10 Questions to See if You’ve Got What it Takes

by author Amy Fellner Dominy

1. Can you write absolute, complete CRAP?

If so, you’re in luck! Most first drafts are bad. (Really bad!) But for many of us, it’s hard to pour out what we think is awful and still continue on. However, that’s what a writer must do. It’s only through revisions that the work begins to shine. But if you’re too much of a perfectionist or too self-aware to let yourself write that first, bad draft, then you’ll never get to the next step. So revel in the crappage—you can’t revise a blank page.

2. Do you crack yourself up? Creep yourself out? Bring tears of pain to your own eyes?

As a writer, you have to first be able to write for yourself. To tell a story that matters to you. If you’re always worried about what everyone else thinks, or what the market is looking for, or what the next big trend is, you’re in trouble. But if you can sit down each day and write to YOUR hearts content—then, you’re on to something.

3. Do you have extremely strong abdominal muscles?

Have you ever seen those guys on TV who tighten up their stomachs and then dare someone to punch them as hard as they can? Well, that’s what it’s like to send your book out. You’re basically giving some stranger the opportunity to sock you one right in the gut. (Which is what rejection feels like.) A writer knows how to tighten those core muscles and take the pain. Yeah, it hurts. Yeah, it leaves you bruised. But you gotta stand back up, put yourself in front of another stranger and ready those abs.

4. Are you willing to stand naked on a stage and yell, “Look at me!”

Because that’s exactly what it feels like to market your book. And I’m not talking about selling a book to the public. Way before that happens, you’ve got to sell your book to potential agents or editors. You have to put it out there—again and again—and not be willing to take no for an answer. As a shy person who hates to sing my own praises, I know how hard this is. But I also know it’s vital.

5. Check out these dancing babies on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIt5lGhFyE0&feature=related

Okay…this was a test. Who clicked over (who thought about clicking over?) Because what you’ve just experienced is a DISTRACTION. There are a million of them every day and a writer has to fight them off, stay focused and resist temptation. Can you ignore twitter, FB and the joy of browsing a well-stocked pantry? Then you just might have what it takes.

6. Does writing seem really hard and make you want to cry with frustration at times?

Then, good. You’re doing it right. Because writing IS hard work. Creating a full-length novel with unique characters and a compelling plot is complicated and time-consuming. Which is okay. Nothing good ever comes without some work. The point is that if you’re pretty sure you can knock out something magical this weekend, you may have unrealistic expectations for this line of work. (But if you manage to do it, please let me know HOW!)

7. Do you love chocolate?

Okay, so this really doesn’t have anything to do with anything. Only, that I’ve noticed a lot of writers seem to have addictions to chocolate—could this be the key to success? We can always hope.

8. Do you have a muse you can rely on?

If you answered yes, I’m jealous. I have no muse. I’ve always wanted one, but the truth is there’s no magic formula to creating ideas, putting them on paper, and telling a story. It requires time and work—muses optional. So if you’re waiting for yours to show up, you may want to find another career path. Inspiration is wonderful and magical, but you can manage without it. It’s perspiration (which is icky and smelly) that is completely necessary.

9. Do you hear a voice in your head, and it’s not kind?

I keep a sign by my desk that reads, “My Inner Voice Hates Me.” Maybe you have a voice like mine—the one that speaks up and tells you, “Um, not so good.” Or “You have no talent. Why are you wasting your time?” The voice inside my head says awful things to me and stirs up self-doubt and fear. A lot of writers have a similar voice—maybe it’s universal for everyone? But to succeed, you have to be able to block out those negative thoughts. You have to invest in some mental duct tape—and use it!

10. Did you write something today?

So, here it is. The one true actual question that really matters. You can forget all the rest of it because in many ways it boils down to this one question. Did you write today?

Will you write today?

And if the answer is yes, you’re on your way. And if the answer is no—what are you waiting for? Today is the first day of the rest of your life. So start now and write a success story—your own!

Amy Dominy is a little quirky. She doesn’t like beaches, she thinks chocolate is just okay, and she has an extra bone in both feet. (Ask her—she might show you.) A former advertising copywriter, Amy earned her MFA in playwriting from Arizona State University in 2004. Her plays have been staged across the country and she’s published a number of short stories. OyMG is her first novel. Amy lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her hubby, two teenagers, and various pets.

OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy: Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she’s sure that if she wins the final tournament, it’ll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she’s confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship’s benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

Amy has generously offered up a signed copy of her novel OyMG to one lucky winner in the US or Canada. If you qualify, leave a comment for a chance to win!