Thursday, June 11, 2009

Secrets of Writing Success

Glenda Larke picks up some valuable advice about how to suceed as a writer. (She bases her list on Richard St. John's TED talk.) Her tips :
1. PASSION - don't do it for money, but for love
2. WORK hard, but let it be fun. (For a writer, that would include reading A LOT)
3. GOOD - get good at it through practice
4. FOCUS - on one thing
5. PUSH yourself and push through the self-doubt
6. SERVE something of value to others
7. Get IDEAS - listen, observe, be curious, ask questions, problem solve, make connections
8. PERSISTENCE through the CRAP Criticism Rejection Arseholes (or assholes if you're an American) Pressure
Looks like Glenda is heeding her own advice. Elsewhere she writes :
I intend to start writing book 3 of The Watergivers trilogy (i.e. the Stormlord cycle) on July 1st and maintain a steady 11,000 words a week for 4 months, which should bring me to the end of the first draft in time for revisions and a January 1st delivery.

8 comments:

Borneo Expat Writer said...

Great advice, especially that first and last one. Good luck with your next book!

bibliobibuli said...

i love the last one too

manglish said...

very very sound advice......have to really attend your writing workshop once i am done here and get back to msia.......

bibliobibuli said...

would love to have you, Manglish. you can email me at sharonbakar@yahoo.com. long waiting list though :-(

Handbag Cupid said...

Great post. When are you next coming to Singapore, Sharon?

glenda larke said...

Great post - it doubled my hits for the day! Thanks Sharon...

bibliobibuli said...

LOL Glenda - you're very welcome, love your blog. love that we get steamed up about all the same issues too.

Lisha - probably for the writers festival ... really do want to come down

Anonymous said...

Actually I think her secret is that she has lots of people read her books and tear them apart. You can't improve if you keep making the same mistakes.