Over on Substack, I’m talking about how to get better at writing–not how to get published, not how to market, but how to actually improve your craft.
Plus: a little writing journal advice and a small shout-out to those of us who need permission to write absolute garbage first drafts.
You can find it her: Liz Writes Books | Substack | How do I get better at writing?
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This week’s Q&A is for the ADHD writers with a million ideas and zero finished drafts. I’m sharing the system that helped me stop jumping ship every time a new concept hit: breaking the writing process into smaller, independent phases. If you’ve ever felt like you’re cheating on your current book with a new idea, this is for you.
Check it out on Substack: Liz Writes Books | Substack | Any writing tips for people with ADHD who get constantly derailed by new ideas?
Have a Q you want A’d? Ask it on Tumblr: http://lizwritesbooks.tumblr.com/Ask
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Your first finished novel doesn’t have to be fast—it just has to be finished, and sometimes that means learning to push through the stalls without panicking.
My first finished book took 7 months—but before that, I started and abandoned at least 4 or 5. Writer’s block? Sure. But also burnout, self-doubt, distraction, and shiny new idea syndrome.
Head over to Substack to learn how I get unstuck (and finish the damn book):
Liz Writes Books | Substack | How long did it take you to finish your first novel?
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So you’ve finished a novel—congrats! That’s a huge accomplishment—most people never make it that far. But now comes the terrifying question: how do you know when it’s done? The short answer is: you don’t. But here’s what I’ve learned about deadlines, querying, rejection, and whether hiring an editor before you query is actually worth it.
Today over on Substack, I talk about how you know you’re ready to submit.
Read it here: http://lizwritesbooks.substack.com
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Today over on Substack, I talk about moving past the fear and writing when your novel keeps giving you side-eye. It’s got pasta dough metaphors, ADHD hacks, and a reminder that what you feel about your work isn’t always what your readers feel.
If you’re like me, and you struggled with actually finishing your first book (or your second, or your third), staring at a blank page gives you an instant panic attack, or your favorite Starbucks barista hands you a box of Kleenex when you walk through the door, this Q&A is for you.
You can check it out here: http://lizwritesbooks.substack.com
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I’m new to you on Twitter! Tell me , what kind of books do you write? I’m writing a book about young adult , and I hope to like your books too. 🙂
Hi! Where are you from (other than Twitter, I mean)?
Right now my focus is on contemporary romance, but I dabble in a little young adult here and there. I hope to like your books, too. 🙂
what does your writing schedule look like?
I get up way early in the morning to write. I like to get all of my first drafting done before I’m fully awake, because that’s the only time my inner editor isn’t heckling me about how badly my first drafts suck.
Afternoons and evenings are for editing, when I’m too tired to write but awake enough to figure out what the shit is wrong with my book and how the hell I’m going to fix it.
Have you learned anything so far on your publishing journey that has changed your outlook on publishing/writing or inspired you in some way?
Probably more than one thing, but the biggest is definitely that perfection does not exist, thus making the pursuit of it pointless.
I used to think that if I worked hard enough, my books would be unrejectable. I’ve spent years on books that quite frankly peaked six months in, only to shelve them and move on because they weren’t perfect enough to not be rejected, and I did not want to be rejected. Did not want to ponder what that rejection would mean for me, my book, my time here on this earth.
Spoiler alert: it meant nothing, except that maybe you can’t please everyone.
Also, I think it goes without saying that you’ll get far more requests from imperfect projects you gather up the courage to submit than you will ever get on the so-called perfect ones you never send out.
What were you like in high school?
I was quiet and shy and late a lot. I missed a lot of school. Made mediocre grades. I had few friends, many of whom were teachers. I remember not fitting in anywhere. I had a couple of different groups of peripheral friends, and people moved in and out of those groups pretty regularly. I didn’t eat lunch, choosing instead to smoke cigarettes in the bathroom. I made a killing playing poker with my lunch money in the band room when I was supposed to be taking gym. I wasn’t a bad student so much as I was a rotten student. I didn’t actively cause trouble, but I also didn’t apply myself. Most of my teachers felt as though I did not strive to reach my potential. And looking back, they were right. I think this is because I gave absolutely zero fucks about high school.