15 Comments

Save the Cat was a turning point for me for sure. I had everything but in the wrong order, it was crazy how it fell into place.

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That’s great that you already had all the pieces!

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Ooof #6 made me laugh but in that strangled kind of way because it’s so spot on! 😂

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May 31Liked by Sara Read

The word works in mysterious ways. I was scrolling my notes after finishing my draft for Sunday's newsletter. I wrote about how I can't seem to find my words, how the editing process has me feeling like this/I am shit (as per your list, lol). Everything always comes when it's supposed to - thank you!

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I’m halfway through my first round of structural edits on a new draft and I am definitely in the this is shit/I am shit phase! This too shall pass 🙄

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May 31Liked by Sara Read

Same here!! You’ve got this!!

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May 28Liked by Sara Read

I've just started writing my first book and I'm currently in the "this is tricky, this is shit" phrase haha. It's so reassuring to know that other writers feel the same way. This was a really helpful post :)

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I cycled through “I am shit; this might be okay” just last night 😆

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I'm working on my third novel though nothing has been published yet. You have a good list and knowing what I know today, I'd add a couple more, starting with just keep writing. Learning to write novels at a professional (publishable) level is really hard! There's an incredibly long learning curve. There's also a lot of reality checks along the way. I started off wanting a literary agent and to publish with one of the big 5. Today, when my third novel is truly ready I'll be looking for a small press. I'm also open to self publishing or Indie publishing. Your recommendation to find writer friends is a great one. Mostly, just keep learning by reading books, reading blogs, and attending conferences. Thanks for creating this newsletter!

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Excellent advice here. Thanks for sharing!

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Completely agree!!

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May 23Liked by Sara Read

This is great!

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Great advice!

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Love this. Also, no one has ever even remotely referred to me as a beautiful genius!

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May 20Liked by Sara Read

Thanks for this! BTW, Marcus Romer claims he wrote it: https://x.com/MarcusRomer/status/393094184652902402

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