by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

Every writer makes mistakes. We’re human. There’s not one of us who is perfect. And errors are sorta okay if we learn from them. It’s when we refuse to make the effort to correct our blunders that sucks the life out of our writing.

The wonderful thing about conferences is that here, we have access to those who can lovingly point those boo-boos out to us and help us make them right – if we are willing to listen. I can honestly say I don’t know one writer who, when they were new to the industry, didn’t trip and slide into some of these ditties. Here are ten common mistakes and how to break free from them.

• Getting the cart before the horse – I know, it’s a cliché, but it happens all the time. As new writers, we’ve worked hard to write the perfect manuscript – or so we think we have. We’re thrown into the “appointment quandary” when we arrive at our first conference. The opportunity to meet publishers and agents awaits us, and we think we’ll land an agent upon first submission. The downside is that most new writers are not publication-ready or have a completed manuscript. Remember this hard, fast rule – an agent can’t shop and sell what the author has not written. Don’t get the cart before the horse. An agent is one of the last steps in becoming published. Learn the craft. Write a manuscript first. Then, seek out an agent. When you move in the proper succession of things, you’ll be less likely to be crushed by a “no.”
• Waiting for your muse/inspiration – The longer you sit and wait without effort, the longer it will be before you have a manuscript and the longer it will be before you are published. Inspiration comes from work, so get up, get started, and you’ll be surprised how inspiration finds you.
• Trying to write for everyone else – If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, stay true to yourself and your writing. When I began writing, Appalachian historical wasn’t a thing. Publishers loved my voice but did not know where my work would fit on the shelf. Well-meaning folks started to tell me to write Amish or romance. They pushed me to do that. I tried – even wrote a romance with a dear friend, but the truth is, my heart wasn’t in it. I had no confidence in writing in a genre I didn’t read. Rejection after rejection hit. It wasn’t until I began to stay true to myself and was willing to accept that the publishing trends would slowly spin around until my genre was on top that I finally broke through. While I waited, I studied the craft and practiced. I wrote and wrote, and then one day, it happened. Don’t let others guilt you into writing or being something you aren’t. Our best-kept skills lie in the genre that we love.
• Letting self-doubt rule our path – I’m not sure this bears much explanation other than this. God has called you to a profession because He has a plan. Do not let the sneaky snake convince you that writing is not for you. Stand firm. Pray over your work and then give it back to Him. There is no room for self-doubt.
• Trend chasing – Some folks can switch genres at the drop of a hat. Some have great success riding the wave of what is up and coming. However, it is essential to understand the value of learning your genre well. If you want quicker publication, learn to write articles. Articles sell and pay. While learning that, you can hone the genre you feel led to write. You might even make some money. The truth is, it takes hard work to publish anywhere.

Start to put your writing priorities in order. Learn patience. Don’t jump into self-publishing before your work is ready. If you aren’t getting a traditional contract, it’s probably because your work is not “there” yet. That won’t change even if you self-publish. Patience. Do your best work. Publication comes when the time is right.

These are just a few of the blunders we make early on in the business of writing. Next time, we’ll work on some of the writing craft boo-boos. Until then, believe in yourself. Place everything you write before the Father and then be willing to learn. The business of writing, and the writing itself, takes time.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.