Writer's Life: My Favorite Piece of Writing Advice (Lauricia)

Greetings, all, and welcome back to Lands Uncharted. I hope this post finds you and yours well and in good health. For today’s blog, I’d like to offer you the single piece of advice that I find to be invaluable.

I spend a significant amount of time in the car during the week, and as I do, I like to listen to podcasts about writing. One episode I heard last week contained this piece of advice that I decided is pure genius: trust your process.

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Trust your process.

As we set out on our paths to become writers, or progress on our journeys to become better writers, it is natural to look at other authors and consider how they “do it.” How does this author publish so many books each year? How does that one consistently write well enough to win all of those awards? How can I become a better writer so that I can stand on the playing field with them? Our desire to create stories that are good enough to get noticed in a crowded market can lead us to examine the processes of others, which is how we grow. As we try the various production techniques of other authors and see which fit, we begin to develop a system of our own.

And then we begin to compare. We may notice that this author produces at an astonishing rate of three books per year, and we wonder why we’re not churning out stories that quickly. Or we see that author winning yet another award, and we wonder why our writing doesn’t even make it to the short list of any competition we enter. We begin to doubt the processes we’re using, and we think that if we could just find that one thing that those other writers do, we could finally shoulder our way onto the bookshelves. So we try other people’s processes but find that what works for them doesn’t work for us. This writer produces so many books because she writes every day, but I can’t write every day because my day job demands a lot of my mental resources, and I’m creatively spent when I get home. Or that writer uses this technique blended with that technique to produce award-winning plots, yet those same techniques frustrate me and leave my creative wheels spinning.

Somewhere along the path of becoming better writers, we get caught up in the processes of others and become trapped in a pattern of comparison and competition until we’re so tangled up in techniques and methods that we don’t even want to put words on a page any more.

It is good to try the things that work for other authors. If we don’t consistently try new methods, we won’t find those that help us and we won’t grow in ability or skill. The problem arises when we abandon what works for us in favor of what works for someone else and get frustrated when that thing that works for someone else doesn’t work for us.

For example, I currently teach five different classes of high school English. This means I prepare five different lessons each day, which takes a lot of creativity. Then I teach those classes, which takes a lot of energy. Then, after the school day ends, I grade the work produced by my students during those classes, which often means I don’t have any creativity, energy, or time to invest in my own writing, so I can’t write every day. A lot of authors will tell you to write every day, which is an excellent piece of advice, but if I let myself be defeated because I can’t seem to find a twenty-fifth hour in a twenty-four hour day, then I would give up and never produce the works that I have managed to create. If, instead, I use that advice to try to improve my process but abandon it when it doesn’t work for me, then I am able to develop a system that enables me to get the words in my heart and my head out onto the page. I may not be producing a book every year, but I am at least producing consistently.

I share all of this to encourage you as you make your way along the writer’s path. It is good to study the methods and try out the techniques of other authors, but if they don’t help you, it’s also good to set them aside. What is important is not what works for someone else, but what works for you. Find those things that help you create stories you love and build those methods and techniques into a system that matches your personality and lifestyle. Then trust your process as you write those stories you long to tell.

A Time to Rest (Vanessa)

Happy December! Can you believe we’ve made it this far? This has been QUITE a year! From coronavirus to just daily life, life has become overwhelming and a bit exhausting. So, today, I’m here to talk about when you should allow yourself to rest.

In addition to writing, there are many other outlets authors participate in. From bookstagram and online events to everyday life as a parent, student, or working (or all three!), it’s easy to become exhausted. But when do you allow yourself to slow down? Here are three ways I’ve learned to identify when I need to rest.

First, it’s okay to rest when a hobby or something that was once “fun,” doesn’t bring you joy anymore.

This doesn’t mean you need to give up your hobby forever. But it’s okay to stop doing one thing if it’s draining you mentally, emotionally, and physically. For example, I LOVE reading! But there have been many times where reading became exhausting. Of course, I’d never give up on books, but in order to give my mind time to rest, I read online comics instead! They were a lot shorter and I found it refreshing!

 

Second, it’s okay to rest when everything seems like too much.

As mentioned before, there is a lot more to being an author than just writing. There is editing, revising, marketing, not to mention your personal life! And, when everything is going smoothly, these things are great! But life doesn’t always go smoothly and it’s okay to take a step back to focus on what is important to you.

 

Lastly, it’s okay to rest when you want to rest!

I am a type-A personality through and through. I have always been this way, which has made me learn when I need to put on the breaks and slooooooow down. In the past, I have run myself into the ground, burned out, and have hated the very things I used to love to do. With time, I've learned from my past experiences and can now recognize when my mind and body are saying, “we need a break!”

 

With all that being said, this will be my last post on Lands Uncharted (for now!). Due to the reasons above, I have decided to take some time off from many of my “extracurricular” writing activities, so that I can focus on my personal life. I have loved writing with these wonderful ladies and hope I can join them again in the future!

I hope that these little tips help you and if you need to rest, please do so without any guilt! 😊

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Vanessa 😊

Writer's Life - Making Time (Gretchen)

 Writer's Life - Making Time

I've been in something of a writer's slump these past few months. Very discouraged. I'm replotting and revising my current manuscript, and honestly, it's daunting. After winning the ACFW Genesis Award two years ago and receiving encouraging feedback on various fronts, I realized I have a lot further to go before my story is ready to submit to publishers and agents.

I can't blame my writing situation on 2020 and the drama of the world. This could have happened in any year. Now for the solution. As I often do with my writing life, I draw from my career as an environmental consultant. Much like a lawyer, my work day is broken into billable hours, and I use a timekeeping app to help me allot my time correctly.

Putting into perspective that I consider writing to be something of a ministry and part-time career, I knew I had to treat it as such. With that in mind, I decided that the best way to give my writing it's proper place in my day, I needed to bill my writing time like I would any project.

I'm sure there are several apps out there, but I have been using Toggl for a while and am pleased with it. Recent updates have made it even more user-friendly, namely it now groups my worked hours by project, something I used to have to do manually or by switching to report mode.

What tricks do you use to fit in more writing time?

Do you have a favorite app to increase your productivity?

Writer's Life: No Plot? No Pants? No Problem! (Lauricia)

 “Are you a plotter or a pantster?”

Utter this question in a group of writers and watch from a safe distance as the formerly unified whole splits into two parts like the ground on a fault line in an earthquake (and with about as much noise). Notice the shifty glances cast as writers discreetly shuffle to one side or the other of the gap now forming, ever-so-subtly aligning themselves with those who are likeminded. Look on and wonder, “What have I done?”

What you have done, my friend, is broached one of today’s literary hot topics.

While the divide is not nearly so dramatic as an earthquake, many authors are firmly established as one or the other, and knowing which side you stand on could be foundational in your career as a writer.

A plotter is someone who outlines an entire work before sitting down to actually write it. Writing this way gives authors a detailed map, allowing them to plan minute details before even writing a word.

 A pantster, on the other hand, is someone who writes without the outline, literally “flying by the seat of the pants”. Pantsters prefer this method because it allows the story to grow more organically, and allows the writer to be surprised during the writing process.

Well known plotters include Katherine Anne Porter, John Grisham, R.L. Stein, and J.K. Rowling. Nora Roberts, Margaret Atwood, Pierce Brown, and Stephen King are among the pantsters. Many authors fall into one of the two camps, and you can find a lot of resources online to help you identify which style suits you the most.

Me, however… I’m more of an excavator. As I’m playing with my initial idea, I find scenes scattered throughout the plot like bones peeking through surface dirt. I craft those scenes carefully, executing the tools to hand as precisely as an architect excavates fragile skeletal fragments from the earth. Once out in the open, I hang them on a plot diagram in rough-guestimation about where they belong. As I write, more of the current work’s structure is exposed, and a better picture of the overall whole begins to form, allowing me to plan the positioning and execution of the elements of the work accordingly.

Much like exhuming a fossilized skeleton from the ground, my method is slow, painstaking work. It requires many drafts, but what work-in-progress (WiP) doesn’t? And, oh, the surprises I find along the way!

If, like me, you find you are neither a plotter nor a pantster, never fear. Writing is subjective, even down to its very creation, and no to authors work exactly the same way. My suggest is to experiment with both plotting and pantsing, borrow what works from each method, and meld them into a combination of your own. Then, when your WiP is completely excavated and ready to be viewed by the masses, look on and wonder at the amazing thing you have done.

What about you? Do you write best as a plotter, a pantster, or an excavator? Let us know in the comments below.

Writer's Life: Why Should I Leave A Review? (Vanessa)

     Hello all! I hope the weather is deliciously cool and wonderful where you are! I’ve already decorated my entire house for fall and have my “fall-scented” candles burning. I love the coziness of fall, especially because I can light a candle, grab a blanket, and snuggle up with a book. But, once I finish the book I immediately (or as immediate as I can!) write a review while the story and my thoughts about it are fresh in my mind.

Before I dove into the writing world of querying, authors, and reviews, I NEVER reviewed a book. I have always been an avid reader, but when I was younger there were never any places to “review” a book other than word of mouth. It wasn’t until I attended my first writing conference that I heard about the importance of book reviews and recommendations.

“Why write a review?” You may ask and I’m glad you did because I’m here to give you a few reasons why!

1)      You thoroughly enjoyed the book

When I fall in love with a new story, I can’t wait to tell someone about it. By leaving a review for the book, I not only find others who feel the same way, but it’s a way I can tell the author “I love your work!”

2)      You want to warn others about the content of the book

Like I mentioned earlier, I never left book reviews until a few years ago. Now that I know about them, I read through a few before picking out a new book to read. Many readers leave details about explicit content in books and what to be wary of. Just make sure to look out for spoilers!

3)      You want to support the author

Reviews are extremely important to an author’s advertising and sales. If you love an author’s story, but don’t know how else to get the word out, leave a review! As an author, I always love hearing my reader’s thoughts about who their favorite character is and how angry they were at the villain. You may just be the words of encouragement that keeps the author going!

I could share many  more, but these are the main reasons why I make a point to leave reviews for the books I read. I hope you can do the same!

To Query or Not to Query (Vanessa)

           One of the biggest decisions a writer has to make is whether or not they want to publish their work. And though it seems like an easy yes or no question, it gets a little more complicated than that. If they decide yes, the writer must then decide if they want to self-publish, be published by an independent press or be published be a traditional press. Do they want a small publishing house or a large one? Should they get an agent? Should they submit their work unsolicited? The questions continue to stack on one another until they have no idea what to do any more.

Before my debut novel, Heartmender, was published, to query or not to query really was a huge question. I had begun writing as a way to work through a difficult time in my life, but then it blossomed into something more. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my stories and the questions listed above bombarded me. Wading through the waters of publication became very overwhelming very quickly. Some agents wanted one thing other agents wanted another and then when I thought I had it all figured out; I received an inbox full of rejections. I finally got to a point where I just said, “Forget it!” and stopped querying and researching all together.

But during that time, I never felt the need to stop writing. There were stories I needed to share and I had to keep writing to get them out. So, when I finished a very rough first draft of Heartmender, I continued working on my series. The excitement of continuing my story, just for me, was exhilarating. Even if my stories were never published, I loved writing about my characters and the adventures they would encounter. With each new chapter typed, my writing skills continued to progress and expand, as well. I wrote and wrote until, finally, all three books were drafted and my first trilogy was complete.

              Overtime, I felt God encouraging me to query again when I stumbled upon a Facebook post about a Twitter Pitch party. After researching (I do love to research! 😊 ), I found that pitch parties were a new way to have agents and publishing houses look at your work. It was different from anything I had read online about publishing and querying, but I thought, “why not?”.  Through a series of twists and turns (and more prompting from God), I eventually signed my contract with Monster Ivy Publishing and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made.

              I wanted to share that anecdote with you to not only tell you a little about myself, but to also encourage those other writers out there. If your heart is set on publication, don’t fret! There are so many different types of publishing and ways to get published these days, don’t be afraid to try different avenues because they might be the best thing for you. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Stories are subjective; there’s something out there for everyone. And if you love to write, don’t stop because you haven’t received a contract. Continue to write and produce amazing stories. You never know which one will be the one!

Keep writing!

Vanessa 😊

Top 3 New Years Resolutions (Julie)

It's hard to believe that 2019 is almost done and then a new decade is upon us. This has been a year of much change-leaving my home of five years to move to a new place and then getting married a few weeks ago. With all this, another change is coming. I believe my time on Lands Uncharted has come to an end for now.  It has been an exciting adventure, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my years as a blogger here and being a part of this wonderful community.

Now as I look to a new year of change, I know there are 3 things (at least) that I will commit to doing in 2020. And I hope you will also commit to as well (because they are pretty awesome):

1) Read. Read. Read. Get the picture? You're reading this post because you love to read (I'm assuming anyway). No matter how busy life gets and how many changes happen, continuing to read is essential for one's well-being! I wasn't able to read nearly as much this year as normal, but I treasured every chance I got to read a new fantasy book. I look forward to having the chance to read more this coming year!

2) Keep writing (or start!) I realize not everyone who reads LU writes, though I hope so! If you don't, might I recommend giving it a try in 2020? It's so much like reading but you make the story, and the characters, and the adventures, and the villain. There are endless possibilities to unleash your imagination onto paper, or a document.

3) Keep reading Lands Uncharted! There is so much humor, interesting book reviews, and useful information, that it should be a goal to continue to check out all the excellent posts, especially the news ones! I won't be on LU as a blogger next year, but I definitely will keep up with it and appreciate all the creative posts. It's gonna be good!


I hope you will join me on these ventures and experience the laughter, creativeness, and adventures of lands uncharted! Happy New Year and may it be blessed with tons of stories to read and write!!

Slow and Steady Can *Also* Win the Race! (Laurie)

Hi friends!

It's that time of year again, where my social media feeds swarm with word counts and work-in-progress snippets and goals met and goals to be achieved. National Novel Writing Month.

In a way, I love it. Even though I'm not participating in NaNoWriMo, I am trying to make significant progress on my current project, and on many days it's inspiring to be surrounded by so much writerly ambition. I catch the tide of that excitement to propel myself forward on my own goals, feeling like part of a team or a runner in a marathon.

Then there are the other days. The days where I was proud to write 1,500 words, only to find out that everyone else around me ("everyone else" meaning approximately three people, because that's how my brain works) wrote over 3,000. Suddenly, my progress feels insufficient, not something to take pride in. Or the days when I don't write at all, because my kid was sick or I needed to run errands or I was just too tired. But everyone else (a different three people this time) had even more going on in their busy lives than I did and still managed to exceed their word count goals for the day.

In an environment where writers are encouraged (at times to the point of pressured) to write an entire novel in one month, where readers don't want to have to wait a month, let alone a year or more, for the sequels in a series they enjoy, where sales depend on how many books an author can churn out in a short amount of time because otherwise Amazon will cause our names and products to fall off the face of the planet, I needed to reflect on this today, and I'm hoping it will be helpful to at least a few others out there, as well.

Slow and steady can *also* still win the race. Or at least finish :)

Please know that I'm not saying there's anything wrong with participating in and winning NaNoWriMo. And if you're the kind of writer who can create and release numerous quality books each year, I'm genuinely cheering you on. But that's not me. That may not be you. And that's okay.

My debut novel, Book One in my Tales of the Mystics series, was published in February, 2018. Now, a year and a half later, I'm finally getting close to finishing my first draft of Book Two. There are many reasons for that delay, which I won't get into here. But having the advice to write more and keep producing swarming around me, seeing so many authors publish multiple books while I toil away at just one, has caused this to feel like a point of shame on my journey as a writer. The whispers in my mind tell me I'm taking too long. No one will care about my book anymore if it ever even gets published. I may as well quit because I can't write fast enough to keep up.

If those same voices haunt your thoughts, tell them to take a hike! Lots of authors take years, sometimes even decades, to publish their next book. Life happens, and the reasons and process and journey looks different for each of us. I can think of several authors off the top of my head whose second or third or later book in a series is taking quite a while to reach my bookshelves. And I'm still looking forward to them! Perhaps even more so because if the author is taking the time to pull it all together well, I feel a little less worried that the series will fall apart in later books.

Most importantly, I've been reflecting on a set of e-mails I exchanged with a writer friend a few months back. She, too, was disappointed that she was completing a book years later than she'd planned. But she pointed out that she's a different person now than she was during the timeframe in which she "should've" written the book, and that without the experiences and writing practice she's had the in meantime, she couldn't have created the same book she's writing now. Think about that. The book she ended up writing is different - better - than if she'd succumbed to the pressure to write it sooner.

The same is true for the book I'm writing. And very possibly, for the book you're writing. Sometimes the pieces of a certain story won't come together until we've had additional experiences or taken a break to write other things or passed through a certain phase in life. When I reflect on the past year and a half, my life has changed in many ways, some good, some bad. I've written some pieces that fall way outside my comfort zone, like comedic flash fiction and a children's book. Now that the words of Book Two are finally flowing, they're taking the story to deeper, more complex places than I anticipated. And I don't think it's a coincidence. The second book in my series is not going to win any awards for speed or turnaround time, but I do think it's going to be a better book because of the wait.

So if you can't win NaNoWriMo, or, like me, you're too slow a writer to even consider participating, or if you ever just feel discouraged that you're not producing as quickly as the rest of the world wants you to, take heart! Without even realizing it, you're likely having experiences that will make your story richer when it's finally complete. And even if you're not or that book never gets completed, keep in mind that your growth and success along your writing journey are *not* dependent upon how many books you publish. Your worth, as a writer and as a person, is SO MUCH MORE than what you produce.

I'm going to try to do better about keeping that truth in front of me, and I hope if you struggle with similar doubts, you'll do the same!


Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo? Do you like being surrounded by lots of writer hype, or do you sometimes fall into the comparison trap like me? Have you ever felt like one of your stories turned out better because of a delay in the writing process?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Creative Outlets Anyone? (Katie)

What's Your Creative Outlet?

Writer's Life (Katie)

Writing is definitely a creative outlet. It's something I've been doing since early childhood (have I mentioned before that I can remember the first stories I wrote as a kid?). But there are times I need a break from writing. At those times I focus on other creative outlets. I thought it'd be fun to talk about those things today, and I'd also LOVE to hear about your creative outlets!

Baking

When I was a little girl, my mom always baked with us kids. We made rolled sugar cookies for just about every holiday you can name. I can also remember making cakes.

Today, it's something I still do when I need to keep my creative juices flowing but don't have the energy or "muse" to write. I love tweaking recipes to make something a little different or new. I love fruity desserts, chocolate desserts, sweet and savory desserts. 

The other day I decided I needed fruity, so I created a mini dump cake from blueberries and lemon creme. I used lemon cake mix on the bottom and top, and I topped it all with butter. They turned out very yummy (even though they're nothing pretty to look at, I know!).

Walking

While it's not technically something I'm DOING to be creative, getting outside and enjoying nature is also a MAJOR source of keeping my mind clear and helping me think through plot holes and writer's block for when I am being creative. We have a cotton field behind our house, and we like to walk the dirt paths through it. We also have a cow pasture in front of us, so walking our road is relaxing and beautiful!

Gardening

OK, I have to admit, this has slowly worked it's way to my top creative outlet when I need a break from writing. 

I love growing things, be it flowers, fruits, or vegetables. Working in the dirt is relaxing and cathartic, and it gives my brain a break when it needs it! I am always thinking of ways to rearrange, prune, or better "feed" my plants. I promise you, watering plants is just about one of my favorite things! Does that make me weird? (ha!)

*So, what about you? Do you have a creative outlet you like to do to clear your mind and help you think? There are other types of art, of course, like music or drawing. And lots of people like to get out and do adventurous, physical things (rock climbing, anyone?). Those are fun for me too, but these ones I've mentioned are definitely my go-to's. I'd love to hear about yours and get a few new ideas, so let's have them!

One Draft, Two Draft (KaLyn)

One Draft, Two Draft (a writer’s parody)

One draft.

Two draft.
Bad draft.
Blaah draft.

Half draft.

Whole draft.

Rotten draft.

Cold draft.

This one’s beginning lags.

This one’s middle sags.

Say! What a lot

Of drafts there are.

Yes. Some are bad. And some are blaah.
 And some you wish, you never saw.

Some don’t begin.
And some won’t end.
 And some—never ever, ever send.

But don't let
Fear hold you back.
You can learn
Any skill you lack.

Make some friends
And share your work
Connecting is the point.
Don't just lurk.

From bad to good, from good to bad, 
Writing lessons
Must be had.

It takes time
To find a way
And that's okay!
You only need to pray.

Oh this! Oh that!
Oh dear! Oh me!
What a lot
Of writing lessons we see.

This is my last post as a regular contributor on the spectacular Lands Uncharted, with the lovely ladies of Lands. But this isn’t goodbye! You can find me on my blog at authorkacummins.com or hanging around social media (@authorkacummins).

See ya later, alligator! ;)

So, That's How it Ends? (KaLyn)

A writer's job is essentially three tasks: read, write, and hook readers through to the last word. It's not enough for a book to have a compelling beginning and an eventful middle. The last word must set the hook for future stories.

Endings are the legacies of books.

An ending can spoil a good story, redeem a bad one, and influence our decision to pick up the writer's next book or to recommend the book to a friend. It should resonate with readers in a positive way, even if the story doesn't have a happy ending.

But how does a writer craft such an ending?

THE LAST FIFTY PAGES by James Scott Bell

In my quest to understand how to craft powerful endings, I picked up James Scott Bell's The Last Fifty Pages. 

As if it were a casual conversation between mentor and mentee, Bell explores elements and approaches for crafting endings. He presents several compelling points, followed up with brief examples from various published work. Among those points are: the goal of an ending, common issues to avoid, symmetry between the opening and the ending, and effective foreshadowing.

Bell offers constructive advice without overwhelming readers. The friendly manner in which he presents the information leaves room for independent thinking and inspiration, while his accessible language makes the book easy read in between tasks or after a long day.

I recommend The Last Fifty Pages as a resource for writers seeking to understand the art of an unforgettable ending.

Of all the books you've read, which one had an ending that resonated with you?

The Top Three Things I’ve Learned About Being a Writer from Watching The Voice (Lauricia)

In my family, we rarely watch television. It’s not that we have anything against this type of media—we’re simply too busy. As with most everyone else in the world, life moves quickly and there’s not enough time in the day. So I found it interesting when my husband discovered The Voice on NBC. I found it surprising when I noticed he was making a conscious effort to watch it every time it came on.

In case you are unfamiliar with The Voice (as I was until five-ish seasons ago), here’s a brief run-down. Amateur vocalists from all over America audition for the chance to win $100,000 and a contract with a major recording label. After the initial blind auditions where four famous musical artists build teams of likely candidates, the chosen vocalists are mentored by the artists who picked them as they compete in a series of elimination-style performance challenges. They compete until only four remain and one is chosen as winner. Then the cycle starts over again.

I’m not as much of a fan as my husband, but I enjoy watching the show with him, and I find myself drawn in more often than not. As I watched this week’s episodes, I kept thinking about how much writers can learn from it.

1) We’re all on the same journey

Just as the contestants, stage performers, and coaches on The Voice are all involved in the music industry at some level, so, too, are all writers working to achieve the same goal. Whether unpublished or multi-published, traditionally published or indie, we all follow the same route: dream of writing, craft a manuscript, publish said manuscript, and work to get that manuscript known by the people who will love it.

Our individual journeys differ, but that doesn’t mean one experience is necessarily better than another. While traditional publishing might work very well for some, indie publishing works better for others. In today’s industry, neither form is superior – only more beneficial to the individual involved. If the journey to a destination is the best part of the trip, then what does it matter how we get to where we’re going as long as we all get there?

2) Invest in others

One of the best aspects of The Voice is the effort the coaches go through to help their team members win. These famous, well-established, popular artists take the time to deeply invest in the lives of their mostly unknown, inexperienced team members. They don’t just toss out a few tips at a couple of get-togethers. They help their team members make connections by bringing other industry-acclaimed artists into training sessions and performances and often stay connected with team members after the season ends, maintaining long-term mentor relationships.

This is what Tim Grahl, a platform building specialist, calls being “relentlessly helpful” in Your First 1,000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book (not an affiliate link). As authors, we have so much to offer those who are not as far along on the journey as we are. It may be tough to find the right tribe and challenging to carve out the time, but making the effort to invest in others is more than just a good idea. It’s also a great way to foster personal growth. After all, who can teach something he or she knows little about? Additionally, it’s not uncommon to discover that the people being invested in possess knowledge and experiences their mentors benefit from, as well.

3) Winning doesn’t guarantee success, and not winning doesn’t mean contestants will never have careers of their own.

One of the things coaches of The Voice often tell their teams is (roughly paraphrased): Not advancing to the next round doesn’t mean their careers are over. If nothing else, competing on The Voice at any level helps contestants get known, and every opportunity to become known combines to make each individual’s platform stronger. Contestants are encouraged to take what they’ve learned, to find ways to implement that knowledge, and to keep trying until they achieve their goals. If they are truly determined, then it’s only a matter of time until their efforts yield results. Similarly, contestants are warned that winning The Voice doesn’t guarantee their careers are made. It takes a lot of hard work to make the most of the opportunity that winning presents. Vocalists still have to write new songs, rehearse, tour, and continually build their platforms. Ironically, the work is much the same for those who win as it is for those who don’t.

So, too, in writing. We all dream of penning the next mega-million dollar bestseller, but our careers are not doomed just because our debut works don’t instantly rank number one on any given (and highly subjective) chart. If we implement what we learn, and if we’re truly determined, it’s only a matter of time until we achieve whatever level of success we hope to attain. Once we do, we must continue to work hard (yes, even at marketing). Only then will we see our careers thrive.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your insights and observations. Let me know in the comments below.

Until next time,

Happy exploring!