3 Things Writers Should Never Do on the Road to Publication

From Edie: Avoid common writing mistakes that stall your progress. Learn three things writers should never do on the road to publication.

3 Things Writers Should Never Do on the Road to Publication

by Larry J. Leech II @LarryJLeechII

One of my favorite, if not the favorite, marketing slogan of all-time is: Just Do It.

I have written about my love for this slogan in blogs and have mentioned it in numerous workshops over the years. I’m not here to repeat my love for that slogan. Instead, I want to flip the coin over to the other side. 

Don’t. Do. It.

Upcoming authors, even veterans at times, like to emulate others who have incredible success. That’s admirable. Every writer is either on a different path or in a different spot in their journey to publication. And that’s okay. 

So, don’t set yourself up for failure by comparing yourself to others, don’t be unrealistic with your expectations, and certainly don’t try to publish without the help of others. 

DON’T Compare

Many us know a popular author who speaks often at conferences and has sold more than three million books. Yup. Three. Million. Books. 

You might look at her and think, “I’m just not the writer she is.” Or “She’s incredible. I’ll never be as good as her.”

Not a fair comparison if you are in the process of writing your first book or tenth or even your twentieth. She’s written more than seventy books. And has worked very, very hard to enjoy her recent success.

Don’t compare yourself to someone you admire. Instead, look at how they got to the level of success you aspire to. 

This author early in her career wrote while in the drive-thru lane at fast food restaurants. That’s just one example of how hard she worked. And the proof is in the pudding.

Look at the work ethic of your favorites and instill as much as you can. Then maybe someday someone may wish they were you. And you can encourage them to not compare themselves to you.

DON’T be Unrealistic

During my twenty-plus years in book publishing I have witnessed unrealistic expectations from first-time authors more times than I care to remember. Yup, been a LOT.

Some of those expectations include:

Writing more words a day / week than they are capable of.

Trying to finish a manuscript or edits by December 31.

Setting aside full days to write.

Not reading, especially in their genre.

These are just a few. There are more, unfortunately.

Be realistic about how many words you can write, five days a week. I never encourage new authors to write seven days a week. That takes a lot of brain power and usually burns out the author before they can finish. Five hundred words a day, five days a week will get you 60,000 words in six months. Just sayin.’

Don’t try to finish by December 31. I’ve written about this before. Just Don’t Do It. Stealing time away to work on a project during the holiday season is not fair to family. Finish by December 15. And enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Worry free.

This is another big one. Some writers, and I understand why, will plan to write for a full day. Maybe on a weekend or one day while the spouse takes the kids away for the day. Most newbies just don’t have the chomps, brain power, or discipline to write for eight straight hours. Pretty much everything becomes a distraction. And the author may end up writing for less than three hours.

The last one, oh, one of biggest failures is NOT reading. Goodness. Writers gotta read. Nonstop. Try to read good content. Doing so will make you a better writer. Writers who don’t read hinder their progress, particularly early in their career. So, read. No excuses. Many of us have stressed this point for years, decades. Even with all the new technology available, the emphasis on reading has not changed. Read. A lot.

DON’T Publish Without Help

Oh, this is another biggie. Getting published is a group effort. Yes, in this day and age one can write, run the manuscript through a software program, design the cover, and typeset the file. Not wise.

Having an accountability partner, being a part of a critique group, hiring a coach, finding beta readers are some of the first steps to take before hiring an editor, marketing expert, and cover designer. These people have the expertise to help you deliver the best manuscript possible. 

The more eyes you can get on your project before publication will reduce unnecessary errors and content issues. Most editors, designers, et al, have a heart to help others. Hire them. Let them help you … be better. 

Remember, a story or message that is easy to read is an indication the author put in the effort to make it a good read. If the writing is difficult to consume is an indication the author put in little effort to produce their best work.

Now that I have focused on a few things not to do, let me finish with this, something positive: Enjoy the journey. Yes, work is involved. But the fruits of your labor are well worth it. So, Just Do It.

TWEETABLE

3 Things Writers Should Never Do on the Road to Publication from @LarryJLeechII on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Usually with a hot beverage nearby, Larry J. Leech II spends his days working with words—as a writing coach of award-winning authors, as well as Acquisitions Editor and Master Book Coach for Illumify Media. More than forty years ago, Larry started his career as a sportswriter in southwestern Pennsylvania where he covered prep sports, college sports, and the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers. In 2004, after 2,300 published articles, Larry shifted to book publishing. Since that time, he has ghostwritten thirty books, edited more than 450 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors through the writing and publication process. For nearly two decades Larry has taught at numerous general market and inspirational conferences nationwide. When he has a minute, Larry likes to hang out on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find out more about him on his website: larryleech.com.