7 Things I’ve Learned So Far, by Jackie Morse Kessler

This is a recurring column called “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far,”where writers (this installment written by Jackie Morse Kessler, author of TO BEAR AN IRON KEY) at any stage of their career can talk about writing advice and instruction as well as how they possibly got their book agent -- by sharing seven things they’ve learned along their writing journey that they wish they knew at the beginning.

1. An old idea can still be a good idea. Back in 1998, I wrote a short story about a witch and a thief who had to outsmart the fey king and queen. That story was never published. Years later, it was the starting point for what became the novel To Bear an Iron Key. Just because you shelf a story, don’t think it will never see the light of day. Time away from it can give you a new perspective.

2. Your process may be different with each book. When I first started writing, I was a “pantser”—I didn’t outline ahead of time. Then I started writing brief synopses before writing a book (usually at an editor’s request), but during the actual writing process, I’d scrap the synopsis about a third of the way through (shhh, don’t tell the editors). For my most recent project, I wrote a detailed chapter outline before I started writing the book. The process for the next novel might go back to pantsing. Or not. It’s nice knowing how a story will get from the beginning to the end. (Unless I change my mind a third of the way through. Shhh.)

3. Finish the story. When I wrote the draft of To Bear an Iron Key, a specific situation came up in chapter three, one that was mentioned throughout the book…but I didn’t actually rectify that situation. Why? In my rush to finish the draft—and my focus on the big finale—I overlooked it. Oops. Thank goodness for revisions! In short, if you’ve got big, unanswered questions in your book, answer ’em before you type “The End.”

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4. Revision is your friend. When I was working on the revision of To Bear an Iron Key, I not only had the chance to address the situation that I’d accidentally left unfinished; I also honed the POV so that it didn’t lapse out of the main character’s close third-person perspective. While I pride myself on writing clean drafts, there’s really nothing like revision to kick your story up to the next level. Before you decide to send your draft to an agent or editor, give it a clean read and see if there are any places where it could be stronger, clearer, or tighter.

5. Trust your editor. After spending weeks, months, or even years on a book, the last thing we want to hear is there’s more work to be done. Sometimes, we’re so close to our stories that we can’t see where there are structural and other problems. That’s where our editors come in. It was my editor for To Bear an Iron Key who pointed out that my world building was a bit uneven and that the antagonist’s motivation needed to be clearer. When you get your editorial letter, don’t panic. Take the time to understand your editor’s suggestions, and think through how to apply those suggestions to make your book stronger. And then…revise!

6. Deadlines matter. Once a book is on a production schedule, any delay could result in pushing back your publication date. Don’t blow off a deadline. If you’re the sort of writer who works well under pressure (I am; I also tend to overdo the chocolate under a deadline crunch), then you’ll probably be writing until the very last minute. If high pressure isn’t your thing, you should get an early start on that next draft or that revision, because you never know when life will throw you an unplanned power outage or week-long illness.

7. The best validation is your name on the cover. Being a writer means setting ourselves up for rejection. Whether it’s a “no” from an agent or editor or a scathing review, there will be times when it will feel like maybe we shouldn’t be writing. Don’t believe that feeling. Many people say they’re going to write a book. Fewer actually do so. Be proud of your accomplishment! When your book gets published, celebrate! Not every book will hit a list—but I promise, that book will look very sweet on your bookshelf, face out, at home.

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