So You Want to Be A Writer?

With the November digital release of Alvarado Gold and the quickly approaching print release in May, my cousin wanted me to talk with her grandson about being a writer.

I have yet to have this conversation since we live in different parts of the state and haven’t crossed paths recently, but I’ve been thinking about what I might say to him.

While, “Good luck with that,” comes to mind, it’s a little severe. To me there are three driving factors:

1. We have to be good: at plot, characterization, emotional logic and scene flow. Basically, you have to know your craft.

2. I also feel like there’s a considerable amount of luck to the process, too, but I think we make our own luck. We have to know what’s available to us, search out leads, enter contests, make websites, etc. No one’s going to find us if we don’t light our own candle a little.

3. And last but not least, perseverance. Keep plodding down that road, keep sending off submissions and don’t ever give up. If we fold at the first rejection or think our story is too good go be changed, edited or corrected, we’re definitely not going to make it.

While the writer’s life isn’t an easy one, it is definitely rewarding once that magic contract shows up in the mail. It isn’t the financial gain but the recognition that someone beyond our own tight circle of existence appreciates our hard work and it certainly doesn’t hurt the ego, either.

So my response to him would be, “Go forth, young man, and write.”

Blessings,

Victoria