SCBWI weekend is over and my head is full of ideas!
One of the great takeaways from this event was from Jem Chambers-Black from Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
She gave a wonderful talk, and in it described what she asks her writers to do for themselves. I want to share them with you as I think that they are fantastic ideas for every writer! Myself included. I assure you I have done these just now and will continue for all of 2022. I am determined that my writing plans keep my writing on track and begin to tackle the path to publishing.
First:
Dream Big
Take a look at your life and write down what you want it to look like in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and so on. Dream big. No one is going to see it but you and in the art of manifestation you must dream big!
There is a story that Jim Carrey wrote himself a check for $1,000,000 and put it on his fridge believing that one day he would be able to fund it.
Second:
Every month write down 20 new story ideas.
Just one line about each. This is where I found myself at 29 years old. Sitting in acting class I wrote down story ideas and non-fiction ideas I had for books. I was aging out of Hollywood then and I decided to begin my writing career in earnest.
Then take those ideas and choose 5-10 to write a few more lines about them or a paragraph or two and develop them. That way you always have something to write.
Third:
Make a master agent list. Find your people.
Find agents that represent your type of book, find comp titles, find a critique group…find another if that one isn’t it for you.
Fourth:
Set monthly writing goals.
Goals can be by word or page, but set a goal and stick to it. Make it daily or weekly, if that is better. Plan your year and do it. And remember to take breaks.
My mother had a wonderful friend who was an actress from childhood, Marjorie Lord. When I was 14 and desperate to be an actress she gave me sage advice. It was about acting but I have changed one word to make it about all of us. She worked as an actress and she had a family. She raised wonderful kids who gave her loving grandchildren. When she passed in 2015 she had lived a full life both on the stage and off so I take her advice to heart to this day.
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