Over on my TikTok, I've just begun a new series about the things I wish I’d known about writing 20 years ago. It's been a long old journey since I first set my sights on being a writer, and there are definitely some things I wish I'd done differently. So I thought I'd share them over here too, as 20 years slogging away at the same upward path is a long time, and I'm sure I've learned a few things that are worth passing on! So read on for the top ten things I’ve learned…

1. Make time to write every day

Your whole life doesn't have to revolve around writing, but you can squeeze it in at the edges of the way you are living now. At one point in my life, I quit my job at a bookshop to write full-time. I was doing an MA, so I didn't think it would look too bad on my CV, but in retrospect, I was not ready to write full-time and didn’t make the most of it. I like the variety of having a job too, and at the moment I work four days. Even on my writing day, I can't concentrate on writing for the whole day, so I try to get an hour in a few times a week. (When I have a tight deadline, this becomes every night until 2am!)

Miners is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

2. Not putting things out there will make you ill

I've talked about May Sarton a lot on here, and repeated her quote, from Journal of a Solitude, that ‘the gift turned inward, unable to be given, becomes a heavy burden, even sometimes a kind of poison. It is as if the flow of life were backed up.’ If you release work, it will make space for the next thing. We don't want to become stagnant ponds as writers, but flowing streams of fresh water!

3. Your MA will teach you nothing

I mean, I did enjoy it and it made me think seriously about my writing, but I didn't actually learn the craft of plotting a novel. When I wrote my first book (which became Christopher, Running), I just had a go and emptied my brain on the page, only to be told that my writing was far too depressing and my characters didn’t change at all! It wasn't until I read Save the Cat that I really appreciated all the different parts of a good story. I realised then that it is the transformation of a character that we crave as readers.

4. Don't wait for validation

More than ever, indie publishing is booming. Trad published authors are dipping their toes into the indie waters, and many indie authors are doing a roaring trade. I remember the advice given to me at the Kindle Storyteller Awards by one successful indie author. He said, 'Whatever a publisher can do for you, you can do yourself, but better.' Remember that!

5. My true north is connecting with readers

In The Artist’s Way (I love this book), Julia Cameron asks the reader to reflect on what it is they actually want from their creativity. Is it to be known? Is it to make money? Is it to connect with the reader? For me, personally, knowing that my writing has connected with someone is the reason I write. Hearing back from a reader that my writing has meant something to them is EVERYTHING. Don’t get me wrong - external validation would be great too... but that's not why I write.

6. Writing is a marathon, not a sprint

Personally, I have found it unhelpful to set external goals (i.e., I am going to find an agent before my 40th birthday – yep, I did this only to get a rejection from my dream agent at my 40th birthday party – not even kidding!) I have found it much more helpful to set achievable goals to work towards – for example, I am going to finish this draft before Christmas. Then you can celebrate your wins, and it depends on what you do, not what anyone else does.

7. Learn as much as you can!

Always be learning. There is so much to learn, and it can be a little overwhelming, but take each day at a time, and steadily try to grow your audience, whether that is through a mailing list, Instagram, TikTok, or through ads on Facebook or Amazon. Learn from the experts. Find a writer who is doing well on that platform and see what they do. Try things out. What have you got to lose? I still struggle with marketing - ie, knowing who my book is aimed at, so this is something I am aiming to nail within the next year.

8. Write the book you want to write

Having mentioned how important it is to know your audience so you can market to them, I also think it is crucial to write the book you want to write. Don't water it down to a compromise. If you have a vision for a book, go for it, and then see if there is a market. As Virginia Woolf said, 'So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say. But to sacrifice a hair of the head of your vision [...] is the most abject treachery' (A Room of One’s Own).

9. Write in series

Especially in indie publishing. If a reader finds your book and likes it, they can embark on a whole journey of discovery of the rest of the books in that series.

10. Celebrate your wins

Given that choosing writing as a career is a very silly option (I mean, are you really sure that you want to do this…?), it is very, very important to celebrate your wins. Finishing a draft is a big deal! Publication day is a big deal! Reward yourself. It is a long and sometimes lonely journey, so make sure you are taking care of the genius that does all the hard work (i.e., you).

Bits and Bobs

In other news, I am starting to put together a books mailing list, which is just book news, as I wanted to separate out creative inspiration, which is what Miners is for, and book news. That should be coming in a few weeks, so watch this space for updates!

As I’m sure you’ve heard (!), Christopher, Running is coming out on 15th August. The ARCS have gone out, and I am getting some reviews back, which is very exciting! Here is one of them from Naomi M. You can preorder your copy here if you haven’t yet.

That’s all for now!

Thanks so much for reading Miners.

Elisabeth

Miners is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.