Writing guidelines. Or how to finally finally finally put your own art first.

If only it were that easy...

The number one rule (repeat after me):

“My writing (or whatever your art form is) must come first.”

Let’s try it again.

“My writing must come first.”

Do you believe it now?

If only it were that easy…

My writing always comes last. Except when I am under a deadline, or have a major life event like when my house burned down, and words flew on the page.

Being a literary agent and constantly reading other people’s writing and (sadly!!!!) having to tell so many that they aren’t quite a fit for my list, or that I didn’t quite connect with their voice, or that they don’t have quite a big enough following, or the concept doesn’t quite grab me enough is not only heart-breaking for those who submit but also soul-crushing for me

I know all too well what’s it like to be a new writer hoping to get an agent’s attention on your path towards your first book deal. I know how hard it is to put yourself and your writing out there. I know how awful a “no thank you” is, or worse, no word at all.

I fall in love with writer’s and their potential. And, also sadly, I get told no as well as I am attempting to place these writer’s with a publishing house. I’ve landed some book deals right away, and I’ve worked with some clients for years and never landed deals. And I’m still working with a few where neither of us are willing to give up quite yet!  

All the above has been great for my continued education in the world of publishing which I began in 2009. And all the above had wreaked havoc in my own writer’s heart.

So, when my teachers in my MFA classes say put your own writing first, and my writer’s group says the same, I either must do that at this point or throw in the towel.

The truth is: if our own art doesn’t come first, we have no juju to support other artists in their endeavors.

My professional life is not the only thing that gets in the way of my writing. I put pretty much everything in front of it: laundry, visits with friends, hiking my dogs, brushing my teeth, reading for pleasure, you name it. And all these things are important too.

Yet, my artists soul was withering on the vine. One of my writer sisters in my writing group just gave me THE talk. She said:

Reading your words and how you play them like a song, having this experience as your reader, I am left with this thought: that the answer to at least part, and honestly maybe all, of your angst is that you have been born with a calling to write that you are not answering. And the Gods are torturing you for it. Writing, I really believe, is the answer to your search for peace that is lying in plain sight. I know the act of writing tortures you --- but this is not novel, because it tortures all of us.

She went on to say: Turn fully towards doing this thing that you were so so so clearly born to do. Who knows, maybe this is your fable, that’s you’ve been searching your whole life for the answer that’s been right in front of you, calling you quietly from your laptop that you’ve been using for everything else.

All artist’s need love and support like that. I craved it to my core. All artist’s need to put their own art first.

If you need love and support with your art, send me a message.