This week: The Best Part of Writing a Book Edited by: Fyn-dragon  
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You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.~~Madeleine L’Engle
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.~~Stephen King
We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.~~Anaïs Nin
Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very’; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.~~Mark Twain
If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.~~Toni Morrison |
I was talking with an author the other day about writing books and the various ways one can go about getting their book out there. One way, of course, is the 'indie' route where you learn to do it all yourself or piecemeal out (contract/freelance) things you might not be able to do like designing covers, for example.
He was still in the 'I have this book I want to write' phase. He is an excellent writer. He can absolutely write a very good book. He has the ability to become that 'next big writer.' Will he? That's a question for the ages. And there is no guaranteed answer! What he hadn't realized (yet) was all the work that goes into a book.
He was well-versed in the concepts of writing it, revising it and getting it edited. But he was realizing that there is much more to it than that! Cover design, encapsulating the essence of your story into a cover that gives readers a hint to the story and draws them in. The blurb, that synopsis that is often harder to write than the book was! The joys of layout, the various kinds based upon the varying and myriad requirements for Ingram-Spark, or KDP, and others. Promotion, advertising, book signings, etc, are all things one must not only do, but learn to be great at!
As I told him, when the book is written, then the true work begins! Writing the book is the fun part! The rest is hard work! Getting your story out there, sharing it with the world, seeing it in print, gives you a feeling like no other. It is worth every hour you spend trying to work your way through all the ins and outs of the process. But it is, indeed, work.
Some folks like to write for themselves. Nothing at all wrong with that. They might not care if they ever see it go farther (and further) than that! That is absolutely okay.
But for those who do want to go on the journey, there's a learning curve. It gets easier. Eventually. This isn't a journey for the faint-hearted! And yet... You find that cover artist who can 'see what's inside your head.' You find the layout people who are good, quick, and don't cost three arms and a leg. You learn what a 'good' edit should actually cost and chalk up mistakes to that learning process. And when all is said and done, you'll be holding your treasure.
And, it is. No question. The door will now be standing wide open to possibilities. And possibilities are fun. Will the world beat a path to your door? Who knows!?! But the shining brightness you can allllmost see is enticing, exciting and, if you are realistic, a heck of a lot of fun!
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DRSmith  writes: Hey Fyn. If you were a ball player, you’d beat Hank Aaron’s home run record by a bucketful because you just knocked another newsie up into the centerfield bleachers. I can’t speak for others, but ever since I signed in to WDC (2 decades ago), I’m still polishing up items I’ve penned from the onset. What amazes me the most is how surprised I am at how many “oops” to “I can’t believe I missed this crap” I find when relooking at older or even my latest efforts at the craft. Aside from self critique, I also find it most rewarding when I not only do notice the previous improvements, but a sense of satisfaction when tweaking new ones. I used to think I was nuts with so many edits on any given piece until I read somewhere that Hemingway, said to be the “father of the short story” that he edited the ending paragraphs of The Old Man And The Sea 59 times before he was happy with it. I think I’ve got him beat on a couple efforts, and like you’ve suggested in your newsie… I encourage every one of our literary brethren in here to regularly visit their portfolios for a little spit and polish from time to time. I promise the shine is worth the time!
Thanking you for the kind words aimed in my direction!
Quick-Quill  says: I am beginning to do a deep edit per my publisher's suggestions. This is hard work.
As per above, it is indeed, BUT will be well worth it!
S🤦♂️ adss: While I agree that a story is never finished - I look at the novel of mine that has garnered the most praise, for example, and see things I want to change now - there does come a time when you have to put the pen down and send it into the world. Nothing is perfect, and those imperfections, strangely, are what grounds a good story in reality.
In. My. Opinion.
Milhaud - Tab B comments: In revision, the line between perfection and obsession is when you say "finished."
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For Authors: November 05, 2025 Issue [#13438]
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