Finish writing the book

If I Just Had The Time 

Famous last words.

• The biggest obstacle between you and your goals is YOU. If you're breaking promises to yourself, maybe it's time to re-examine your priorites. Aren't you important? Keeping self-promises are just as important, maybe more so, than those we keep to others. If we continuously break promises to ourselves then we don't believe in ourselves and then how will we ever meet out goals?
• If your goal is to be published in Fiction, you have to finish a book. You will never get your first publishing deal without a product. You can't even self-publish without a finished product.
• Write down your product parameters. Do you have a working title? What genre is your story? How long will it be? Have you researched the desired word length for works in your genre?
• Make an educated plan. Do you know how fast you write? Keep a log of how many pages you produce in an hour and then set realistic goals. It won't do you any good to set your goal at 10 manuscript pages per day if you can only turn out 2. Even 2 is good, you will get to "THE END" even at 2 pages a day.
• Stay Motivated. Okay, we all have days where we just don't have the energy to churn out a page. Have a list of "other" writing related tasks to complete for those days so that you're always moving in a positive direction towards that publishing goal. Here are some examples. Create a website, create a blog, research marketing materials, work on your synopsis -- a winning synopsis could be your ticket to a sale!, work on your query letter or better yet start the list of dream agents. Design a logo or tag line. Branding is important even in the fiction market these days. Read a book. Yep, it's true. Reading is a great way to spark your own muse into action and to stay up with current trends that your publisher of choice is turning out.
• Join a writers group. I'm a member of Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, James River Writers and Sisters in Crime. I'm also a member of several yahoo!groups which are full of great tips that have helped me hone my craft and ready my marketing guns for the day I get "the call".
• Never waste an opportunity. Pitch your story often. You might even be rewarded with some good feedback that helps improve your plot.
  Be comfortable with your story so when you are faced with opportunity to share it with the one who can make all your dreams come true -- an Agent or Editor -- you sparkle.
• Know when you're done. You're not done when you write the last word. NO? WHY NOT? Now it's time to shine, shine, shine and get feedback from readers. You want your manuscript to be in A-1 top notch condition when you send it out, because you only get one shot with these very busy editors and agents.
• Remember to help a fellow writer. Support each other at booksignings, promotions, through editing or critiquing. Our network is what makes us strong and successful. You get what you give.
• Send me an email with your tips, or add them to this guestbook.