Things I've Learned While Writing My First Novel - Part 2

 
Just over a year ago, I began to fulfill my life long dream of writing a novel. I knew it was going to be challenging, which is why I procrastinated starting it for 42 years.
 
And I was right. It was frickin' hard!
 
It took a massive amount of dedication to sit down and write every day. But I did it - even if I could only fit it in during a 15 minute break at work. I suffered crippling self doubt. I anguished over plot, characters, sentence structure, dialog, and vocabulary. I slogged through the ugliest of first drafts, pruned seconds, and polished thirds. Miracle of miracles, I actually finished the thing.
 
I learned a lot about myself and my personal writing process, which I blogged about last year at Original Bliss, but as I was putting the finishing touches on Dream Walker, a whole new learning curve began. 
 
Once the book is actually written what do you do?
 
There must be thousands of books out there about how to get your book published: about finding an editor, landing the literary agent, writing perfect query letters, formulating your elevator pitch, and formatting your manuscript properly. All of that is definitely on my checklist of things I am doing, but there have been a few other things that I have learned that have been way more gratifying.
 
 
1. I joined a writer's group.
 
I was really intimidated by this at first. The idea of sitting down with writers more experienced than I, then having them read and CRITIQUE my chapters. It scared the crap out of me. If it does you, too, feel the fear and do it anyway! The feedback, networking and support is invaluable! 

 
The personality of a writer is unique. We are watchers--the great observers and listeners.
 
I have always felt like a freak; part alien, part spy, ever amazed at humans and the things they do and say. I am intrigued, sometimes baffled, by how they react and wonder at what they feel. Stories evolve from these wonderings.
 
I had never hung out with other writers before, and I have to say, I may be a freak, but in communing with like-minded freaks I feel like I have found My People.
 
I started by finding my first Writer's Group at Meet Up. From there, I was invited to attend other writer's groups. 
 
I also checked out some local Writer's Associations, such as Romance Writers of America and California Writer's Club. They offer monthly meetings and inexpensive workshops where I have met some of the most helpful and amazing people.
 
 
2. I found some published authors and picked their brains!
 
Other people have walked the writer's way, travelling from unknown hack to published author. I found myself a few of them, met them for coffee and chicken dinners, listened to their horror stories and followed their advice. A special shout out to Lisa Sanchez and Lee Tidball, two authors who were tremendously gracious and helpful, pointing me in a direction when I was totally, like, "Huh?" 

 
 
3. I Re-established my web presence.
  
Uuuuugh! Right? Who wants to spend all their time facebooking, blogging and twittering? I know. I get it.
  
BUT! I have been amazed by how many contacts I have made in such a short time and the information I have found via social media. Especially from Twitter, which really surprised me. I was never a tweeter before and now I am hooked. (Thanks to Lisa for that!)
 
Then there was the dreaded blog/website. Of course we all want something that looks professional, but don't want to spend weeks trying to learn html and css in order to create it ourself OR a fortune to have someone else create it for us.
 
I've been around the blogger block. I started at TypePad, which required me to speak html and css in order to get it to look how I wanted. Then I moved to Blogger, because I could have my own domain name. But then, I discovered HostBaby... from a Tweet, no less.
 
Rather than just creating a blog, within an hour I created a complete and professional website. It offers the best templates I have ever seen and it was easy-peesy. Really. I wouldn't lie about that - it was the easiest website I have ever created.
 
So when I am not editing and revising Dream Walker, writing my synopsis, pitch or the first chapters of Book 2, these are some of the other things I do to stay in touch with my muse and on top of my book business.
 
Anybody have any other gems for me?
 
Shannan