Writing Is Difficult But Rewarding!

Here are my gamechanging takeaways:

+Build your writing foundation on these 3 principles:
1. Write what you like but make sure there's an audience. Write to market. Choose between fiction and nonfiction. Nonfiction topics: Health, wealth, happiness, relationships. Market research on Amazon.
2. Read what you write and don't write. To energize. To inspire. To learn.
3. Let the rules help you but don't let them enslave you. Build on what works. Fiction: Conflict to resolution and so forth.
+Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration. Professional writers just get up and work. +Commit to a daily word quota. Pace your writing in a healthy and sustainable way.
+A strong routine is a writer's best friend. Write at the same time every day. Write early or late.
+Have prewriting cues. Stop in the middle of a sentence. Leave easy parts for hard days. Write in time blocks.
+Force yourself to write or do nothing, allow nothing else. If you're in the flow don't require yourself to take breaks. Inject humor into your writing. Compete against yourself for words written in a given amount of time. It's critical not to edit during writing. Set aside dedicated time for only editing. You might not always hit your daily word quota.
+How to deal with self-doubt. Why write when there's too much competition? Your unique voice and perspective could find a niche. Give a new take. Thrive in the midst of competition. Inject personality, quirkiness, and style. My book won't be very good. People might overlook this for a great story. I only have one chance to write a good book. Not true. Perfectionism keeps books from ever getting published.
+Dedication to the process trumps age. Avoid topics that require specialized qualifications.
+If you disapprove of my work, I shrug my shoulders. It's what I have. Thoughts of Stephen King.
+7 tips for managing your energy as a writer
1. Prioritize health. Diet, hydration, physical activity (relaxing endorphins released), sleep, habits (no smoking, etc.).
2. Know your why. Will help you overcome adversity. Know your whom, those you support by your writing.
3. Don't talk to much about your book. Saps creative energy. Leads to writing to please.
4. Work on one project at a time in most cases unless it truly helps to have more than one project.
5. Capture fleeting ideas. Capture moments of genius. Incorporate times of frequent inspiration in your routine.
6. Don't read the reviews. Recruit beta readers.
7. Be kind to yourself. Consider taking an extended break if necessary.
+Self-publishing gives autonomy and control. +You go straight to the real gatekeepers, the readers. Thoughts of Hugh Howie.
+5 good business practices:
1. Don't be entitled. Solid book cover. Solid editor. Solid marketing.
2. Expand your reach. Consider avoiding the exclusivity of Amazon. Consider publishing your book in multiple languages and multiple formats, such as audiobook, book, and eBook.
3. Have a direct communication channel with your readers, like a newsletter.
4. Reinvent yourself as necessary. Experiment with various aspects of writing, such as genre.
5. Double-down on what works best, the 20% that produces 80% of your output.
+Don't quit your job. Try to restructure your job for at least some work from home.
+Build multiple streams of income. Use analytics. Constantly evolve as a writer.

Note: I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

18 people found this helpful

Truth bombs

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

The beginning of this book is largely for beginners and maybe people who have been winging it for a while. I’ve read a lot of books on writing, personal development, etc, so I’d heard much of the information before. But even as an introduction to the concepts, it was a good recap.

After the first two chapters, though, the author started dropping some truth bombs.

Gems:
• The self-doubt chapter was the best part!
• Yes, there are millions of books out there, but you’re not competing against every book ever written. Most people buy recently published books, so you’re competing against books published in the last months/year.
• Readers are always looking for an interesting new voice, and that voice could be yours.
• Most people don’t care if you’re not as good a writer as your idol. As long as they get what they’re looking for, they’ll be happy.
• Your lack of formal education in the field doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Just be clear with your readers about your experience level.
• Pretend you’re editing someone else’s manuscript when you revise.

And more!

8 people found this helpful

Way too elementary

I struggled my way half thru the second chapter and gave up. If you have any experience whatsoever, this book will be too basic. In addition, the writer focuses on marketing and other topics more than on self-discipline. Trust me, there are far better books on this that will not waste your time and money.

6 people found this helpful

Better Titled How to Be a Writer

The author provides a lot of good advice to writers. My biggest complaint is he did not stay on the topic of how to build self-discipline. That message alone could be summed up in three sentences. The rest is filler.

5 people found this helpful

Sound advice for a solid foundation as a writer

If, like me, you've wished for a chance to take an actual working writer out for coffee and have them lay it all out in front of you, this book is the second-best alternative.

For a short listen or read, this book packs quite the punch, Martin writes in a clear, concise style that works for me. He brings a lot of practical advice for writers who want to become prolific "working writers." He doesn't beat around the bush or dissolve in long, inspirational rants. Instead, he discusses a lot of practical advice on:

- How to decide what to write.
- How to avoid common pitfalls like resistance, self-doubt, and common business mistakes.
- In which cases it would be preferable to self-publish or go the traditional route.
- How to develop a strong working ethic (A.K.A. write consistently)
- How to manage your energy as a writer

In the month since I listened to this audiobook (twice, if you must know) I've put in a few tens of thousands of words towards the first draft of a book, not in small part due to following his advice. Then, I went and got the Kindle edition at full price, for reference.

For me, it was totally worth it.

3 people found this helpful

For Beginners Only

This book is geared toward people who need to figure out how to get started as a writer. It helps one ask the right questions if they’re confused about how the industry works.

It’s way too basic for me, but others may find it helpful on their journey.

1 person found this helpful

Not what it makes itself out to be.

Didn't finished. Write to market lecture basically and nothing about discipline. Made the monotone delivery worse. Save your credit or money.

Great advice

This book gave me practical tips that I can put to use right away. The narration was smooth and easy to understand. Awesome book overall.

Helpful Book

This book helped me as a writer. It’s a quick and helpful guide on how to write well, how to best use your time and motivational!

Overall helpful and motivational

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review. I've played around with the idea of self-publishing some ebooks for a while. I can honestly say that the information in this book is presented in an easily consumable way that is both helpful and motivational. The ideas weren't groundbreaking, but often good, solid advice isn't. It is straight forward and plain spoken. I would recommend this book to others.

The narrator did a fine job. Sometimes his voice felt a little too monotone and spoken at a robotic pace; however, the chapters were short enough that it wasn't overbearing.

Overall I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book, and I would read/listen to this author again.