Writing Tidbit #1: Don't Go It Alone

When people think of the writing lifestyle, they imagine hours alone, seated at a keyboard, hobbled by a crazed fan. While there may be more than a little truth to this, especially if the writer is a character in a Stephen King novel, the reality is that successful authors don't make it on their own. They need a team of supporters, especially in the early years of their career.

It's difficult to judge one's own strengths and weaknesses in writing. The author is too close, too attached to the words to make a completely accurate self-assessment. Add onto that the difficulty of filtering the readers' expectations and opinions. Bottom line: don't expect to write a best-seller without others' feedback.

While in school, we have teachers who evaluate and help us improve our writing. What critical resources exist beyond graduation?

• Critique groups and beta readers: Critique groups, either online or in person, provide invaluable first assessments of early drafts. Beta readers provide detailed feedback on later revisions. These can be old friends or strangers who become new friends.
• Conferences and continued learning: There are hundreds of opportunities each year to sign up for classes or writing conferences. These provide not only focused learning but chances to make connections that pay off in the long run.
• Resources: Learn from the pros. Lots of best-selling authors provide tips via books, blogs, websites, Facebook posts, and other avenues. Carrier pigeons? Someone probably does it. Anyway, you can also find helpful communities of other aspiring authors online.

• Editors: You will absolutely need an editor or two to polish a manuscript into an audience-ready book. Free help from grammar critics is an OK start, but you will require a professional, qualified editor before the writing process is complete.
• Agents: Your manuscript will need help from others before you get to the point of contacting agents. They'll expect a story that already has lots of polish. Once you sign with an agent, they'll likely make additional suggestions for getting the book publisher-ready.

Don't write in a vacuum. If you intend to publish for a wide audience someday, you need to let a smaller audience help you refine the early, uglier drafts.