{"id":27273,"date":"2023-07-07T03:00:34","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T10:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=27273"},"modified":"2023-07-08T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2023-07-08T18:48:20","slug":"being-a-writer-what-i-wish-id-known-by-sue-brown-moore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2023\/07\/07\/being-a-writer-what-i-wish-id-known-by-sue-brown-moore\/","title":{"rendered":"Being A Writer: What I Wish I\u2019d Known by Sue Brown-Moore"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Being<\/a>Let\u2019s welcome back columnist Sue Brown-Moore<\/a> as she shares with us about \u201cBeing A Writer: What I Wish I\u2019d Known.\u201d Enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Note from Beth Barany:<\/b> I’ve been friends with Sue for years and have watched her evolve into a sought-after fiction editor, skilled writing teacher, and now a dedicated writing coach. I’m excited to share how she approaches her work helping fiction writers with you.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Do you ever think about where you’d be now if your younger<\/i> self knew what your today<\/i> self does?<\/p>\n

I do. All. The. TIME!<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a><\/p>\n

And I’ve realized that even if my young self did<\/i> know where I’d end up, I’d still need to live that path to get here.<\/p>\n

I can’t go back in time to help myself<\/b> figure out my own <\/i>path faster, so maybe I can help you get on track for <\/b>yours<\/i><\/b>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Because being a “writer” can mean a million different things, no matter where you are in your career. Even for established, bestselling authors.<\/p>\n

The subtleties of your writing identity matter<\/i>.<\/p>\n

How do I become… [your greatest career wish]?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Maybe you want to be a consistently bestselling author, making a comfortable living from your writing and being able to take time off whenever you need to de-stress.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Perhaps you are on fire <\/i>about a cause and driven to bring awareness and progress to that space through your writing.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Or you may just be trying to find<\/i> your path, gain some certainty on which specific<\/i> writing niche to pursue.<\/p>\n

None of these are simple or straightforward accomplishments, especially not that last one.<\/p>\n

No matter which category you fall into\u2014one of those three above or something totally different\u2014your career choices as a fiction writer are vast.<\/p>\n

And figuring out what to do next can be intimidating.<\/p>\n

All that possibility <\/i>can give us choice paralysis (so we choose nothing), or it can give us a sense of false urgency (so we make a move before we’re ready).<\/p>\n

We need to trust our instincts.<\/p>\n

Because positive, forward growth cannot be forced<\/b>. (Not for us, nor the heroes we pen.)<\/p>\n

\"Choices<\/a><\/p>\n

For a long time, I struggled with what I wanted to do with my life.<\/p>\n

As a high school senior, I had no idea the job of “editor” or even “book coach” existed, and even if<\/i> I’d known, I hadn’t yet matured enough to be able to do those jobs well.<\/p>\n

I wasn’t ready to actually deliver<\/i> my dream job.<\/p>\n

My path<\/b> to running my own business \u2014 first as a part-time editor and now as a full-time book coach \u2014 happened in micro-stages of experiences and decisions<\/b>.<\/p>\n

I couldn’t have jumped from being a starry-eyed review blogger to confidently storysmithing in live sessions without growing through every micro-stage and making every small decision along the way.<\/p>\n

Today, when I first meet someone and tell them what I do, the first question they usually ask is, “How did you get into that?”<\/p>\n

And there’s no quick, easy answer (but you can read part of my story below.)<\/p>\n

See, I’m not just<\/i> a romance book editor. I’m not just<\/i> a book coach for character-driven fiction writers.<\/p>\n

How <\/i>and why<\/i> I do my job is just as important as what<\/i> I specialize in.<\/p>\n

I don’t just<\/i> help you write stories readers will remember forever; I do that by empowering you to get in touch with your own <\/i>inner hero.<\/p>\n

Getting here (psychologically and skill-wise) was a long, winding path, and I wouldn’t change a step of it. Because everything I have done has made me who I am. Even the regrettable moments.<\/b><\/p>\n

And you<\/i> are not just a [your genre here] fiction writer.<\/p>\n

\"Embrace<\/a><\/p>\n

There is something about why <\/i>you do what you do and how <\/i>you make it happen that makes you special.<\/p>\n

So, whether you are still figuring out your own path or trying to get there faster, here’s my advice for you:<\/p>\n

Be patient. Listen. Feel<\/i>. Follow your gut.<\/p>\n

Opportunities are both made <\/b>and <\/i><\/b>experienced.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sometimes we have to make our own luck, and that means putting ourselves in the rooms where things are happening. It means investing in ourselves strategically<\/i>.<\/p>\n

And sometimes opportunities pop up when you least expect them.<\/p>\n

If you’re busy looking the other way, you could miss out. So we need to be willing to sit back, take a breather, and think about what feels<\/i> right.<\/p>\n

It’s okay to be unsure.<\/b> It’s okay to try things. It’s okay to not have a plan.<\/p>\n

Because the destination you’re barreling toward may not be the one that is right <\/i>for you. What you want<\/i> may not be what you need<\/i>.<\/p>\n

What do your instincts say?<\/p>\n

Planning is important, but only when it’s toward the right goal and set up in a way that is healthy for you<\/i>.<\/p>\n

If you’re not gut-instinct certain<\/i> about what that goal is, sit on it. Wait.<\/p>\n

Explore the nuances of your creative and business interests and see what pulls at you. Don’t force a path forward.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Your<\/a><\/p>\n

That’s what I wish I could tell my younger self.<\/p>\n

It’s what I wish the adults in my life had told me when I was growing up. Sometimes “success” is doing nothing for a while.<\/p>\n

There is an intersection of storytelling and personal development.<\/p>\n

When we plan out stories for our heroes, we can fast forward through their lives to take them to that place we<\/i> know they need to end up.<\/p>\n

And we put the right<\/i> obstacles in their way to help them discover their personal truth.<\/p>\n

So here’s my advice for you<\/b>, wherever you are in your writing journey.<\/p>\n

Use your knowledge of the literary hero’s journey to gain insight into yourself<\/i>.<\/p>\n

\"Live<\/a><\/p>\n

And give yourself the grace to hesitate, stumble, and fall with patience and understanding.<\/p>\n

Below, I’ve left a few writing resources that are also great personal development crossovers<\/b>. Feel free to check them out, or just let what we talked about today percolate.<\/p>\n

Until next week…<\/p>\n

Keep writing and learning, and never be afraid to fail forward!<\/p>\n

Writing resources that are (sneakily) also personal development tools:<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n