I am three weeks away from turning in my second book to my publisher. I am also three weeks away from my first book releasing in bookstores everywhere. Three weeks away to the day. I know what it is to write books. Ish. I say that to remind you that everything I say today is seen through the lens of a writer who is steadily approaching both a major deadline as well as a book release. I might be seven shades of crazy.
Publishing is business, and I know so very little about it. (Hello, this is my first book, and I am no expert. Nice to meet you). One thing I do know: If you want to share a message, you have to do the work. Maybe the work is a book. Or maybe it is just a few blog posts or a series on a blog or an ebook. You don’t have to know which you have when you start, but as you handle it and sit with it and simply do the next thing that makes sense, you will know. Here are some things to keep in mind if you have a blog but would like to pursue traditional publication.
Writing may be different from publishing. You may be a writer. Does that mean you are also supposed to pursue publication? Are all writers destined to be published? Should all writers try? Rachelle Gardner wrote a post about Writing vs. Publishing on her blog a few months ago and the comments are especially interesting. A common theme among writers is the desire to not only want to write, but to want to be read. I relate with that. But are we limiting ourselves when being read only means writing books?
Blog writing is not practice. Sometimes I get the feeling that bloggers write on blogs as practice for their books that don’t exist yet. But they don’t take it seriously. This is a bad idea. If you need to practice, do it in your private journal. Don’t operate from a corner of scarcity, hoarding your best work for a future book. Do the work now. Why wait?
Book writing is not glamorous. Examine your reasons for wanting to be published in the traditional way. This isn’t the place to gloss over your red flags, or to say you’ll figure it out when the time comes. Know your reasons, and know them well. Is it to see your name on the cover of a book? Is it for the affirmation? Is it because a book is the absolute best way to get your message out and there is no other medium by which you could do that?
I’m not here to talk you out of your reasons. As you know, all kinds of writing can be grueling, lonely, and difficult. But when you write in such a way that forces you to get to the heart of your message, when you set out to create a large piece of work for public consumption, and when you have to do it on a deadline, you will cry, hate, go crazy, complain, fight, neglect things, and see yourself at your worst. And then, at the end of the day, you are the only one who can do it. Just you. You can’t delegate it, ration it, or boss it. It’s you and the book, and it won’t leave you alone until it’s done. And then when it’s done, it’s not yours anymore. You do all the work, and then you have to release it, this thing you have loved, shaped, hated, surrendered, taken back, hoarded, questioned, feared, rejoiced over, and made – you have to write it and then you have to release it into the hands of people who might love, hate, question, or dismiss it.
Your message needs to have long legs. When you publish a book, you’ll be sitting with this one message day after day, month after month, week after week, year after ever loving year. You have to love this message like you love yourself. You have to care for your reader with grace and compassion and endurance. You have to be willing to talk about this message in some form for the rest of your life. I’m not saying you will be talking about it forever, but you have to be willing to.
Know the real dream. You may have a dream to write a book, and that is a legitimate dream to be sure. But the truth is the fulfillment of that dream is partially out of your control. If you are a writer who has something to say, an even deeper dream than writing a book is to have people who need to hear what you have to say hear it. That’s really it. Your dream doesn’t have to change, but the method might.
The message is more important than the method. Your job is to cultivate a message. Once you embrace that you are a writer and begin writing the things that make you come alive, then you will become well versed in this area of your message. And you will want to share it in conversation, on a blog, through an ebook, a newsletter, a magazine article, a note to a friend. And here’s another thing. If it’s worth writing a book for, then it’s worth having a blog for, too. It’s also worth leading a small group at your church and having coffee with a friend and writing a blurb about it in a newsletter. Once you know your passion, you can mold it to fit anywhere.
This week, I’ve been sharing some thoughts from a talk I gave at the She Speaks Conference two weeks ago. Tomorrow we will finish up talking about writing. Are there any specific things we haven’t talked about that you have been wondering? Share them with us in the comments.
No questions, just an affirmation.
Your perspective on writing is so refreshing. I love that it is message centered and not all about publication or prestige. True writers know that it’s more about the journey and not the destination. I love how you echo this sentiment. Blessing to you!
Claire
This is such great advice.
Emily, I am totally digging this series.
This, in particular, struck me today: “Blog writing is not practice.”
I agree. And I love writing my blog. But sometimes it seems so ephemeral. I write a post. I put my soul into it. And then in a day or two it slips below the fold, and it’s pretty much gone forever. I mean, it’s still there technically…but no one reads it.
I guess that’s one of the things I like about the idea of a book — it has a longer shelf-life (pun intended!).
I wonder how hard THIS process is. In the midst of waiting to see your book on a shelf and deadlines….. you are nurturing other women that have a story, that have something to say. Thank you for adding one more deadline on your “to do list”. I appreciate it.
I love this series on book publishing. I also have written a book and I know just how unglamourous book writing is! It’s A L OT of work!
I love what you said about blog writing, “blog writing is not practice.” SO true. Blog writing itself is also a lot of hard work. I think people tend to dismiss blogs as no big deal sometimes, thinking “anyone” can start a blog and while that’s true that anyone can, I think a great blog takes a lot of work to make it great.
It takes time to grow readership on a blog and a lot of effort. It can be very rewarding but it sure doesn’t happen overnight.
Anyways, thank you for sharing your wisdom with us!
Jenny
This scares me and excites me all at the same time! Mainly the scaring part, though. I’ve only just begun to think about being a writer and it’s mind numbing and exhilarating all in the same instant. Your candidness has been an encouragement. Thank you.
Although I don’t write books, I did have this experience of a deadline this year that made me cry, spit, pray, cuss, pull hair, gnash teeth, beg to not have to do it, yet not be able to stop thinking of it until it was done. It was the process of writing out my testimony and it was pure joy in the midst of a vulnerability like I’ve never known. There was even more joy when it was over!
Thank you for this series. It has been so helpful to me in the can I call myself a writer/do I want to write a book/where is the Spirit leading me stage of this journey. The one thing I do know is that I have a message, and that writing is my ministry.
I have a seedling of an idea. I have been exploring this idea on my blog. I am considering crafting this idea into a book query. But I have NO CLUE who I would send that idea to. An agent? Where does someone like me (“just” a blogger) find an agent? And how do I know if I’m ready for that?
Sorry for all the questions.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this post. I’ve been feeling uninspired and unmotivated with my writing and reasons for doing it, however, after reading this post I’ll get my fingers back on the key board today!
Congratulations on getting your book published. After having so many rejections I’ve just about given up, but maybe your post today is like a small sign to keep going….
love you blog and thanks for sharing!
Diana Doyle x
I really enjoyed this series of writings..it gave me some clarity in what my writings should reflect——– my passion.
thank you again…
I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum. I have no desire to write books. I simply want to write columns, articles, and blogs. Yet I’m having a heck of a time finding an income stream for that. At least with a book you can justify the time spent with the money coming in to help your family!
(I do want to say, that making money is not WHY I write. I LOVE To write. I’m just at the point where I need to “level-up” a bit.
“Once you know your passion, you can mold it to fit anywhere.” LOVE that. I am so enjoying this series, Emily. So well done!
And also? You are seven shades of AWESOME. And more.
Thank you so much Emily. This is all just great information. I was wondering if it applies to writing fiction as well. I know you aren’t writing fiction but wondered what you thought.
Just pre-ordered your book!! I can hardly wait to read it though I must confess that I am a bit nervous. HE has blessed your pen with words that speak straight to my soul. It will be life changing. Keep on doing what you are doing, girl! HE is truly at work!
I am not a published writer (yet) but I totally agree with you. For me, blogging is not practice. It IS real writing. I love it. It energizes me, picks me up, encourages me, and helps me to grow. For me, writing is a longing, something that I feel I need to do. It doesn’t matter so much where I write, it just matters that I am doing it. I still want to be read, but for now, this is a good start. Loved your words today. thank you so much for sharing.
For the longest time I thought, “Oh. I will NEVER write a book.” Insecurity really. I would stand in the library and see shelf upon shelf of books and wonder why on earth I would need to add my own.
And yet, there is this stirring that Just. Won’t. Go. Away.
And I wrestle with it.
But maybe, just maybe, from reading your posts, I should simply sit down with it for a while. Let the possibility be. And just write, write, write now. Believing and knowing that my writing matters, whether I publish a book or not.
yes, it is my friend. since it’s after midnight, it’s now technically less than 3 weeks away. it’s so fun to walk with you in this. and, i think you’re only 6 shades of crazy…not quite 7 yet.
I am a writer. I have “known” I would write books since I was a little girl. I wrote and wrote and wrote. Poems, stories, notes to my friends, diary entries, essays…and eventually lengthy papers that won me college scholarships. I’ve always known this is my thing.
I began pursuing publication before I ever heard of blogging. I used to send articles to magazines (remember paper magazines??) and wait six (long!) months to see my article in print and receive my $25 check. And then listen to the *crickets* as I got zero feedback. It was grueling and frustrating. So, for me, blogging was sent directly from heaven. Immediate publication. Immediate feedback.
So, here is my dilemma: I hear bloggers (even big, A-List bloggers) say all the time “Don’t worry about the numbers. Don’t look at your stats. Don’t focus on building an audience.” As if all that is bad/wrong/misdirected. But the reality is, the landscape of publication has changed so much in the last decade, that “platform” is everything to a publisher. The thing I hear over and over again from publishers and literary agents is this: “Love your proposal. Love your writing. Love your book idea. GROW YOUR PLATFORM.”
At the last two writer’s conferences I attended, the first thing every publisher wanted to know was how many subscribers I had on my blog. One agent told me he’d like to see 10,000 subscribers before he’d consider representing me. Though he told me, “You’ve got the whole package.” Apparently, I don’t.
Here is my question: As a writer–who loves to blog AND wants to pursue publication–how do you reconcile the whole concept of “don’t worry about the numbers” when publishers only CARE about “the numbers”??? I mean, in the end, numbers=people. They aren’t just numbers. They represent the number of readers who are impacted by your message. For a publisher, they represent the number of people who will likely buy your new book. So, really…numbers DO matter.
Can you please speak to that?
I have been loving this series and really wish you wouldn’t end it, yet.
Blessings,
Sandy
“The message is more important than the method.” I need to write that on a piece of paper and tape it to the front of my computer, journal, and dashboard! Thank you for taking the time to share this insight with us. I cannot wait for your book release!!
No, it isn’t glamorous. There is elation and disappointment and hard work and a lot of the unknown. I’ve been so bolstered this year by other debut novelists and the very real friendships we’ve formed online. Who better understands the ups and downs of this world than others experiencing the same thing?
It is completely amazing, don’t get me wrong. But it’s hard, too.
I agree with you that you should put your best work on your blog.
While I’m considering my writing to be serious business, I want to keep a measure of “play” within my writing and my ideas. My blog is a “writing playground” of sorts, and where all of my messages are carefully weighted, measured and lifted up while I mess around with ideas, stories, words, and sentences. I love that I can put it in the hands of readers right away.
I’d love to know how writing the book intersected with the everyday of real living. I’m assuming you had really good support from your husband, maybe some help with your kids, a year’s worth of frozen pizzas? : ) How crucial is a good support network, accepting help, and letting other stuff go? And by asking that, I’m sort of already answering the question I guess. I suppose I’m just curious to know the nuts and bolts of how you still made real life work and book-writing work.
I’m new to your blog and so happy I’ve found it. I’ve been working hard recently to give voice to my passions and decide how I can use my energy to serve my passions (and hopefully someday make a career of it). I started personal and professional blogs to explore those passions. Your statement about not using a blog as practice but taking it seriously resonated with me. I’ve been “practicing” on my blog while putting my better energy it to writing that I’ve been sending out to others. I’m going to put my efforts toward my blog and put my polished, thoughtful, proof-read pieces there.
Thanks for all of your thoughts on writing. I’m also a self-doubter and it’s easy to say, “this will never work” but your blog reminds me to keep at it!
sustainingmama.blogspot.com
sustainableplanner.blogspot.com
I’m not even sure what to say here…except that I love how honest you are.
I want to write a book.
I feel like there is a huge gaping hole for what I want to write about.
But I don’t know where to start or how to have anyone take me seriously.
Always secretly hoping it just falls into my lap magically.
Knowing that’s highly unlikely though.
But for now, it’s something on my radar for sure.
I would love to say that four published books makes me an expert, but um, NO. I hope you know how awesome you are, girl. Like a breath of fresh, brilliant air. And I’m smiling because I just finished tomorrow’s blog post, and I had a sentence that ended with “vividly. Ish.”
Ish is one of my favorite words.
Thanks! I needed to hear this and soak it in.
today was one of those days i felt like i MUST be “seven shades of crazy” to keep trying to do anything (let alone writing) while also being a mom. aneedy day, i guess, for the kids and for me. thx for sharing your experience and affirming the heart – the message – is important. it is, important enough to keep fighting for. loved your post about bench v platform as well.
Beautifully said Emily. My soul can breathe now- thank you
As a long-time blogger who has book dreams but doesn’t know how those dreams might translate into reality, or if they even should . . . I love this. Thanks.
Beth´s last [type] ..Mom of Boy
“The message is more important than the method.”
I only recently realised this, even though I think I knew it deep down all along. And my message changed too, when I realised just how amazing the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus really are. Before, I was messing around with literary structures, finding just the right words, polishing and reshaping until I got it just right. But even at its most right, it was hopelessly wrong, because I’d been neglecting the only Word that really matters…