One of my prayers when it comes to writing – a prayer that has not changed – is for growth. That I will never grow stagnant or complacent. That each book will be an improvement. That I will continue to learn about the craft of writing.
As I move along on this writing journey, I’ve thought a lot about this concept. Growth. And I came up with three tips to help me along, to stay on track. I thought I might share them here:
Look for an upward trend.
We need to “see the forest through the trees”. I have to do this all the time when I assess my students. Sure. They may waver a few points up or down. But is their overall pattern moving up? Sometimes, growth comes in spurts. Like the summer I spent devouring craft books. Having not read any prior, I grew like a fertilized weed. But other times, we might come across a plateau. We need to see past those moments and look at the overall picture. Reflect. Think about this time last year. Are you growing as a writer? If not, what can you do about it?
For maximum growth, be intentional.
I wrote my first novel six years ago. A year or so later, I wrote my second novel. Naturally, my second novel was better than my first. I’d grown. But it wasn’t until I spent a summer reading every craft book known to man, paying for professional critiques, and reading industry blogs that my growth skyrocketed. It’s no coincidence that my third novel, the one I wrote that summer, is the one that got me an agent and a contract.
Sure, growth might happen naturally. Without thinking. Simply by writing and reading books. But the best kind of growth happens when we are intentional. When we set growth goals. When we reflect on where we were last week, last month, last year, in the beginning. When we reflect on where we want to be next week, next month, next year, in the end.
How we grow changes as we grow.
At first, with every craft book I read my brain whirred with new information. I experienced phenomenal growth. But somewhere along the line, those books stopped having the same effect. It’s not that I never read them anymore or that I don’t learn something when I do. It just means they don’t produce the same amount of growth they once did. If I want to maintain my upward trend, I have to look elsewhere.
Right now, I’m taking an online class with Margie Lawson, learning stuff I’ve never even heard of before. I’m also reading We are Not Alone: A Writers Guide to Social Media by Kristen Lamb, and although the book isn’t about the craft of writing, it’s helping me grow as an effective author. My brain is whirring all over again – both from the class and the book. I’m sure more brain-whirring will commence when I get content edits from my in-house editor.
The point is, if we find ourselves standing on a plateau, maybe our old ways of growing aren’t as effective anymore. Maybe we need to try something new.
So what are some ways writers can grow?
– craft books
– reading informative blogs
– taking online classes
– attending a writer’s conference
– attending writer’s workshops
– paying for a professional critique or edit
– entering contests
– joining a critique group
– reading and studying high-quality fiction
– putting what we learn into practice as we write more books
Let’s Talk: Do you reflect on your growth? Are you intentional about it? Are you seeing an upward trend? What’s helped you grow the most? If it’s a craft book, which one? What next steps do you have to take to stretch yourself further?
What a helpful post, Katie. Goes well after reading Kristen Lamb's post on reality deficit disorder. I want to make an effective plan to move my writing forward, and the goals and realities that you've laid out are very clear and intentional. I appreciate the sound advice. I have joined a critique group, been fortunate to have had Kristen critique some pages, attended a writing conference and taken a class on author branding. Next step is to dive in to craft books, because I know I've been dragging my feet thinking I just don't have the time, but really if I make time to do that, my writing may not take as much time. Less editing! Wow, run on sentence or what? LOL. Thank you!
Thanks for the shout-out. If we aren't growing we're dead. I can generally tell writers who are going to make it versus the ones who will quit. Writers with the right stuff are positive, open, teachable, and willing to learn.
So great to meek you and look forward to hanging out with you on #MyWANA.
Some nice ideas! 🙂
A wonderful post. I'm glad I saw it being RTed in twitter.
I hope you don't mind if I link to this in my roundup of links at the end of the week. This is an article more people need to read and learn from.
I as a new writer I am shocked to read through things I wrote just months ago before 'that trade book' or 'that conference' and see the growth.
I pray that I will always be growing.
Thanks for the post.
Two things have helped me grow the most: critique groups and conferences.
I need the close-up interaction with other writers that I get in crit groups. And attending Susie May Warren's writing retreats (smaller in size than most) really helped me learn how to write fiction. And I developed some great writing friendships too!
I found your website today and I have loved all the posts I've read so far.
Growth has been my focus since January. I am new to writing – well seventeen months new. However everything started so quickly – I wrote so much my first year that I hardly came up for air. Now is the time to slow down, soak in and figure out what to do with those MS.
I was amazed to see the change from book one to book two and so forth. I felt like my book three might be ready for queries – but that is a whole new growth project too!
So while I learn about queries and agents I am still writing and now as I close off book six I am learning so much new I often think I should shelve all the early ones.
I am thankful to read Keli's advice about taking a year off and focusing on editing – but the new ideas come so fast and steady I can't stop.
Thank you Katie for your wisdom and insight as you journey down this exciting path. I will be watching for more of what you have to share!
Good questions. I've wondered about my growth. I'm going to be starting my 4th MS soon, and it's been over a year since I wrote something new. I'm hoping I've grown…but we'll see. 🙂
I've grown in my writing the past couple years mostly by reading craft books (my favorite being "A Novel Idea"), studying fiction, attending writer's conferences and not only reading blogs but writing a blog a well. I also think that practicing what I've learned by writing more books rather than just one contributed much to my growth as a writer.
Katie, I love your advice about seeking different ways to grow. I sort of hit a plateau with the craft books I'd read and got sooo much out of Margie's course and professional critiques. I'm sure I'll still get things out of those books, but I like that you've given me permission to not find all my answers there. 🙂
I don't want to ever spin my wheels and get stuck in one spot. But sometimes I need a push from outside to get me out of the rut. I think I need that push now! 😉
I think being intentional is a big one for me and I do love the support of my crit group also. :O)
I'm definitely intentional about it. Right now I'm going the plotter's path and trying to bring organization to my writing rather than relying on my characters to lead me willy nilly. I'm excited!
I'm so glad you're taking Margie's class. I had took it at the ACFW Early Bird, and by the time we finished that six hours, my mind was like a toasted marshmallow, but I would also never write the same way again. 🙂
For me its been craft books and blogs outside of writing every single day. I have to keep reading, too. I think in the end the reading is what counts the most.
Great post, Katie, chock full of hard-earned wisdom.
I wrote five stories during my first two years writing. While there was gradual improvement, they were five lame stories brimming with newbie mistakes but filled with promise, or so my two Golden Heart finals convinced doubt-prone me.
I took a year off to study craft while getting my introduction to the wonderful world of writers in cyberspace. I learned heaps that year, after which I rewrote one of those five stories and received my offer of representation. Following yet more study and another rewrite, my agent sold it.
I've come to the conclusion that I'm not really a writer; I'm a re-writer. Thankfully, I love editing, and like you, Katie, enjoy watching the story improve before my eyes.
I find I learn the most from rejections.
They hurt, but when an editor/agent tells you why they've rejected you then you can chose to trust their judgement and grow.
A rejection from Harvest House has been my best growth spurt in the past year.
I think conferences are great. I thought I was done editing until this last weekend and a workshop on sentences. I've found numerous weak spots I can make better.
Which is good, because I have requests for 4 proposals from said conference.
The writer's book that most stands out for me was Deb Dixon's Goal, Motivation, and Conflict.
Great post, Katie!
Ah, I love Margie Lawson, she taught me to look at things in a whole new way.
For me, I tend to grow more when I try to distill my writing — create a tagline for my WIP. It focuses me on the main idea. Otherwise I'm all over the place.
I like Susan's comment: Sustainable growth.
A lot of my early growth was unintentional. My partner and I wrote five novels before we even considered writing a sixth and querying it. We were just writing for fun and for ourselves. But once we made that mental switch to go professional, the growth was intentional – conferences, industry and writer's blogs, craft books and much more intentional writing and self-editing.
There's nothing wrong with a growth curve, but you're right, that curve needs to be more intentional as we progress. Because there is always room for growth…
I am very intentional about. I like to look back every few months and see a difference. 🙂
Hi Katie –
I think being intentional about growth is a must. Growth will occur without this factor, but might not achieve the results you want.
Years ago, I worked for a company that grew like wildfire. Unfortunately, the owners did not plan ahead and create an atmosphere of sustainable growth.
Sustainable growth. Now, there's a concept.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
I'm constantly looking for ways to grow, using all the tools you mentioned. Two of my favorite craft books are Stein on Writing and Thanks But This Isn't For Us by Jessica Page Morrell.
So many authors say "Don't think you've ever arrived, you can always learn more." And they're right.
I really am still trying to grow too. And like you, I find the craft books have less effect on me as they used to. Does that mean growth? Not sure, but I hope so! LOL
I'm really looking forward to a writing conference next week. I already have the seminars I want to take picked out.
Also, I heard Margie's classes are great and even thought about ordering her packet. Let me know which one you're taking. Is it the empowering emotions one?
There are times when I get a glimpse into what it's like to be two. I'm such a young writer (young in my writing endeavors, not young in years :)) that I soake up everything I read and learn like a sponge. And yes, like you said, my mind whirrs from the new knowledge. The biggest thing that makes me retain this knowledge and really grow as a writer is to put that knowledge to use. To write, write, write.
Do I reflect on growth? tee hee! 😀 I think sometimes my husband wishes I'd spend a little less time reflecting and watch a little more sports with him. 😉
Have you read Elizabeth George's Write Away or Elizabeth Berg's Writing into the Open? I think you'd love (ah, I can use that word again) both.
~ Wendy
"I grew like a fertilized weed." (((giggles)))
I can relate to that, having spent the past few months devouring lots and lots of writing craft books, and reading all the writerly blogs out there.
Finding Your Voice by Les Edgerton was the craft book that helped get me over the hump I was stuck behind. Next up on the intentional growth agenda will (hopefully) be reading and studying high-quality fiction this summer. I read so many craft books I think I drained my brain of its capability to take in any more factual information. Now I want soak in some serious storytelling. 🙂
Barb
I'm with you on being intentional. I'm trying my best to grow, not only with every book, but with every draft too. Each stage of my writing should add something.
I'm trying books now, because reading blogs, although fun, doesn't always have the same effect. 🙂
As someone who has suffered from chronic clinical depression for some time, I find that in seeking help to try and overcome it, I undergo a sort of growth. I say sort because it is a process of taking several steps forward and taking several more steps back sometimes.
It is an arduous process but in all of it I believe I am growing. My writing provides a refuge in which I can experience a different kind of growth. This spills over into my daily life and it's good. It's really good.