The Writer Behind the Words (Revised and Updated)

By Dara Girard

"A highly motivational resource." The Midwest Book Review

At some point in their career, all writers experience either the pain of rejection, discouragement, disappointment, and/or other hazards of the writing life. The key is to identify the obstacles ahead and know how to overcome them.

Learn the truth about failure.

Discover the ultimate dream killer.

Find out how to get rid of a wet blanket

Discover the one secret every full-time writer knows

And much more…

This revised and update edition includes information for indie authors, expands on the necessary traits of long-term professionals and addresses other changes in the industry.

Your destiny is at hand!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ilori Press Books
• Release date: Jun 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201104337

Dara Girard

Dara Girard fell in love with storytelling at an early age. Her romance writing career happened by chance when she discovered the power of a happy ending. She is an award-winning author whose novels are known for their sense of humor, interesting plot twists, and witty dialogue. Dara loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at [e-mail] or P.O Box 10345, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

Book preview

The Writer Behind the Words

The Writer Behind the Words

Steps to Success in the Writing Life (Revised and Updated)

Dara Girard

ILORI Press Books, LLC

Contents

The Writer Behind the Words

Preface to Revised Edition

Introduction

I. Assessing Yourself

Search For the Blueprint of Success

Defining Success

Six Hard Truths

Understanding the Paradox

Ten Traits of Successful Writers

Three Necessary Keys for Resilience

Achieve Abundance

II. Surviving the Battlefield

Disappointment

Discouragement

Doubt

Depression

The Ultimate Dream Killer

Getting Started

Creative Block

Write Anyway

Comparison

Envy

Creative Flood

Success

III. Four Steps to Resilience

Get Support

Relax

Know Your Limitations

Get A Strategy

Success is Your Birthright

Recommended Resources

Organizations

About the Author

Copyright Information

The Writer Behind the Words

Revised and Updated

Dara Girard

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Published by ILORI PRESS BOOKS LLC

www.iloripressbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author.

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About the book

At some point in their career, all writers experience either the pain of rejection, discouragement, disappointment, and/or other hazards of the writing life. The key is to identify the obstacles ahead and know how to overcome them.

Learn the truth about failure.

Discover the ultimate dream killer.

Find out how to get rid of a Wet Blanket.

Discover the one secret every full-time writer knows.

And much more…

This revised and updated edition includes information for indie authors, expands on necessary traits of long-term professionals and addresses other changes in the industry.

Unlock tips on how to survive and succeed in the writing life.

Your destiny is at hand!

Full Page ImageFull Page Image

To writers everywhere who dare to live their dreams

Preface to Revised Edition

This book started out more than ten years ago as a series of articles I planned to put on my website for new authors. I wanted to share with them the pitfalls I had faced as a writer and author. I saw how quickly the joy of creation was crushed by the need for money, the lack of support and obstacles that the writing life throws in the pathway of many. There were many times when I thought I was crazy; that I had no business being a writer.

At the time, I had recently parted with an agent, I’d been forced to hire a literary attorney to get me out of a legal position with a publisher and I had been orphaned by two editors leaving in less than two years. I wasn’t sure how long my writing career would last. Even my lawyer told me that for someone so newly published I had faced a lot of obstacles. But despite what others may have called misfortune or the plight of the creative person, I never lost my joy of writing.

I refused to let the business of publishing destroy my joy of writing. I saw other authors crumble because of a few rejections (it took me thirteen years to get a book published. I started sending out manuscripts when I was twelve) and freelance writers turn in assignments and not get paid (that happened to me and I had to get the law involved). I knew why I was still in the game while others had faded away.

I thought that it was unfair because I wasn’t anyone special. I just had one skill they did not: I knew the art of bouncing back.

When I first put together this book, I was a hybrid author (both traditionally and indie published) before they had a name for it and indie publishing had become an accepted practice for writers. Many years later I still have some work traditionally published and continue to enjoy the freedom of running an indie press. Although a lot has changed--the rise of eBooks, contracts becoming more devious trying to steal the rights of unsuspecting writers (both traditionally and indie published), new scams appearing on the horizon, and the rising use of both literary lawyers and agents and sometimes only lawyers--how to survive basically has stayed the same.

I wrote this book as a gift to other writers who are discouraged, feel hopeless or useless in a world that can make us — the artist — feel insignificant and invisible. I hope that this revised and slightly updated edition will be a companion to those of you who feel that another day is too painful or that you are alone in your misery. There are many more chances for a writer to reach an audience, but with those options still comes the struggle of surviving with your joy and health intact. (side note: Please understand that some of the references may be dated (such as receiving a letter in the mail) but that the spirit of the shared stories remains the same.)

Isolation is deadly to the spirit, yet, as a writer, a necessary requirement at times. So let this little book be a friend that whispers to you: You are important and your words are needed.

I dedicate this book to the author of fifteen romances who hasn’t sold a story in the past seven years, the mystery writer whose series fails after three books, the mainstream author whose book is remaindered within months of release, the freelancer who has yet to see a check above four hundred dollars, to the beginner who faces another rejection slip in the mail or is struggling through a book and is afraid it will never get published. To the bold indie published writer whose five books are not selling as well as expected. The seasoned pro who feels the new world of publishing has passed them by.

I don’t profess to be an expert, but I’ve survived through resilience and I want to show you how with some tips and advice that you can ignore, try or use as a bouncing off point for your own ideas. I wish to show you what I’ve learned in nearly twenty years as a career writer. Envy, Doubt, Discouragement — I’ve faced them all and more. I continue to face them. But they pale in comparison to the beauty and joy of creation and the wonderful gifts it brings.

Introduction

The reason 99% of all stories written are not bought by editors is very simple. Editors never buy manuscripts that are left on the closet shelf at home.

JOSEPH CAMPBELL

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Do you think it’s impossible to make a living as a writer because: It’s impossible to standout among all the writers putting their work out?; it’s difficult to get traditionally published in a magazine?; the mid-list is shrinking?; you started too late?; fewer people are reading, yet more people are writing?; the market is overcrowded and on a downward spiral?

In spite of these and other dire considerations, there are authors who have bounced back from low sales, sold to traditional publishers without agents, made a handsome income as mid-list writers and reinvented themselves and their careers.

The Writer Behind the Words isn’t a how to write book. There are plenty of books about how to write a bestseller, improve your grammar, find paying markets, develop your career and so on.

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This is a book to help you when:

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• You’re a hundred fifty pages into your book and it stalls: Look at Creative Blocks.

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• You’ve written and published seven books and still aren’t making a living. See Discouragement

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• You’ve received a rejection and can’t move forward: Check out Rejection.

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• A good friend just got a publishing contract and you can see your skin turning green: Go to Envy.

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You’ll also learn what to do with a bad review, how to get your career back on track when it seems to have derailed, foods to help