“You must want to enough. Enough to take all the rejections, enough to pay the price in disappointment and discouragement while you are learning. Like any other artist you must learn your craft – then you can add all the genius you like.” – Phyllis Whitney.
Before the Writer Wall is revealed, we need to cover the different types of writing and reading which will be involved in the wall.
When you are reading or writing, you need to look at it as productive and non-productive. Being productive is straight forward. When you are writing your novel, you are being productive. When you are reading a book in your genre and making notes, you are being productive. Everything else falls under non-productive.
Productive work is the heart and soul as a writer. The heart of the writer works hard to turn the pages of other authors. It always beats to the rhythm of the market of your genre. Your soul writes the words of your novel down. The soul brings the inspiration to convey your novel onto paper.
If you are reading the newspaper or writing a letter or email to someone else, you are being non-productive. Neither advances your novel. They may improve your craft. But if it doesn’t involve writing down your novel or learning the ins and outs of your genre, it is not being productive. The only path to publication is to know your market and a finish product in your hand.
Non-productive work is still important as a writer. It supports the productive work. A good foundation is needed to build yourself as a writer. Think of it as the ground you are standing on. Uneven ground makes it difficult to keep your body balance. An even ground allows you to stand straight and not fall down.
Productive and non-productive work must be balanced in order for you to attain success. If more non-productive work is done than productive, when will you finish your novel or know your market. The same can be said for productive work. Except your skills as a writer suffers. Reading as many books in your genre is always good, as long as it does not prevent you from writing your own book.
The centers of the Writer Wall are those two elements. The mechanics of how the Writer Wall works will be unveiled for everyone next week. I am looking forward to sharing this process with everyone.
