Are any of you writers? Have you faced the challenges of being a writer? Let me be candid for a moment and talk about some of those challenges. Here are four challenges of being a writer and a few recommendations on how to excel past those challenges.
Challenge 1-Any Ideas?
The first challenge of being a writer is probably the most obvious. If you have ever tried to force yourself to come up with new idea, then you know how difficult this can be. Just because you are a writer doesn’t mean that the ideas just flow out of you like magic. There will be days when the ideas just don’t come.
So, what do you do? Well, what I typically do is try to change up my routine. There is no need to force yourself to create content. You can try, but what you create will probably not be any good. Try writing something new, start plotting a new story, or editing an existing story. Pick one. Just try anything other than what you’re currently trying to write.
Challenge 2-Blocked
Everybody loves a little writer’s block, right? No? Just me? Just kidding. Most, if not all writers, will eventually experience writer’s block. Luckily, I rarely experience writer’s block. *Knock’s on wood* However, for those that do, it can be very frustrating.
Take a stroll around Google and you can find hundreds of ways to beat writer’s block. You can find more suggestions than we have time to discuss today. A couple of ways that I have gotten through an episode of writer’s block is to work on another project or find a writing prompt somewhere and just let the writing flow. A few of my favorite places to find writing prompts are on the Writing Excuses podcast and on Reddit at r/writingprompts.
Challenge 3-To Be or Not To Be?
Another huge challenge of being a writer is getting published. Or, do you even want to publish? If you do, there are several different options. You need to do some research and weigh your options before making a decision. The route that most writers would love to take is the path to traditional publishing. This is most author’s dream. We would all love to be the next Stephen King or J. K. Rowling and become a New Your Times Best Seller and strike it rich. Unfortunately, for most writers, this dream will never come true. That doesn’t mean that you should give up on that dream. You might be that one,.
The other option comes with tons of options of its own. Self publishing. You can self publish through Amazon, Draft2Digital, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, to name a few. Each have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are interested in self publishing, check out Dale’s YouTube channel at Self-Publishing with Dale. He does a fantastic job and is super informative.
Challenge 4-Productive much?
Staying productive can be a challenge. This is where I get candid. I have been working on my debut novel for a while. It was supposed to be released this month, but I have not quite finished the editing process. Maintaining productivity has always difficult for me. I’m a bit of a procrastinator, and if I don’t stay on track, my progress can get derailed rather quickly.
One of the best ways to keep your productivity up is to work at it every day. Even if you only have ten minutes per day to work at your craft, devote all ten of those minutes to writing. When you have nothing to write, then edit; when you have nothing to edit, brainstorm. Just keep going.
Conclusion
That is what I’ve had to tell myself recently, just keep going. It’s working. The challenges of being a writer can be tough, but I have been hitting the editing pretty hard recently. Reborn will be available by the holiday season. Just a bit more editing and then off to a proofreader, and then it will be available to you all. It is a trilogy, so there is more to come. Plus, I’m also working on a prequel. Want to stay up to date on all the news related to my books? Join the other VIPs and sign up for the newsletter to be the first to know when new books are being released and where to find them. Go to my website to check the progress of Reborn and read some of my other blog posts. Don’t forget to leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you and will always reply to your comments.
