Go with your gut. Always. Never question it.

This is what I’ve learned. A hard lesson that took about a month to make its way through my thick skull.

Being a first time novelist, I believed that everyone had something to teach me. I was willing to take advice from anyone who offered, and run with it.

Run, I did. New York marathon entrants had some tough competition at the time.

Thankfully, this writer became tired. And frustrated. My book was a mere shadow of what it once was. Granted, it needed work in the beginning (and let’s face it, it’s still kind of the beginning-and still needs work). But, I took helpful, friendly advice entirely too far. Advice that didn’t even always make sense to me.

Alexis’ story became a farce of sorts. A movie, even. Someone recommended I approach my novel as such. What?!??!  That was one piece of advice I didn’t take, yet it ended up happening. Everything I loved about Alexis, and my other characters, was trashed simply to make The Abandoned Edge of Avalon more ‘commercial.’ More agent ready. More publishable. Right….

After about ten revisions, my book was practically all action and dialogue-with no depth. Yes, a good hook at the start is obviously important. Questions that force the reader to continue should be presented as soon as possible. The story should start where it starts-not twenty, fifty, nor even five pages in. Well, I took that to an extreme.

A pivotal scene that once occurred a few chapters in, I pushed forward to the third paragraph. Yes, the third paragraph. Where is a reader to go if everything is answered and put on the page right away? To a different book-that’s where. Not a good thing. That scene is now back where it belongs.

I have found that if I don’t believe in my own work, no one is going to.

I read an excerpt from a book recently that helped me ‘snap to.’

Writers write for the readers, correct? We don’t write for the editors, agents, nor the publishers. The readers are the ones who will ultimately buy our books. If a person is not a reader in the first place, don’t force them to be. Write for people who are apt to pick up a book. Do not go for shock factor just to gain readership.

Write for the words, the style, the feel, atmosphere, along with many other reasons. Mostly, write for yourself, and the reader will know your heart and soul.

I admit I sold out for a short while, and I’m rather ashamed. I lost myself by listening too much to others. But, I’m back on track and my book pleases me again. It seems to be pleasing my readers, as well. And that’s what all of this is about.

Please, learn from my mistakes, and set yourself free with your words and ideas!

Eden Tyler

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