Comparison: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Truer words were never said. The moment you listen to naysayers (It could be other people or yourself) about your writing not being as good as someone else’s, your flame is going to weaken. One of the things that has kept me writing regularly for so long is a belief in myself and in my writing. I started in my late 20’s, so I was not as young as some writers who started, but I’m also a lot younger than the average age of a first time writer (Most people start their first book around 40!). Everyone is on their own path. Whether you’re 14 or 94, if you want to write a book, go for it! If you have a story that you want to tell, there will be people who want to read it. Every writer has their own unique style or process. We’re all learning and growing, and even if your writing needs improvement, that doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer or that you can’t be as good as another writer one day. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Your only competition should be yourself. Remember that. ❤

Writing Rules: I believe in writing the story inside of you that needs to be written. The grammar and spelling should be correct, but I don’t think you should worry about writing rules when writing the first draft of your book. Thinking too much about the process itself can hinder inspiration and slow you down. Focus on finishing the story first. Sometimes the best parts of a story might break a certain rule. If it works for that particular story, leave it in.

Sticking With One Story: If a story you’re working on isn’t as inspiring as it once was, or if you need to take a break from it, it’s okay to pick something else up or start another story. I’ve worked on 2 or 3 books at once. It doesn’t spread me too thin or stress me out at all. Sometimes you need to switch things up to stay motivated and inspired. Some stories need more time and age to settle before they’re meant to be finished.

Writing In One Genre: Some authors stick to one genre and that’s fine if it works for them. I don’t want to limit myself to one genre, even if that means it will affect my brand. I think you can be a multi genre author and still do well. It’s your writing style that sets you apart and if your characters are strong, they’ll win the hearts of readers regardless of what genre you write in.

Not Reading Books: I try to read at least 20 fiction books per year. As an author, I think it’s my responsibility to read other people’s books to keep my own writing fresh (and it helps to support other people’s writing, too). You can be inspired by other authors and learn from them. If you want a fresh dose of inspiration, read a great story! It’ll help your writing a lot. ❤

(Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels)