Write Like You Mean It

What was your “I’m going to do this” moment that led to Write Like You Mean It?

I’d been thinking about writing a book for several years, but the tipping point came at the very beginning of 2020. A local networking group that I help lead was putting together a time capsule, and every member and guest was asked to submit three goals that we each wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. Before the time capsule was sealed, we were each asked to share our goals with the group, and one of mine was to finally write this book I kept telling myself to write but hadn’t started yet. I think the fact that everyone now knew I wanted to write a book held me accountable in that moment. A week later, I started writing! The actual goal was to have it written and published. I underestimated how long it takes to get a book “publish-ready,” but I definitely got the book written and submitted to a publisher before the end of that year. It felt great.

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The “show, don’t tell” phrase is common advice for writers. How do you feel about this cornerstone piece of advice related to info dumping and exposition?

Readers want to feel like they are in the action. They want to read it and visualize it. They want to feel it. They want to taste it and smell it. They want to be invited into the world you’ve created. They want to experience what your characters are experiencing, and as writers, it is our duty to give them what they want through quality description and storytelling. I’ll say this: info dumping and exposition are two great ways to keep your reader at arms length—and they will quickly be turned off if you do.

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Which skills are indispensable for writers to have in their toolboxes to really write like they mean it?

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There are so many! I think a great place to start is to have the undying willingness to be open to constructive criticism from those who came before you and can help you be a better writer. I also think it’s imperative that a writer who truly wants to write like they mean it learn how to actively listen, soak in the world around them, and find inventive ways to tell a story in ways no one else has thought of. As I said in my book, being the best writer you can possibly be is a lifelong endeavor. You never fully get there. But the fun is in the journey, and if you’re willing to take that trip, you’ll find that your toolbox will be overflowing by the end.

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Has your own writing process or a specific viewpoint changed after you completed Write Like You Mean It?

If anything, I have an even greater appreciation for the hard work nonfiction and fiction writers put into writing a book and getting it published. You can’t fully grasp this until you go through the process yourself. With that said, I think many of the writing processes I outlined in this book helped prepare me for this journey. It’s a humbling feeling to be able to see something like this become a reality.

 

What do you hope is the main takeaway for readers from Write Like You Mean It?

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Write Like You Mean It means putting all your heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears into your passion for writing. Our words are our stock in trade. We are craftsmen. We are artists. Furthermore, our audience deserves to see and feel each word we put on a page. I want writers to realize that whatever they’ve written deserves to see the light of day rather than being tucked away on a dusty bedroom shelf somewhere. They need to believe in themselves, and they need to believe in their writing. I think the tools, tips, life hacks, resources, and examples in this book will help writers from all walks of life write like they mean it.