Two or three years ago, that AW would have been me, and the three qualities above would be the answer I really needed to hear. If I am weak and do not think I can do the hard work required, then I must find a shortcut, an easier route to success. I do not have patience, I must get the book written quickly and settle for mediocre. (Which is still better than meaty okra in my book.)

Another blogger wrote of “mid-life novel crisis”. There is nothing like lacking self-confidence and trying to write a novel to get it, when the very process of persevering at writing demands self-confidence to be fruitful.

I have written one novel (and nearly finished drafts of two others), sent the one out, got the rejection letters, edited it some more, and sent it back out. Rinse and repeat. There are too many skills to be mastered to get it right all at once, but who wants to be told that? I can write a mean query letter now, but I still need a great book to follow it with. It is wiser to focus on the obstacle closest at hand: does anyone like reading my stuff?

I did get to the MWF in 2008, and most of the aspiring writers I met there seemed to be in the same position. Many had started novels, and some had epic scifi trilogies planned, but none had ever finished a book. What struck me was how many of the AW’s there didn’t see this as a hindrance to searching for agents or writing letter to publishers. A few even had deep, personal grudges against local agents for rejecting them, even though they had nothing more than a basic proposal to submit.

Where do you think this instant-gratification culture of writing has come from? Whatever happened to people being satisfied with the slow route to success?

I spent a lot of years wanting to “be a writer” – thinking about writing, talking about writing – without actually doing any writing. Finally I managed to say “enough talk, start writing”.

This way is a lot better and more enjoyable…

- yeff

It seems difficult for some aspiring writers to realize that there’s no shortcut to actually putting their butt in the chair and writing a novel.

And I have to agree with Brittany above when she says that it’s sad to see old, abandoned writing blogs.

I am so relieved to hear this! I have started and abandoned six or seven novels. I have one novel at the first draft stage, lousy enough that I’m not convinced it’s worth fixing. I’m working on another at the moment, which I think has a lot more potential than the false starts.

I thought I was exceptionally ham-handed for running into these blind alleys. It’s nice to know I’m at least somewhat par for the course.

The thing is, my blog didn’t start out being directed by my writing. I started my blog to post random thoughts, but it began to morph into discussing my writing process as I began to work on my first ever full length novel. I never intended for it to become a writers blog, it just grew organically. And thats they way it should be. I’ve come across many “writers” blogs that haven’t been posted to in months or even YEARS. Just because you have a blog and you’re a writer doesn’t mean you can actually build a following. Content is important.

Beyond that, if you have nothing to show for all the work you put into building an author platform of followers, then you are no author. Writing is first and foremost the name of the game, above all else.

Write a novel. Then another. And another, until you’re ready to go into the process of finding an agent, shopping your book to publishers and all that. An author platform can be built then, easily.

Thats all I can really say to what you’d been asked, Justine. I’m still surprised and a little sad to come across those abandoned writers blogs.

To be honest I’ve never had a teen ask such wrong headed questions. It’s always the adults.

I have not written any novels, but this post reminded me of your past post “How do you judge your work?”

http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/17/how-do-judge-your-work/

As long as an aspiring writer continues to focus on external things beyond the writing itself, it will be difficult to become a good writer. It seems like the love of writing should guide an aspiring writer rather than a love of attention.

I can’t get my head round this burning desire to be published. Whatever for? If eventually you want to be read, use electronic means. It’s as simple as that.

*eyes glaze over* Them: Never mind.

So true. I think you should write a novel because that’s what you want to do–even if it stays in your desk drawer forever.

Also, I wrote four “novels” during high school, all of which I thought would be best-sellers. I am so glad those stayed in the desk drawer. Onward and upward!

Fanfiction is fun and good practice. As an aspiring novelist who also writes fanfic I can’t imagine thinking of it as anything more.

Rachel: Writing has to come first. I don’t understand how that is not obvious to some people.

Great post!