Writing challenges us on so many levels.
Do I have the skills to write a book? Can I stay with it to completion when the going gets rough? Is there enough time in my life to even attempt to write a book?
And that’s just for starters. Many writers say that writing the book is the easy part… that the real work starts once you’ve typed “The End.”
Someone asked me recently if all of these challenges threatened to derail my goals. Call me stubborn, but they just reinforced my determination.
I Was Convinced I Could Write a Better Book
I should let you in on something here. In the back of my mind… let’s say since I was in my early teens… I’d imagined myself writing. As I got older, my favourite line became, “My biggest decision will be what to wear on the Johnny Carson show.”
Talk about expectations!
I did know one thing, however. And that was that I couldn’t write while I was working, especially since I owned my own business, which took up almost every waking moment. But one day, shortly after I’d retired, I had purchased a romance by a big-name author—a really big name—and it read as though she’d phoned it in. That was the tipping point for me. I was convinced that I could do better.
Finding My Niche as an Author
Fast forward twenty years. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve managed to carve out a niche for myself.
It didn’t take me long to learn that I didn’t want to write hot and heavy sex scenes—other authors were doing that very well, thank you. So I’ve settled in to writing women’s fiction. It’s a smaller market, but I believe I do it well.
That was one of my first challenges: Where do my books fit in this massive marketplace? Once I figured that out, my goal became finding ways to keep a meaningful balance in my life.
I’m So Lucky to Spend My Time Writing Stories
Writing is a solitary endeavor, and frankly I’m not a joiner. So no groups, or mentors. I do have one person with whom I enjoy brainstorming, doing the old “what if” as Stephen King suggests. But other than that I’m afraid I hold everything inside.
Do I get tense? For sure. What do I do about it? I take a day off, even though I dislike breaking the flow when I’m writing. I’m an amateur birdwatcher, so I’ll sit somewhere quietly and watch the birds that fly by. (You’d be surprised how many birds you can see that way).
I’ll take a short walk along the lakeshore trail. And I do something anonymously for someone who needs help. A small gesture like that reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to spend my time telling stories.
Writers Need a Daily Walk and to Prepare Meals Ahead of Time
Are there physical challenges? Yes indeed. I tend to get lost in my storytelling and two or three hours can go by before I stand up. My knees let me know that’s not a good idea. I’m not a big exerciser either, but I do try to put on my good sturdy shoes and take a walk around the block every day. I always sleep better when I do that.
I live alone and eating properly has become a big challenge as of late. I’m countering that by having a good supply of fruits and vegetables, and by doing as much meal prep as possible right after lunch. My reasoning is that if it’s sitting there ready to go, I might be more inclined to cook it. It works most days, but there are still those times when I end up having a sandwich.
A Spark of Creativity Often Comes When I Least Expect It
The key to my creativity? I’ll bet that every author has had people ask them where they get their story ideas. We’ve all met people who want you to write a story based on a brilliant idea, but we won’t go there.
I say in my bio that I’ve always observed people and their interaction with each other, and it’s true. My friends roll their eyes when I start making up stories about people, but it’s what I do.
A spark of creativity often comes when I least expect it. A couple of years ago I saw a television program where a couple of people were driving down the main street of an old town and almost every store was closed. That got me in the “what if?” mode.
What if a group of women—each of whom had experienced recent loss—got together and tried to bring their home town back to life? That resulted in the series I’m working on now called Second Chances, which will eventually consist of the Prequel plus 5 books.
I also start thinking about each story many months ahead, and by the time I get around to making notes, I know where the story’s going and have often envisioned some interesting scenes. Right now for example I’m thinking several books ahead.
That Poor Review: It’s Not a Lump—You’ll Get Over It
Call me lucky, but I haven’t had very many dark moments in my writing career. I see other authors—usually fairly new ones—stressed out about a poor review and my heart goes out to them. But we learn to accept them and move on.
Early in my writing career a friend who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer put it in perspective. “It’s not a lump,” she said. “You’ll get over it.”
My Greatest Triumph: When a Reader Told Me My Book Helped Her Through
What is my greatest triumph as a writer? It’s hard to choose, but two stand out.
The first is that I don’t make a lot of money, but I use what I earn to help pay for a winter holiday most years. The best holidays are when my granddaughter and great grandson can break away and join me. I get a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about it.
Reading the supportive things readers say about my books is also high up on my list. The most touching review I ever received was from a woman who had recently lost her adult son to alcoholism. She wrote that reading my book which told a realistic story managed to keep her mind from dwelling on her own horrific story. I think about that woman most days when I sit down to write, determined to keep it real.
Advice for a Young Writer: Put Your Head Down and Write
What would I tell a young person who expressed a desire to become a writer?
For starters, we’ll assume that they have a decent command of the English language. I’d tell them to buy Stephen King’s On Writing. I don’t read Stephen King, but this book tells it like it is. Plus, the guy’s funny!
Then I’d say that they should have a thick skin. And if they still want to write, then get started early. You’ll learn so much along the way, in experience and about your craft… things that can’t be purchased, no matter how many people there are out there who want to sell you a course that guarantees success.
Put your head down and write. Join writing groups online if you like, but if a group grows too combative, leave it. There are positive groups out there with other writers who sincerely want to see you succeed. Don’t waste your time with jealous wannabes. Life’s too short.
And enjoy the journey.
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Mona Ingram has been observing people and making up stories as long as she can remember. The author of 36 books, including thirteen novellas, she takes great delight in creating unexpected twists and turns in her story lines. Many of her novels are set in British Columbia, a place of rugged beauty befitting romance.
Mona is the author of four different series, all of which offer the first book free. She lives in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, where she enjoys writing, reading, bird-watching and travel.
Find Mona’s books at: All Amazon outlets, iTunes, B&N, Kobo, Scribd and Overdrive. For more information about Mona and her work, please visit her website, Amazon author page, and Facebook Author page, or connect with her on Twitter.
This Time Forever: A respected chef in a tony French restaurant, Lexie Swinton never does anything unpredictable… well, almost never. Quitting her job over a matter of principal, she finds herself cooking in a small diner in a remote location on Vancouver Island.
Jesse Cooper, a self-made businessman can’t believe his good fortune when she arrives at his diner, but he has secrets… the kind that might scare off the skittish chef. Will Lexie bolt a second time when she discovers who he really is? Jesse might have something to say about that…
Each book in the Forever series focuses on a woman at a crossroads in her life. These romances contain no graphic sex, but instead focus on the woman’s story, and how her journey leads to love. Novella-length at between 32,00-40,000 words, they are complete stories, and may be read in any order.
Available at Amazon.
Forever Changed: A breast cancer diagnosis. A philandering husband. A sexy tattoo artist.
A recipe for romance
…or is it?
There’s nothing like finding out you have breast cancer to make you take a second look at your life. Along with the diagnosis, Ariana finds a new reason to live when she meets tattoo artist Blaine Bennett. But Blaine’s reaction when she informs him of the pending double mastectomy isn’t what she expected. Can these two people find happiness together in spite of the outside forces keeping them apart?
Available for FREE at Amazon.