Is Your Writing “Good Enough” to Publish?

I cringe at the title of this article, because we all know that writing is an art form, and there are thousands of ways to do it. Yet, I used this title because writers ask me daily if I can take a look at their work and let them know if it’s “any good”. These words come from writers, expressing a very common fear that readers won’t connect with their carefully written work.

I get it. Nobody sets out to write a bad book.

But while I’d love to tell you that whatever you write is perfect the way it is, the truth is that some books are better reads than others. Some books sell thousands, or even millions, and some die on the vine after hitting publish, read by only a handful of friends or family. Over the past decade as I’ve developed my Book Coaching practice, in my spare time I’ve read every bestseller I can get my hands on. That’s right, even the ones that make you scratch your head and say, “how the heck did that book make the list? It breaks every writing rule I’ve ever learned.”

I read these books, and almost always enjoy them, because whatever you think of the author’s writing style, something about that book worked for readers.

• Readers found the book
• Readers read the book
• Readers loved the book
• Readers shared book, helping it find a wide audience (which is what most of us secretly hope will happen to our books, even if you’re telling yourself you’re writing it “just for you”!)

There are patterns that emerge from studying these bestsellers, including writing style, technique, and marketing timing, but the long and the short of it is:

Satisfying readers is the key to your book making it through this cycle, and your book opening up a new conversation with the world.  

Now, I’m not suggesting that you change your book idea to suit the market if that feels like “selling out”. I’m also not suggesting you chase publishing trends, because they are usually over by the time you write, edit, and start looking for publishing options. I can guarantee that the book idea you’re working on is enough to write an excellent book. After all, it’s got you excited, and you’re here reading and learning how to make it better. If you love it this much, readers will love it too.  

Instead of Starting Over, I’m Suggesting to Shift Your Focus.

I’ve worked with thousands of writers over the last decade, and the ones who build coveted readerships are the writers who stay maniacally focused during the writing process on what they want readers to take away from their books.

• They become masters at showing vs. telling, lighting up their readers’ brains and immersing them in story.
• They ensure that everything included in their book is doing double or triple duty to build character, show their world, or further their plot. Nothing extraneous survives.
• They splash their writing voice, and the Point of View (POV) of their characters all over their pages without apology.

Why Does This Attention to Your Reader’s Experience Matter?

Think of writing as the kids’ game of telephone, where a group sits in a line, and whispers a phrase to their neighbor. It’s passed down the line until the result is announced—usually a pale representation of the original idea, often making no sense at all.

The goal of your writing is to get your original idea (the one that’s keeping you up at night because it’s so exciting) all the way to the end of the telephone line, intact. That’s where your writing skills come in. If your message gets lost along the way, then a two star review of your book doesn’t mean that readers didn’t like your idea. They might be reacting to a completely different message—one that’s far from your original intent.

What Can You Do to Make Your Reader’s Experience Amazing?

Make sure everything in your brain is actually on your page. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve read a writer’s work and asked a question in the margin because I couldn’t figure out what was happening in their scene. The writer at first is surprised, thinking they were very clear and I missed something. Then they look and realize they never actually wrote the details on the page, so I couldn’t possibly guess what was happening. Readers and editors along the way can help you find these issues. They’re tricky to see yourself, because your brain knows too much about your story, and will fill it in as you read, whether it’s on your pages, or not.

Use clear language. Avid readers read fast. Spend the time to eliminate sentences they’ll trip on or have to reread to understand. Doing this work makes reading more pleasurable for your readers, meaning that they’ll enjoy their time with your book even more. Reading your writing out loud to yourself, or setting up a listening pass on your phone or laptop of your draft can help you find these problematic friction points in your writing.

Step readers through logic instead of leaping. Especially for major decisions your character makes, or important plot points, slow it down and don’t skim past. These moments have the potential to be some of the most satisfying in your whole book. Give readers a chance to absorb and appreciate what’s going on, and avoid complicating these important moments with hints or vague descriptions, assuming readers will read your mind. They won’t. Sometimes you need to use a sentence or two to spell things out.

If you pay attention to how your reader will experience your idea, going above and beyond to make sure it’s clear, readers won’t be able to put your book down when you put it in their hands. That’s not magic, it’s science. Readers read to escape their world for a while. They read to learn, to empathize, and to be entertained. And the easier you make it for them to immerse in your world, the more they’ll enjoy their time there—so they’ll love your book, and share it.

Want to get my eyes on your work to show you how it’ll land with readers?  Get a writing assessment! Until Black Friday, I’m offering an introductory Writing Assessment, where I’ll evaluate a sample of your writing and coach you where to focus to make your writing as impactful to your reader as it can be.

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The Bookshelf Muse is a hub for writers, educators and anyone with a love for the written word. Featuring Thesaurus Collections that encourage stronger descriptive skills, this award-winning blog will help writers hone their craft and take their writing to the next level.

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