It's Okay to Write Nonsense in the Beginning...However...
Speaking on my career thus far as a writer, I frequently refer to SLAVE as my debut novel. But what most people don't know is that I'd previously released THREE Inspirational Women's Fiction short novels under a different name (L.R. Teague if you're curious).
Where are they? They're in a folder on my desktop, waiting to be revised {a couple times}. I still love the stories and hope to one day get them out again, but they also serve as an important reminder...one that I hope to communicate to you and, perhaps, save you the blush that comes as your skills progress and you realize there are more steps to publishing a novel than: quickly write and release as is.
My early years of serious writing were a whirlwind of excitement. KDP was just becoming popular, and I watched video after video spotlighting the best and brightest...and most financially successful...among the KDP family.
I was DETERMINED to replicate their success...and fast.
I knew I could write. And I had passion...a deep down desire to share the light and love and freedom found only in Christ. I believed, and still do, that stories are one of the best ways to do so. However, striving for excellence is important. Especially if we're hoping to represent Christ through the gift we've been given.
We often think of being good stewards as being careful and organized. But it's so much more than that. To be a good steward of the gifts you've been given is to strive, in all things, to bring glory and honor to the Giver. One way we do that is demonstrated in 1 Peter, when believers are told to use whatever gifts they've received to serve others.
While admittedly the reviews on my women's fiction weren't bad, the stories were sorely lacking in solid editing. Dialogue was sloppy and unnatural. The prose were flowery and untrimmed. And the reason was that I quite literally wrote the manuscript once, scanned threw it in ONE evening to look for typos, and tossed it up on KDP to be consumed.
By comparisons, SLAVE took two years and multiple edits...and it's still not perfect. I still cringe at the things I wish I could change now that I'm, again, a bit farther down the road.
That isn't to say you have to spend a minimum of two years writing a book, or that the first book you write won't be a success. There are no hard rules on this (see previous post).
What I'm saying is: If you're just starting out as a writer, give yourself time to grow and develop. To practice. If you've caught the self-publishing bug, get your stories in front of others before pressing PUBLISH. Learn to love red ink.
Also Breathe. Slow down. Allow the process to play out and, in doing so, have a stronger start in the industry.
You've got this!
HAPPY LITTLE UPDATE:
Two new chapters down in Songs #2!
Much love and talk soon!
- Laura Fran