G.W. Renshaw hasn’t done everything, but he’s trying: Canadian Forces, retail slave, forest ranger, computer programmer for 30 years, college teacher, film actor, security and intelligence, jeweller, black smith, Search and Rescue manager, and member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms.
He started writing professionally in 2011 and teaches at a medical school. He is now the author of four novels and a collection of short stories who calls himself an “aggressively Canadian author.”
His short fiction has appeared in On Spec magazine as well as the Starklight 3 anthology. His paranormal thriller series The Chandler Affairs (The Stable Vices Affair, The Prince and the Puppet Affair, The Kalevala Affair), published by Javari Press, chronicles the career of Calgarian private investigator Veronica Chandler and her unusual cases.
On a more personal note, G.W. was born in Toronto and lives in Calgary with his lovely wife of nearly 40 years. Time flies when you are having fun!
Procrastination isn’t a bad thing with moderation. I mean you got to enjoy life too, right? Sometimes, you need to postpone a task for half an hour or half a day to have a social life, a family gathering, or simply to treat yourself. You need and deserve a break once in a while. So, unless your deadline falls within that period, I don’t see anything wrong with it.
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Now, when it comes to the detriment of productivity and timely deliverables, that’s when I start grimacing. For me, procrastination is like drinking in a very formal reception. One or two glasses may be okay, depending on how well you can take alcohol. But the more you drink after that, the less you’ll be productive, coherent, and motivated. Nothing good can come out of it. Ultimately, you’ll wake up with a massive headache, and a delay that will bear consequences.
If you’re going down that rabbit hole, stop the pattern and get to work. Now, I know what you’re thinking.
I want to write, but… (You may fill the blank as you please)
First, NO excuses!
I’m part of a Facebook Group where one fellow blogger asked what our excuses were not to write, and most answers were interesting:
– I’m too tired
– I have a kid to take care of
– I’m too busy with work
– I have no inspiration (Writer’s block)
– I have too many ideas, and can’t seem to focus
– I’ll do it tomorrow
Don’t wait for tomorrow because, for all I know, it may never happen…
It may be a stretch here, but anything can happen…
If I were to guess, I would say most of you (myself included) is guilty of using at least one of these excuses, even if most of the time they don’t feel like excuses. I mean you have a life and can’t ignore it. Sometimes, you get sick, and life happens, but all I’m saying is: don’t take advantage of it.
At the end of the day, you need to finish writing your book or post. [tweet_dis]You absolutely need to be consistent with your writing to be successful[/tweet_dis], and this will require a lot from you.
Second, NO Distractions!
So here are a few suggestions:
– Use a distraction-free software
Nowadays, you have a variety of writing software you can use that offers distraction-free writing such as Write!, Hemingway Editor, iA Writer, or Ulysses to only name a few. As far as I’m concerned, I prefer using Scrivener. This software has made my life so much easier. I can also personalize the background to have a smoother environment that will help me connect faster with the story.
– Turn off that damn wifi!
Do the research you need before so that you won’t need the internet. Yes, you can live without the web for 30 minutes to a few hours. I promise the world won’t collapse (hmm – maybe I shouldn’t promise that… Let’s live dangerously, then!)
http://gph.is/1KX2zgV
[tweet_dis]Block a time where no traveling or surfing will be allowed except in your imagination.[/tweet_dis] Social Media can wait. You can even schedule your post in advance if needed. Buffer or Hootsuite have great free options.
– Protect your time
Plan accordingly so that you won’t be needed for a few hours. Put your phone on Do not Disturb, and you can even invent a secret code for emergencies with your family.
Free some time by bribing someone to watch the kids, the cat/dog… or husband.
– Do what you need before
Ok – you’re not a two year old, but sometimes, it’s good to remember to take care of these things. We’re human – So think restroom, food, or hydration… I mean, you can even go pick up the mail, or do the dishes if that’s important to you. No judgment here, but be quick! You need to free your mind.
– Set up your environment: Get coffee, but don’t bring the pot or you might need to do some squats afterward. Put some music on if that helps. I don’t like music when I write as I find it distracting, but I have friends who can’t write without music or a picture on the wall. We’re all different, so find what works for you. Also, set up your desk by getting rid of possible toys (FYI – a slinky may count).
– Don’t forget to get some rest and take some breaks
You’ll be more efficient. It’ll be hard to concentrate if you don’t sleep 8 hours at night (or day for night owls). If you’re tired, you may be able to get more out of a writing session if you can take half an hour nap before.
Third, Write, Write, and Write
– Don’t wait for inspiration.
If you start typing, eventually, it’ll show up. Sometimes, you have to use a bit of tough love on yourself. So, get in front of your computer or notepad, and write until what you write makes sense. You have to let the magic operate.
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]”Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” – Stephen King[/tweet_box]
– Write in increments for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
I would recommend using the Pomodoro technique, which is a time-management technique developed by Francesco Cirillo. I didn’t use a timer at first, but I noticed my focus goes down around that time. I take a break (5 to 10 minutes) and start again. After four Pomodoro timers, you take a longer break. Many writers and bloggers use this technique, and it’s very efficient. In a nutshell, you get more done without going crazy.
Here is a short video that explains how it works.
– Outline and fill the blanks
Another thing that helps is to outline. I’ve been resistant to it at first, but since I outline, I write so much faster. I know where I’m going either way, but outlining just makes it easier. K.M. Weiland, Jane Friedman, and The Creative Penn are great resources if you want to know more about outlining.
Finally, Use an Alternative if you can’t write.
If you really can’t focus, then do yourself a favor and do something useful.
– Research the topic.
If you have material to work on, then writing will go fast.
– Read a book in your genre.
You might just find the sparks or ideas you’re seeking. I can’t stress enough how important it is to read.
– Take a short nap and start again.
If you’re exhausted, staring at your screen won’t do you any good.
– Change your setting
Try something different. Write in a park, in a cafe, or on the beach – Do whatever works to help you write.
– Go for a walk to change your mind.
Stop if you’re getting frustrated. Go for a walk, and clear your thoughts!
Distractions are a constant reminder of how easy it is not to write. Write regularly and don’t allow procrastination to settle. You need to know when to write and when to take a moment for you. It’s all about balance.
When you start writing a book, you quickly realize that writing is only a tip of the iceberg. Writing a book means you are not only a creative writer, but you’re also a business entrepreneur, a PR, a Salesperson, and even a Publisher in some instances.
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As if writing, itself, wasn’t hard enough, there are a few things to know when you start writing a book. For starter, you must learn all the intricacies of the industry. And, even if you’re ready to take on that challenge, you’ll have to keep pushing yourself to go above and beyond. In this situation, it is beneficial to rely on a strong support system, but unfortunately, not everyone will have this shoulder to lean on. This profession can get lonely at times.
Have you ever heard someone tell you that writing was a waste of time, that it won’t pay the bills? Did anyone ever say you were foolish and that your writing isn’t good enough, and that no one will ever be interested?
Sounds familiar? You’re not alone.
At the end of the day, people won’t always be supportive. Criticism is easy, especially for individuals who don’t get it.
I mean, how do you explain that you need to write like you need to drink water? How do you make them see that this is important to you? Really, how can you make people see that?
As far as I’m concerned, the answer is “You don’t.”
And, this is the hard part. Convincing them that you need to write is going to take time and energy. Don’t ruin your efforts and energy; use that time wisely.
Write instead.
One day, it’ll pay off. Keep doing what you do with passion and stick to it. There are many proponents to writing on a daily basis, and I’m one of them, even if in reality I can’t seem to apply this principle. Ultimately, you need to prepare yourself. Jeff Goins said in a training video that to succeed, we need to be in the right mindset. I had never thought of this before, but he is right.
So what does it take to be a writer? What are the attributes needed?
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I thought about it and wondered what being a writer teaches you and requires.
Bravery
To be a writer is to look at fear in the eyes and say I’ll do it. There are so many mental barriers to break. Fear of failing, not being good enough, being criticized, or not being heard. The list is long. I’m not even scratching the surface.
Money is also an issue. How will you pay the bills if it doesn’t work? Many stick with their job and progress is so slow that the motivation fades. Some may quit before time and realize that they were not prepared. The modern world seems to be in a hurry, and you need to keep the pace. So, being a writer is to be comfortable stepping out of your comfort zone.
Social Skills
Writers aren’t known for being outgoing individuals. I’m no exception. Of course, there are always a few exceptions. I’ve heard amazing speeches from a few authors at writing conferences, and I command them. I don’t enjoy public speaking or even the simple act of asking for anything. It isn’t in my DNA, but I’m working on it.
With that said, this community is full of awesome writers, authors, and bloggers. It’s worth the efforts. You make friends, learn faster, and get a fantastic support.
Humility
Learn to accept critiques (good or bad), be open to the possibility you’re doing something wrong, or there is simply a different way of doing it that may be better. Critiques aren’t fun, but it’s a necessary evil to progress.
Also, never be afraid to kill your darlings! The story is what matters. Let it be what it should, and don’t keep anything you like that is a disservice to the story.
Commitment
Writing is a long-term commitment. You need to feel strongly about what you write, or there is no chance you’ll get to the end. It takes months, even years, to write a book.
Imagine if J.K. Rowling did not like Harry Potter, she would be seriously screwed to have to hear all about it 10 years later… That’s just an example, but no matter if you’re selling your book successfully or not, it will take time to write it.
Curiosity
Some stories feel more real than if it had happened in real life, and that’s because of the writers’ ability to create that moment. Depending on what you write, reading specific materials or interviewing people are essential to be true to your story. All the research is solely conducted to bring truths in your writing.
A writer is always seeking that idea that will make the story even better.
Hard work and Discipline
Both goes without saying. Write every day! Write even when you don’t feel like it, and this is hard. I’m not afraid of challenges, and I love writing, but, with a family and a full-time job, I’m always exhausted. Finding motivation, when your body and brain beg for a nap, is rough.
With that said, discipline and hard work go together. There is no shortcut.
Perfectionism
You have to have some of it, but beware of too much as well. Good work will need countless revision, but you need to recognize that your book is ready for publishing. Do not rush and do not procrastinate. There is a delicate balance to reach that practice and reading will provide over time.
Writing a book is an incredible feeling. Read and write a lot. When you’re passionate about it, the thrill is addictive. Of course, there will be ups and downs, but your ability to overcome the struggle by displaying these attributes will make the experience worth every sweat.
Born in Toronto, Canada, KJ enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle during her early years, living in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean, which gave her an insider’s view into many different cultures. While abroad, she read every book she could find, which triggered in her a desire to create her own stories.
She attended Salzburg International Preparatory School, Neuchâtel Junior College, and Albert College before earning a Specialists Degree in Business from the University of Toronto.
[tweet_box design=”default” float=”none”]”If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” Stephen King[/tweet_box]
I love this quote because it sums it up. You want to be a writer, publish a book, find your voice, or even improve your writing skills. Well, having a great idea is wonderful, a great start even.
But how will you write, not just a story, but a compelling story, a page turner?
Writing a book is far from being easy. It’s only one part of the process and what follows is also quite a challenge, but the likelihood of a publisher or agent taking you on as a client increases if you have an author platform. This is a crucial part that you must start building early enough in the process. To truly appreciate what an author platform brings to the table and the value it adds to you as an author, we must first look at what an author platform and what it really means for an author to have a platform.
What is an author platform?
An author platform is hard to define, but it mainly refers to the exposure that an author receives because of who they are. In other words, you’re ability to market you as an author, your book, and what you’re doing to make this happen.
Jane Friedman’s definition is to me straightforward and efficient. It’s “an ability to sell books because of who you are or who you can reach.”
To have an author platform, you need to build an audience, and that audience and how you reach out to them is what defines your platform. When I say that it has to do with who you are, I really mean you as an author and a person.
A common mistake is to think that an author platform is only your Social Media presence. Well, It’s only one part of the big picture. It can be your Website, your blog, your face to face with your readers, your ability to be on radio or TV. It’s the impact/exposure you have that will lead to the sale of your book. Finally, when authors market their book, they also market themselves as an Author, but also as a person especially if the story is something you’re familiar with.
An author platform is vital to anyone who will write non-fiction and is becoming more and more important if you write fiction and you’re not established. For fiction writers, your story and writing will always be what’s most important, but then agents or publishers will google you and see what you’re made of. So more than ever, an author platform is important.
Importance of the author platform
Marketability
An agent or publisher is more than likely to take you on as a client if they are assured of your demand value. Unless you are an established author with a strong credibility or a celebrity, then your writing and story is the only thing you can showcase, and sometimes it’s not enough. Having a solid following, however, assures the agent or publisher of your demand value. It shows that as an author, your work is appreciated by enough readers to ensure sales once published on a commercial scale.
Improves your credibility
In this day and age, basically, anyone can claim to be an author. With the right material, people can publish books and certify themselves as authors. To the agent or publisher, that is not a guarantee of your expertise. Having a book out there does not mean that you are a successful or promising investment. Having an author platform, on the other hand, proves to the publisher or agent that you are a credible investment. Your platform acts as proof of the authenticity of your work and as a testament to its quality. Certainly, the larger the platform, the higher your value increases.
Provides a ready market
Having an author platform gives you an already established market that you can use to promote your work. Is this of any benefit considering the publisher or agent will be doing most of that? You cannot place full reliance on the publisher or agent to market your work. Furthermore, they cannot guarantee that after marketing your work, it will fare well in a new market against already established authors. A lot of the marketing work will fall on you, so it is important that you have an author platform, which provides a market for your work.
Increases exposure
As mentioned, your author platform can act as an avenue to reach out to more people. If you have an author platform, you can use this as a stepping-stone to drawing in more readers into your following. Most times, if your work is truly exceptional, you will not have to ask your readers to help you bring in more people into the fold. Instead, your work will do all the talking for you, and you will find your platform growing. If you need a good system to sell your book, I do recommend to read Tim Grahl’s “Your first 1000 copies.” It’s a great book.
Idea generation
As an author, there may come a time when you need fresh ideas for new books. An author platform might come in handy in such a situation. Your readers might offer some useful insight into what they want from you or what they expect of your books and characters. Do you, for instance, need a book series for a certain title? If so, how would the sequels progress? What is expected of the main characters and how can you keep the readers glued to your books? They can generate ideas for a sequel, and it will give you an idea of what your readers want from you. Also, the more you see this kind of comments, the better it is because it means they are involved in your story. At the end of the day, you remain the author, but it’s a great connection for you to have with your readers.
It is important to have an author’s platform not just for the sake of the publisher and agent but also for yourself. You can learn and grow stronger with an Author Platform and use it to brand your Brand and sell more books. It could influence the progress and direction of your work. More so, it helps set a market standard that you can always rely on for support and success.
Putting together an incredible manuscript is an investment by itself. However, before you send it to the editor, there are few things that you should keep in mind to enhance your success. Let us go through a few of the things.
It is a given fact that as a writer, you spend lots of time with your manuscript such that it becomes so hard for you to see the content objectively. This is a major hiccup in self-editing. You may think that you have polished your manuscript only to find gross errors once the book is published.
Right? That’s a writer’s nightmare. So what can we do about it?
Juggling a full-time job, family activities, and daily chores while writing a book can be challenging. So time management becomes an absolute necessity to increase productivity. The key is to find the organization that suits your life.
As a writer, I needed to find a way to be effective meaning being able to produce quality work, but also quantity in short amounts of time. As a mother and wife, I needed to make myself available to my family, so they didn’t suffer from me disappearing behind my computer whenever they were home. Let me tell you; it took a few trials and errors before I found something that worked for me. It may not be perfect, but I see this as a work in progress.
Last week, I talked about how to start writing a book, but writing it is only the tip of the iceberg. If you thought you worked hard writing the first draft I have some bad news for you. You’re, unfortunately, not done yet and I’m afraid you’ll need a lot more work to cross the finish line. While you’re taking some time/distance from your work before editing, it’s always good to think about where you want to go. Before you publish a book there are things you need to know/keep in mind, and these questions may also help you shape your book.
[tweet_dis_img][/tweet_dis_img]When I first started writing, I had no clue what I was doing – I mean really NO clue! I had this great idea powered by great enthusiasm, but no real education on the matter. I threw myself in this writing endeavor to quickly realize I had to stop and correct my approach. I don’t regret anything because I learned a lot from these mistakes, but I also know I will take a very different approach for my next book. With that, I want share with you what I should have done, in hopes it will benefit you and save you lots of time and potentially some major headaches. So, let me share with you 8 simple steps on how to start writing a book.
G.W. Renshaw hasn’t done everything, but he’s trying: Canadian Forces, retail slave, forest ranger, computer programmer for 30 years, college teacher, film actor, security and intelligence, jeweller, black smith, Search and Rescue manager, and member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms.
Get coffee, but don’t bring the pot or you might need to do some squats afterward. Put some music on if that helps. I don’t like music when I write as I find it distracting, but I have friends who can’t write without music or a picture on the wall. We’re all different, so find what works for you. Also, set up your desk by getting rid of possible toys (FYI – a slinky may count).
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Born in Toronto, Canada, KJ enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle during her early years, living in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and the Caribbean, which gave her an insider’s view into many different cultures. While abroad, she read every book she could find, which triggered in her a desire to create her own stories. 
An agent or publisher is more than likely to take you on as a client if they are assured of your demand value. Unless you are an established author with a strong credibility or a celebrity, then your writing and story is the only thing you can showcase, and sometimes it’s not enough. Having a solid following, however, assures the agent or publisher of your demand value. It shows that as an author, your work is appreciated by enough readers to ensure sales once published on a commercial scale.
As mentioned, your author platform can act as an avenue to reach out to more people. If you have an author platform, you can use this as a stepping-stone to drawing in more readers into your following. Most times, if your work is truly exceptional, you will not have to ask your readers to help you bring in more people into the fold. Instead, your work will do all the talking for you, and you will find your platform growing. If you need a good system to sell your book, I do recommend to read Tim Grahl’s “Your first 1000 copies.” It’s a great book.
As an author, there may come a time when you need fresh ideas for new books. An author platform might come in handy in such a situation. Your readers might offer some useful insight into what they want from you or what they expect of your books and characters. Do you, for instance, need a book series for a certain title? If so, how would the sequels progress? What is expected of the main characters and how can you keep the readers glued to your books? They can generate ideas for a sequel, and it will give you an idea of what your readers want from you. Also, the more you see this kind of comments, the better it is because it means they are involved in your story. At the end of the day, you remain the author, but it’s a great connection for you to have with your readers.
Last week, I talked about 
[/tweet_dis_img]When I first started writing, I had no clue what I was doing – I mean really NO clue! I had this great idea powered by great enthusiasm, but no real education on the matter. I threw myself in this writing endeavor to quickly realize I had to stop and correct my approach. I don’t regret anything because I learned a lot from these mistakes, but I also know I will take a very different approach for my next book. With that, I want share with you what I should have done, in hopes it will benefit you and save you lots of time and potentially some major headaches.