In the Beginning

I’ve heard the following statement said many, many times before. “Beginner writers have to be willing to put their work out into the world. Otherwise they are not really serious about pursuing a career as an author.”  I agree with what’s being said here. Every book you write you will grow and learn from the experience. Reflecting on the reader’s comments once your book is out there can also be very helpful. It can also be hard to handle, but that’s when writers have to be resilient and move forward, improve on, or be flexible in the work they are producing. In Starchild Book Two: The City of Souls I always wanted the writing to grow with the reader. Why? Because it’s a journey, not just for me, but for the characters and the readers. We’re all growing and learning in different ways from the storytelling itself.

Just before my first book was published I had a discussion with another writer. I told him I was going to pull the book before it was published. He asked me why. I said, “It’s not good enough.” I explained to him that I was suffering from beginner’s writer mistakes seen with clarity after the fact of signing a contract. I had fallen into the classic beginner writing mistake  “changes in POV perspective with abandon” meaning I had shifted character perceptive occasionally without restraint or being careful in the way I had done it. 

He turned to me and said, “Are you serious about writing?” I nodded. He said straight after. “Then send your work out and let the children decide. Learn from the experience!”  In the next breath he said. “Have the courage to learn and the strength to endure what will be a journey of self-discovery, dedication, and sometimes heartache but also growth.”

 So my second book Starchild Book Two: The City of Souls will be released this month. I can see the improvement and in the third there will be even more. I have an Australian story that is almost ready to submit and a YA romantic sci-fi  that’s just about ready to submit also. I have learned many things along the way and grown in many different areas… all because of the written word.

I leave you with this quote from George Bernard Shaw.

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.  ~George Bernard Shaw~

 Until next time, be brave and bold in your chosen field of creativity. And never be afraid to explore new techniques.