Blogger: Rachel Zurakowski
Location: Books & Such Main Office, Santa Rosa, Calif.
The final author quality I’m going to cover this week is discernment. Discernment is, essentially, the ability to make wise choices. It’s being able to weigh multiple options and decide on the best one for your situation.
Here’s how discernment applies to the writing life:
A discerning writer would make appropriate choices in the other authors he or she formed relationships with. The author friends would have similar audiences. That way the authors could cross-promote their work, making the network for projects larger than if each author were working on his or her own. Also, pick authors to befriend who are going to encourage and strengthen you rather than drain your energy.
A discerning author would join a critique group whose members’ opinions are insightful. When you put your work out there for critique, you open yourself up for many opinions. It’s great when everyone comes back with the same feedback, but most of the time it’s not that pretty. A discerning author would be able to make the best decision on what changes to make when opposing critiques are presented.
A discerning author would make appropriate choices on building platform for his or her target audience. If you’re writing for teens and young adults, you’ll have a presence on Facebook. If you’re writing about life after retirement, you’ll need to spend time at Bingo night at your local fairgrounds. You might want to set up a book table in the back of the room. You could even donate one copy of your book for a Bingo prize!
A discerning author would make the best use of his or her time. If you need to be writing your book, don’t go on Facebook. Make the distractions go away. Focus on what needs to be done.
A discerning author would be careful whom he or she trusts. This applies to agents, critique partners, etc. You want to do the research on a person and get to know that person as best you can before you allow him or her to become a part of your writing career. Make sure each individual has the knowledge to back up the “talk.”
Stephenie Meyer, author of the popular Twilight series for teens, was working on book 5 of the series, (Midnight Sun) when one of her critique partners released the unfinished, contracted project on the internet. The chapters went viral. Stephenie trusted her reader, but that person turned out to be untrustworthy. If you’re interested in reading more about this story, Stephenie has posted a little blurb on her website HERE. (Sometimes we all are fooled by those around us, aren’t we?)
The flip side to the trust issue is that when you find someone deemed trustworthy, like your agent or editor, you really do need to trust them to help you. Believe that your agent and editor want what’s best for you until they prove that they are untrustworthy. (Hopefully it won’t ever come to that.)
A discerning author would make good choices about what he or she is going to write. You want to write to your strengths, but you also want to have a unique angle on your idea. If you are supermom, you need your book to stand out from the 100,000,000 other books on parenting. (I might be exaggerating on that number.)
Dawn Meehan, author of Because I Said So, did a fantastic job setting herself apart from other authors. She actually ended up getting a book contract because she wrote cute stories about being a mom to go along with items she auctioned off on eBay. To read more about Dawn and her book, click HERE. (If you’re trying to do well with managing your time DO NOT CLICK on the Mom’s Timeout link.)
As you’re picking ideas about what to write, remember to ask yourself: Will this idea work in the market today? Is this idea unique? What do I bring to the market that is unique? What audience is going to want to read this project?
Did I miss anything? Please share.
Thank you for spending this week with me! Still no word from Chick-fil-A. *sigh*
Really loving this series and this site. There was one point in this post that could be misinterpreted in a way other than I think it was intended.
Befriending authors and leveraging that friendship are two different things.
I thought the recent interview in Writers Digest showing the respect between Jerry Jenkins and Stephen King was insightful, although they likely won’t be working closely together on their next project.
An author from another genre – who wouldn’t help with your platform – HAS still published books and may have the insight or tip that will get you to the next level.
It would be shame to miss out on a lifelong friendship because a beginning author looked at every meeting only in terms of “will this person sell my book?”
This goes along with the encouraging vs energy draining point. Someone could be a good fit with what you’re subject is about, but are all about your promoting their work.
Let the friendships come wherever they can, keep the friendship first, and then let the business / writing side flow from that.
No matter how much we were born to write, that we love to write, we are people first.
Rich
Rachel, Thank you for voicing your advice. Many of the things you mentioned should be on the “no brainer” list, and yet I find myself making those same mistakes frequently.
Your reminders are very helpful.
Thanks Again
Wow. You gave me a lot to think about here. Thanks for making me think deeper.
Great post! Yeah, I’d heard of the “Midnight Sun” thing. It’s just sad, isn’t it?
Your comment about the platform is spot on as well. Facebook or Bingo… Nice example. 🙂
Hmmm, Chick-fil-A didn’t stop by yet, huh? Bummer.
Thanks for your posts this week, I always enjoy them. 🙂
Rachel,
You have excellent posts! You’ve validated some of the things I’ve been doing and challenged me in other weaker areas. Bless you for sharing your thoughts!
Laura
Rich, thank you for pointing out how in the “discerning author friends” paragraph it could sound like I’m saying you should only make friends who can “help” you in some way. You’re welcome to form any or as many friendships as you would like!
I was making a point (or trying to, I guess) that if you are going to seek out people in the writing world, you want to form relationships with people who are like you in some way so that relationship can benefit both authors. Perhaps friendship wasn’t the right word. I see this as a professional friendship.
Good posts. Thanks for sharing with us, Rachel!
I do know a lot of retired people who aren’t playing bingo. These days they may be part of a scuba diving club or they are skydiving or just hanging out at the gym. The point you made was valid–I just can’t resist putting in a word for the active old folks. =0)
Oh, Dawn Meehan is hysterical. I’m going to be discerning and resist that link.
Sally, I also know a lot of retired people who are so active I can hardly keep up. I didn’t mean anything negative by the bingo comment. I love bingo! Perhaps I put my foot in my mouth with that example? 🙂
No, I don’t see your foot in your mouth. You made your point well.
I had just come from the gym, though, when I read your post. I’d been noticing how many old folks were working out and what great shape they were in.
Personally, I’ll take bingo over bungee jumping any day, thank you very much.
First of all, I never make friends with another writer just because of the contacts. A genuine and trustworthy friendship is built by taking the time to care about the person and show an interest in their life. Over time, trust is built and you can feel safe enough to share your hard work with them.
I met a writer friend for the first time this week and an immediate kinship was formed. It’s nice to be able to have someone who inspires you to get the job done. We have so much in common and I feel that I can trust her with my lifes work. It’s nice to have someone to talk writing with. Sometimes, I can actually see someone’s eyes glaze over when you start going into the details of your writing life because it is not their interest.
And yes, facebook, should not be on while you are trying to write. Neither should you have a remote control in your hands, the television on, and you should definitley ignore the chores for a while until you get some work done.
Nikki
Wow, I didn’t realize that that was how Stephenie’s book got out. How sad. 🙁
Great post, Rachel!