That first book or short story you're writing for an editor…one you were asked to submit? It's tough. You second guess yourself, sure you're writing rubbish, you'd rather get abducted by aliens so no one expects anything of you, but:
Do not take over SETI my friend!
Instead?
Keep going.
Writing a Book Never Gets Very Easy, However…
Cooking a birthday dinner never gets easy either, neither does rearing a child, buying a house, or finding a new job.
Yet we've all done some of these many times more than once, so we, me, you and I — we can do tough things and keep doing 'em.
So even though writing a book or a short story on request is usually not super easy for most of us, that very first one is going to be the most difficult and here's my super unexpected advice: just get it DOOOOONE.
The first book you're writing because someone said yes, the first short story you're writing because an editor liked your pitch at a convention — nothing's going to feel as NO MAKE IT STOP as those.
More
Must. Resist. Having. Favorites.…Anna Karenina Isn't Dead
Bagels, muses, and Cornwall – the hard truth about wanting to be a writer
Twins: crunchy facts for your fiction
All you can do is scream-whimper in the face of your friends, "I'm a fraud," and listen when they say "Don't you dare talk about my friend that way," and then really listen to their words and remember that yes, you'd never think such things about your friends and baby, you are the love of your life, so treat yourself that way and croon a few endearments in the mirror, a bit of encouragement too, and just do your best.
We often think more negatively of our own skills than others ever will, because we're too close to things to see them clearly.
(Hold your laptop or phone up to your eyeballs right now and try reading these words. You can't because you're too close. It's the same with your own writing, believe me.)
Just Write Your Best Novel or Story
You can do no more than you can do, but you can do that, so…do it.
Here's a wonderful secret that actually isn't: if an editor asked for your book, or your short story, they already love it. They want it or they'd not have asked. Even if they've not seen a word yet, there's something about what you offered that they not only want but need, so take heart that you're so much further along than when you send work in cold.
And here's the best bit about that: since they want it, if you send them something that's not quite what they were envisioning? They're going to work with you to get it there. If you made the antagonist kinda vague compared to your pitch? They'll ask you to beef them up. If you started the story far sooner than necessary? They're going to suggest how you can begin with more of a bang.
They're almost certainly not going to reject you because, because, because they want your work.
So for the love of all that's holy, work with them. Do not take offense at the suggestions because here's a fact: everyone is edited. Everyone.
Be thrilled instead okay? Stage fright isn't fun but a whole world of people who suffered the same got through it.
You will too.
(If you do get abducted by aliens though, I want the book you write about it, like……a lot, okay? Keep that in mind. Yes.)
— Atlin
Some of our latest books!
