10 things you wish every aspiring writer would know
Set achievable goals for YOU. Don’t set goals that aren’t realistic. I know I’m not a 10k a day writer, so giving myself that kind of goal ruins my mental state. It sets me up for failure, which then affects my entire day, week, even month. Know what you can do and push yourself to be consistent.
Everyone moves at a different speed, whether that’s releases, word counts, or social interaction. You change your pace as you need to. It’s taken me a long time to understand this, and I still struggle… But once you find your speed, you can predict project lengths, how many days off you can take, and how many books you can write without harming yourself. -Okay. I’m still learning that last one. But my sleep schedule is improving…
Don’t let imaginary competition affect your mental state. Read that one more time. This is the best advice I can give you. And something I learned in the worst way. If you want to compete with anyone, then compete with yourself. Be better than you were last month or last year…
Find a tribe, but take your time picking the people you’re going to be around. Vibes matter. The right friends will lift you up, not tear you down. Your tribe can be one person or twenty; just make sure the energy is right for you.
It’s okay to walk away from toxic people. You’ll find them throughout your life, your jobs, and in the author community. When you do run across them, don’t linger because you don’t want to hurt feelings. Walk. Away.
If you don’t know, ask. Some of us enjoy sharing our knowledge and resources. Those of us that do will tell you where we went wrong or right. If we don’t know, we’ll try to help you find someone who does.
Don’t take advice from just anyone… I know this one and the one above are counterproductive. And I know it’s hard to figure out who to listen to and who to avoid. I’ve been there. Which leads me to this…
TRUST YOUR GUT! Was I yelling? Absolutely.
If it feels wrong, it’s wrong. If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s definitely wrong. And that circles back around to finding your tribe and asking questions… It’s okay to ask for help.
Your story isn’t bad just because you didn’t hit the bestseller list. Reevaluate your blurb, cover, keywords… Your marketing strategy—yes. You need one of those, too.
Love what you write.
Period.
Full stop.
I hope none of this comes across as negative… But some of it will. That’s the unfortunate truth. This list isn’t just for you; it’s a reminder for me.
I have lived and learned. And the cost was more than money, though I’ve thrown away more of that than I’m willing to tell you. I’m not the most experienced. Hell, I still stumble upon new things daily…
I’ve simply made a ton of mistakes.
To say I’ve been around the block a few times is an understatement. This career has handed me plenty of reasons to quit, but it’s also given me so many more reasons to continue.
I stay. I write. I plot. I world-build.
Because above all, I love what I write.
And I love who I am while I’m telling you a story…
Druid Dreams
M.F. Adele
(The Chronicles of Sloane King, #1)
Publication date: April 27th 2020
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Reverse Harem, Romance
I am not a good person.
I don’t cheat or steal, but I do lie a little bit… and participate in the occasional murder… spree.
Life as I know it gets turned upside down when I’m asked to step in and halt the progress of a black market drug tainted with magic. That one little business adventure opens up a whole f*****g Pandora’s Box and brings my ebony tower crashing down around me.
As if life wasn’t complicated enough, I also now have mates. Emphasis on the ssss part. I want to be mad about it, really I do… but they’re so hot, and the temptation to make them all mine is fueling my desire.
With a final mate that I’m not happy about and a stalker on my heels… maybe having several someones at my back isn’t such a bad thing.
Don’t get me twisted though… I’m Sloane f*****g King, and I’m no damsel in distress.
Author Bio:
M.F. Adele resides in the outskirts of the Rocket City in Alabama. She lives in her overactive imagination, often fueled by caffeine and no sleep. When she isn’t writing, M.F. is outdoors with her family, obsessing over spicy margaritas and cigars, or reading books by her favorite authors.
If you’re looking for M.F. Adele, you can find her on social media in her group:
M.F. Adele's Hellacious Hybrids.
M.F. loves to interact with her readers, hear character theories, and share embarrassing stories.
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I liked the writing advice. I"m not a writer, but I like to hear about their processes. That cover is gorgeous.
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