Thanks! I Needed That, Marcus Sakey

Here’s the thing I love about Twitter: I find all kinds of excellent writerly stuff. The other day, I came across Marcus Sakey’s post, How To Knock Yourself Out of the Game. He included six ways to make sure you don’t mess up your publishing chances.

Now, I’m sure along the way, I’ve heard most of this advice before. None were earth-shattering, mind-blowing tips to success. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t forget the basics, the simple stuff, as I go merrily writing along.

The first tip, the VERY FIRST tip, slapped me upside the head: Start at the Beginning and Write to the End. Basically, Mr. Sakey made the following point. Don’t get derailed right in the middle of the book you’re writing and start another book. Finish what you start.

So easy. But oh, my. Writers (like me) like to think we’re different. Writers (like me) like to follow our own rules and make it work. And I was this close (I’m holding up my hand, squeezing a smidgen of space between two fingers) to setting the book I’m working on aside and starting the one I’ve been daydreaming about for the last few weeks. Because it seems like such a good idea!

But maybe it seems like such a good idea because it’s new and sparkly, not the old idea that makes me gnash and grind my teeth, trying to get it right. But anything worth doing, is worth doing right. And finishing.

So thanks, Marcus Sakey, I needed that reminder. I apologize for not recognizing your name. But now that I know who you are, I promise to read one of your books. Because you had some fine advice there, over on your website. Something tells me you’re a very fine writer.

9 thoughts on “Thanks! I Needed That, Marcus Sakey”

Marcus had some darn good points. Thx Cathy and Marcus!PS I finally got the first of several posts about Chautauqua on my blog.

Off to check it out, Gail!

Wow. I needed to hear that, Cathy. I'm sort of at the point where I feel if I would've picked a better idea the story would be easier to write. I hate feeling stuck. It's nice to know that writers much more accomplished than myself have the same problem. And there is SO much satisfaction in finishing something. Thanks for the push to keep going. I'm going to show Chapter 8 who's boss today!

You go, girl! (Chapter 8, watch out!)

That was a great post. Thanks for sharing, Cathy!I know what you mean about the sparkly new idea. My husband and I always say "squirrel!" when one of us gets distracted (it's from the movie "Up" where the "talking" dog gets sidetracked by well, a squirrel. If you haven't seen it, go do it, but bring tissues.) 🙂

I hate the middles. I always want to give up and start something new. I'm in the middle now. Ugh.

Madeline, the Beneficent Mr. Hall is always asking me to just finish one sentence…I'm bad about starting…and then I think he knows…and I just can't…well, it's a problem. ;-)Sally, 20 bucks says your middle is way better than an ugh. But yeah, my middles = the slumps. Ironically descriptive of my own middle over my waistband.