Literary agent and author Kate McKean, knows what it means to “Write Through It.” At last Sunday’s virtual event, she shared her best advice for managing distractions, insecurities, creative struggles, and publishing uncertainties to keep writing even when life gets in the way.
Kate focused on the importance of creating a “writing practice,” rooted in the necessity to be kinder to yourself. In practice, “There’s room for imperfection. You should mess up. You are not a robot. Practice allows you to discover what you want a writing project to be.”
That gentle, generous advice should bolster all writers, whether they are beginners or published professionals like Kate herself. She tallied the seven books she wrote before she finally got one published. “Practice is failure,” she encouraged. “Practice is play!” As writers, we all need to remember how to play and embrace discovery, even if our work leads nowhere.
Kate also addressed inevitable struggles with imposter syndrome and competition. “Good writing takes time,” she stressed, “and everyone’s pace is different.” It doesn’t matter how many books your writer friends have published. “Remember, it’s your practice. Eyes on your own page.”
Writing practice is also a kind of self-care, similar to a commitment to regular exercise or meditation. It requires and deserves designated time, but writing shouldn’t add to feelings of guilt or anxiety.
Kate talked about what she called “Magical Writing Math.” Writers often set a goal of, say, 1000 words per day, but beat themselves up if they don’t stick to the plan. “Thinking, planning, reading, and even staring at a wall counts as writing,” Kate said, “even if the word count doesn’t go up.” She also reminded everyone that the work doesn’t stop. “Even if you get a full draft on the 30th or 80th day, the work isn’t done. It’s just written.”
The event was especially meaningful as we live through particularly tough times in the world. With so many distractions and so much out of our control, including our personal publishing dreams, learning to “Write Through It” is a valuable lesson for everyone.
Get more great advice from Kate McKean by reading Write It Through: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life and subscribing to her terrific newsletter, agentsandbooks.com.
