Hi everyone!
As many of you know, a week or two ago I opened up the comments section of
this post to anyone who wanted to ask questions regarding writing or
publishing.
As I was sorting through and answering the questions, I noticed many, many
trends, the biggest of which was this:
Everyone is in a hurry.
I want to be a writer, but I don’t
know how to get published.
Wait. Take your time. That sentence is like saying “I want to be a runner but I don’t know how to get on the Olympic team.”
First, you have to earn your spot on the team. You do that by practicing and studying and spending hour upon hour upon hour learning your sport and honing your skills.
You do that by not skipping the step where you learn how to do that.
I have a book I want to write but I
don’t know how to introduce a character.
Or start the chapters. Or make
the characters different from each other.
Or…
Wait. Take your time. Read a whole bunch of books.
Now, I’m sure many of you will probably say but I read all the time, and I’m sure you do. But if you’re still asking that question then
you haven’t yet learned to read as a writer.
Reading as a writer means reading and noticing not just what the characters are doing,
but also what the writer is doing.
How did she transition from one scene to the next? How did he introduce that character and then reveal a big plot twist 100 pages later that totally changes the way you see that character? How. How. How.
Read one hundred books that way and you’ll have the answers to a lot of those questions.
I want to write a series, but I don’t
know how much to put in book one. Or
whether I should plot all six books at once.
Or how many the publishers will buy at first. Or…
Wait. Take your time. It’s great to have writing a series someday
as a GOAL, but learning to write takes time.
Writing a book takes time.
Writing a series of books is a massive undertaking that few people ever
complete. And they do it one book at a
time.
I want to write a book but I don’t
know how to get it published.
Wait. Take your time. Write your book. Nothing else can or will happen without
it. And I mean nothing.
You can’t sell your idea. You can’t
sell your intentions. You can’t sell
your dream or your goal either. What you
can sell is your book. And until you
have it, any question about agents or editors or publishers or publicists or
anything else is entirely premature.
I’ve been working on a book but every
time I write something it sounds really bad.
Wait. Take your time. A finished book doesn’t happen over night. A good book takes even more time than that.
I just finished Uncommon Criminals (Heist Society 2), and before I sent it
to my editor for the final time, I did some quick calculations. The best I can tell, I’ve spent about 900
hours plotting, researching, writing and rewriting that book. Nine hundred hours.
This takes time. It takes WORK. It takes putting in the hours—sometimes more
than a thousand of them—to get the story and the characters and the words just
right.
I’ve written a book but I don’t have time to find an agent. Or don’t know how to get an editor. Or don’t know anyone in publishing. Or…
Wait. Take your time. Learning this business is hard work. And yes, it is work. And yes, it’s work you have to do yourself.
There are no shortcuts or tricks or trade secrets. There are simply publishable books and non-publishable books. Period. And if you have a book that you genuinely believe might be publishable, then spending an hour or two and let Google teach you enough to start the process of finding an agent and a publisher and all that.
But you have to spend those hours. You. And then, once you know the basics, you have to dig deeper. You have to do the legwork and the grunt work. Why? Because it’s your career. I know this because I did it. And my friends did it. And every other working writer out there did it too.
We know it because that’s the way this works–work being the operative word.
Nine hundred hours, folks. And that was for just one book–my eighth, in fact. It doesn’t include the one novel and three screenplays that I wrote before going pro.
You can’t skip over the learning how to write phase. Please believe me when I say you need to go through the learn how this business works phase. You have to wade through bad drafts to get to good drafts; bad books to get to good books.
You have to put in the time, is what I’m trying to say.
And that time, believe it or not, is up to you. To find it. To do it. To make the most of it because–and here’s the kicker–this thing…this writing thing…it’s optional.
It’s something you do because you WANT to do it. It’s something you do because you LIKE to do it. It’s something that YOU do.
I’m not going to do your work for you. Neither are your parents or your teachers or your friends. You have to want it and you have to want it badly, because–just as an example–my agent Kristin Nelson just did her 2010 year-end blog post and reported that her agency received 36,000 queries from potential clients this year. (Yes, thirty-six thousand.)
Of those 36,000, the agency signed 9 new clients. (Yes, nine.)
So no one’s going to hand you a publishable book. No one is going to give you an agent or a contract or even tell you how to get an agent or a contract.
You have to work for those things. You have to earn them.
You.
And that starts by putting yourself in a chair and not getting up.
For approximately 900 hours.
-Ally
I totally understand the need for this post. most ppl like to rush.
Thank you for taking time to put this type of stuff on here. i want to be a writer because of you. im still young but i think this is something i could do well in, and i love to read so i guess thats my job for now. and i got a journal for Christmas
and awesome that you got heist done i cant wait to read it!
First of all Ally Merry Christmas. hope you have a wonderful one. Also thank you soooooo much for posting this. I have been writing my book and was thinking that I wasn’t putting in enough hours for it. So now that I know that I’m going back to writing.
Again Merry Chirstmas Ally.
Thanks for this! It made me realize that I’m heading in the right direction and that I just need to keep going. These things take time, my time that is. I’m the only one that can accomplish this. This post helped me see that. Keep rockin’!
Leah Miller
Are you writing a fifth book after the fourth of I’d tell you that I love you but then i’d have to kill you Series?
At least one person asks this question every post. Yes she is. She’s going to write it once everything with Uncommon Criminals is done. If you look around on the blog you will find the information on it, there’s not anything really specific yet though since she hasn’t started writing it yet. Merry Christmas Ally!
Ally I was unsure how to contact you in any other way, so I thought I would just leave a comment. Merry Christmas, and happy New Year.
Oh and I almost forgot Uncommon Criminals, will rock, and I’m so excited!!!
I am in the middle of writing a book, but I have a stupid name for it. I keep trying, but nothing sounds right. Can anyone help me?
Hi, you’re writing a story, too? Awesome, two Leahs both writing an awesome story lol
When I write a book it always depends on the story. Sometimes a title comes to me right away with the idea, and sometimes it doesn’t. I have at least two books that are untitled because I want the name for them to be perfect and I haven’t found that yet. Just keep writing, the title will come to you, and it will be perfect! Hope this helps
what’s the book about if I can ask? You don’t have to say because I always hate telling people what my books are about until they are finished.
Thanks Ally!!! I’m writing a book right now, and some people I’ve showed it to have said I should get it published. I usually just laugh cause I’m only 13!
btw a great website for young aspiring girl writers is http://www.missliterati.com. On this website you can post stories and poems and other writers (only girls) can rate and comment on them. It also helped me gain more confidence in my work! Luv your books Ally!!!
This isnt a comment about the post really but I was just rereading Only the Good Spy Young when I noticed they never eat lunch in any of the books… I know thats a weird comment but they always have dinner and breakfast but no lunch. Just wondering if I missed something.
I was laughing as I read your response because it’s so true…It gets asked at least once every. single. time.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ally, for your 900 hours!
I’ve shared Heist Society with all of my friends, and we’re all hooked. We appreciate your 900 hours SO MUCH!
Agreed! Leahs are rockin’ it!
Dear Ally Carter,
You are my hero.
1. You write fantastic books!
2. You understand how to write a REALLLLY hot boys.
3. You never fail to throw in that unexpected plot twist.
4. You put up with many fans asking the same questions over and over, and still you take the time to answer them.
5. You have an awe-inspiring dedication.
I felt like this needed to be said.
Your’s truly,
Anonymous
Thank you so much for the advice! I have written one book already and have alot of people telling me to try and go professionally. I was throughly inspired by your words and am looking happily into my furture of writing books. (No matter if any are even published!)
Dear Ally,
YOU ARE AWESOME!!! Has anyone ever told you that? I bet a lot of people have. I’d just like to point out that your Gallagher Girls series is the perfect mix of comedy, romance and adventure. Also, because of you, my dream in life is now alternating between being a spy and being a writer. Thank you so much, because if it’s possible, your books changed my life. Like literally, if anything even remotely relates to them, I immediately connect it, and I’ve read the GG series approximately 26 times each… I know that sounds weird, and yes, I am obsessed, and yes, Zach is my new favorite name. And yes, I will probably name my kids after characters in your book. Also, WE HAVE THE SAME INITIALS! Seriously, when I found that out, I was like, ecstatic. So thank you for making my life awesome, and of course for all the writing tips!
From Anna
Thank you for this post – such good advice! I’ll link to this on my blog!
Well said and all true. Except that for me, with the current work, it is a lot more than 900 hours!!
I hate seeing the frustration and despair of emerging writers…and now, more than ever, the frustration of midlist writers. There is a concurrent and constant siren song of the new and truly improved self-publishing industry,too, rushing people along.
If your first published book (by whatever means) is amateurish and won’t make people stay up late to read it, they won’t want your next book. Hurrying will only hurt your career.
I have a giant problem I need help with: I am writing a book called Silverstar and I have a problem where I’ve planned out everything precisely in the book but the middle is empty- the beginning and end are all clear in my head.
@Elena I’ve had that problem befor too! Usually, what works for me is that I just write and turn off that little voice in my head that keeps teling me my writing stinks like cow poo, and it works! So I suggest simply turning off that voice and to simply write! Hope that works!! Btw remember in every book there is a journey, so what “journey” are your characters on right now and how do they travel on it? Another reason your middle might seem empty is that maybe you need to reveal something your were planning on revealing in the end in the middle to keep the story exciting!!
Hope that helps!!
To find the best title think of what your book is about. Like I wrote one book (NOT PUBLISHED) It’s called BFF’S can you guess what it’s about? BFF’s! There’s another one BFF’S In Boy Trouble. CAn you guess? It’s about the BFF’s in boy trouble. Who is another one! Can you guess what it’s about? Exactly! I want that one to be a myster, then another one. Normality-Not Me. Some of them should be secret while other ones give it DEAD away. Hope this helps.
Hey Ally i luv your books and i was inspired to write books too. I have so many ideas and i have been writing so many (which i havent finished yet). But i want to try to make a mystery novel but i can’t get a single idea in my head and how to plan out the book? Thank you.
Ally,
First of all, LOVE the Gallagher Girls.
Second, I’d love to write a book, but I could never come up with an topic like that. My imagination does not go that far yet. Please help!
Ally, I’ve wanted to be a writer since…..well, I guess fifth grade when I first started Creative Writing at school. That summer, and fall, and winter, I wrote a thirteen page piece of trash called Chet Rockets. It is now buried in a secret spot where nobody can ever find it. The next fall, I discovered The Gallagher Girls. I found your website, and took your advice, and now have a book in a drawer with about 3 months left in it’s time until I begin editing again. I’m also working on a new book that has about 9,000 words into the fourth chapter. I want. To be. A writer. You inspire me. And you push all your readers on writing. And how to do it. So, thanks.
My friend and I are writing a book, and we’re twelve chapters in. But the plot is sorta running out of steam, if you know what I mean. How do we make it interesting again?
This is sooooo helpfull. I’m writing a book and I totally get what you mean. I just finished the first rough draft of my book and it took me well over a semester. What I have is the general plot, want I have written is basically just what happens to the main character and her friends. I need to add a lot more characterization, mostly to the villian (which is kinda important). Well, it’s a work in progress and it won’t be done anytime soon.
Of course my writing skills need some work considering I’m a freashman in highschool in English 1. All I have is a rather limited knowelege of grammer (when it comes to dilgoue set up and verb tense), freetime in class, and my wild imagation…… Well, wish me luck!
Thanks for the great tips. I still can’t fing GG4 anywhere because I live in a far off land called China.
Anyway, I am writing a book and just got into the juicy chapter 2 (I have a before story too, so you can say that i’m writing chapter 3).
BTW My motto is actually from you Alley, it is DON’T GET IT RIGHT, GET IT WRITTEN! Thank you so much for being there, and giving great tips.
Best Wishes and waiting for GG5,
Emma
OOps, sorry, I ment Ally. I really don’t like typo’s.
Thanks Ally for posting this. my goal is to become a writer but i do understand theirs certain things i have to achive before i reach THE goal.
im at the stage where i know what i want to do in my life but i have to learn some things before i can reach my goal.
hey Ally thanks for the advice im writing a book but like you said its taking time im going to secondary school next year and i want to learn more about writing. i dont know what to study in university if im going to be an author
Hey thanks sooo much Ally! i have been doing a project and i want to say that you inspired me to do writing.
Thanks for the tips
Great post Ally! I want to be a writer, and like you said, I’m still trying to figure out how to stay in the chair and keep writing (or, to use your own comparison, how to get to the sink and keep washing dishes). This was really helpful, and I can’t wait for Uncommon Criminals!!
Nice post! Does anyone know when the next Discussion will be?
Omg ally thank you sooooooo much for being a writer. I wish that I could be a writer like you. I love to read and write. Because of you now I want to be a writer, well that and a spy (another thing that you inspired me for). Please onto give me the “its not all its cracked up to be” speech because I already got that from my parents. I just finished heist and it is my new favorite book. ( and that is saying alot cuz I read alot.) Cammie + Zach and Kat + Hale= PERFECT FOR EACHOTHER! yeah I’m a sucker for a romance story. Ally if you didn’t live a state north of me o would so want to meet you. UUUUGGGG! Can’t wait for gg5 or hs2. Sweep! I can’t believe that either series will ever be over. :*(
Thanks ally, this really helps! Love your books and I’m happy that u finished hh2 !!! Can’t wait and merry Christmas!!
This explains the need for yoga pants. lol
Thank you so much for this post. So many people need to hear this! It was also a good reminder for me (my dad’s been trying to tell me this forever). I appreciate the time you take out of your day to advise young authors!
Hey, Ally!
Whoa! 900 hours? That’s like…let’s see…37 and a half days!!! It doesn’t seem like much, but when you cancel out the eating food, sleeping, and taking a break (supposing that you do that), that is like…wow.
Reading this post, I really appreciate how much work you put into your books.
I’m actually writing a book right now, so this was a really good post for me to read.
I’m excited for Uncommon Criminals!!
~Christi
Oh and I almost forgot!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*<:o )33 <— It’s a Santa Claus!
Thanks for posting this. It answered a lot of my questions!
Hey Ally,
<3
Thank you so much for posting this because a lot of these questions apply to me!!! I love your books and your writing them inspired me to write. So to have advice on how to write from the author that inspired me, means more to me than you can even imagine!!! You have a real talent with writing. The GG series are some of my fave books! Keep up the great work
a HUGE fan,
Jenna
Bravo! I felt like I was at a speech of wonderfulness. I could see the sparkling lights and you standing and talking to a giant crowd. I could hear the crowd get louder as you got more into it. (or as I got more into it. I’m not sure…) Thanks, that helped.
Lex
u are really an amzing person for takeing the time to answer everyones questions!
keep up the great work ! 