Writing myth number 1 - writing is easy

A lot of famous authors make it seem like writing is so easy. They talk about how the idea came to them in a dream, and they wrote and wrote until finally, they submitted it to be published. This isn’t at all what it’s like, in fact, it’s not like that for any writers.

It takes time

Writing is a process. Most authors start with an outline. Whether they use a basic synopsis, or a long, fully detailed Outline is up to the individual.

Then comes the actual writing. Writing a novel can take as much or as little time as the author chooses to spend on it. Some people can write a 50,000-word novel in one month – See NaNoWriMo – while others can take over a year to finish their First draft.

After the first draft has been written, there are even more hoops that need to be jumped through. Editing and proofreading should be done by the author and then again by an unbiased party. Usually, if you’re not already under the wing of a manager or publishing company you will have to pay out of pocket for these services. Editors can be very expensive and very helpful, or they can be very cheap and very inexperienced.

Of course, it’s always best to have a good editor.

After all the corrections are made to your piece, you are finally ready to submit to publishers. Submitting to publishers can be a long, tiring and depressing journey. Many people receive multiple denials for their stories before they finally catch a break.

Bumps in the road

One thing that writers are fully aware of is the fact that they may not make money off their writing for a while. The goal is to write a book and get it published; it sounds clear-cut when stated so harshly. However, to have an income, writers are usually forced to keep at least a part-time job while simultaneously working on their project. This can drastically slow the production of a work, therefore prolonging the entire scenario.

Many other issues can prolong or completely halt a writer’s work. Writers’ block is a common hurdle that almost every writer deals with at some point. Completely losing traction in their current work is just as common as writers’ block. In fact, if it weren’t for low self-esteem when writing there would be many more books published every year.

The next time you meet a writer make sure you don’t downplay the one thing that may give their life some meaning. Writing a book, or writing anything at all, can be a long and difficult journey. A journey that should be respected and encouraged.