I’m almost exclusively a fiction reader, so I never thought I’d write a non-fiction book. (I never thought I’d write a book, period.) But I was wrong, as usual, and today Friendshipping is available in stores and online.
Here’s what I learned about the writing process.
Start with a thorough outline. Don’t skip this step, or try to skip it, like I did. The first outline I sent to the publishers alarmed them — it was pretty scrawny. They requested something much more robust. The outline didn’t need grammatical perfection, detail, or polish. It needed substance. Structure. It had to answer the question, “Why talk about this topic, at this point in the book?” Basically, the outline is your road map, your GPS system. You’re lost without it.
If you’re on a roll, keep rolling. Writing is like exercising: We’re rarely in the mood to do it. So when you do find yourself in the zone — the words are flowing, you’re typing away — don’t quit! I was late to bar trivia or skipped movie nights if I was on a roll. (My friends understood!)
Don’t edit as you write. I tend to start chopping up a sentence before I’ve even finished it. This is a bad habit of mine, leftover from journalism school. I just get in my own way: Instead of throwing paint at the canvas, I’m all choosy over colors and the quality of the paint. Luckily, I had a once-in-a-lifetime co-writer in Trin Garritano. In the time it takes me to write five sentences, she delivers five rich, emotive paragraphs. She’s got the “muchness.”
If you can’t write, get organized. Some days writing is just not gonna happen. It’s just not! Instead, do what you need so you can dive in tomorrow: Look at your schedule and carve out the time; make yourself a writing to-do list; mark the point where you left off, and where you need to start again. This is the “administration” of finishing a book, and it turns out it’s just as crucial as the writing itself.
You can get Friendshipping ($15) right now on Amazon or through an indie bookseller.
Special thanks to my friend and mentor Jane Hirt for encouraging me to write this post.
