27 Things I Learned about Writing at the James River Writers Conference

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I had the pleasure of being a part of two panels at the recent James River Writers Conference. I also sat in on some other great sessions. Here's what I learned about writing...

  1. Write first; edit later.
  2. Practice. Practice. Practice. Keep writing - no matter what happens.
  3. Your editorial voice and your writer voice have to be in harmony. It was recommended to just write during the first few drafts. Go back and fix things later.
  4. Read your work out loud to find issues with your dialog and pacing.
  5. You and your work are your brand.
  6. Your brand is your promise to your readers. They expect a certain type and style of writing from you. That's why if you switch genres, many publishing houses want you to use a new name and develop a new brand.
  7. Finding your own voice is key. It has to be your story.
  8. Your job is the writing.
  9. Know who your audience is.
  10. You need to balance the creative and the business sides of your writing life.
  11. Find your tribe - a group of authors who support each other.
  12. Turn off the TV and write.
  13. Writing should be your focus.
  14. Take care of yourself.
  15. If you're having trouble pacing your novel, take a screenwriting course or workshop. Screenwriting has a tight timeframe to work with, and pacing is key. It will also help with dialog.
  16. Marketing and what's hot in the industry are lways changing. Do not write to what is currently in vogue. It will have changed by the time your work gets published.
  17. Create a mailing list. This is the most valuable tool for an author.
  18. Make sure that your blog is on your author website.
  19. Be able to describe your book in an enticing way. Make sure you have practiced your elevator speech.
  20. Publishing is a subjective industry.
  21. While you're querying, make sure that you're working on your next book.
  22. Make connections. They are important. Get to know bookstore owners, librarians, bloggers, and readers.
  23. Market your book heavily during the presale period. Don't wait until its launch.
  24. Don't over-extend yourself. Your job is to write. It's okay to say no.
  25. Do your research.
  26. Keep writing. Make sure that you're always working on your next book.
  27. There is no magic secret to writing. You will know what works for you.