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    How I Found the Write Path: A Compilation of Letters
    How I Found the Write Path: A Compilation of Letters
    How I Found the Write Path: A Compilation of Letters
    Ebook182 pages2 hours

    How I Found the Write Path: A Compilation of Letters

    By Carrie Butler

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    About this ebook

    Hey there, fellow writer!

    Here’s the lowdown on this project: To celebrate my third blogoversary, I decided to pay it forward by inviting the writing/blogging community to help those just starting on their publishing journey. Why? Because it’s one of the most crucial periods in a writer’s life—full of nerves and hope we refuse to acknowledge. We’ve all been there.

    That’s why over sixty of us have written letters to our past selves, candidly sharing things we don’t always discuss in public. The hope is that those of you who haven’t published will learn from our experiences. And those of you who have published? Well, you just might realize you’re not alone.

    Let’s keep this going. :)
    - Carrie Butler

    P.S. I’d like to give a shout-out to my friend and fellow compiler, P.K. Hrezo. She really helped rally support for this project!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCarrie Butler
    Release dateSep 6, 2014
    ISBN9781311655684
    How I Found the Write Path: A Compilation of Letters
    Author

    Carrie Butler

    Carrie Butler is an award-winning author, the owner of Forward Authority Design Services, and a co-founder of NA Alley—not to mention a recovering marketer with a penchant for superhero socks and Firefly. Time away from her desk is spent playing with her rescue pup, yelling at the TV during hockey season, and indulging in target-based recreation. Otherwise, you’re likely to find her glued to her chair, discovering new ways to share her daydreams... The Mark of Nexus series has appeared on Amazon bestselling, top-rated, and hot new release lists in various genres. It has also been mentioned in publications like USA Today and Writing New Adult Fiction—a recent how-to from Writer’s Digest

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      Book preview

      How I Found the Write Path - Carrie Butler

      HOW I FOUND THE WRITE PATH

      A COMPILATION OF LETTERS

      HOW I FOUND THE WRITE PATH: A COMPILATION OF LETTERS

      Compiled by Carrie Butler and P.K. Hrezo

      AJ Matthews Copyright © 2014 by A.J. Matthews

      Aldrea Alien Copyright © 2014 by Aldrea Alien

      Alex Cavanaugh Copyright © 2014 by Alex Cavanaugh

      Amy Evans Copyright © 2014 by Amy Evans

      Angela Brown Copyright © 2014 by Angela Brown

      Annalisa Crawford Copyright © 2014 by Annalisa Crawford

      Carrie-Anne Brownian Copyright © 2014 by Carrie-Anne Brownian

      Carrie Butler Copyright © 2014 by Carrie Butler

      Catherine Stine Copyright © 2014 by Catherine Stine

      Christine Danek Copyright © 2014 by Christine Danek

      Chrys Fey Copyright © 2014 by Chrys Fey

      Clare Dugmore Copyright © 2014 by Clare Dugmore

      C. Lee McKenzie Copyright © 2014 by C. Lee McKenzie

      Crystal Collier Copyright © 2014 by Crystal Collier

      D.A. Botta Copyright © 2014 by D.A. Botta

      Dana Mason Copyright © 2014 by Dana Mason

      Dean K. Miller Copyright © 2014 by Dean K. Miller

      Debi O'Neille Copyright © 2014 by Debi O'Neille

      Denise Covey Copyright © 2014 by Denise Covey

      Diana Wilder Copyright © 2014 by Diana Wilder

      E. Arroyo Copyright © 2014 by E. Arroyo

      E.J. Wesley Copyright © 2014 by E.J. Wesley

      Elaine Kaye Copyright © 2014 by Elaine Kaye

      Eleyne-Mari Copyright © 2014 by Eleyne-Mari

      Elizabeth Hein Copyright © 2014 by Elizabeth Hein

      Elizabeth Seckman Copyright © 2014 by Elizabeth Seckman

      Emma Adams Copyright © 2014 by Emma Adams

      Gina Stoneheart Copyright © 2014 by Gina Stoneheart

      Heather M. Gardner Copyright © 2014 by Heather M. Gardner

      Ian S. Bott Copyright © 2014 by Ian S. Bott

      Ilima Todd Copyright © 2014 by Ilima Todd

      Jade Eby Copyright © 2014 by Jade Eby

      J.L. Campbell Copyright © 2014 by J.L. Campbell

      Katie Doyle Copyright © 2014 by Katie Doyle

      Kyra Lennon Copyright © 2014 by Kyra Lennon

      Lark O'Neal Copyright © 2014 by Lark O'Neal

      Liz Blocker Copyright © 2014 by Liz Blocker

      Loni Townsend Copyright © 2014 by Loni Townsend

      Luccia Gray Copyright © 2014 by Luccia Gray

      L.W. Flouisa Copyright © 2014 by L.W. Flouisa

      Lynda R. Young Copyright © 2014 by Lynda R. Young

      Lynn Lovegreen Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Lovegreen

      Mark Koopmans Copyright © 2014 by Mark Koopmans

      Mark Murata Copyright © 2014 by Mark Murata

      Medeia Sharif Copyright © 2014 by Medeia Sharif

      Melissa Maygrove Copyright © 2014 by Melissa Maygrove

      Meradeth Houston Copyright © 2014 by Meradeth Houston

      Michael Di Gesu Copyright © 2014 by Michael Di Gesu

      Misa Buckley Copyright © 2014 by Misa Buckley

      Misha Gericke Copyright © 2014 by Misha Gericke

      M. Pepper Langlinais Copyright © 2014 by M. Pepper Langlinais

      Nick Wilford Copyright © 2014 by Nick Wilford

      Pauline Baird Jones Copyright © 2014 by Pauline Baird Jones

      P.K. Hrezo Copyright © 2014 by P.K. Hrezo

      Robyn Campbell Copyright © 2014 by Robyn Campbell

      S.A. Larsen Copyright © 2014 by S.A. Larsen

      Sarah Brentyn Copyright © 2014 by Sarah Brentyn

      Seth Z. Herman Copyright © 2014 by Seth Z. Herman

      Shelly Arkon Copyright © 2014 by Shelly Arkon

      S.J. Pajonas Copyright © 2014 by S.J. Pajonas

      Stephanie Faris Copyright © 2014 by Stephanie Faris

      Tammy Theriault Copyright © 2014 by Tammy Theriault

      Theresa Milstein Copyright © 2014 by Theresa Milstein

      Tyrean Martinson Copyright © 2014 by Tyrean Martinson

      V.R. Barkowsky Copyright © 2014 by V.R. Barkowsky

      All contributions used with the permission of their authors.

      All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission of the author.

      Cover Design by Forward Authority

      Table of Contents

      Title

      Copyright

      Introduction

      A.J. Matthews

      Aldrea Alien

      Alex J. Cavanaugh

      Amy Evans

      Angela Brown

      Annalisa Crawford

      Carrie-Anne Brownian

      Carrie Butler

      Catherine Stine

      Christine Danek

      Chrys Fey

      Clare Dugmore

      C. Lee McKenzie

      Crystal Collier

      D.A. Botta

      Dana Mason

      Dean K. Miller

      Debi O'Neille

      Denise Covey

      Diana Wilder

      E. Arroyo

      E.J. Wesley

      Elaine Kaye

      Eleyne-Mari

      Elizabeth Hein

      Elizabeth Seckman

      Emma Adams

      Gina Stoneheart

      Heather M. Gardner

      Ian S. Bott

      Ilima Todd

      Jade Eby

      J.L. Campbell

      Katie Doyle

      Kyra Lennon

      Lark O'Neal

      Liz Blocker

      Loni Townsend

      Luccia Gray

      L.W. Flouisa

      Lynda R. Young

      Lynn Lovegreen

      Mark Koopmans

      Mark Murata

      Medeia Sharif

      Melissa Maygrove

      Meradeth Houston

      Michael Di Gesu

      Misa Buckley

      Misha Gericke

      M. Pepper Langlinais

      Nick Wilford

      Pauline Baird Jones

      P.K. Hrezo

      Robyn Campbell

      S.A. Larsen

      Sarah Brentyn

      Seth Z. Herman

      Shelly Arkon

      Sherry Ellis

      S.J. Pajonas

      Stephanie Faris

      Tammy Theriault

      Theresa Milstein

      Tyrean Martinson

      V.R. Barkowsky

      Introduction

      Hey there, fellow writer!

      Here’s the lowdown on this project: To celebrate my third blogoversary, I decided to pay it forward by inviting the writing/blogging community to help those just starting on their publishing journey. Why? Because it’s one of the most crucial periods in a writer’s life—full of nerves and hope we refuse to acknowledge. We’ve all been there.

      That’s why over sixty of us have written letters to our past selves, candidly sharing things we don’t always discuss in public. The hope is that those of you who haven’t published will learn from our experiences. And those of you who have published? Well, you just might realize you’re not alone.

      Let’s keep this going.

      - Carrie Butler

      www.carrieabutler.com

      P.S. I’d like to give a shout-out to my friend and fellow compiler, P.K. Hrezo. She really helped rally support for this project!

      Note: Because these letters were compiled from writers all over the world (and Internet), you will see differences here and there, i.e. formats, localized spellings, editing, etc. Please keep that in mind. :)

      A.J. Matthews

      Dear A.J. in 2011,

      You’ve been writing for a long time. FOREVER. You wrote that first book at six. Often writers will then say, And you never looked back. But that’s not the case, is it? Here’s the one thing you need to know, and put into practice. Every. Single. Day. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Who cares if you could have written X number of books if you’d pounded out a few hundred words a day since you first joined Romance Writers of America at the ripe old age of 22? Life happened, and you got some fantastic things out of it: an exceptional education studying remarkable literature; those three insane, I mean, darling, children; and your super-patient and really cute husband. What matters is you’re writing now. Keep going. When you write THE END on that novella you’re working on now, it will be one of the most intoxicating sensations you’ve experienced, and you won’t want to stop now that you’ve done it.

      Another thing you should know, something I learned the hard way, is don’t get so fixated on writing one story that it stifles others. If your conscious mind thinks you should be writing something, but the words don’t flow, move on. It’s your inner voice telling you to try another idea. Sure, you can continue to hash out the details of that other story while looking for inspiration for a new book, but when the muse drops a big fat idea in your lap, run with it. You’ll be happy you did when you write the first draft of that book in three weeks, and then realize not long after starting the book that the original idea will work as book 2 in the series.

      In addition to RWA, you belong to small chapters but never interact much. Change that. Get involved in your local chapter, because it will re-kindle a friendship that will lead you on your path to publication. This friend is warm and caring and encouraging, and her feedback gives you the confidence you truly need at the moment you meet up again.

      I understand time is so tight, but don’t neglect the online community. Joining one group on Facebook and getting active on Twitter will change your life. This community of other writers who support one another is a beautiful thing—and one of the most surprising things I’ve discovered about the industry in the last few years. Sure, there will always be people who will disparage you and hope you fail, but these other ladies and gents? They want to celebrate success with you. Celebrate and support them, too.

      As you pursue publication, remember this: instead of clicking refresh every two minutes on your e-mail after your query or submission, take that time to plan and write your next story. The more you write, the more you’ll have available to sell when you finally get an offer.

      And don’t forget to check your Spam folder. The nicest things may show up there.

      Love,

      Me (or you in 2014, I guess)

      ~ A.J. Matthews, author of GOODBYE TO YOU

      @AJMatthews_

      Aldrea Alien

      Dear 15 year old me,

      You know your little dream of publishing that strange story with the lizard people you started writing when you were twelve? The one you thought was already pretty dark? Yeah, The Rogue King. You’re pitting all your hopes on that number, aren’t you?

      Well … I’m here to say your path won’t be easy.

      You’re going to get stomped on. A lot. Querying, which I know you’ve just started doing, will lead to being rejected by every man and his dog. You’ll tear your hair out over the contradictions and want to slap every face you see. You’ll find out that, for every helpful person out there, there’ll be someone else who’ll dump all over you. You’re going to spend ages screaming at that screen.

      But some of those helpful people will become your critique partners. Remember those words. You’ll start to know them better than all your high school friends (for longer than a few of them, too).

      And you know what else? You’re not the know-it-all you think you are.

      Don’t you sit there fussing and rolling your eyes at me. Yes, it’s taken you a few years now. You’ve read a few things, tweaked accordingly. But it’s going to take you even longer. You’re nowhere near the halfway mark of your journey.

      So saddle up for another fourteen years, my dear. You’ve got a boatload of stuff to learn along the way that they never touched on at school. It’ll be a daunting experience, I know, but soak it in. Just don’t try to conform to every rule. It’ll drive you crazy. Well, crazier. ^_^

      Be prepared to change things around. You’ve got three complete rewrites to haul your butt through. You’ll grow to hate that arrogant arse you decided to make a main character. And his son … he’s practically a shadow (no pun intended, there). You’ll quibble with yourself over scrapping the whole thing.

      Even with all that help, it’s going to be a hard road. It’s a big story now, you won’t fit it all into one book (FYI, that’s where all your trouble is coming from). And you’ll scare yourself with how dark it gets, but it’s okay, I’ve got it now.

      Lastly, you’re going to find you’re doing the important parts yourself. Yes Miss Hypocrite, you’ve got the makings of a self-published novel in your hands. But don’t sit there and fret. You can do this. You’re an indie. You did it. It’s out there and being enjoyed. Be proud.

      Love,

      Aldrea

      ~ Aldrea Alien, author of the Rogue King saga

      www.aldreaalien.com

      Alex J. Cavanaugh

      Prepare for Changes!

      Right now, you’re writing. It’s comfortable and fun. But once you’re on the path to publication, prepare for everything to

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