Even When It Hurts

The book is done. It's perfect, or at least from what you can see. You spent too many hours to count making it perfect and now that's it done you want to show off the work to others. I met other writers who have clearly stated they don't want their book to get pass their family and close friends. They are just writing for that group and not for the whole world to see. I respect that decision and preference. I find it incredible how many writers will write on hours for end and find it honoring for their families to just read. But then there are the other writers like myself. I write not only for my family to read but for others to learn about my writing and name. I write because I want to be recognized and noticeable in the writing world. When I finished my first novel I hit a rock in the road. I was writing on end and edited without a problem, all until I finished those two steps, then I was stuck. I figured I had to get it published but how and who. I had not the slightest idea about the publishing world and what's required. I bought many books on publishing a book and braced myself for this next endeavoring journey. I mentioned in a past few posts that my book got accepted to a publisher a few weeks ago. Well I shouldn't say accepted. I was asked by an editor if they could have my book proposal. I used every spare moment I had to compose this book proposal and then sent it off with prayer. It took exactly one month for something to come back (though it felt a lot longer). The moment I saw that email in my inbox my fingers couldn't more fast enough and for a long minute I felt sick to my stomach. Sure enough, all of my actions proved true. The book was rejected. They never do say why, though I was tempted to ask what exactly happened. But I reminded myself that they are busy and have a lot of projects to work on. I was thankful they looked at it at least and now I know I need to go back and work on it more. When? That's the problem.

It's not easy being a writer. There are many, many complications and difficulties along the way. Hurdles that seem impossible and sometimes I think if I even have it to be a writer. But then the thought hits me the same way it hit me when I discovered my passion to write. I recently read that if you write more than three sentences in a facebook status, text over 160 characters, and cannot help but write more than three paragraphs in an email, you are a writer. Yes, all of those points fit me. I cannot help but write lengthy and in detail. I want my voice to be heard and this goes all the way to my book and how I want it to get out there. I want my writing to be noticeable. If people were to read my writing and become engaged in the work, I would be pleased. I have imagined myself being a bestselling Author for years now and when that editor first asked to see my book, I was appalled. Of course I was even more appalled but more hurt when it was rejected. It hurt because I thought I had my foot in the door and something could come out of this. But I learned that even if I write just for myself, my family, and friends then that will be enough. I won't write for the fame and money. I write because I love it. When I put my hands to the keyboard each  morning, there's  a powerful emotion that overcomes me. I write and can't stop writing. My hands fly across the keys and punch in letters. I soon realize I have gone over one thousand words and I'm still writing. I know without a shadow of doubt that writing is my niche. It's my desire and I belong to writing just as much as writing belongs to me.

With all that said this isn't much of a post to learn from or gain insight from. Perhaps you can take it as a lesson to never give up even when people give up on you. If you were made for writing then you will have the endurance to stick through with it, even when the stumbling blocks come between and literally flip you over. Study the market. Know which publishers will accept your work and which won't. If you're writing a romantic novel and send it to a publisher who just accepts mystery, well don't be disappointed when they reject you. Be wise in which avenues you pick and someday soon you will receive that book contract to sign and get on with the business. But the most important thing is writing. Because without you writing there would never be a book, a book full of your imagination and ideas! 

Second-Person Perspective

"You don't know much about her, yet you're trying to find out the most possible. Your thoughts run day and night, wondering about her and if you'll ever see her again. But more importantly, you are curious if she thinks of you. You try to leave hints here and there along the way, though you're not sure if it's obvious enough. And last week when that sleeker accompanied her to the dance, you nearly lost it. Your blood boiled, the hair on your back stood  up, you had to control yourself from not..."


This is the most uncommon perspectives from all of the points of view in writing. Second Person. Second person can be so weird to write, very unfamiliar and almost foreign. It not only seems awkward when writing but can often feel weird when reading this perspective. The author is writing to you and you may feel more than a part of the story, you may feel right there with the character. The writer is writing to you, speaking directly to your face and telling you what's going on. There's a connection through second person, though it needs to be done in the right way in order to make sense or be interesting.

If you choose to write in this perspective it's advised to write what you already know about. It always helps to know your topic but it's even more helpful if you can relate to it. In this type of writing the reader has become the main focus. The only pronoun used is "you". You are riding along with the narrator, being your very own character in the story. It's not an easy point of view to tackle, part of the reason why many avoid this kind of perspective is because it takes an adequate amount of time to master. It's not an easy one that you can simply write out. It takes time. It takes thinking. It takes skills. It takes mastery.

But second person can be done so beautifully. It can be creative and experimental. If the author succeeds and does a great job, a wonderful story can take place, allowing the reader to hop along on a journey. The key is to describe how "you" feel, what "you're" going through, what are "your" struggles, and what goes on daily. The author must know you and must know it's audience in order to succeed because if not, then it can topple.

Second person can fail so easily if the author makes a simple mistake and changes a minor aspect about "you". The reader may then feel out of connection and not in sync with the story/character anymore. Become acquainted with the story and what you as the author are trying to display.

The reader BECOMES the protagonist.

This point of view is more common in nonfiction selections, keeping the one personal and relaxed. I have been writing in second person throughout this entire article. It happens to come across more natural. Second person is best used in a limited way, as a prologue, in certain chapters or passages to heighten suspense, or in a short story.

Again, find your voice. Perhaps you want to tackle this perspective and maybe you'll achieve and find enjoyment when doing it. It's one of the hardest aspects about writing because you need to stay consistent. But I promise, if you're mind it made up, do it! 

Who Is Called A Writer?

What makes me a writer? And when can I call myself a writer? Do I have to be published first or well-known in order to say that I'm an author?

Let me break the news for you. YOU are a writer the moment you decide to write. The moment you put action and thought together and compose a series of words, you are a writer. The words that come together and form creativity tell you what kind of writer you are. There are many different kinds of writers, just as there are different people. You have the relaxed writer. The one who writes by mere chance, writes for fun and jots down anything. Then you have the mediate writer--the one who is serious but in the same tense relaxed. He writes when he can and tries to be serious but at the same time, he has a relaxed mode about him. And then there is the serious writer. This person sees himself as a Bestselling Author, climbing steps at a recognized publishing house and writing columns for New York Times. Figure out which one you are. Are you comfortable with where you are? Staying in your hiding spot and writing from your bedroom or do you wish to work downtown in Chicago, LA, or New York with a publishing company? The person within you has to decide this. Do you want your voice to be heard, or are you perfectly content with your solitude? Both are good factors, deciding which one is you is the point.

Your Writing Determines YOU

So again, what makes me a writer? This is a question many new writers ask. Do you have to have ten books published, working for Chicago Sun-Times and go on book tours in order to be called a writer? No. The moment you decide to write that manuscript, the story that has been brewing in your mind for the past few months, you are the writer of that piece. The project doesn't have to be published in order for you to be a writer.You might be the kind who likes to write for fun, sharing your work with family and friends and keeping it in your circle of reach. You are still considered a writer. You will know that you are a writer when you figure out that you cannot live without writing.Your characters have such a pull on you. They begin to talk in your mind, interact with your thoughts, and make you think differently about things. Aside from that note, a writer is one who is has the self-motivation to write endlessly. The one who is okay to live in solitude for a few hours or days. The one who builds a connection with his/her audience. A writer is the one who wants to make a difference with his/her voice being heard. If you want to make money and gain fame, then this is the wrong profession. There is no guarantee that you will make millions the moments you write those words down. And there is no knowing if you'll be a well-known author. It comes with experience, patience, and determination. If you want it, you will run after it and catch it.

A writer is often confused, but this makes us the WRITER. All of those thoughts and crazy ideas jump up and down in our mind making everything unclear. The writer is a person who doesn't give up even on the tough days. The days will come where nothing seems right and no words will form. But those days are there for perseverance, questioning our ability if we can do this. You can if you want to experience the journey of creativity, adventure, and flexibility in day to day life. A connection starts the moment you form those words, the second you decide that you are a writer because you can't imagine doing anything else. Writing books, short stories, articles, devotionals, scripts, essays, and so on are a variety of writing you can do. Perhaps you're the writer who will explore or maybe you're the one who will stay with one specific niche. Whatever it is, you can write because you want to and you will be that writer because you can!

You are a writer by practice and determination. Not everyone has this talent, so call yourself blessed and special. A writer sees life from different eyes, they understand incidences with a much deeper acknowledgement. You are an author the moment that manuscript is complete and a writer the second you devote time to your creative thoughts. Something magical happens the moment you start writing. Everything else can wait but those ideas. This special assignment is assigned to only a few, so grasp it if that is you. You will know in your heart if you are a writer, I promise you, you will just know!

I'm a Writer and am not ashamed! Because at the end of each day, I feel accomplished and if you are a writer, you understand.

Writing Regularly

Is it important to establish regularity in the craft of writing? What difference does it make? Is it essential or a waste of time? Is there actually a certain time in the day where your ideas flow easier and faster? And what is the point of setting a certain time in your day to write?

These are questions that most "beginner writers" have asked themselves or others around them. We all know that there area only 24 hours in a day and each one of those hours are very valuable--at least to me. There is hardly enough time in my day to do anything extra so this is why I write a planner every weekend before I start my week. To start with the very first question: Is it important to establish regularity when writing? Yes. I believe so very much. I know that it is important to write at a set time everyday because the mind and body will get used to it and know, "Oh this must be the time that I write!" and believe me, the ideas will flow like never before. I didn't believe it at first, it actually took me a few weeks to realize this but sure enough it was true. The time is up to you and what works for your schedule. I work on the side and I'm in school so I write every day from four o'clock in the afternoon until six o'clock. However, I start my days with writing at seven in the morning for half an hour. It's not very long but it's just enough time for my thoughts to get rolling and steaming. Once I mess with this routine it takes me awhile to think of something. I'm still trying to figure out if this is all psychologically, whatever it is I won't change it. But for you...you need to figure out when that time is JUST right. You may be an early bird writer, a late morning person who writes before noon or one who writes from evening to midnight. Or perhaps you're the writer who wakes up in the middle of the night and grabs the journal to jot down ideas and thoughts. I'm not saying that this hasn't happened to me before because it has. It has occurred far too many times, but I don't ignore the action to write down an idea (which can easily turn into ten ideas). Discovering that perfect time for YOU is a very important element for the life of a writer.

Not only is it a good habit for you, it's a good indication for others. When you set this time family and friends will notice that you are busy and don't need to be bothered right now. Put the phones away, lock your door if you must, and stay away from the temptation of the internet. Write! Write! Write! If you have a dream to write a book you must start now. You need to put aside the thought of later and do what you can now because you may never know when later will arrive. Once you establish this routine you will realize that you can't be without it. It's almost as if you get dependent on that schedule and when you slip a day or two, you feel incomplete. Take the time to write--whether it be five hundred words to start or five thousand words, write. I started out with writing two hundred words a day and now I'm typing out five thousand words a day and counting.You may start out writing for ten minutes a day and eventually excel to thirty minutes, and soon an hour. A good practice is to set a goal before you start writing. Maybe you want to write one page everyday or ten pages in your book, or whatever project you are composing. I write a set amount of words daily and once I reach that, I call it a good day of work. Write every day. Mark it in your calendar to keep you accountable and eventually it will become an unnoticeable pattern that has become a normal manner.

Track your writing progress daily 

You must get your feet out in that writing world in order to have the feeling run through your body. I promise that somehow and in someway you will understand what all of this means. You will acknowledge and your mind will perceive that writing is not only a hobby it's a job, a career. If you want to become professional in this endeavoring task then you must act professional, even if you are working for yourself at first. It all starts somewhere. The best selling authors didn't start with the highest positions and working alongside with editors, they started with an idea and put that idea to action. They implanted a routine, a schedule in their daily lives.

Allow the passion of writing to slowly live within you. Allow it to overflow your soul and compel engaging styles and risks. Let the act of writing conquer the writer within your heart and soon you will become the well-known author.