The Secret Every Successful Author Knows
I’ve been on a journey, and I've discovered a secret that all successful authors are privy to (which I’ll share with you in a bit).
The stuff I learned about writing and publishing books doesn't hold a candle to how much I've changed my way of thinking. It pales in comparison to the changes in my interiority transformation (aka mindset adjusted and mind traps dismantled or avoided). This change could be compared to rock climbing, as the trajectory is straight up.
I’ll describe that interiority another time, or else we’ll never get to learn about the secret all successful writers are privy to.
Writers have something in common.
Writers, regardless of age or genre, have something in common—they understand how to listen and write.
They draw ideas from their imagination, experiences, and worldview, and bring them to life by putting them on the page.
As a writer, this is tangible. It is yours and yours alone. There is no other way to be a writer.
You can’t pull those imaginations, those words of fiction, those words of fact, those experiences out of anybody else’s mind, only out of yours, even if sometimes you echo others’ thoughts and ideas.
Composing can be a solitary deed.
To write, you must use your own thoughts.
No matter how or where you write, it’s isolating—whether in front of your computer, dictating into your phone, writing in your notebook, or scribbling on scrap paper.
It matters not the tools you use to grab those thoughts; writers turn ideas into something tangible.
This part of authoring and writing is a solitary deed.
But there is a secret that all successful writers are privy to.
The secret.
No successful author creates a published piece without the help of others—writing colleagues, mentors, writing coaches, editors, publishers, and readers, to name a few.
How you place the words on the page and how you manifest them into something that others will enjoy requires help.
I’ve discovered that writers’ groups are essential to my success because they are the strongest way I’ve found to hold myself accountable.
It is the secret all successful authors know and employ.
Over the years, I’ve joined many writers’ groups, such as the Writers Mastermind, Ninja Writers Circle, Unchained Writers, and The Write Practice. Each of these groups has an online presence. Some present interactive sessions via Zoom.
Value in Zoom classes
Zoom classes help me hold myself accountable and allow me to interact with other writers from the comfort of my home.
However, Zoom blocks the filter of presence, that essence that you get when you meet someone in person.
I have two different projects that I’m working on, and I’ve chosen two different writers’ groups and their Zoom classes to help me.
The Writers Mastermind Zoom Room
This group meets every week. We turn on our camera and discuss our wins in the writing world and what we're working on. Sometimes we bring the difficulties we encounter to this group.
Often, someone else in this group will have encountered that same stumbling block and will suggest tools or tips to help us.
At the end of the discussion, we have an hour of writing. I turn off my camera and my audio to write uninterrupted during this time. Invariably, the hour never seems like a full sixty minutes.
When we return to our Zoom room, we share what we accomplished (word count, blog post, scene, or chapter written, etc.).
The Ninja Writers Circle via Zoom
The Ninja Writers Circle has a more structured and intense setting. Now, don’t get me wrong, the three or four author members, plus our host and coach, Adrienne Grimes, are friendly and supportive.
The intensity comes from reading aloud the scene or chapter we are working on. Typically, it ranges from 1,000 words or more, but it may be a few hundred words. I’m fascinated that sometimes others have a longer piece to read when I have very few words, and vice versa.
I find it unnerving to bring bits and pieces of my writing to the group, despite knowing how supportive the team members are. My writing is in draft form; sometimes it’s a pretty drafty draft. This year, the WIP I bring to the Ninja Writers Circle is a full-length novel.
My interiority (which includes mindset and mind traps) is a key reason I find these sessions unnerving.
I have a default. I often think that other writers write one or two drafts that sound fabulous. Of course, this is accomplished without a struggle to find the right word or phrase to bring the story to life. They’ve assured me that’s not the case, but my default button is strong.
I’m impressed with the calibre of writing the other Circle members bring to these sessions. I learn as much from listening to our coach help the other writers as I learn from her advice on my writing.
There are some very interesting and well-written stories in the making. When those authors’ WIPs are nearing publication, I will share them with you.
When I write, I have a very basic outline in my head, but to date, I don’t write it out. I write scenes as they pop into my mind. Once I’ve written many scenes, I sit down, figure out what I have, where they fit, and where the plot holes are.
Yes, I know; it is a messy way to create, as I’ve discussed before.
We support each other. We provide feedback on what worked well and where we got confused. Each then suggests where the author might consider making changes.
Then our coach, Adrienne, gives us feedback on writing craft. This includes where we are getting off track from our plot, and where we may have a stronger piece when we do this or that.
Recently, she has taught us how to put together an editorial checklist. For example, when I see the phrase “Well now...” in my writing, I know I am telling the reader what is happening rather than showing it.
Value of a Live Retreat
Recently, I had the opportunity to join a real-life, in-person writer’s retreat.
It took me a while to consider joining. My biggest fear was that I would spend money and time attending the retreat only to end up with writer’s block and write nothing.
For weeks, every time this fear emerged, I would tell myself, Don’t worry, you have techniques to get through writer’s block. You’ve done it many times. You have the tools that work for you.
That did not allay the huge fear of going to a writer’s retreat and ending up with not a word written.
Getting to know new people is an activity I enjoy. Before COVID, and for my other careers, it was common practice to get together in person for meetings and conferences. I would take every opportunity to participate.
Thus, having the opportunity to meet authors in person was exciting. Quite frankly, it was the final spark that got me to commit to this workshop.
I was delighted to find different personalities and cool people at various life stages with different occupations. Their projects were as diverse as they were. This is no different than meeting writers online.
What is different is the level of interaction possible when in the same space as another human.
It has a distinct energy unfiltered by a screen. The unspoken language creates powerful and stronger interactions. Meeting in person creates a presence.
It was an experience like none that I’ve had before. No one said, “Now you have to go write,” yet I was amazed at the invisible pull to find a quiet corner and write.
The sight of other authors writing gave me the confidence to say Hey, I can write too.
The next morning, I realized that my biggest fear would not materialize.
Setting is important.
Writers know that setting is important—both for the story we write and for the location we’re in as we write our story.
The Ottawa Writers’ Retreat had a setting that welcomed our muse.
As we drove, four of us packed into a small blue electric car driven by our host, Kevin. we chatted and laughed easily without the distraction that a gas engine creates. The sign at the end of the driveway welcomed us to Manoir de la Forêt.
We turned onto a winding driveway framed with trees. The canopy of maple trees filtered the sunlight. It dappled the gravel driveway with polka-dots of sunshine and welcomed us.
As we wound through the trees, I imagined we were entering a fairy tale.
Driving around the last bend, the regal, three-story Manoir nestled in the woods, welcomed us.
The medium-sized writing room I claimed on the third floor was accessible only by stairs. It had a balcony complete with a wooden railing, overlooking the forest. There were four blonde-coloured, wooden chairs set around a round wooden table at the far end of the room. In the middle was a blue couch and small coffee table. Two small bookcases framed the doorway at the other end.
This was the setting I was in for the Ninja Writers’ Circle Zoom class I attended in the middle of this live retreat. The owner of the Manoir brought my lunch up on a tray. I turned off my speaker and video as I listened to the author read her work. The delectable meal fit for a queen was delicious; I was well-cared for.
Applied learning is crucial.
Our host, Kevin, gave lessons that hit pay dirt for me. It’s powerful to understand the lesson in the afternoon and apply it a few hours later.
I wrote the next scene, which was due for my Ninja Writers Circle Zoom class the following day.
Yes, I know it’s a little out of the ordinary. And it's a whole lot of fun to attend a writers’ retreat and take time to connect with a Zoom class while there.
But hey, I am a committed author.
Fun and astonished.
I had fun writing a scene that I could see and hear. It was far more powerful and overall, better writing than I had brought to the Circle to that point.
My first draft is often very drafty. Making it less so made writing a super fun experience.
This astonished me.
Now you know the secret that all successful authors are privy to.
What is your secret to staying inspired as you keep creating?
Have you had an astonishing experience? Please share. I'd love to hear it.