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

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