It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by one of my favorite bloggers and author of the CassaFire series, Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Today I'd like to take a moment first off to say congrats to all the survivors of the Blogging A Through Z challenge that just ended yesterday. It was an absolute blast, but at the same time very very draining. And for those of you whose blogs I didn't get around to, I'm so sorry. Between writing my own posts and being in and out of the hospital with my family every day, I was a little short on time this challenge. I wasn't sure I'd even get my act together to write this post, I was so tired when I finished up with my alphabetic frenzie. But alas I did, much to my own surprise. And I even came up with something (in the very midst of my exhaustion, so don't expect too much) that I consider invaluable knowledge.
Write for yourself. Write to please yourself first, and everyone else second. I'd like to say for yourself first and nobody else, but as a writer who's trying to get published via traditional means (and yes, I've considered self-publishing. That's a topic for another day), I have to keep my intended audience in mind or I may never crack my way into the industry.
But it's important, no matter what you're writing, to write for yourself. If you're blogging, don't worry about what people might comment. If you're completing a novel, write something you'd love to read. I've heard people say it before, but this past month, with the insanity of posting every single day and very little free time, it finally hit.
Write for yourself.
It's the only thing that counts.
Wise advice, it's your book and you can't please everyone.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
so true, also works for painting!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely - there's no point doing it if you don't love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice, I have to remind myself of this sometimes. There's no point writing if you don't enjoy it :)
ReplyDeleteHere from Alex's blog.
ReplyDeleteFWIW, I couldn't agree more. As a writer who has been working on a novel for three and a half years, I have come to understand that I do this for no one else but me. Tackling a book is not only a solitary and sedentary job, but it is also a thankless one. I wouldn't have endured the writer's journey if I didn't love it and couldn't live without it. This said, being a person who enjoys the craft, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to make fiction writing a career. ONce my novel is completed I plan to try to break into the industry and achieve my goal. If, however, this doesn't come to pass, I'll probably get a traditional job and will continue to write on the side. It's in my blood and truly defines who I am. I'll always write in some capacity.
BTW, I really enjoyed your post and am now a follower.
Well... duh...
ReplyDelete:P
Yeah, that's how I'm feeling this morning. It's better and easier than re-writing what you just said in order to just agree with you.
Very wise advice. I wrote for me first, as I was writing stories I wanted to read.
ReplyDeleteFeel free to collapse tomorrow. I know I will.
Great advice! It's hard to remember it sometimes. Good job on the A to Z challenge! Time for a break. :D
ReplyDeleteSpot on! (but then you already knew that!)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing A to Z. I loved your theme, I couldn't wait to see what cool movie characters you were going to remind me of next.
ReplyDeleteWrite for your self. Great advice.
This is very great advice! I enjoyed reading this post very much.
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Well said. And I totally agree. Thanks for the reminder. :)
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That's a great thing to have learnt. I always write for myself on my blog, which is why mine's a small, personal blog, but it's something I have to remember in my other writing too. Write for myself first.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. My way of saying it: Write for yourself. Edit with your target audience in mind.
ReplyDeleteThat way, you get the best of both. :-)
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Yes, and yes, I sooooo agree with you on this one. Write for yourself, I think too many of us lose our way and get caught up in 'the market' and 'the rules' that we forget that we should be writing what we love, because it's when we do that, when we write for ourselves, that it shines through and our readers can sense that. Brill post, hope you are okay.
ReplyDelete