Preach! I love this. Good advice all around from you here. I just finished "The Idiot" by Dostoevsky. I didn't like the first several pages and almost put it down. Glad I didn't as it's now one of my favorite books.
It's funny, I used to obsess over the beginnings of every story I wrote, thinking it had to capture the reader's attention, and then I realized, I am that reader. I realized that I had to write for myself first, and that everything would follow after. If I like it, somebody else will, eventually. Writing is a funny business when you're not successful. I have hundreds of thousands of words I've written, and I always approach it the same way: How do I make this interesting...to me? Once I did that, I didn't stress over the little things, like, worrying about what others think.
“Never write for agents, editors, bookstore page-flippers, samplers, critics, or anyone else. Write for yourself. In the end, you’re the one who has to live with the choices you make in your work, so make them and own them.” -J.M. Elliott
Sound advice. Books like the one you describe have the effect of snuffing out a writer's own voice. If you obsess over what an agent or editor wants to read, you'll lose sight of the story you wanted to tell in the first place.
New to your blog, but interested in hearing your thoughts on writing.
Can you recommend a book to NOT skip?
Preach! I love this. Good advice all around from you here. I just finished "The Idiot" by Dostoevsky. I didn't like the first several pages and almost put it down. Glad I didn't as it's now one of my favorite books.
It's funny, I used to obsess over the beginnings of every story I wrote, thinking it had to capture the reader's attention, and then I realized, I am that reader. I realized that I had to write for myself first, and that everything would follow after. If I like it, somebody else will, eventually. Writing is a funny business when you're not successful. I have hundreds of thousands of words I've written, and I always approach it the same way: How do I make this interesting...to me? Once I did that, I didn't stress over the little things, like, worrying about what others think.
“Never write for agents, editors, bookstore page-flippers, samplers, critics, or anyone else. Write for yourself. In the end, you’re the one who has to live with the choices you make in your work, so make them and own them.” -J.M. Elliott
Yes! Well said, my friend.👏👏👏
Sound advice. Books like the one you describe have the effect of snuffing out a writer's own voice. If you obsess over what an agent or editor wants to read, you'll lose sight of the story you wanted to tell in the first place.
Very good advice!!
Really interesting!
I started writing my book a while ago but very soon decided that I was needing to do some writing before I started writing!
So now I’m writing for my own sake, not for my book’s sake. And one day the book will be written. Maybe.
Your post has summed up what’s important. THANK you!