I hate reading.
And that statement is to me as profound as saying I hate breathing. But that is what has happened.
I hadn’t changed. It was the material. And I came to a conclusion:
Publishing is too easy for some people.
Writing is hard. Time consuming. Heartrending. Getting published though is not the crucible it once was, that fire through which we must pass to arrive at Author-ville. CreateSpace and quickie e-books are killing us. It is drowning the public in horrible writing and lame storylines.
The authors are too quick to publish and doing so without proper research and grammar. Without studying. Thinking it’s a get-rich-quick scheme.
Our society believes in instant gratification, the need for acknowledgement. Hey, we all have it, thinking that widdle baby is soooo special, that everyone will love it, all 200,000 plus words. Waking dreams of New York Times Bestseller list, talk shows, and movie scripts appear.
Rejection hurts. Criticism stings. But it is part of the journey.
Unfortunately, too many want to bypass this most important rite.
This week, it’s about first sentences, first paragraphs. Because Authors/Writers, if you want to gain an audience, you must get this part right. Get it wrong and you might make a few bucks but no one outside of family and close friends will know your name.
An Exercise in Writing Professionally
- Pick a favorite book.
- Copy or highlight the first two pages.
- Note the exact moment when it caught your interest.
- Why? Be specific.
