Did you finally heed the siren call and out yourself as a writer? Then, this post is for you.
I am a planner, so I like to start with the end in mind. As a writer hesitantly sidling up to lady luck, ready to try my hand at getting published, I’m off-loading some advice that previously occupied my mind. Consider these musing, if you will, nouveau scribes of the future:
- Where do you write? Do you have a desk next to a window in your own studio, or just enough elbow room and your tablet? Either works, depending on your demeanor, but I do think having dedicated space is helpful. It lets you feel buoyant, set a routine, and carve out time and space for the craft. You have to put in the time and that takes fortitude. Surround yourself with what inspires, demands, challenges, or calms – whatever it takes.
- How do you archive? OK, I’m funny about this one and have, perhaps, a circuitous (ridiculous) method. Bear with me. I write pen and paper in
1-2 notebooks at a time, plus random slips of paper galore. From there, I transcribe into one main composition notebook and then pieces simmer for an unregulated amount of time. Editing may or may not occur. From there, most are typed into electronic word document format and kept in 1-2 online storage clouds (DropBox and Google Docs). Many others are also typed on a typewriter and kept hard-copy for further editing, or not. So, I archive in triplicate, selectively, in both electronic and hard-copy format. Fun times, but it works for me. - What’s your online persona? People will look you up. It’s important that you curate, or at least pay attention to and keep accurate, what appears about you online. I recommended spending the time to identify and delve into no more than 2 -3 platforms or tactics and just go with that. For example, I blog and promote my Twitter handle. That’s it right now: manageable and scalable. Find what will do that for you.
Get this well in hand now and it will pay dividends later if you are unceremoniously thrust out of obscurity and into the limelight. Your inbox and networks will be flooded with chatter. Wouldn’t it be nice to be proactive, organized, and ready to focus on creativity? For me, that’s the central axle. Be ready for the muse.