The Writer's Journey Blueprint for Your Writing Success - Tip # 6
Tip #6: Give yourself the gift of qualified support to reach your goal of being published
‘Behind the scenes …’
The Writer’s Journey can be a lonely path. So much of what is involved in the writing process goes on ‘behind the scenes’.
Working from the ‘inside out’, the early stages of the journey are all about you and your connection to the words on the page.
So you start by looking within to discover the true source of your writer’s voice. This actually lies in the deepest part of your True Self - your essence or spirit (or whatever word feels right to you). This is also where you discover the gateway to your most original ideas via direct access to the creative energy which fuels the fires of your writer’s soul.
Although this process often takes place unconsciously, the impulse to create arises from this still space within … and this is the moment when you pick up your pen or tap away at your keyboard to write.
Developing a regular rhythm with your writing is an excellent way to hone the skills of your craft and build the bridge from inner to outer. In doing so, you infuse your words with a vibrant touch that carries your message or story into the world - whatever form this communication takes.
And still you may be working alone ...
In fact, many people write for years without sharing their work with anyone at all and simply appreciate writing as a powerful form of creative expression. I know of one experienced publisher who has written poetry almost daily for as long as he can remember but never sought to alter the personal relationship he has with his writing.
For others, the writing is only the beginning. The impulse to share and communicate is equally important as the writing process itself. For many writers, the experience can never be considered to be totally complete without an audience of readers.
Your independent spirit …
Yet writers often have an extremely independent spirit which, like anything, has both advantages and disadvantages.
By its very nature, having an independent spirit implies that you are able to ‘think outside of the box’. This enables you to come up with new ideas or fresh angles on existing ideas which will appeal to those who are more structured in their approach generally. Certainly this is a positive quality for any writer.
However, sometimes an independent spirit is coupled with conditioning which confuses independence and isolation. So if you find yourself feeling discouraged from seeking support on your Writer’s Journey, it may mean that need to review what you think and how you feel about receiving help generally.
Ask yourself, do you …
- Have a tendency to think that you ‘should’ be able to sort everything out yourself (the word ‘should’ is always an important clue)?
- Feel slightly uncomfortable when people offer to help you out (despite inside feeling quietly relieved)?
- Know that expert guidance is a powerful catalyst for progress but see it as something which is primarily for other people rather than yourself?
If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, it may be time for a radical rethink – especially where writing a book for publication is concerned.
The reason for this is that there is often a limit to the degree of progress that you can make on your writing journey – and the speed at which you ‘travel’ the path – when working entirely alone.
The most powerful recipe for success …
In fact, the most powerful recipe for success with any major new project lies in combining the best of what your independent spirit has to offer with proper support and expert guidance.
This approach is virtually guaranteed to bring out the best in you, enable you to fulfil your true potential and carve out a focused way forwards that is right for you and your book.
It is a middle way where challenges become stepping stones onto the next stage of the journey. It allows you to have the peace of mind which comes from knowing you have done everything you can to give yourself and your book the best possible chance of success.
Who can help?
A few years ago, writers were able to work closely with professional editors who, in simple terms, were employed by publishers to seek out – and develop - new talent for their publishing list. Editors would have the time, the focus and the ability to see the potential in a new writer’s work even if the words on the page in front of them were a bit rough at the edges!
The resulting collaboration between writers and editors led to a multitude of new writers breaking successfully into the marketplace and going on to have rewarding careers.
Today, although this kind of working relationship is still possible with some editors in some publishing houses, the emphasis has shifted to reflect the tougher commercial considerations the industry is currently facing.
To some degree, agents have taken on more of the traditional editor’s role. Yet, with ever-increasing numbers of writers who want to be published, even agents now have to put restrictions on the amount of time they can realistically spend developing new talent.
So where does that leave you if you have reached the point of understanding the value of guidance and support?
INVITATION TO TAKE ACTION!
There are different levels at which support is on offer for writers on the path to publication and this month, I recommend that you choose at least one of these ideas to take action on:
- Find a writing ‘buddy’ with whom you can share both your experience of the writing journey and the results of your endeavours. You can arrange to meet up once a week or speak on the telephone to support each other both creatively and constructively regarding the path to publication. If you don’t know anyone, ask at a library or bookshop for possible leads to other people who love writing.
- Join a local writer’s group or use the internet to access writer’s groups on-line where you can connect with other writers. Geography no longer needs to be a barrier to making contact with others who share your passions! See www.lulu.com/community for a website offering self-publishing options alongside community forums.
- Commit to a course, class or working with a coach who can bring a degree of professional excellence to the gift of guidance you are choosing to give yourself. The additional benefit of qualified and experienced support will enable you to reach deeper and more insightful levels with your writing alongside a more direct and far-reaching approach to successful publication.
So if you really want to enjoy the journey of writing a book for publication, and arrive at the destination, understand that one of the best ways to reach your goal is to give yourself the gift of qualified support.
Enjoy!
PS If you have enjoyed this article and would like to know more about the coaching, mentoring and masterclasses I offer, send me an email summarising your current situation and let me see how I can help you to move forwards on your Writer's Journey.
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Julia McCutchen
Author, Writers' Coach, Publishing Consultant
www.JuliaMcCutchen.com (0) 1380 871331
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© Julia McCutchen 2007. All Rights Reserved.
If you want to use this article in your ezine or on your website I’d be happy for you to do so as long as you use the complete article, including the copyright line, and include the following paragraph in its entirety:
Julia McCutchen is the author of The Writer’s Journey: From Inspiration to Publication and works as a writers’ coach and a professional publishing consultant. She has over 20 years' experience of publishing and a track record which includes UK # 1 and international bestsellers. Julia has worked with literally hundreds of authors, many of whom were writing a book for the first time, and is passionate about sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience to open the way for people who want to write a book for publication. To learn more and to accesss free resources for writers, visit www.JuliaMcCutchen.com
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