New Year's Eve

It's time for me to fess up. I've already mentioned several times that I work for some pretty great people at my job, and one of the many reasons they're so great to work for is that they shut down for Christmas and don't open the office again until the new year. It's wonderful. This year, my last day was December 21st and I don't go back until January 2nd. That's a lot of time off. You'd think I'd do something productive with it, right? Well, this is where it gets a little embarrassing, because I didn't. Okay, that's not entirely true. I've done a lot of housecleaning. But I didn't do a lot of writing. In fact, barely any.

I guess I was just so stressed out and tired from all the Christmas prep (and a few other writing projects as well) that I needed some time to just 'be'. (That sounds very Oprah, but it's true.) I cleaned the house when it suited me, took naps, read good books. It was magical. And now, with a new year upon us, it's time to get back to work. But that's what I love about New Year's Eve. It's not the parties, the countdown at midnight or even the midnight kiss. It's the beauty of a brand new, completely untarnished year about to begin. How do I want 2013 to go? What will it hold for my writing career? December 31st is a glorious potion of hope and ambition that fills me with passion for at least a few weeks, before of course, we all get tired and start to slide on our goals.

But even with the inevitable decline of ambition, I still make new year's resolutions every year. Making goals gives me purpose and every time I meet one I feel amazing. It's worth a little hair pulling and irritation a few weeks into January when laziness starts to kick in just to remind myself that there are things worth working for. And my writing career is definitely one of them.

Stephen King's On Writing

Recently I read Stephen King's On Writing, and I have to say, I LOVED it. Not only was his memoir fascinating, inspirational and downright quirky, his advice on writing was excellent. It was simple and down to earth. Previously, I'd read The Right to Write by Julia Cameron, and although it was good, it was also a little too granola and new age for me. Stephen King was much less grand about the whole idea and easier to relate to. He's a realist, and I like that.

One of his main pieces of advice when it came to improving your writing was to just do it a lot. Simple, right? Well, he means A LOT. His suggestion was to read and write for four to six hours a day. Granted, it's not all writing, some of that time can and should be spent reading, but that's still a large block of time. When I first read his advice, I was rather intimidated. After all, I work full time. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't that unreasonable. When I considered how much time I spend watching TV, it became rather obvious that I have a lot more time at my disposal than I'd first thought.

So, I'm going to try it. Actually, I started last week, and it went pretty well. There were two days when it just didn't happen, I was too tired, too busy and there just wasn't the time. But on the whole, I was surprised by how easy it was to fit it in. Once I turned off the TV, everything fell into place.

Yesterday was the beginning of week two, and I'm feeling really good. Knowing how much time I need to commit to reading and writing makes me feel more serious, more inspired. I highly suggest that if you haven't read On Writing that you do so immediately. And if you aren't a writer, read it anyway. It's worth it just for his memoir. Stephen King is a fascinating man and I loved reading his story.

Practical Advice for Writers

I've only been writing professionally for a short while, but in that time I've received an immeasurable amount of invaluable advice. Some of which I'd like to share with you. Some of it has come from writing blogs, some from the always helpful Writers Digest, still more from workshops and classes and of course, from other writers. I can't claim to be an expert (I wouldn't dare!) but maybe a few of the tips that others have been kind enough to share with me can be of some help to you. Please enjoy and feel free to share your own words of wisdom in the comments.

• Just Write - It may seem obvious, but I still struggle with this one. I get stuck on the mayhem of platform building, publishing, marketing and editing before I even get the words down on paper. I get intimidated by the big picture, by the perfect manuscript that refuses to magically appear whenever I pick up the pen. My internal editor criticizes every word choice, forever scrutinizing whether future readers will find my prose awkward and derived. There is so much that can knock you down before you ever get started. Don't let it. Write first and worry about the rest later. 
• Put Your Work Out There - Again, it seems simple. You've finished your story, essay, novel, etc and made it as good as it can possibly be. The next logical step is to send it out into the world. But it's a frightening idea. It's easy to feel vulnerable and raw when we expose our work to the criticism of others. But if it's not out there then it can never be published. It's a little like the tree falling in the forest. No one can see your beautiful words if you haven't put them out there for people to see. 
• It Will Hurt - I learned this one from author Alice Kuipers while she was the Writer in Residence at the public library. She challenged me to send my work out into the world but cautioned me about the rejection. Rejection is inescapable (don't kid yourself) and it will hurt. A lot. Some days it will make you question whether you can write at all. But it's an important part of being a writer. It builds resolve, a thicker skin and if you're open to learning from it, you'll become a much better writer for the experience.
• Try New Things - When I started writing seriously I was only interested in two things: blogging and writing novels. But as I took more classes and started trying new things, I realized I also enjoyed personal essays and short stories. Likewise, I also realized I had no interest in journalism. I love getting to include a little of my own perspective in my writing. But if I hadn't branched out and tried new things, I never would have known. It keeps things fresh and exciting. It's a lovely gift to give yourself.

And there you have it! Just a few simple tips I've learned as I've explored the world of writing. This isn't everything, not by a long shot. If I tried to include every tip, trick and pearl of wisdom this post would go on forever. No, this is just a taste. I learn more and more every day and I love every minute of it. But now it's time to hear from the readers. What say you, readers? What great advice have you received over the years?