Write and Sell: The Devil is in The Details

I love what I do, because I get to work with smart, hard-working, and competent writers — my students, and my readers (that’s you. )

I get many questions each week, and one of the most common, which is asked by new writers, and by established writers who are taking on something new is: “How do I know I can write_____?” or “How do I know I’m good enough to write ______?”

Here’s what I’ve found to be true: if you WANT to write something or other, it’s a pretty good guide that you CAN write something or other successfully, IF you’re prepared to put up with what it takes to get good at whatever it is.

All writers want to be instantly great. And successful.

That’s fine, but we live in the real world. Instant is for bad coffee.

The devil is always in the details, and YOU are in control of the details.

You can write whatever you want to write, and can get paid (in fact this week’s ezine is called “Get Paid to Write Whatever You Like”), but you do need to put in the spadework.

I write in many different areas. I’m a Gemini; we’re interested in lots of stuff, and very curious.

Whenever I take on a new form of writing, I know I’ll need to learn, and practice. Over time, I’ll become quite good at this new form. I don’t expect to be an instant expert — but I know that I’ll do well eventually, because I pay attention, and I’m not scared of asking lots of questions. Nor am I scared of making a fool of myself occasionally.

Here’s an example of how YOU can take on a any new form of writing, whether it’s blogging, writing for the Web, copywriting, writing novels… whatever.

Here’s how it works.

Firstly, something of my history, so you have context.

I’ve always wanted to write, and for me, growing up, writers wrote fiction. My dream was to write children’s books — I was a child at the time, children’s books was what I knew.

So I scribbled every chance I got.

Fast forward a few years, and I upgraded my dream, to writing novels for adults — because I by then I was an adult.

At that stage, I knew quite a lot about how writing and publishing worked. I was a teenager when I discovered Writer’s Digest (published in glossy booklet form at the time). I read WD religiously, and kept every issue.

I finally got a series of novels published, after I committed to it, and did what it took. (Study, questions and practice.)

Fast forward again to today.

I haven’t written a novel in many years. I was hesitant to start, because even though I love writing fiction, I couldn’t see myself putting up with the cr*p traditional publishing hands out. Writing and publishing my own information products has spoiled me.

The thought of getting an agent again (I’ve had two New York agents, and both relationships ended in tears), and of working with editors at traditional publishing houses, who can’t sneeze without getting permission first, made me feel very tired.

I decided that although I love writing fiction, I hate the traditional publishing experience. Like a bull who’s faced too many matadors, I can’t put up with the extended torture of traditional publishing again.

But I want to write fiction again, and now I know I can, because I can publish my novels myself, for the Kindle.

The devil is in the details…

I know however that the devil is in the details. I need to study, ask questions, and practice, practice, practice… before I leap into writing novels and selling them.

Yes, I’ve got a mile of ideas and plots, but so what? Spadework comes first.

The fact that I wrote novels and had them published years ago means nothing. Times have changed. Reading tastes have changed. I’ve changed.

I need to learn how to write novels all over again. So, that’s what I’m doing. I know that the details — study, questions and practice, will get me there.

They’ll get YOU there too.

That’s the answer if your question is: “How do I know I can write_____?” or “How do I know I’m good enough to write ______?”

Focus on the details: study, ask questions, and practice. YOU can write and sell anything you want to write.

I wish someone had told me that years ago when I was asking the same questions.

The Easy-Write Process Makes Writing Fun, Profitable and Easy

Writing hasn’t always been fun for me. Far from it. For the first ten years of my writing career, when I was writing novels and starting out as a copywriter, I was terrified of writing. Eventually, over several years, I developed my Easy-Write Process.

The Easy-Write Process is comprehensive, and fun. No matter what kind of writing you’re doing, it will help you to get it done, and it will be fun.

I use the Easy-Write Process every day, and now you can too. Put new life into your writing. Become a prolific writer: discover how you can easily double and triple your output, and your income.