

The Muse isn’t greedy. Give it five minutes here and there, and it might deliver.

Don’t confuse consistency with perfection[image error]

I subscribe to David Gaughran’s author newsletter. His most recent email had the subject line “I’m alive!”

He’d dropped off to deal with some personal issues. And as much as I relish that newsletter, I hadn’t really noticed its absence. (Sorry, David!)

Was I upset? Indeed, no. He’s human. I’m human. I wish him well. (If you’re an indie author, subscribe to his newsletter.)

Sometimes you’ll miss that blog deadline. You’ll skip the journal entry.

Being consistent isn’t the same as being perfect. Life is messy.

Your blog readers will understand and forgive you. Forgive yourself. And then keep going.

* These are affiliate links; if you purchase the book through them, I will earn a small percentage, which I put toward buying more books for give-aways. It’s a virtuous cycle of sorts.

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Published on November 16, 2021 14:03

Adding to the Written Word

Listen to this post!

An email arrived in my inbox the other day with a beautiful video attached. It came from someone I did not know, inviting me to participate in an event.

Ordinarily, I would tag the email to read later in the day. (I try to “time-block” handling requests like this.) But the clip for the video was beautiful and it made me curious. So I clicked the link and watched it, smiling with pleasure.

The video accomplished several things better than a simple, text-only email could:

It caught my attention. I answered the email right away.I got a better idea of the sender (Marina Tselner, a creative, positive visual artist).Watching it established an immediate sense of connection with the sender.

That was a lesson in the power of video, combined with email.

Later that day, I was recording the audiobook files for 33 Ways Not to Screw Up Your Business Emails. I infused the text with lively intonation and expression. I hope the listeners will hear the smiles.

Narrating made me think again about the limitations of print. Readers must supply their own tone of voice.

Another lesson, this time on the power of audio.

A word-person like myself doesn’t like to admit this: Sometimes, words alone are not enough.

Tone is tricky

As readers, we aren’t great at interpreting a writer’s tone.

We only have the print on the page, without body language or vocal inflections. We read through the lens of our current mood and what we know about the writer. So, we misinterpret tone easily.

A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology suggests that people misinterpret the tone of emails about half the time.

Half the time!

As a writer, you can take steps to make sure people understand your meaning.

Write with clarity and careAvoid sarcasm (extremely tone-dependent)Use emojis and punctuation to point at the right toneUse stage directions to add tone and humor [wink, wink]

Even then, some readers won’t respond as you hope.

We all swim in a sea of words. Voice or video clips can elevate your message.

Boost your words with voice or video

My son Mark introduced me to Loom—an app that creates quick screen share and/or talking head videos.

He uses it when providing feedback to people. (You want to set the right tone when giving feedback so that it lands well with the recipient.)

I’ve used it to explain how to do something on Amazon. Describing online processes takes time and effort. It’s easier to record and narrate what you’re doing so the recipient can watch, pause, and follow.

Audio-only clips also make an impact. Hearing someone’s voice asking a question increases my sense of urgency about answering.

When my words need a little extra support, I’m going to think about adding my voice, or even my face and voice to emails, blog posts, social media posts and more, to help the message along.

Supplementing the written word

You may think: Who has time to listen to clips or watch videos? I hear you. I’d rather skim things at my own pace—it’s more efficient.

That’s why I suggest you combine writing with other things. Use the words to summarize what’s in the clip, or perhaps entice someone to watch or listen.

Attention is a scarce commodity. We must earn it. Sometimes, we do that best by showing up alongside our words, in audio or video.

Finding Your Publication Path

A landscape view of forest trails winding through tall, eucalyptus trees.

A familiar question came up in a writing workshop I led last week. A participant wanted to know how to publish the many stories he had accumulated during his unusual life. It’s a common and important question, and so hard to answer!

Many of my conversations with writers revolve around publishing options. People often want to know the right way to publish their works, to get a book out into the world.

I dedicated one chapter of Get the Word Out to the publishing question, and that’s not nearly enough.

Alas, there is no single right answer.

All I can do in these conversations is guide people to think about their priorities, and to make sure they clearly understand their options.

Three truths about publishing

People tend to think about publishing decisions based on knowledge they’ve accumulated over the years. Here are three current truths to factor in to your decisions:

The publishing landscape continues to change. You can learn from someone else’s experience in the past, but the river has kept flowing since they stepped into it.People’s content habits are shifting as well. We’re consuming content in different media—print, video, audio. That inevitably affects publishing decisions.A book isn’t always the right format—or the first format you should choose.

That last truth is hard for me to write, book-lover as I am. But it’s true. A book may not be the best way to reach your audience.

And even if it is, perhaps a book isn’t the first way to publish your work.

A tale of two Andys

You may have heard the story of Andy Weir’s break-out bookThe Martian. Weir originally wrote the book as a serialized story on his blog, getting feedback on the science as he went.

His readers started asking for the content in a more convenient form, so he self-published the book on Amazon. It took off, and the rest is history—traditional publishing contract, the movie, Matt Damon…

He didn’t wait to write until he knew his path to publication. He wrote and shared the story on his blog. He took an untraditional path.

Then there’s my friend Andrew Duxbury—less well known in literary circles than Andy Weir, no doubt. He’s a professor and geriatric physician at the University of Alabama. In addition to his medical work, Andy is a creative soul, involved in local singing and musical theater, and an astute observer of the world around him.

He started posting about his experiences during the global pandemic on Facebook— thoughtful posts filled with professional observations and personal stories.

Again, his readers encouraged him to put the material in book format. He worked with an editor and publisher, and the Accidental Plague Diaries arrived in the world as a book.

Cover of book The Accidental Plague DIaries

Blog posts. Facebook posts. Would either of those paths work for you? Maybe not.

But the key point is this: how can you get your work out into the world?

Finding your own path

You don’t have to write a book to make a difference in the world. You have many options, including:

Blog postsSocial media posts (be sure to save the work locally as well)Serialized fiction sites like WattPad, Relish, or now Amazon Vella Subscription newsletters (like Substack)Flash Nonfiction (see this list on Brevity)A podcast seriesAn audiobook (with or without accompanying print book)A video series

Watch and learn from how other people share their ideas. But don’t be afraid to blaze your own trail. In today’s world, there is no single “right” way to publish your work.

The only wrong path is doing nothing.

Tidying Up Your Writing

[image error]

A few years ago, my husband and I moved out of a house that we had lived in for over 25 years. As we sorted and packed, I turned to Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (and later Netflix special) for inspiration in dealing with the accumulated stuff.

Before you ask—no, we did not sort all of our earthly possessions into piles and choose only those that “spark joy” to remain. Even so, her approach offered useful insights into letting go.

Kondo suggests we thank the things we no longer need for their service, and then let donate them or send them on.

It’s a beautiful antidote to the sunk cost fallacy. (I paid so much for these pants I never wear, I can’t get rid of them!)

Recently, I realized that this approach works for words as well as stuff.

What to do instead of killing your darlings

Cutting is a necessary, and sometimes painful, part of revision. People often tell writers that they need to “kill their darlings.” That advice that sounds doubly dark coming from Stephen King! (See his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.)

Of course, the advice is sound. As writers, we often become attached to bits of brilliance that we enjoy, but that don’t serve the reader. Getting rid of them is painful.

Metaphors like kill and murder only make revision harder.

I’ve been working with an author who has done extensive research for her book. She has countless hours interview transcripts filled with wisdom. Of course she wants to share it in her book.

As lovely and generous as those conversations are, they don’t all belong in the book. That doesn’t serve the reader.

Here’s the hard truth for nonfiction writers: Only a fraction of the research you do ends up in the manuscript.

Fresh off watching Marie Kondo’s latest Netflix special, I tried something different. I told her, “Look at each of these interviews. Will these passages spark joy—or understanding—for the reader? If not, thank them for their service and move them elsewhere.”

She laughed, but understood my point.

We talked about things she could do with the research that didn’t end up in the book. She could create blog posts or publish interview excerpts to support the book launch.

The research has value, but not all in one place and all at once.

“Tidying up” your writing

How about your work? Are you trying extra hard to keep your favorite bits? Is the resulting book, blog post or article longer than your reader is likely to finish?

You might need to tidy up. To do this, think like the reader. As you read, put yourself in their shoes and ask:

Does this spark joy? Understanding? Insight? Is it necessary for the larger purpose?

If you discover defensive feelings about a passage, at some level you may realize that it doesn’t fit.

You might need another set of eyes. Ask a friend, an early reader, or a developmental editor to weigh in.

Of course, you’re the author. You get to include a few things that you find uniquely entertaining or wonderful. If you’ve earned the reader’s trust and understanding, they’ll stay with you.

But if readers feel like they’re lost in a rummage sale of your favorite things, they might wander off.

If you have a tough time cutting things from your manuscript, give it the Marie Kondo treatment. Acknowledge and honor the things that you’re cutting—then send them to a good home. Your reader will appreciate the tidier text.