When attending a conference, class, or seminar, I’ve disciplined myself over the years to not only take notes but also turn what I learn into action items. I’ll jot down something from the presenter, then create an action point and circle it in my notes so I don’t forget.
Once in a while, I’ll even put something down that I need to stop doing. In a similar vein, fellow agent Bob Hostetler wrote this blog post in 2019 on things to stop doing as a writer.
Taking action to stop doing something is difficult. It includes an admission that you’ve been doing something wrong, which is unnatural for anyone. After all, why would I knowingly do something that isn’t the right thing to do?
For any level of author, here is my list of things to stop doing that hopefully won’t be too difficult to swallow if they pertain to you:
Looking for Shortcuts
In general, some people attend writers conferences and their accompanying workshops and sessions, looking for quick and easy ways to navigate the world of book publishing. Looking for shortcuts in just about anything will only lead to more disappointments than usual, not easy solutions. Sure, there are time-saving ways to do many tasks these days, but book writing is not fast, easy, or devoid of challenges to overcome. In publishing, the road less traveled leads to nowhere.
Avoiding Platform Building
This item is a subset of the previous one, but one that deserves its own cautionary tale. Those who skip this usually think that, even though all the indicators suggest platform-less authors have a much harder road to successful publication, they are willing to bypass it and try to make it work as a publicly unknown person with few connections. This is a big mistake.
Not Writing Consistently
Any author should have a folder filled with other things they have written. Poetry, devotionals, short stories, tributes to people they know, letters, thoughts on important events, or other books, whether they be finished or in process. Like any endeavor, a writer’s work improves the more they write.
Skipping Learning Altogether (Conferences, Groups)
Ongoing, lifelong learning is a major pivot point to not only growth in life, but improvement in your work. The minute you stop pushing yourself to learn new things, you will eventually begin to forget the former things you learned and regress in all areas of life (even physically). This could be the most important lesson for writers.
Disengaging From Other Writers
Many writers are introverts, so this can be an issue that creeps up on you when your world becomes smaller and smaller. Without overspiritualizing this, Scripture urges us not to avoid assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). I believe this applies to Christian writers as well; they always need encouragement and support from others to keep moving forward in their ministry of the written word.
Sometimes it is simpler to make a list of things to do than things to avoid. The entire list above could be categorized as taking the easy route, even though almost every well-developed skill or gift comes from pressing forward consistently.
The only thing I can offer is stop beating yourself up, either through comparison to others, or comparison to your aspirations.
I’m there now, in the latter, every night. The physicality of life has become so very hard; walking across the room takes gritted teeth, turning over in bed’s an ordeal, yada yada, yada, and in the small hours I feel worthless. I won’t achieve even modest goals, and staying upright at a keyboard simply doesn’t work (neither does speaking into a vocal transcriber, because I can barely talk, which some count as blessing!).
So that’s pretty much it for writing. Fun while it lasted.
I’m living surrounded by the detritus of dreams that cannot now come true, and which I don’t have the heart, or the courage, to delete from my life.
But there’s two things that I can still do.
I can still be kind.
And I can praise God for the opportunity to be a part of His loving heart.
Andrew, your writing has been powerful, even on your “bad” days. Thanks for keeping at it. I wouldn’t be surprised if you find a great many blessings from it when you walk through those enormous gates someday.
“So that’s pretty much it for writing.” Says the man who in the next sentence wrote this:
“I’m living surrounded by the detritus of dreams that cannot now come true, and which I don’t have the heart, or the courage, to delete from my life.”
Sorry, Andrew, I don’t buy it. You are and always have been a powerful writer. And your words will live on forever. Your courage and strength are an inspiration to all of us, as is your poetry and talent. God bless you and keep you.
Sy, golly… thank you.
The past few weeks have been something else. A few broken ribs puntured a lung and bruised a cancerous pancreas, and even worse, Barb’s Heart Puppy got Parvo. He’s on the mend, thank God.
I have done my level best through each day to deep a stiff upper lip and to try to reflect God’s grace and love.
Imperfectly, to be sure, but perhaps the proof is in the effort, and not in the results?
((hugs)) and prayers, Andrew!
What Sy said.
Amen!
Wow, Dan, thanks for the shout out. I’m used to Steve Laube shouting at me, but this was much more pleasant.
I have the spiritual gift of discouragement, so anything positive resulting from what I do is a pleasant surprise.
I can personally testify that the converse of that statement is absolutely true.
This blog makes complete sense but it so difficult to build a platform. Writing is easy, editing is not really problem, life as a mother to five kids involved in various sports and a gig as a two night a week CCD teacher is not always overwhelming. But… oh my goodness! Building a platform is torture.
Would gladly take any suggestions on how to achieve success in that area.
Amber
For sure, an effective platform will take time, likely more than it takes to write multiple books. Every writer’s conference will have workshops; this agency blog frequently posts about them, and there are podcasts and online classes to take.
Growing, effective platforms are a requirement for traditional publishers, since they bear the costs of publishing a book, which is tens of thousands of dollars. Even for self-published authors, a platform is the difference between selling a few copies of your book and a few thousand. (And by “few copies,” I mean three copies)
If you just want a book for friends and family, no platform is needed.
No shortcuts are available, except for spending a lot of money to buy and audience.
I was about to suggest listing things TO DO, instead of dwelling on the no-nos.
Instead of thinking about not eating donuts, think about the exciting crunch and creamy saltiness of celery stuffed with peanut butter for example.
However, near the end, I found mention of that very idea. Of course, we do have to be genuine in our desire to obey the call to write, right?
I was glad you mentioned writing elsewhere besides “the book”. I always called that “procrastiwriting”. There is nothing, for me, that inspire a poem like an unfinished chapter calling out to me.
Now, I believe you’ve given me legitimacy. Ha!
Ditto for Sy’s post. Exactly! to Amber’s. Dan, WOW! I realized I’ve been doing every one of the things on your list of things to stop doing! But there is always hope, right? I’m finally moving forward from the whole-life overwhelm and debilitating grief from my beloved husband’s unexpected death. That event left me in analysis paralysis about MANY things, including working on my platform. The only writing I’ve done is a series of 26 Facebook essays entitled The Widow’s Mites. But the owner of a small Christian press, a best-selling author herself, loved my last book manuscript and wants to talk. That certainly should motivate me to stop doing those things on your list, get out my metaphorical hammer, and start working on that platform again! Sincerely thanks for the timely reminder!