Yesterday, I was listening to the Six Figure Authors podcast and they were doing an episode on mistakes beginner authors make. The first mistake that Lindsay Buroker covered was “listening to advice that was too advanced.” I only heard the beginning of her comment, since it came just as I was pulling into my driveway, but it made me think.
She mentioned how she was grateful to some degree that there were no podcasts like theirs when she first started out, since newby authors (like me) could get wrapped up in trying to do everything at once and get paralyzed. Part of her comment was about marketing, but some had to do with craft, as well.
Trying to get all of the craft stuff right, including tropes, in the first book can keep you from writing an authentic book that might be better than one that hits all of the technical points.
That was an interesting perspective. I recognize the threat in my own actions. Before I studied craft and marketing through these podcasts, back when I was just working toward the Magic Spreadsheet word goals, I wrote a lot more and enjoyed it a lot more, too. Now, I worry constantly about whether I am doing things right and second-guess myself.
I wonder what it would be like to go on a podcast diet and stop listening to everything until I finish this rough draft. Actually, I kind of like the idea. Despite how much I enjoy listening to Mark, James, Joanna, Lindsay, Joe, and Andrea and I feel like they are my mentors out there. Maybe I need to give myself space to be me and finish this draft without pouring more information into my head about what I should be doing.
Certainly food for thought.