The One Secret All Authors Share

Want to be part of the "in" crowd of writers? Want to find out the single most important thing all authors have in common? Want to know what sets apart those who've been published from all the wannabes who have a book idea?

Finish your manuscript.

That's it. That simple. Just finish the dang thing. Don't re-write the first half over and over in a useless quest to achieve perfection before moving on because here's a newsflash for you, Hoss. . .

It ain't gonna happen.

You're wasting your time. Quit over-thinking and restructuring your story. Pound out a rough draft of the entire thing from start to finish. It won't be perfect. Shoot, it might not even be good, but it will have two little words that writing posers will never achieve: THE END.

So suck it up and get out there and write until the whole thing is done. The sense of accomplishment is worth pushing past all the fear of how crappy your writing is. Trust me. Even the greats think their first drafts aren't fit for birdcage lining.