I still want to write books that affect people’s lives, but in a variety of ways. I don’t think being a bestseller is as important as I did before. I don’t think about being a bestseller at all. What I think about instead is how to earn a living with my writing. Read this great post about how it’s not necessary to be a bestseller. Check out this post by Joe Konrath. It busts the myth of the bestseller.

Instead of focusing on writing a bestseller now, I focus on writing the best book I possibly can. My goal is to write as many great books as I can. I want to write books that entertain. I also want to write books that make people think. The self-published authors that are most successful are also the ones that are most prolific. Having one book for sale isn’t going to make you enough money to survive. The more books you have for sale the better your situation.

If someone reads your book and they like it they’ll buy another book that you’ve written. If you only have one book they’ll read it and forget about you. That’s the problem with only having one book.

I know, I know…I only have one book. That’s part of my problem. I’ve been slow getting my books out. That is changing though. Flying lessons will be out in March. I also have another project that I’m planning on releasing in March also.

Oh yeah, there’s one more important part of becoming a successful writer–have a good time. You should enjoy writing. Your readers will be able to tell if you enjoy what you do when the read your books. People read books to be entertained, maybe they’ll gain an insight or two. If they do that’s a bonus. It’s a darn good bonus.

Now you might be thinking who am I to write all this about what makes a successful author. I’ll tell you who I am. I’m someone who just figured all this out and I’m so excited that I want to share it with you. Write a darn good book and then write another and then another. Love that books. Love your readers and keep writing. That’s the secret. That’s the secret that I’m following now at least. You can watch me to see where it leads, but I suggest you get started on your journey yourself.

Photo by striatic

Despite not keeping up with my word count goals things are going incredibly well here. I have lots of great ideas and I won’t take too much time writing this blog. I have other writing to do.

After talking to him I went back and read what I had originally written. It turns out that I didn’t change much at all in the rewrite. It was shocking to me because I thought I was making a lot of changes.

It turns out that I spent a few days basically wasting my time writing something I’d already written. How useless it that!! Unbelievable!! I’ve gone back to writing the original book now and set my rewrite aside.

Do you have problems trusting yourself when it comes to your writing? Getting feedback from other people is great. Other perspectives can give you a different angle on your book that will help improve it, but you need to trust your instincts about it too.

Do you think you have a great idea? Do you think your book is good? If you don’t go with that. Don’t be so convinced that you can’t listen to reasonable criticism about it, but don’t take every criticism as valid.
Weigh carefully what is said and who is saying it. If something really does need to be changed change it.

In the end, you always have to remember that it is your story. It is your idea. You have the last say. I’m telling you this because mostly I need to hear it, but I figure that if I need to hear it there is someone out there who needs to hear it too.

Love your story. Love your creativity.

Photo by seyed mostfa zamani

You may wonder what made me decide on this 7,000 number. I think that if I open myself up creatively I can easily achieve this goal. I have had days when I’ve written almost that amount in one day.

Normally, I agonize to write 1,000 words, but I think that’s all mental. I’ve had a few days when I’ve written 1,000 words with no problem. Like I said before I’ve had days when I’ve written nearly 7,000 words in one day. When I started writing my newest book I had a few days when I wrote about 5,000 words. I thought that was amazing at the time, but now I think that kind of word count daily is possible.

I read a lot of writing blogs and people like Dean Wesley Smith write that much and more daily. People like John Locke and Amanda Hocking finish a novel in a few weeks.

I know that your behavior is a habit. My habit has been write a few sentences then check Facebook or my emails or look up random things online. I’ve been lazy. I need to put in the work required to get the book done. It’s not that I’m not capable. It’s just that I put things off.

I’m starting to think that this whole problem that I have with word count is psychological. I’ve put a limit on myself in my mind. I’ve decided that writing is such hard work that if I write 1,000 words it is amazing, but honestly is it really?  If I get down to it I know I can manage 1,000 words daily with no problem. This issue is getting down to it. That’s why I’ve decided to make my writing my first priority when I wake up in the morning. That means I must right before I check my emails or my Facebook account. Once the writing is done I can do other things.

That’s my resolution. What’s yours? Are you going to commit to a daily word count? Do you have a novel you want to start or finish this year?

Photo by mpclemens 

Sometimes I decide I want to change the point of view. Sometimes I just think I need to change a few things at the beginning of the story. Instead of going back and making those changes, I just decide to start writing the whole thing over again.

I did that just this morning. I started from the beginning of a novel I’m already halfway through. As I rewrote the first chapter, I realized that I didn’t want to make as many changes as I originally thought. I decided to save the changed first chapter and go back to the original book I was writing and work on that.

This problem of constantly starting over has been a problem with my writing before. I’ve worked hard to get beyond it, but never thought it would sneak up on me again. It’s a common problem for writers to have.

Your Inner Critic

We all have doubts. Some doubts are stronger than others. The critic in your head is trying to keep you safe. It sees you doing things that are different that might put you at risk in some way and wants to stop it.

The risk doesn’t have to be something that is physically harmful. It could be anything that will cause you to step outside of your comfort zone. In writing, it could be putting a story you created out for the public to read. The reality of the situation is that not everyone will like your writing. You are opening yourself up to be criticized by people you don’t know.

Your brain has developed a comfort zone. It likes where you are now and is weary of change. This change can include success as well as failure.

What your critic says to you is deeply ingrained. It comes from your childhood and how as an insecure child you spoke to yourself. That’s why even when you try your hardest not to criticize yourself it can still be quite difficult to stop it, but controlling this critic is important to your success.

Silencing Your Inner Critic

The first step to silencing your inner critic is slowing down the criticisms and taking an honest look at them. Look at the criticisms. Are they valid? Many people are their own worst critics. If you are overly harsh with yourself you may not be able to honestly evaluate your writing. This is why it is good to be in a writing group or to have a writing partner. If you don’t have a writing partner write now, get someone you know to read your writing and give you an honest opinion.

Having an honest evaluation of your work is a big step to silencing your critic so you can get serious writing done.

Think about your audience. I find that when I have a difficult time writing because I think my writing isn’t good enough that I’m thinking more about myself and not about my readers. Think about your readers and how your story will affect them.

Taking these first steps will help you look at your work more objectively and give you the freedom you need to finish your book.

Picture by [Vale]

Recently, I had a conversation about an important task he needed to get done. That task had nothing to do with writing, but it was something that he had been putting off that was important for his future. When we were talking about it he kept saying, “Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that tomorrow.”

The language he was using suggested that he had no control over the situation. It was as if he thought that the stars had to align in a special manner for him to be able to complete this task. That wasn’t the truth at all. He was 100% in control over his actions and the outcome, but he had given up that control because he was afraid.

Of course, I didn’t let this slip. I explained to him the error in his thinking and encouraged him to complete the task. After I hung up the phone, I started thinking about our conversation. There were things I was putting off doing with my writing that I really shouldn’t have been.

I’ve had an idea for a series of novels for a few years now. I’ve been letting the idea perpulate in my head for a long time, but I put off writing it. My reason for putting it off was that I felt like I didn’t have the time. I thought I needed to get other things done first. The problem was that this list was endless. There would be one thing then another and then another.

I was doing the same thing my son was doing. I was saying to myself that hopefully I would be able to start this book series in the future. The problem with that is that the future is now. Days passed and before I knew it a whole year had gone by, and I still hadn’t done it.

Well, that stopped right away. I’ve started writing that series. I’m also finally nearly finished proof reading Flying Lessons and am almost ready to send it to an editor. I am in charge of my life and I have to act like it.

What are you putting off?

Here is my question for you. Are you putting off writing a novel? Are you waiting until you get this or that project done, or you have just a little bit more money to get started? This life is the only life you have. Once today is over, it’s over. It will never come back.

Now is no time to put off writing your novel. If you really want to do it, just do it. I may sound like a Nike ad, but I’m serious. Schedule some time even if it’s just thirty minutes, sit down and start writing. Don’t put it off even another day. That’s my challenge to you.

Hopefully, I’ll write a novel is not a sentence I want you to say. I want you to say, I’m writing a novel.

The blade stung, but Michael was braver now. He closed his eyes against the pain. “This has to work,” he muttered.

Streaks of warm blood ran down his hand over his fingers. He sunk back into the bathtub watching the warm water shallow him up.

Michael knew what to expect. He’d seen it before a few years ago when he and Crystal went driving down in the canyon. Michael had been showing off when he took the curve too fast. The steering wheel pulled against his grip. The tires yelled, and Michael saw the rocks coming at him.

It was like stepping out of a dim, narrow room into the light. The impact pushed him from one world to another. Everything exploded with color and he felt better than he’d ever remembered feeling before.

They’d sent him back then. They’d sent him to fumble around in this clumsy world, but he couldn’t let go of his experience there. He’d spent so much time waiting for death to happen again. He was tired of waiting.

Michael sunk down in the water a little more. It tickled his chin. His eyelids were growing heavier now. He thought of Crystal. He wondered if she’d be waiting for him there.

Michael blinked slowly a few times before closing his eyes completely. They sent him back last time, but this time he wasn’t going back.

Photo by Lucas Hoyos

If you think that saying your target market is women between the ages of 30 and 45 is good enough, think again. You have to be more specific. What type of job does she have? What are her problems? Which television shows does she like? How does she spend her free time? When you know specific information like this about your target market it’ll be easier for you to find them.

With a complete profile about your ideal reader mapped out you’ll have the information you’ll need to start marketing your book. If you’re marketing your book to the wrong audience you might as well not be marketing it at all. The wrong audience will not like your novel. Actually marketing to the wrong audience might be worst than not marketing it at all because you’re likely to get a bunch of bad reviews from unsatisfied readers. You need to get your novel into the hands of the people who will like it most. Those people will love your book and spread the word. Having devoted readers is the best advertising you can have.

I’m not going to front and pretend I had everything together when I put out my first novel. When I released The Box I had no plan and no idea who my audience was. I didn’t try to market it one bit and I didn’t treat my writing career like a business. I did everything wrong. Doing everything wrong taught me a few lessons, but I learned those lessons the hard way. Don’t make the same mistakes I made.

I recently read John Locke’s How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months. It’s an fast interesting read. John Locke is a marketer and his book will teach you a lot of things you need to know when you start marketing your book. I recommend checking it out.

Picture by cliff1066

Linda picked a yellow and white daisy from her flowerbed. She had found the perfect one with all of its petals symmetrically positioned around a happy, yellow center. She stuck the green stem behind her ear. As a school girl she would’ve sat in the grass and gently pulled the petals from the flower while repeating, “He loves me, he loves me not.” Linda didn’t have to that now. She already knew that he loved her. He had told her only a few minutes ago. She could still feel his hot breath on her ear as the raspy, thick words escaped his lips. The tear that slid down his cheek let her know that he really meant it.

Linda always had a soft spot for sensitive men. Tom was less sensitive then most. He held out for as long as he could, but in the end he couldn’t hide his true feelings. She had a knack for bringing out their true feelings. She thought it was her strong confidence that made them feel comfortable enough with her to let go.

She wandered over to the tomato patch. The plants were growing so well now. A few ripe fruit hung low and heavy from the plants. She picked them and brought them into the kitchen. Tom would love a tomato and cucumber salad. It’s the perfect summer snack, she thought as she washed and sliced the deep red tomatoes. She dropped them in the bowl with the cucumbers she’d already cut.

Linda loved the simplicity of her life–growing her own food, sewing her own clothes. She only had to go into town occasionally for supplies. Men always seemed to want to go out, but Linda never understood why. The comforts of home were enough for her.

“I made a nice salad,” Linda called from the kitchen.

She waited for Tom to answer. He didn’t.

After mixing it well, Linda dished the salad out into to small wooden bowls. She’d take it to him. That’s the least she could do after all he’d done for her.

Linda descended the stairs to the basement. “You’ll love this salad. I’ve even added a touch of mint,” she said. Her words were met with unusual silence.

As she got further down the stairs the damp, heavy air filled her lungs. There were puddles on the floor from the previous night’s rain. She’d stopped the basement from flooding but it still wasn’t completely waterproof. She was hoping that Tom would be able to fix that for her eventually.

“Tom?” She looked to the corner beneath the narrow window where you usually sat. She could see his silhouette swaying against the light. The length of the chain she’d tied around his wrists from the beam in the ceiling was pulled taunt around his neck. Though his feet touched the floor his legs were limp.

Linda sighed and placed the salad bowls on the floor. Was this the way all her relationships would end? she wondered. She retrieved the toolbox from a shelf in the corner. She’d have to take the chain out of the beam to get him down.

“I guess you’ll have to join the others in the garden,” she said.

Photo by Ajith_chatie

Are you living for the weekend?

Most people settle in life. They go to jobs they don’t really like and spend their entire day there. Then they come home feeling physically and emotionally exhausted and watch television for a few hours. They go to bed and start the whole thing over again in the morning. They live for the weekends, but what kind of living is that? Is this the way you’re living your life? Are you doing what you really want to do?

How does this apply to me, I’m a writer?

Maybe you’re thinking, Lovelyn, how does this apply to me? I’m a writing of course I’m doing what I love. I’m writing. That’s great, but I wonder what you’re writing? Are you turning out the next a paranormal romance book featuring vampires because that’s what you think is hot right now? Or are you writing a paranormal romance featuring vampires because you think vampires are sexy and you love paranormal romance? I’m just asking you to check yourself.

Writing for the market might make you a few bucks, but is it your authentic contribution to society? What is your passion? There must be stories bubbling up from deep inside of you that you really want to tell. That’s why you decided to have a go at this whole writing thing.

Tell that story.

Don’t waste your time and everyone else’s trying to write an action packed thriller if you aren’t really into that. Don’t sit down with the intention of writing literary fiction if your heart is really in horror. If you like brain munching zombies write the best zombie book you can write. Include lots of brain munching in it too.

Write what you love.

Don’t get so caught up in the business of writing that you lose sight of why you wanted to become a writer in the first place. Yes, marketing is necessarily especially if your indie. You have to promote yourself, but first and foremost you are a writer and writers write. Writer’s preferably write what they love.

Life is way too short to run around trying to be someone you’re not. People will recognize your true self and they’ll love it or hate. More people will love it than hate it. So put yourself out there. The path to true success is lined with risks. You may feel more comfortable holding back, but you know what? Holding back will just hold you back.

Picture by Sukanto Debnath