by Rachel Slaiman
Why do you write? What makes you sit down and want to tell your story? How long has it been since you said, “I want to write this book, but I cannot because…. (insert reason).” Many of us are all too familiar with these questions and do not have an answer. Moderated by Bridget Marmion, WNBA-NYC Board Member and panelists Fran Hawthorne, author of I Meant to Tell You and Maiya Katherine, author of An Apology to My Demons, on April 20, 2023, the Taking the Leap Panel addressed why the writers delayed as long as they did and shared solutions for moving forward with your ideas.
Through an engaging lively panel, it was easy to see that both women were eager to tell their story. From creating a writing schedule while still working in corporate America to beginning to write when the world shut down due to Covid-19, it is arguable that life events started the writing process. While life was moving along, Hawthorne and Katherine still needed to find time and create a schedule that worked for them to complete the task at hand. Some writers like a more structured routine of writing 1,000 words a day, while others just want to get something on paper. Pro Tip: Flexibility is the key when you are starting the writing process because no two authors are alike. If you find what kind of schedule and goals work for you, the process becomes more manageable and not so daunting over time.
But “why” spend all this time writing your book? Each person’s why is different. Is it passion driven, royalty driven, a combination of both? The “why” becomes the motivator and gives you the courage to keep writing when you hit a roadblock or do not feel inspired. Of course, when you sit down to write, words may not flow right away; you may have some fragmented sentences. After some time, the words start to flow onto the page, and you are once again back on track to write. Pro Tip: Allowing yourself time and space is key to this process.
Now that the writing is underway, how do you answer the question “how is it going?” Many people would want to wait until their book is completed or almost done. Others may want to talk about it along the way. Pro Tip: The important thing here is to share only what you want to share. Do not feel pressured in any way.
Lastly, “ how do you know when you the manuscript is finished?” It’s possible to keep rewriting and correcting a work forever but at a certain point taking a step back to determine whether you’re ‘improving’ the work is necessary. Once you’ve determined that it answers the ‘why, meets your goals, and further rewrites and corrections won’t majorly improve the manuscript, your work for the moment is complete.
