Advice for Wannabe Writers

Advice for Wannabe Writers by Lucy Burdette

Often when I tell someone I'm a writer, a haunted look washes over his or her face. "I've always wanted to write a book," he or she says. "Do you have any advice for how to get published?" Well, yes, after nine published novels and a pile of published short stories and articles, I do have a few suggestions.  

1. MAKE A PLAN THAT INCLUDES LOTS OF LITTLE, MANAGEABLE GOALS: As I begin a book, I look ahead to the due date and figure out how many pages I'll need to write each week in order to hand it in on time. I build in time for trips and family and time for my writers group to read and critique, and then time for me to rewrite. Then I end up with a page goal for each week. I write until I've hit the goal, sometimes even getting a little ahead. If I have an unproductive day, I know I have to write a little faster later in the week to keep up.

2. HAMMER IT OUT: Get it all down, even if it's awful. You can always go back and fix things later. Anne Lamott called this "the sh***y first draft"—she had it right!

3. SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH: As a psychologist, I know the importance of having "big goals" for my subconscious to aim at. So I keep a copy of the NY Times bestseller list pasted up over my computer. Yep, that's where I want to be! Then I forget about it and work on the books word by word.

4. TAKE YOUR TIME: Don't rush off too soon to try to get your work published. This business is extremely competitive so it's crucial to have your writing polished before sending it out. The Internet makes querying and even actually publishing a book very, very easy—don't press "send" until you're sure the piece is the best it can be. And meanwhile, there are lots of conferences that are attended by literary agents and editors. It's not a bad idea to get some face time with a professional—this personal contact could be what helps your manuscript get a serious look. And now even more with a surge in the ebook business, it seems so easy to get work online. Again, don't make a move until you're sure these pages are the best they can be!

5. YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FRIENDS: Writing can be such a lonely, discouraging business. I've gotten very involved with mystery writing organizations (Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America,) and joined Romance Writers and other groups and blogs such as Fiction That Sells and Girlfriends Book Club and Killer Characters. I also have a very supportive and loyal writers group and a group blog (http://www.jungleredwriters.com.) The friends I've met have saved my sanity and supported me endlessly along the way. I highly recommend it!

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Lucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mystery series, launching this month with AN APPETITE FOR MURDER from NAL/Obsidian. You can order the book here http://lucyburdette.com/buy-the-books/ and follow Lucy Burdette on Twitter www.twitter.com/lucyburdette, or Facebook www.facebook.com/lucyburdette, or on her website www.lucyburdette.com.  She also blogs with Jungle Red Writers www.jungleredwriters.com and at the Mystery Lovers Kitchen, www.mysteryloverskitchen.com