Wednesday's Writing on Writing

Check back here every Wednesday for a few thoughts on the craft. Here are today's:

I live a writer’s dream, but costs are associated with visibility. (I’d complain, but who’d listen?)

The major sacrifice has been less time to attend writers conferences. I have always enjoyed meeting other writers and editors and teaching and interacting with writing students. But as life has become busier and more complicated, time for such opportunities has nearly vanished.

That’s one of the reasons I bought the Christian Writers Guild. First, it’s a way to continue teaching and to bring together the best pros in the business to share the wealth of their experience with students.

But also, CWG activity forces me to carve out the time for our own writers conferences. We have a Writing for the Soul™ conference every February for hundreds of writers at all stages of their careers, from brand new beginners to accomplished professionals with long lists of credits.

Check out our upcoming one in Denver, which features Max Lucado (upper left) and Philip Yancey (upper right). It will be worth the time and the cost, believe me.

Details at: http://www.christianwritersguild.com/

We strive to be honest with beginners about the odds against selling their work while also encouraging them with the fact that every so-called “name” writer was once unpublished and merely hopeful.

There is always the danger of the learning writer becoming pessimistic. But negativity leads to complaining, and the spiral begins toward a me-against-the-world attitude. Succeeding then becomes all that much more unlikely.

We need to remind ourselves that very little worth doing comes easily. Yes, the odds are daunting, but that will make your success all the more satisfying. Remember that by committing yourself to studying, learning, listening, and being coachable, you have a leg up on all the competition you hear so much about.

While fighting your way to being published, remember that thousands upon thousands of hopefuls are dreaming and praying magic will happen. They want lightning to strike, and meanwhile, they take shortcuts.

Just remember:

While there is a sea of competition, few are committed to doing what it takes to reach the shore.

Stay positive, optimistic, and willing to work. That’ll make you most attractive to editors and publishers. Make your craft more than a hobby. Be dead serious about it, and that will increase your possibilities a hundredfold.

And join us in February to meet those editors, publishers, fellow writers – published and unpublished, and even agents. You’ll leave motivated to stay at the task.