Is this the year you write your novel?

[image error]

One of my best holiday gifts came from a reader:

Hello Suzan–

First, I wanted to thank you for writing such an engrossing book (Cherries In Winter). I gave it to my mother-in-law for Christmas, as we share a love for good food, family and history, and she has sent me numerous emails exclaiming how she can't put the book down!

Second, how did you get started with writing? Your bio on your website describes NUMEROUS and diverse writing successes. I love the power of a well-told story, and think writing is a great way to do this. Did you get a degree in writing, or did you pursue a passion for it and were in the right place at the right time?

Thank you, again, for the quality of your craft!

Rebecca M.

First, thank you, Rebecca! Thanks to you and everyone who has read Cherries and given it as a gift to someone they love. I can't tell you how much it means to me to hear that. I always hope for it, but getting feedback from people is such an incredible feeling.

Now to the second point: writing. Over the years, people have asked me how I got started in writing, and almost as important, how I stay in it. I get the feeling a lot of you have a book or some other writing project in your minds–or, more to the point, your hearts–and it's just waiting to happen. Maybe, at that leap between New Year's Eve and the first moment of our fresh, shiny new year, you promised yourself you'd go from thinking about writing your novel to actually writing it. Maybe this is going to be the year.

So… How do you do that?

I'll tell you how I did it and offer a few helpful suggestions. My story won't work for everyone, but there are aspects of it that can be adapted to your writing goals.

To go back to the beginning, one year during college, I procrastinated on getting a summer job to the point that there were none to be had. My mother suggested that I get an internship instead (preferably a paying one, but whatever would get me out of the house). I wasn't even sure what an internship was, but Mom said, "Pick your favorite magazines and ask them if they need help."

I was late to this party, too; all the paid internships were taken. But I refused to give up–mostly because I was afraid of what Mom would say. I convinced a small music magazine to take me on as an unpaid intern because I could type 85 words a minute. (This is Adaptable Tip #1: Do you have a skill you can use to get your foot in the door?)

The magazine took me on as an intern. A brilliant writer and editor by the name of David Keeps, who now works with the LA Times and tons of mags, became my mentor. Two months later, he hired me as an editorial assistant. (Adaptable Tip #2: Can you get a job in your chosen field that could lead to what you really want to do?)

I set my mind to "open," learning everything I could about writing for magazines. (Adaptable Tip #3: Whatever kind of writing you want to do, learn everything you can about the field. I want to write romance novels, so I've been reading them, I joined the Romance Writers of America, I've studied what other authors have done, etc.) I've stayed in touch with the contacts I made (Adaptable, and obvious, Tip #4: Be nice to everyone you meet). I worked as ethically as possible, meeting deadlines, sticking to word counts, asking questions when I didn't know the answer. I tried to be humble when given constructive criticism, and I said "Thank you" even when the criticism was more destructive than constructive.

As you can see from my bio, the combination of those opportunities and the work ethic I learned from my parents and grandparents has kept me gainfully employed as a writer for most of my adult life. Most of it; I had to take a job as a bartender for a while, but I kept writing, and who knows? That nutty episode may end up in a book some day. (Adaptable Tip #5: You do what you have to do to pay rent and keep yourself in rice and beans, the cheapest and most nutritious meal in the world, but don't let go of your dreams.)

Hopefully something of my story will be of use to those of you who want to make your dreams of writing a reality. In my next post, I'll talk about how you can start writing, include more tips and resources and, most important, encouragement.

All my best,

S