First Steps As A Writer
When I started this post, it was originally going to be written out of fear and uncertainty. I’ve been a ’serious’ writer for about four months now. It’s hard work, and yes, it’s absolutely terrifying, considering that I want to do this for a living, full time.
Honestly, though, I don’t think I’d have it any other way. I’m distrustful of anything that is handed to me. Working–fighting–for something makes me feel like I’ve earned it, in the end.
My goal in life–now–is to become a full-time, bestselling author. Despite the overwhelming odds against this happening (this blog post didn’t help; she has a community of hundreds, if not thousands), I’m confident I can make this happen. No one thought I’d last as long as I did on the street, either.
I’m still wrapping my mind around the fact that people think I’m good at this. I was even invited to write a blog post for a friend that comes out tomorrow. Yet, I still go over my work and wonder just what the hell I was tripping on when those words escaped me. It’s not that I dislike my work; I just always think I can do better.
My main problem is that I loathe the idea of having to ’sell myself’. I’ll have to figure out how to get past that eventually.
My point is this; I have never approached anything in a half-hearted manner. If I don’t succeed as a writer, it will not be because I gave it everything I had; it will be because it was not my intended destiny.
But it will be far from the end of the world. I’ve been in way worse situations than I am now, and I mean it when I say I’m grateful every single day I can get up and do whatever I want. If I don’t make it, I will still have my drive, I will still have my ambitions, and I think I can safely say I will have someone who loves me unconditionally.
If I do the very best I can, and that’s still not good enough–I can live with that. But this venture is still going to get everything I have.
And I have high hopes.
(c) Avery K. Tingle for Akting Out LLC
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Maybe you should think of it as selling a character, instead of selling yourself. I was an out-going guy who wore western clothes for the couple days I was at the writing conference, and it went over really well. It was fun to play the character, too. You already have a couple personas. What’s one more?
Hm. Never thought of that. Considering how often I have to listen to these guys in my head, it wouldn’t be difficult to step into their shoes for a moment. Good idea.
Western clothes?
Well, modern Western. I wore a white dress shirt, vest, and jeans. The story I’m trying to sell takes place in Montana and has Western themes, so I was trying to tie everything together. I hoping when the editor who was there reads my story it’ll be easier to remember who I am.
That’s…bizarrely interesting! And that HAS to work! The editor should read your story and then automatically recall the person who resembled the principal character (I presume) in the book! Good idea!
What’s the story about, if I can ask?
Here’s the hook I’ve been using:
Seventh-grader Rusty Jackson is more of a television-watcher than a fighter, but when his Wild West ancestor, Gray Jackson, appears he is drawn into a quest to find six magical dreamcatchers before the ghosts of the vicious Captain Moore gang find them first and wreak havoc on the West.
That sounds cool! Children’s fiction? How far away is it from being done?
It’s done. That editor from the conference is reading it right now. Maybe I’ll have good news by the next writers meeting.
Right on, man! Good luck! When IS the next writer’s meeting, anyway?