You’ve probably heard this before and know it deep in your gut. It’s not earth shattering news, but people seem to be struggling with amnesia about it lately, so I’m going to repeat myself.

If you want to improve as a writer, if you want to grow in your craft, there’s only one way to do so. You must…

Most everyone seeking traditional publication would love a well-known literary agent. Someone big, who can get you a huge advance on your book(s) and negotiate an iron-clad contract in your best interest.

However, I learned a valuable lesson from my own experience. When querying agents, keep in mind…

I recently finished the first draft of the second book in my series. I’ve typed The End, so now it’s time to switch gears. I plan to set that manuscript aside for four to six weeks, then go back and read with fresh eyes and start revising.

During the interim, I plan to finalize the first in my series: implementing the revisions from the editor I hired, paying a copy editor for a final review (typos, grammar and spelling errors), writing the back jacket copy, then hiring a graphic design artist to create my front cover.

It’s all quite exciting, but there’s just one small problem.

I’m not sure how it happened. I was working away on the first draft of my latest novel…until I wasn’t.

I had to fight and claw my way to get my writer’s groover back.

Let me save you the time and trouble.

I recently dreamed that The Write Practice owner, Joe Bunting, Monica Clark (TWP regular contributor), and I were trapped in a room together overnight. We had to write 100 different blog posts until dawn…or, we died.

I know it sounds silly, but you know how dreams are. It was writing until the death, people! I awoke in a sweat.

Here’s the kicker: Joe wore a mustard-colored matador costume the entire time, complete with the bedazzled knickers and little black hat. I paused occasionally from our brainstorming to persuade him to change into regular clothes, but he refused because it made him more creative.

The next day, I realized….

What exactly is a Beta Reader, and why should you care? The term ‘beta’ is borrowed from the software industry, meaning the beta ‘tests’ (reads) your full, finished manuscript to help you eliminate ‘bugs’ (problems) before it’s published. Here’s a more official online definition I like: “An alpha reader or beta reader, also a pre-reader or critiquer, is a non-professional reader who reads a written work, generally fiction, with the intent of looking over material to find and improve elements such as grammar and spelling, as well as suggestion to improve the story, its characters, or its setting.”

All true, but they left out the most important benefit.

Beta readers are invaluable to your writing. Here’s why…

I hear from writers about your struggles all the live long day. Many problems (doubt, procrastination, perfectionism) have the same solution — it takes time, patience and practice to improve your craft. However, there’s one common writing mistake that gives me chills every time because it’s harder to help…

A writer friend I know adores her hero and heroine so much that she’s afraid of hurting them. She realizes her story reads flat, but can’t seem to put any real obstacles in their paths, despite the depth it would add to their journeys and the improved experience for her readers. Another writer recently told me he dislikes dark books, characters, plots, anything. He feels that life has enough suffering and not enough happiness.

I agree there’s too much pain in this world, but I also believe there’s a bigger discussion that needs to take place here at The Write Practice.

In my opinion, your #1 responsibility as a writer is…

I’m drawn to the dark side of creativity, the fears and phobias we let shut us down. I wasted too many years allowing the blank page to conquer me, doubting each word of every story, and worse, waiting for permission from others to call myself a writer. Now, I’m almost on a mission to save others from those painful mistakes because they’re both unnecessary and abusive.

There are just three times when fear will try to stop you from writing…

I’ve started a new novel, as in a blank page 1 in need of 275 – 400 more pages written to be complete. I’m lucky, because this book is second in a series, so I already have the plot and framework in mind (sort of ). I just require about 70,000+ more words to fill in the blanks.

It’s so simple, but difficult to do.

Fortunately, I’ve completed four other novels and will publish book #4 later this year. I’m trying to apply what I’ve learned in the past to remain more sane this go-round. Let’s discuss three pitfalls I’ve learned with first drafts.