Un-Editorial Notepad#11-The “I-don’t-Want to-Put-That-Much-Work-Into-It” Work Ethic

Hi Everybody,
Breezing through with another un-editorial observation for your consideration. This one involves aspiring writers who are slowly beginning to realize how much work it takes to get to the top rung of the publishing ladder (or to at least land somewhere near it), but don’t want to put in the work.

First, let me say that there are many, many talented writers out there…and I’m not just talking about the ones who are already published. I’m talking about aspiring writers; writers with short stories, picture books and even middle grade novels yearning for a home. I’ve encountered more than I can count, and it’s truly amazing.

Unfortunately, there are also a few writers out there who seem to feel that everything is too much work, even things that will help them hone their craft and get their books finished.

These writers suffer from what I call the “I-don’t-Want-to-Put-That-Much-Work-Into-It” work ethic.

Now don’t get me wrong; this is not necessarily a bad work ethic, especially if a writer is content with making baby steps or with getting nowhere at all. But if that writer ever expects to get her book out of her head, onto paper and into the eager fingers of the book-hungry masses, it is definitely a destructive work ethic.

It takes physical work to be a writer. That includes creativity, focus, drive, persistence, courage, ingenuity and yes, even business savvy.

Writers must do more than just think up story lines (creativity); they must actually write the stories (focus), then keep writing (drive) until the story is completed. They must edit and re-edit (persistence) until it’s ready for publication, then actually submit/independently publish it (courage) to get it out to the people. They must also hone their craft (ingenuity) and sharpen their marketing claws (business savvy) so that their literary journey is not in vain.

Sound good?

It is. Therefore, I beseech you (don’t you just love that word???), don’t be the writer with the “I-don’t-Want-to-Put-That-Much-Work-Into-It” work ethic. Don’t be the one who never makes time to write; the one who refuses to join a critique group; the one who never hones their craft, not even when a free conference like IndieReCon comes along.

It is my hope that this post will open a few eyes and inspire any writer suffering from the dreaded “I-don’t-Want-to-Put-That-Much-Work-Into-It” work ethic to give that awful sucker a swift kick in the dusty pants.

Best wishes and happy writing,

Rita Lorraine