My Recipe for Writing Success

I won’t even pretend to be an expert on this writing thing. Heaven knows I still struggle with figuring out all there is to do with plot and story arcs and character development and whatnot – not to mention the actual description and words – that goes into writing a book.

I’m not even going to say “good” book. For now, let’s just concentrating on the idea of getting a book written from start to finish.

But, I have learned a few things since I started taking my craft seriously. And when I say seriously, I mean with the intent of publishing…someday…to share my stories with others.

All this month I’ll be taking part in JuNoWriMo – like National Novel Writing Month, but in June. I am attempting to write a 50,000 word novel this month, and I must say I am not nearly well-prepared enough for this.

Good thing for me, preparedness is often overrated when it comes to writing.

So here is my recipe for a successful writing journey:

Step 1 – Hit the books…

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” – Stephen King

“I only write when I’m inspired, and I make sure I’m inspired every morning at 9 a.m.” – Peter DeVries

Step 2 – Fear not…

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.” – Mark Twain

“It was a high Counsel that I once heard given to a young person, ‘Always do what you are afraid to do.’” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Step 3 – Take risks…

“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.” – Anne Rice

“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.” – Kurt Vonnegut

Step 4 – Trust your imagination…

“If you don’t think there is magic in writing, you probably won’t write anything magical.” – Terry Brooks

“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.” – Ray Bradbury

What about you? Do you have your own recipe for writing successfully? What tips can you share?