by Corey Blake, President Round Table Companies When readers go to their favorite bookstore (or, you know, Amazon) and lose themselves in the quiet pleasure of choosing a book, they’re probably not looking for something blah. By and large, readers want a book to change them. To make them a better cook, a better parent, a better negotiator, or a more wise human being. They want to see a part of the world they’ve never before visited, or gain a perspective that challenges their preconceived notions about the way we live. Booklovers read because they want to feel themselves transform through the journey of the story and come out the other end reinvigorated, passionate, and inspired. And this is what all writers want to achieve for their audiences. When you sit down at your keyboard to create your story or send your message into the world, you’re seeking to create a something that will affect people. But—shh—here’s a secret: If you want people to change through the process of reading your book, you must first change through the process of writing it. Take a look at that last manuscript you have hiding in the closet. Did you have a solid, well-developed idea in mind when you began writing? If so, how willing have you been to stray from it? Many writers think that ending with a different story than the one with which they began means they “got off track” or are undisciplined. Not true. Giving yourself room to breathe and play as you write is imperative! The space between an original idea and the finished product is where the story comes alive, finds itself, fights for what it wants to say, and where you learn the most about yourself as the "director" of your work—most crucially—the why. Only through the dynamic process of creation (the tremors, the fever, the night sweats) can you break through and breathe the fresh air of discovery. So if you’re a stickler for an outline (which is a great tool but not a be-all-end-all), beware: In not allowing the story to change, you’re not allowing yourself to change. Which means that the reader doesn’t even have the option. Here are three powerful ways I have found to help force a writer to change through the writing process: 1. Raise the Stakes on Your Accountability. It's easier to let ourselves down than it is to let down others. That's why most New Year's resolutions have already fallen to the wayside by February. Find someone you admire and work with them to set up delivery dates for your work. Even if they don't read anything you are writing, simply asking them to hold you accountable to the writing process will push you to make progress, and regular progress is imperative. It is what generates the momentum necessary to keep your mind percolating even while you're not at the keyboard. It is that work you do in your mind between writing sessions that will inspire your writing and force you to make new connections with your work. That will create the epiphanies you're after - and that your readers are after. 2. Set a Finishing Date. Deadlines give most of us anxiety. Anxiety is good for artists. If you cannot sleep at night, that means your mind is working something through. Let it. Get up and work it out. Let your self-imposed deadline put pressure on you. When you turn the heat up with your writing, you bring the water to a boil, the critical juncture where something has to happen. 3. Seek out Feedback through Surveys. There is nothing like brutally honest truth to force you to accept what is working and not working about your book. I'm a huge fan of multiple choice and fill in the blank surveys because they help me gage some of the most important aspects of my writing: when a reader gets hooked, who or what they most identify with, where they are getting confused. Secret Tip: I'm always looking for repetitive comments, in fact I live by the rule that unless I hear a comment at least three times, I have to ignore it. If you'd like a copy of the survey I use to get feedback on my writing, you can email me with that request and I'd be happy to share it. At the end of the day, your art has to move people if it is going to sell. It's not enough for you to like your work. You have to love it because you gave all of yourself to it.
Article Source: http://www.bizymoms.com/expert-advice