Accidentally Becoming a Master

The “Lifewriting” process for becoming a published writer has established four steps. Today we discuss step #5:

1. Write a sentence a day
2. Write 1–4 short stories per month
3. Polish and submit for publication
4. Don’t rewrite except to editorial request.
5. Read 10X what you write.

##

People often ask: “where should I submit my stories?” And my first answer is: “the same places you read them.” In other words, the fifth step is both “input” and “market research.” You are understanding the field more deeply: what it is buying, where it is buying. Who is buying it. And you are also simply READING. One of the two most important things a writer can do. The ONLY thing more important is writing itself.

I have a joke I tell that carries some real-world weight: “Read `up’. If you want to write comic books, read popular fiction. If you want to write popular fiction, read best-sellers. If you want to write best-sellers, read the classics. If you want to write classics…pick your grandparents very carefully.”

While a joke, the truth is that you should read the best quality writing that you can enjoy and appreciate. I’m not sure there is any value to pushing yourself through books others have said you SHOULD read, if you don’t enjoy them. Maybe. Maybe not.

But this step is so important that once again, the subject could fill a year of instruction. We could…