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I recall an anecdote that I once read about a writer (I think it might have been Dylan Thomas, but I'm not sure) that was addressing a writer's conference. The writer in question asked his audience, "Do you want to be a writer?" Of course, this received a round of affirmations, which was understandable. However, this writer (again, maybe Dylan Thomas) then offered the following rejoinder: "Then why aren't you writing?"
It is an important question that every writer should ask themselves. After all, writing is the process of actually putting words onto a page and, at some point, those words have to get there. If you want to be a writer, start writing.
That means short stories, poems, novels, grocery lists, anything. Just write, for goodness sake and don't stop writing. Sit down, pound those keys and get some work from your head onto your computer. If you are not writing, then you aren't a writer. Remember that.
A novel is a story of approximately 100,000 words. That is daunting, but it is not impossible. Sit down, write 1,000 words a day (just like Hemmingway did) and you will finish a novel in just over a three months. Thousands of people have done it before you and thousands more will do it after you. You are the person who controls your fate and the fate of your novel, so get it onto the page and get it done.
Okay, so it is now just over three months later (how are you, haven't seen you in a while) and you've got a complete novel. Or maybe you were just concentrating on a short story for the last week. Anyway, that's nice. It's finished. Well, except for the bit where you need to edit.
Revisions, revisions, revisions. Proofreading, proofreading, proofreading. Correct everything you need to correct. Clear up anything that needs clearing up. Make that manuscript as spotless as a Mr. Clean ad. No typos, no missing words, no mistakes on pronoun usage. Be sure that everything is exactly as you want it and you will have something worth submitting to all those fine publishing companies that I linked to. It needs to be perfect, because the first mistake will send your manuscript back to you with a big, fat "No". This is depressing and very disappointing, and you will have to get used to it, but it will happen. But make sure that it is not your typing skills that is causing the problem.
Okay, so you have a manuscript that is worthy of submission and you are sending out your proposal packages and query letters. That's nice. But what you are doing in the meantime?
Take it from an idiot that wasted too much time wrapped up in his idea that his novel would get some paychecks, it means nothing. I don't care if it is the finest work that has ever been written in any language, it is dead. And it is time to move on.
What is the biggest problem facing any writer who has written a novel? Writing a second novel. There have been several writers through the years that have had one big success and, when it comes time to write a second novel, they just up and quit. They don't have a follow-up. Don't let this happen to you. You've got the flow going, so start writing again.
More than likely, you will have to wait months for a response from publishers, so you might as well use the time profitably. Get to work on your next book or short story or poem or grocery list (that means you, Walt Whitman) and create a new work. The future starts before the letters come back, so you'd better be ready. Just keep writing, keep creating, and make your next project even better. Then, you will be able to keep the title of writer and you can create new success even as you are beginning the first one.
