Writing Inspiration: The energy your writing brings to readers is directly proportional to the amount of energy you bring to your writing.

Too many would-be authors believe that if they’re talented, the book they write will come easily and naturally.

When writing, though, effort – vigorous and determined work – always counts the most.

Effort is the one thing you can control when writing and publishing a book. Other variables – how many books on the same topic are coming out at the same time as your title, those authors’ level of expertise and writing abilities, if someone clicks "buy" on your Amazon.com page – are nothing you can really influence. If those variables you can’t control work do in your favor, then you’ve simply enjoyed some good luck.

Effort matters at every stage of the writing process. When brainstorming, it means tossing around a lot of ideas and a willingness to explore ones that are off-the-wall. It means concerted work in creating a detailed outline. When penning the first draft, it means putting in the hard, day-by-day sessions needed to constructing your book word-by-word with all of the necessary research (especially if writing nonfiction). It means penning several drafts of the book until you get it right. And when a final draft is arrived at, it means ensuring the formatting and book cover are professional and that you put in the long but necessary hours of marketing it.

Of course, no matter how hard you work, uncertainty exists in every writing project. Many questions will remain unanswered: How will readers react to the story? Will a critic trash my book and ruin my sales? Will the cover look good to readers? But if you only hope for the best, you’re fatalistic. Effort ensures you’ll assess and determine how to best address those areas of uncertainty.

And sure, efficiency and expertise are important. Effort, however, includes learning how not to waste time and in becoming ever more competent with your writing skills.

In writing, there are no shortcuts. Put the necessary energy and passion into your work, and your readers will recognize it – and your talent!

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Greenville, South Carolina, or a small town like Cocklebiddy, Washington, I can provide that second eye.