What I've Learned This Year (So Far) About Writing

We're almost to the mid-way point on 2022 (can you believe it?) and I figured it's time to do a 

reflection post. This time of year is great for resetting goals and reflecting on how things have gone so far. I feel like I've taken major strides in writing so far. I've worked more with editors this year than I have in previous years and have gotten more income from my writing than in other years too. While I haven't had my fiction published, submitting continues to be part of my journey and I'm hoping to end the year with an acceptance.

So with all of this in mind, here are a few things I've learned that maybe can help you:

• Your story isn't for everyone.

I recently started submitting a story of mine that has strong Christian elements. It's probably the first story with this in the overarching theme, and someone recently asked me, "Do you plan on submitting to Christian literary mags? Have you thought of that?" Well, to be honest, I hadn't at the time. I always have those first round of lit mags that I send to, in hopes one day, they will accept my work. Then I go down the line of researching and submitting it to the next batch.

With this in mind though, considering that kind of short story isn't for everyone, I scouted out lit mags catering to that niche audience that loves those kinds of stories. It's a reminder to me that knowing your audience is key to your writing success.

• It's okay to take a pause.

I recently had an opportunity to accept a writing job but felt the need to take a pause. I told the person I wasn't sure if I could take on other projects at the moment. I have a bad habit of seeing a window of free time as an opportunity to pile on more work (instead of seeing it for what it is: a window of free time).

I've taken pauses in other ways too. For example, my blogs and social media are definitely on the back burner these days. As a result, I feel better. I can't say I don't pop in occasionally but my activity is more passive than active these days.

• All editors and people who critique your work are unique.

And sometimes that uniqueness is a challenge. I find some editors like a million exclamation points when asking for clarity, some critiquers have no need to share something positive they liked, and others have a gift for being helpful without hurtful. It's all a balance. What I've tried to keep in mind is that I hope to learn something from someone's feedback and edits in some way. When I'm at the revision stage of something and asking for edits, feedback, or critiques, I'm not walking into it assuming I'm totally right. I remember it's a learning process and I want to learn (not be told I'm right).

• Grammar software is a must.

I LOVE grammar and proofreading software. I am currently using the free version of Grammarly. I've also used the paid version and the paid version of ProWritingAid. Both are unbelievably helpful with writing. I highly recommend either one of them. They've helped me catch many of my own mistakes.

• Keep going.

I've had several stories this year come under the revision knife again. It's always a challenge that leaves me wondering if I just need to let the story go. But I figure, why not keep trying? Keeping up with writing is a marathon. It's definitely a long-haul journey that requires stamina to keep going.

What have you learned this year so far?

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4 comments Nicole Pyles, reflection, writing lessons

A Few Things I've Learned This Year (So Far) About Writing

Let's put my writing in the spotlight, shall we?

A quarterly reflection is appropriate, right? Well, I've had some ups and downs with writing this year so far. While publishing fiction seems to be elusive so far, I remain hopeful it will happen soon. Especially since I'm almost to 100 rejections since my last acceptance. 

I thought I'd review a few things I've learned about writing that I've learned so far this year:

Be watchful of writing weaknesses.

Character development can be problematic for me. For others, maybe it's finishing the story at all. For others, maybe it's the revision process that gets in their way. As for mine, it's something I'm aware of as I start new stories. Since I lean more towards being a "pantser," that means my discovery of the character can happen much later. This can often mean a long revision process, which is what I struggled with recently. However, yesterday I ran into a story I had wanted to finish at the time, but it remain stalled halfway through. So, I took a new approach, which leads to my next lesson:

Be open to changing your methods.

At the start of most stories, I take my usual "pantsing" approach. For those unfamiliar with the term, that means no outlining, basically. However, with that story I found, I wanted to finish it but couldn't just meander around without knowing where I was going beforehand. It would result in more starts and stops (which I had already attempted many times with that particular story). 

So, I outlined. I couldn't believe it, but it worked. I even found a purpose for my main character that added a unique dynamic to the story. Let me tell you though, I didn't use a long outlining method but it was basically the Snowflake method. And I used the technique described over at a blog I follow called, The Write Practice.

I won't replace my pantsing approach with new stories. Yet, for the ones that are stuck halfway through, I'm  going to go back and outline like this.

Use the tools you can to improve your writing.

I've recently started using ProWritingAid to improve my writing. It's a great way of identifying grammar and spelling issues, missing words, and overly used words. It even highlights when I've started sentences the same way in a row. Most recently, it helped me revise a story left by the wayside for a while, and is now officially back in the revision process. There's a multitude of tools you can use, and I encourage you to give some a try. Many writers use Grammarly, Scrivener, or other software that helps them craft their work. 

Consider the critiques of your work.

I write for my day job, and recently was called out for "run-on sentences." It made me wonder. I'm sure in this blog post, there are several run-on sentences. Who knows. But in my stories now, I look for long sentences. I've even begun to restructure scenes with short sentences if it contains a lot of action.

Not too long ago, I got feedback on a story of mine that stung. Among other things (which I felt were said to me in a very rude way), it called me out for using the same emotional descriptive language in the same paragraph. It didn't help me I caught the same description in another book I had been reading (which wasn't very good, by the way) As a result, you'll likely never see me use "filled with the sense of dread" ever again. 

What I've discovered is that it's good to at least consider the critiques of your work. Remember, I didn't say to believe it and follow it, especially since some people are just jerks, but at least consider it. Remove yourself a little bit from the sting of the feedback. Then after weeks go by, swish the idea around in your mouth like mouthwash, then spit it out. Was there any truth to that critique? If not, move on. If so, don't dwell too long on trying to please that specific person, but focus on ways you can improve this area they've pointed out.

Well, that's it so far! Pretty good lessons, huh?

What have you learned this year about your writing?

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4 comments Nicole Pyles, reflection, writing

5 Writing Lessons I Learned in 2019

As 2019 draws to a close and we rush into the year 2020 (wasn't the 80s like twenty years ago by the way?), it's only appropriate I take a look back at this past year and reflect on writing. It's hard not to look back and reflect on the "numbers" angle of writing. Like how many rejection emails I've received. Or how many stories I've written. Or how many publications I've obtained. Instead, I'd rather focus on what I have learned.

Here are a few:

1) I've learned to be patient with the writing process. 

Okay, sort of. I can't say I'm always patient. This past year my writing has ebbed and flowed. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it's painful. This time last year I was writing about how I needed to learn patience in the writing process. I think I have. I've learned to be patient with submitting. I've learned to be patient with waiting for feedback. I've even learned to accept the stories that haven't found their ending yet and be patient enough to wait for the ending to come around. In fact, one short story I wrote a few years ago finally found its ending and I'm so happy I kept this story around long enough for that to happen. So patience has been learned. At least, I think so.

2) You can't always do it all.

Last December over at my personal blog, I signed up for some reading challenges. Didn't do either one. In fact, except for the amazing authors who wanted to contribute guest posts along with a few books I've reviewed, I haven't been as active as I wanted to be on my blog. I've learned that you can't always do it all. Well, you can try, but likely your energy will be sapped and something in your life will be sacrificed as a result. I've learned to accept that I won't always be able to do everything I'd like and that is okay by me.

3) Social media can be a terrible distraction.

As much as I am a supporter of authors and writers building their platform, social media is an incredible distraction. An important distraction sometimes, but still, it's a distraction. I've been on my phone less and less lately and that means I'm not as active in the social media world. I find that I do a lot better limiting my time spent on social media in minimal increments.

4) Revising is writing.

Looking back over some of my blog posts here, I came across my 2018 reflection post and I realized that one of my writing weaknesses used to be the revising process. Did you see that there? I said the words "used to be." I can't say that I've perfected the process, but it isn't nearly as intimidating and impossible as it once was. I've learned how writing shapes and changes in the revising process. I enjoy that now and it has helped me in writing my first drafts.

5) Life happens. Writing can wait.

Sometimes life hits us hard. Sometimes stress adds up. Last year I said, "Life happens. Write anyway." This year I'm saying, "Life happens. Writing can wait." The reason I say this is because sometimes you just need to be kind to yourself. While I encourage you to discipline yourself to write through the tough times, sometimes you need to put writing projects to the side. If you are going through a stressful time, consider journaling. Or drawing. Or coloring. Or going for walks. Sometimes the writing process hurts when we force it. But who knows, ask me next year, and I'll likely say something different.

With all of this in mind, I'm looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring. A new decade. The roaring twenties of a new age. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

What writing lessons did you learn in 2019

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12 comments 2019, Nicole Pyles, reflection

Take Time To Think About 3 Things to Improve Your Writing Business

If you've read any of my posts this new year, you know I'm not into making goals and resolutions I won't keep. I've adopted the one-word philosophy, and my word is organized. So far, it's working pretty well for me. But this doesn't mean that you shouldn't think about your writing business. Let's face it, if you are looking to get published, writing is also a business. So, what are three things you should think about in 2016 to improve your writing as a business?

1. Reflect on your past year--one accomplishment and one failure. 
What is something in your writing life that went really well in 2015--a contest win? A published book? Maybe you started that blog you've always wanted to! Then look at the other side (but don't dwell on it--we are not dwelling on the negative here). What is something that didn't go so well? Did you get several rejections on one piece? Did you stop your normal writing routine? Reflect on your year and pick your best and your worst. This will help you think about your strengths and weaknesses, which can give you a starting point for 2016.

2. Think about 2016. Decide one thing you want to accomplish and one thing you want to avoid.
What do you want to accomplish this year in your writing business? If you take my one-word philosophy, I want to be more organized. What that looks like in my writing life is organizing my time better so that I am writing on a more consistent basis and so that I know what project I want to work on--and so I give myself time to market my writing business. I want to accomplish a writing life again--I feel like I barely have one, and like I said, this also fits in with organization.

I want to avoid getting myself back in this block I've been in for the past 6 months. How about you? What do you want to avoid? Social media during your writing time? A critique partner who is not helpful? Working on non-fiction when you really want to be working on romance? Spending too much time marketing instead of writing? Look at the one failure in 2015 and decide how you can avoid that from happening again.

3. Create a long-term vision for your writing business. 
Vision boards or dream boards are currently popular because they create a picture of what someone's life will look like when she accomplishes the things she wants to in her life. Make a vision board or dream board for your writing life. What will your writing business look like in five or ten years?

For instructions on vision boards, you can visit this website or read this Huffington Post article.

Your writing business is always changing. To make these changes for the better and to fit inline with what your hopes and dreams are, take some time to reflect. If you've already made goals and plans for the new year, don't be afraid to change them--in two weeks or two months. And consider a vision board--my writing group members and I make one almost every year, and I keep this hanging in my house where I can always see it.

Best of luck with your writing business in 2016!

Margo L. Dill is a children's author and writing instructor for WOW! Women On Writing. To check out her online class, visit here. To check out her books, visit here.

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2 comments Margo L. Dill, reflection, vision board, Writing Business