Erin Radniecki • Book Coach

Category: Uncategorized

  • Are You Learning In Order To Avoid Writing?

    Are You Learning In Order To Avoid Writing?

    Someone recently asked me: “How do you balance learning about writing and applying what you’ve learned?”

    I’m addressing this topic in a series of blog posts. You can read here about knowing you’ve learned enough, and about how to apply what you’ve learned here.

    Today I’ll specifically be addressing what it looks like to use learning as a way to hide from your writing.

    Do you find yourself constantly learning about writing, but you never seem to actually start writing? You might be using learning as a way to hide from writing your novel.

    Does this sound familiar?
    You’ve read all the books that teach you how to write a novel, listened to all the podcasts, and attended every summit and workshop you can find. You’ve packed your brain full to the brim with useful knowledge that you’re sure will help you write your book.

    You tell yourself that you’re approaching this task of novel writing methodically, wisely even. And once you’ve learned what you need to know, then you’ll start to write.

    I get it, and this line of thinking sounds like a sensible approach. After all, seeking out answers is how we equip ourselves to do something new. Plus it has the added benefit of making you feel like you’re making forward progress on your book.

    But if it’s been months (or years) and you still haven’t begun writing…
    If your book is still just an idea in your head…
    You might be keeping yourself stuck in learning mode so that you can avoid writing.

    This scenario is more common than you might think, and there’s a one word explanation for why writers do it: Safety.

    When you’re learning, your novel can remain safely in your mind.

    When it’s in your head it’s perfect; it has no plot holes, the characters are witty, and the prose sings. When your book is in your mind you don’t have to face any fears about your ability to write it. Those things are comforting, of course you want to stay in that place!

    But once you start to put words down on paper you have to confront the reality that the story is not perfect, and in fact it needs a lot of work.

    This can bring up many doubts, like what if I can’t figure out how to make the story work? What if I can’t make the words on the page match the vision in my head? What if I don’t have what it takes to be a writer after all?

    Here’s the truth: trying something new, like writing a novel, is always going to be messy.

    You aren’t going to be perfect at it. In fact you have to be willing to be terrible at it, and that’s going to feel uncomfortable.

    If you’ve read stacks of writing craft books, and listened to hours of writing podcasts, it may seem reasonable to think all that learning is a shortcut to a finished novel. And if you hit a roadblock when you’re writing, you may think the problem is that you haven’t learned enough.

    Because learning should make the process easier, right?
    Actually…  that’s not how it works.

    You can watch a bunch of ice skating videos and still fall as soon as you enter the rink.
    You can practice a new language with an app and still not be understood in a real-life conversation.
    And you can read a stack of writing books and still struggle to write a novel.

    The learning process is messy, and the only way through it is to accept that messiness and allow yourself to struggle, make mistakes, and slowly improve.

    Writing happens in fits and starts, in adding and cutting words, and in circling around and discovering what you’re trying to say. It’s not linear, it’s iterative.

    And that’s scary, because most of the time you have no idea if you’re on the right track.

    But that is the process of writing a book.

    There are no guarantees that your idea will work or that your execution will be up to snuff. It’s the risk you take as a writer.

    The only guarantee is that if you wait until you feel ready to get started, you’ll never begin, and your book will never be written.

    If you’re drowning in how-to knowledge, but you don’t have any words on the page to show for it, let me assure you: It’s time to jump in and start writing.

    Let yourself try, write a bunch of crap, muck around and figure out what you’re trying to say. And most importantly, give yourself permission to enjoy the process!

    Now, this phase of trying something new might feel uncomfortable, and that can cause doubts to creep in. If you’d like some mindset help as you travel this new road, grab my free resource below.

    Ready to shift your mindset and make steady progress?

    Download the free guide now!

      I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    • When Can I Stop Learning and Start Writing?

      When Can I Stop Learning and Start Writing?

      Someone recently asked me: “How do you balance learning about writing with applying what you’ve learned?”

      I’m addressing this topic in a series of blog posts. You can read here about learning about writing versus actually writing, and
      if you’re using learning to hide from writing here.

      Today I’ll specifically be talking about when you can stop learning about writing a book and finally start writing it.

      When you first decided you wanted to write a book, you may have done what a lot of people do when they’re trying something new: you focused on learning.

      You started reading books about writing, listening to podcasts about writing, and maybe even attended a writing workshop or two.

      But somewhere along the line you started to wonder: Have I learned enough to stop learning and start writing?

      It’s a valid question.

      How do you know if you’ve learned enough to begin?

      And it has a very straightforward answer:
      Whatever you’ve done, it’s enough to get started.

      You’ve read a dozen how-to books, listened to seasons of writing podcasts, and follow your favorite authors on social media?
      You’re ready.

      You’ve read half of one how-to book and a few blog posts?
      You’re ready.

      You’ve done absolutely no research whatsoever?
      You’re ready.

      That’s right. No matter what you have or have not done, you are ready to begin writing.
      In fact, you’re more than ready. You should start today.

      If I sound quite certain about my answer, it’s because I am.

      I believe strongly that the risk of losing your internal drive and not starting is greater than the risk of beginning without knowing what you’re doing.

      Because here’s the truth:
      You’re never truly going to know how to write a book until you do it.

      There are hundreds (probably thousands) of resources available to help you write your novel. But that’s all they are – help. They aren’t a prerequisite to starting.

      And you know what? They aren’t going anywhere. They are available now, and they will still be available later. 

      You can always refer to them down the road, when you have a more specific question than, “How do I write a novel?” (Pro tip: it’s usually more effective to read books on writing craft when you’re trying to address a specific hangup.)

      If having a guide helps you to feel supported and confident as you begin your writing journey, and makes it more likely that you’ll take that first step, that’s great! 

      You should choose one, but hold it loosely as you start your novel. 

      Don’t worry about finding the “perfect” guide, or the one that’s “just right” for your story. It’s a guide, not a prescription.

      Here’s the not-so-secret bottom line:
      If you want to write your book, whether you’ve prepared or not, just get started.

      Don’t let a perceived lack of knowledge get in your way. I guarantee you’re more ready than you think you are.

      Now, if you don’t have a resource to help you get started and you’d like one, I have a simple guide that helps you focus on the 5 essential elements that your novel needs in order to resonate with readers. You can grab it below.

      Ready to stop preparing
      and start writing?

      Download the free guide now!

        I won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      • Learning About Writing Versus Actually Writing

        Learning About Writing Versus Actually Writing

        I had someone ask me recently: “How do you balance learning about writing and applying what you’ve learned?” 

        I’m addressing this topic in a series of blog posts. You can read here about when you can stop learning and start writing and see if you’re using learning to hide from writing here.

        In this post I’ll address the question: “How do I apply what I’ve learned?”. 

        How do you apply what you’ve learned?

        When you’re first learning a new writing skill, here’s how I recommend you approach it…

        First, choose one skill that you’re going to practice, or one issue you’re going to fix, and focus on it. That may actually be harder than it sounds!

        If you’ve been reading many writing craft books, listening to podcasts, or attending workshops, you may have a lot of new knowledge that you’re itching to incorporate into your writing.

        It can be tempting to try and address as many issues as possible all at once. But if we’re truly talking about implementing newly acquired knowledge, your brain can really only handle one topic at a time. 

        If you decide, “I’m going to fix the head hopping, fill that plot hole, and rewrite it in first person all in one go,” it’s unlikely that you’ll end up fixing any of those things. You’re going to have the most success if you focus on just one thing.

        Next, do a quick review of whatever resource you’ve been using. If you’ve been reading a book on the topic, review the table of contents to remind yourself of the big takeaways, and keep the book handy. If you attended a workshop, pull out your notes. If you’ve listened to a podcast or watched a YouTube video, scan the transcript or show notes. 

        Remind yourself what you’ve learned and why that perspective felt important to you when you first heard it. Why did it catch your attention? What was novel about the approach? What made you think, this is worth considering?

        Now identify the words you are working with. This can look different depending on where you are in the writing process. 

        If you’re planning or outlining, you may be able to work with the whole story at once. If you have a completed or partially completed manuscript, you might want to choose one chapter or even a couple pages to work with. 

        Finally it’s time to practice applying the concept to your story. You do that by attempting it multiple times. 

        Whatever topic or skill you’ve been learning, it’s going to require practice in order to implement it and improve your ability. After all, “practice makes perfect” is an idiom for a reason. Plan to write or revise the passage you’re working on at least three times. 

        After each attempt, stand up and walk away for a few minutes. Rotate your laundry. Do some light stretching. When you come back to the page, review your resource material and see if anything new catches your attention. 

        Then take another stab at it. Don’t just make small, surface level changes. See if you can approach it from a new angle each time. Don’t be afraid to take risks or do something that feels a little silly. You’re playing right now. Have fun with it!

        When you’ve completed at least three attempts, read what you’ve written or revised. Does one version stand out above the others? Maybe you see different things you like about each attempt, and you can combine them into a new version?

        If you read everything you wrote and don’t like any of it, stop and take a breath. Don’t beat yourself up. It takes repetition to learn anything new. The more you practice applying these new skills the easier it will become. It may not feel like it, but you’ve made progress just by showing up and doing the work, regardless of the outcome.

        You may have noticed that the big secret to applying what you’ve learned isn’t really a secret at all: 
        You try, practice, and stick with it. 

        The process of applying your new knowledge to your writing is not flashy or fun. More than any other part of the writing process it may feel like hard work. But when you focus your efforts on applying one new skill at a time, you have the potential for great long term growth.

        Look for more posts on this topic soon. I’ll be sure to link to them here!

        What’s a skill that you’ve been focusing on lately in your writing? Comment below!

      • Writing Through Resistance

        Writing Through Resistance

        I’ve been sitting here at my computer for a while, feeling resistant to writing anything. So, I thought I’d write a blog post about feeling resistant to writing! 

        I’m sure you’ve experienced resistance to writing at some point, too. When you sit down to write, fully intending to make progress, only to find your brain would rather do anything else. 

        Personally, as I’ve been sitting here trying to get started, it seemed like the perfect time to open Google translate and see how much of my college French I’ve retained. (Answer: not a lot, but more than I expected!)

        Why can it be so difficult to actually sit down and write?

        You want to make progress. You want to finish your book. And yet, when the opportunity arises, you suddenly find countless tasks that need to take priority. You’re easily distracted, jumping up for a drink of water, a sweater, to adjust the lighting, and so on.

        There are a couple things making it hard to write in this situation.

        First, the task that you are undertaking is a creative one, and creative tasks take a lot of brain power.

        Your brain is actually reluctant to take on activities that use large amounts of energy. It sees its primary job as keeping you alive, and expending energy on non-essential functions is not very efficient.

        So your brain would much rather direct you to consuming something safe that someone else has created. Like online cat videos.

        The second factor that makes beginning difficult, is that you’re fighting against inertia.

        Think of a train at rest at a station. When it’s time to move it takes a lot of effort to get rolling. But once it is going, the momentum carries it forward.

        The initial movement is difficult and takes a lot of energy, but things roll on smoothly afterward.

        So, how do you push back against inertia and your brain trying to keep you safe, so that you can write your dang book?

        Trick your brain

        In order to circumvent your brain’s “helpful” impulse to protect you, challenge yourself to write as badly as possible. 

        Think about it: when you sit down to write, you’re usually trying to write well. You’re trying to do your best and translate your ideas onto the page in compelling, descriptive prose.

        That pressure can make your brain freeze up. 

        Instead, remove that pressure, and tell yourself you are going to write terribly. Cheer yourself on as you go: 

        “Oh that’s awful!” 

        “So boring!” 

        “What drivel” 

        “You can do worse than that!” 

        If your brain is telling you that you can’t write well, then agree with it and write anyway!

        The size of the goal matters

        My go-to approach to tackle inertia is to set a very small writing goal: just 100 words. 

        When I’m feeling resistant to writing, I tell myself I just have to write 100 words, and then I can stop.

        That’s about one long paragraph. It’s such a small goal that it’s hard to argue I can’t do it.

        It’s as though I were staring down a huge weedy flower bed, but my job was only to pull one weed. It would be hard to say no to such a small request. But I would find it impossible to pull just one. (After all, I’ve put on my gardening gloves and have my trowel and bucket, I might as well dig a few…)

        And once I’ve written 100 words, I’m usually ready to keep going. I got the train rolling, and I’ve picked up momentum. 

        Acknowledgement, not excuses

        What these two approaches have in common is that they acknowledge how you’re feeling, and they reduce the expectation of productivity, but they don’t let you off the hook completely.

        Because the writing does need to happen.

        We can’t always wait until we’re burning with inspiration and momentum to write, or the book will never get written.

        When I use the 100 word trick, I typically end up with about 800 words. That’s not a lot, but it’s a lot more than I would have had if I let resistance win. And you can absolutely write a first draft in 800 word increments!

        It’s a fact: resistance is going to happen. It might show up occasionally, or every time you sit down to write. But you can’t let resistance run the show and still reach your writing goals.

      • Should You Worry If Your Novel Has a Twin?

        Should You Worry If Your Novel Has a Twin?

        I just finished reading a novel that had some strong similarities to the book that I’m writing – and I’m not mad about it. 

        If you’ve ever had the experience of coming across a published book that resembles your work in progress (WIP), you may have thought something along the lines of, “Ugh, someone else wrote my book and did it better than me! Now I have to start over with a new idea.”

        Step away from the delete key, because I’m here to tell you you don’t need to bail on your book when you discover your WIP has a doppelgänger.

        While at first it may seem that finding a book similar to what you’re writing is a problem, it’s really not the end of the world. 

        You may worry that there isn’t room in the publishing industry for books that are alike, that your idea isn’t original enough, or that you won’t be able to write a book of equivalent quality. Just the knowledge that a book like yours exists in the world can be disheartening, maybe even to the point that you want to give up on your story.

        Let’s take a moment and acknowledge that there are millions of creative people working on novels, screenplays, poetry, music, and art at any given moment. And it’s reasonable to assume that more than one person will find inspiration in a given topic or premise at the same time. 

        There’s actually a name for it when it happens with movies: twin films. (Anyone remember when Antz and A Bug’s Life both came out in 1998?)

        But just like twin films, which have no problem coexisting in the theaters, similar books can absolutely coexist on the bookshelf.

        In fact, here are three reasons it’s actually a good thing to find a novel similar to yours. 

        A Helpful Opportunity

        First, you have a chance to evaluate the book and note what you liked about it, and what didn’t work for you. Ask yourself how your book is different and unique to you. 

        Even though you may be worried these books are twins, if you look closely there will be big differences. They may have similar elements – maybe they are both mythology retellings, or they each have a Deaf protagonist – but it’s unlikely that they are completely alike. Stick with this exercise until you move beyond the panic and are able to compare and contrast the books with a clear head.

        It’s Market Research

        Second, finding a book similar to your WIP proves there is an audience for what you’re writing. People often have particular genres or tropes they like to read, so when they’ve finished a book they loved they’re desperately looking for another book with the same vibes. Knowing there’s a market for books like yours can give you the confidence to keep writing when things get tough.   

        Preparing for Publication

        Third, if you plan on pursuing traditional publishing, you’ll need to be able to name two to four comparative (comp) titles in your pitch materials. 

        A comp title is a published book that is similar to your book and would appeal to the same readers. And if you’ve found a book similar to yours, you now have a new comp title. Even if you’re not thinking about publishing, having a few comp titles in mind makes it easier to tell people what your book is about. 

        Now, back to my WIP and its doppelgänger.

        Did I have any panicked thoughts as I read this new-to-me book? Did I worry that all my efforts had been wasted because another author beat me to the bookshelf?

        Honestly, no. 

        I loved the book, I enjoyed reading it, and it motivated me to keep working on my novel. 

        You read that right: it motivated me to keep writing! 

        Holding a real life example of a book that could sit next to mine in a bookstore or library was exciting. It helped me picture what my book would look like, and what the reading experience would be like for my audience. It also helped me identify areas where I want to level-up my writing.

        Finding a novel similar to your WIP certainly has the potential to send you into a panic spiral. But before you freak out, take a breath and do a reality check. Novels are incredibly complex forms of writing, and each one is created by a unique author who brings their own voice and inspiration. 

        You can write the book you’re dreaming of, and even if you find its doppelgänger, you can be confident that your novel will be unique to you.

      • Beta Readers: Confirmation That Your Book Works

        Beta Readers: Confirmation That Your Book Works

        Here’s a scenario you probably want to avoid: 

        You put your novel out into the world… and nothing happens. 

        Or worse, you get reviews, but they are far from the glowing accolades you had hoped for.

        How do you prevent this fate from happening to your book?

        One way to ensure this doesn’t happen to you, is to get feedback on your novel before you self publish or pitch to agents. 

        Enter: Your beta readers

        What are beta readers?

        Beta readers are a test audience for your book. They read an early version of your novel and provide high level feedback on how the book landed for them, where they were confused, or if something about the story made them put the book down and not finish it. 

        Beta readers can be incredibly helpful as you decide where to focus your energy in your writing and revising. But it’s crucial to your goals that you use them at the right time and choose them well.

        Do you need to use beta readers?

        My short answer is: Yes! 

        Whether you’re planning to pursue traditional publishing or self publish, you need eyes on your book before you can know that it’s ready. 

        You don’t want the first time that someone interacts with your book to be after you’ve released it into the world, be that in publication or during pitching. 

        Why? All writers (myself included) have blind spots for their writing. You see what you believe is on the page, not what is actually written. And because you’re so close to the story, you usually can’t see what’s missing.

        Beta readers provide a fresh perspective and feedback to shine a light on those blind spots.

        What should you look for in a beta reader?

        When choosing your beta readers, think carefully about the people you select. Sharing your writing with others, especially in the early stages, is a vulnerable act. It’s a responsibility that beta readers shouldn’t take lightly.

        I write in this blog post about why you shouldn’t consider family relationships when identifying safe people to tell about your writing. That advice goes double when we’re talking about beta readers! 

        You do not need to hear from doubters and downers right now. Choose people you know will be supportive and gentle, even as they point out the weak parts of your novel.

        You’re looking for a very specific type of person: they should be able to keep in mind that your novel is in its early stages, and is not a polished book that they’d pick up from the bookstore. 

        Especially if you are using beta readers earlier in your process, they need to understand that they are reading a work in progress that will have inconsistencies, typos, and errors – and they need to be okay with that. 

        They also need to be able to follow instructions. You should give beta readers a short, specific list of what kind of feedback you’re looking for, and they should be people who will adhere to those guidelines. A reader who comments on punctuation and grammar errors when you specifically asked them to focus on pacing, is not going to be much help to you.

        Finally, they should be familiar with the genre you’re writing in. If they only read science fiction, and you’re writing a romance, they won’t be familiar with the expectations of your future audience. 

        When should you use beta readers?

        The answer here is… it depends. Specifically, it depends on what your goals are. 

        First, ask yourself if the manuscript is ready enough. Don’t send beta readers a messy first draft and expect them to be able to provide helpful feedback. Make sure you’ve gone through at least one to three rounds of revision. It doesn’t have to be perfectly polished, but if it’s too rough your beta readers won’t be able to follow the story.

        Next, consider the type of feedback you’re looking for. If you want to confirm big picture things, like is the story on the page and believable, you’ll want to seek out beta readers earlier in the process. If you want feedback on more polished elements like pacing and voice, a beta read later in the writing process will be most helpful. 

        Ultimately, I believe there are benefits to both early and late stage beta reads, and you’re best served by doing both. 

        Think of it this way, you want to feel you have a solid story before you spend time revising and refining it. If you wait until you believe your novel is completely finished and polished before you employ beta readers, they may point out a plot problem that sends you back to square one, and all that polishing you did was for naught.

        Getting feedback on your book may feel intimidating, but it’s an important step in writing a novel. You don’t want the first feedback on your novel to come after you’ve self published, or after you’ve started pitching to agents. You want to have an idea of how your novel is landing with readers before you go public in a big way.

      • How to Keep Writing, Even When It’s Hard

        How to Keep Writing, Even When It’s Hard

        I’ve reached an exciting life milestone:  My home is finally free of a child’s play kitchen. 
        (And before you ask, yes, I promise this is related to writing.)

        The play kitchen had been in my dining room for a decade, and honestly there were times I thought I would never be rid of it. I was tired of seeing it day after day, month after month. So when my youngest announced that it was time to find it a new home, I jumped into action.

        Do I miss the kitchen? No, not right now. But I know that some day I will. I’ll look back longingly on the times when a tiny chef would cook me a pretend dinner.

        That’s the thing with phases: it’s hard to appreciate them when you’re going through them. 

        And writing a novel, like parenting, is a big task made up of many phases. You might find some phases fun, while others are less so. 

        But it’s important to find a way to enjoy (or at least appreciate) the phase that you are in, while you are in it.

        Because if you wait until your book is complete to enjoy it, well, you may never reach the finish line. 

        Having the motivation to show up and write is hard when you’re dreading the work. 

        Actively looking for something enjoyable in each phase of the writing process ensures you keep showing up all the way through completion.

        Different phases use different skills

        It can be helpful to notice that each phase of the writing process uses different skills and strengths:

        • Foundational planning involves dreaming big and imagining all the directions your story could go.
        • Writing the first draft uses puzzle solving and pattern identification as you work out exactly how the main character will move through the story.
        • Revising means stepping back and evaluating the big picture.
        • Polishing involves drilling down and looking closely at each paragraph and sentence.

        If you’re in a phase that requires a strength that isn’t in your wheelhouse, it’s understandable that you might struggle. The trick is to figure out how to do the work anyway.

        One approach is to identify a non-writing task that uses similar skills as the writing phase you’re in, and consider how you make that task enjoyable (or at least less painful) in life. What mindset or re-framing tools do you use to tackle a task that doesn’t play to your strengths at work or at home? Can you use a similar approach in your writing?

        Struggling with a writing phase 

        When you’re struggling with a phase of your novel, it can be hard to want to work on it. 

        Perhaps the phase is new and you feel shaky about it. 
        Or the skills needed in this phase don’t match your preferred skill set. 
        You might wonder if you’re doing it right, or if you’re wasting your time and energy. 

        In the moment, a phase can feel uncomfortable, it can be a struggle, or it might even feel painful. But being aware of what’s making it hard can help you find a way through it.

        Check in with yourself and ask, why is this phase feeling impossible? It might be the task itself (like writing in a scene rather than a summary, or improving dialogue), unrealistic expectations you’re putting on yourself, or the slow pace of the work.

        Once you’ve identified the issue, look for a creative way around it. You might tape some paper over your screen to prevent you from editing as you write, or challenge yourself to write the worst dialogue possible. Do something that will lift you out of the heaviness you’re feeling and help you loosen up.

        Each phase is temporary

        Whether you like the writing phase you’re in, or you’re really struggling with it, take time to remember that it is just a phase. By definition, you will eventually complete it and move to a new one. 

        That next phase will likely be daunting in new ways. And when you look back, the old phase may seem easier or simpler. The reality is that since you’ve overcome it, it doesn’t hold the same power that it did when you were in the middle of it.

        As you’re moving through each phase of your writing journey, remember that the work you’re doing is something that most people never even attempt. It may feel uncomfortable right now, but take pride in the struggle. Doing the hard thing is worth it.

        Choosing to write a novel means agreeing to tackle a variety of types of work, from visioning and planning, to drafting and polishing. Not every phase of the process will light you up, but if you can commit to finding some enjoyment at each point you increase your chances of finishing your book.

      • What You Realize After You’re Published

        What You Realize After You’re Published

        One thing I didn’t have on my 2026 bingo card was having a short story published in an anthology! Being included in the Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest Anthology has been an exciting surprise.

        I don’t typically work in short form fiction, and I’d never submitted my writing to a contest, but I thought, why not? The worst that will happen is I’ll get a polite rejection email. I felt like I could handle that. 

        So this past fall, I took a break from revising my novel, wrote and revised a 3,000 word short story, and sent it off to the contest. Three months later, I was thrilled to find out my story had won a prize and was going to be included in the anthology! 

        This past week I had the amazing experience of reading my story, Fragile, in front of a virtual audience at the anthology launch event.

        Now that I’m able to hold the physical book, see my short story in print, and have read a portion of it publicly, I’ve been reflecting on the experience of being published. 

        Here’s what I’ve learned:

        Publishing means giving up control

        I don’t know about you, but whenever I daydream about being published, I envision my words landing perfectly with readers. I can see now how much that is out of my control. 

        Once I’ve released my words out into the world, there’s nothing more I can do beyond promoting my work.

        If I find a typo, or I wish I had written a passage more succinctly, there’s no recourse. If I think of a more apt metaphor or a better turn of phrase, well… that ship has sailed.

        If I have second thoughts about how I represented a character or a place, there’s nothing I can do to change it. (Luckily, I caught those missteps during the revision process.)

        I’m learning that you’re always going to find things you want to change after you’ve seen your writing in print. But you have to find a point where you’re satisfied, and then let the words go out in the world. 

        The alternative is to hold them so tightly that no one else ever gets to experience and benefit from them.

        This is a place where a lot of writers get stuck, and can end up in an endless cycle of revision. As a book coach, I help writers notice when revising is necessary and when it has become a form of procrastination driven by fear. Having a trusted person to help you realize it’s time to let the writing be what it is can make the process feel less agonizing and give you a sense of peace.

        Readers bring their own perspective

        One of the biggest challenges for fiction writers of any format (novel, novella, short story, etc.) is that you have the burden of knowing what you’re trying to say. 

        You can see the story you’re creating in your mind’s eye, which means that when you read your writing, your mind fills in details that aren’t there.

        When a reader picks up your work, they don’t have access to those details. If not done well this can lead to confusion on their part, potentially causing them to put your story down without finishing it. 

        But an outcome that I think is even more frustrating is when someone reads your writing and interprets it differently than you intended. 

        Here’s an example: I was surprised to learn that someone considered the protagonist in my story to be annoying. They didn’t mean that as a derogatory comment, in fact they said, ‘I love an annoying protagonist.’ 

        That gave me pause. I thought I had written a protagonist who was passionate. But as I considered all the details about the character that I had included in the story, I could see how a reader might classify her as annoying. 

        Thoughts, behaviors, and character traits that we create can be interpreted very differently by readers, because they are bringing their own opinions, perspective, and world view to the words.

        I’m learning that you can’t control how readers interpret your work. All you can do is make your best attempt at clearly conveying your story. 

        Quick tip: If it’s important to you that readers feel a particular way about something, use beta readers and specifically ask for their take.

        Sharing your writing can be scary… but it’s worth it

        Writing is by nature a solo activity. 

        You can write hundreds of pages, and if you keep them to yourself no one will ever know they exist. 

        That knowledge can be a comfort. You’re in control, you get to choose if your writing ever sees the light of day.

        But stories are meant to be shared. Words are meant to be read by people other than the writer. The whole point of putting ideas on paper (physical or digital) is to be able to share information. And I think, deep down, writers do want others to read their words. 

        But that means going public. It means being open to readers not ‘getting’ what you’re trying to express. It means releasing control of who talks about your writing and what they say. 

        The biggest obstacle to submitting your writing for publishing opportunities might very well be crossing the threshold from private to public. 

        I get it, it’s scary to put your words out for others to consume – and judge.

        But if you let doubt, uncertainty, and fear of judgement stand in your way, no one will ever read your writing. You’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t find a way to move past doubt and give it a try. 

        There’s a reason I chose a local writing contest as my first foray into sharing my fiction:
        It seemed approachable. 

        I could picture other writers just like me, living in my neck of the world, choosing to be brave and submitting their story for judges to read. That made submitting my story a little less intimidating, and helped me to feel a part of the larger writing community. 

        Even if my short story hadn’t been chosen for the anthology, just going through the process would have been worth it. After all, my identity as a writer changed over the course of six months. I can now say I’m a short story author who enters writing contests!

        It has been a fun experience to write a short story and share it with other people. And it’s something I plan on doing more of in the future, even as I continue to work on my novel. 

        I’ve learned many lessons from this publishing experience. That knowledge will help prepare me for the day that my novel is ready to go out in the world, and it will also help me prepare my clients for the realities of publishing.

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      • Are Writing Prompts Actually Helpful?

        Are Writing Prompts Actually Helpful?

        You’re staring at a blank page, and the words just aren’t coming. What do you do?

        Maybe you turn to writing prompts to help you get the ball rolling. 

        Writing prompts are thought starters. They provide some type of instruction or parameter for you to fulfill. They might be a single word, a phrase, a setting, or a question to answer. Their goal is to provide some inspiration to help you start writing.

        I’ll be honest, I have mixed feelings about writing prompts.

        I see them posted all over social media, and I know they are frequently used in writing workshops. And while using them as a warm up exercise or a fun distraction seems harmless enough, if you’re working on a novel, I question their usefulness. 

        Here’s why.

        I’m a big believer in context – the background that informs a scene and gives meaning to the details in it. It’s because of context that we understand if a reveal or plot twist is positive or negative in relation to your protagonist and their goals.

        A writing prompt is unrelated to your story. It has no context to connect it to your protagonist.

        When you rely on writing prompts, instead of spending time and energy exploring situations that would be meaningful for your main character, you’re writing about something that may lack any connection to your story.

        How Writing Prompts Can Lead You Astray

        Let’s look at a potential situation to give us context. (Hey, there’s that word again!) 

        Perhaps you’re at a difficult point in your novel, like the murky middle, and you don’t know what comes next. You’re sitting, your head is spinning, and none of your ideas seem right. In that situation a writing prompt can feel like a valid way to generate some ideas.

        And that may work. But here’s the problem. 

        Let’s say that a writing prompt really inspires you, and sends you in a completely new direction from what you’ve been writing. The words are really flowing and you love what you’ve come up with, to the extent that you want to include it in your work in progress (WIP). 

        So you start looking for ways to shoehorn it into your story. You twist character motivations and redirect your protagonist’s actions to integrate this new piece of writing. 

        Suddenly a plot that was making sense goes off the rails. The protagonist loses their agency because now you’re trying to set up the dominoes to accommodate this new information that you’re introducing. 

        If you’re making plot decisions based on whims (and I would classify a random writing prompt as a whim), it’s a sign that you need to do more work to understand your protagonist on a deep level.

        How to Use Writing Prompts Successfully

        So, how can you use writing prompts to your advantage when you’re in the midst of your novel? Here are a couple tips.

        First, ask yourself if you’re hiding from something. Why write pages disconnected from a WIP when you could write your WIP?

        The answer to this could be that you’re looking for a little mental stretch break from your novel. But it could also be that you’re avoiding your novel because the writing has gotten hard. Being aware of what’s making writing prompts appealing can help you avoid giving them more attention than they deserve.

        Second, look at the prompt as a way to explore your protagonist’s personality or backstory. This might require zeroing in on the essence of the prompt and adjusting the specifics to align with your WIP. 

        For example, the prompt could be to write a break up scene. If your protagonist isn’t in a romantic relationship or romance isn’t key to your story, you might choose instead to write a scene where they fight with a friend or family member, or you could write about an impactful relationship from their past.

        Use the prompt as a way to add complexity and nuance to what you know about your protagonist, not as a means to add unnecessary details.

        Now, I know not every writing prompt will resonate with you, let alone provoke you to jump ship on the current trajectory of your WIP. But those that do can result in a huge detour of energy and writing time. And once you’ve gone to the trouble of writing something new that you’re excited about, it can feel hard to abandon it.

        So be honest about your goals when using writing prompts. And if you think you’re using them as a replacement for cohesive plot development, it’s time to pump the brakes.