Dan Coonan

Lessons I Learned Writing PRESIDENTIAL SPIRITS

Let me begin by stating the obvious - I’m no expert on all this. I’m not exactly Harper Lee. But I did learn a great deal in the process of writing and publishing Presidential Spirits that might be useful to others contemplating this. Some of that was conveyed to me as I was embarking on this journey, some I gleaned from observing others or feverishly educating myself on the whole process, and some I stumbled upon as I went along. But one of the biggest surprises was discovering just how many people attempt this, or harbor dreams about one day doing so. If my journey can help anyone else who is contemplating trying to pull this off - or, better yet, inspire them - I’ll be thrilled. Feel free to let me know if it does.

Here’s my own list of truths that became apparent to me as I navigated this process.

1. Make sure you begin with a compelling concept you absolutely love.

In my estimation, this is by far the most critical piece of the whole puzzle. Everything flows from that. You’ll need an ungodly amount of day-in and day-out motivation and perseverance to pull this off, and you’ll be embarking on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. But all that will be so much easier if you genuinely love the concept and believe in it.

Before I began writing this novel I started writing another. That lasted about a week, until I realized I didn’t love the concept quite enough. I then started searching for something bigger and more epic, thinking if I was only doing this once I may as well really go for it. Once I settled on this concept I never once had writer’s block (Can you tell? It’s nearly 400 pages. :) And each time I sat down to write I felt a rush. Additionally, I think every writer experiences some degree of self doubt at times, wondering if the work is really what you think it is. If you start from a place of really firmly believing in it, perhaps those episodes are not as frightful.

2. Fully commit. Go all in.

This in my mind is the second most important concept, and perhaps why so many of these projects never reach completion. After I had written a few chapters I spoke to a friend who is a very accomplished novelist and asked for advice. She very sternly instructed me to “treat it like a job, and show up at your job.” I took her advice. Of course, I have a job that is all-in too. But outside of that I probably wrote or researched for an hour or two six days a week for a year and a half - mostly at night. I’d pour a cup of coffee when the rest of the house went to sleep. For my novel it needed that level of commitment.

3. Set goals for yourself. What exactly are you seeking to accomplish? Be specific.

Like anything in life I think it helps to have an idea of what exactly it is you are attempting to pull off. Are you looking to sign a lucrative book deal with a major publisher (in which case you’ll need advice from sources other than me) or do you just have a great story you want to complete and get published in some form and then see where it takes you.

When I developed the basic concept of the setting and plot, I thought hard about what I was looking for with this challenge. I listed five elements that I hoped to pull off with my writing of this story. I hung a sheet of paper up in the room where I had the story boards for this so I could see it often and be reminded of it.

I felt if I focused on those elements and could pull that off, I’d be happy with it, and if anything more came of it then that would be great. I wasn’t motivated by the thought of earning money or achieving great commercial success. I just had a story and message I like that I hoped to tell in a compelling manner.

4. Grab them from the get go.

Take the advice of all the literary agents who tell you establish the intrigue from the vey first page - preferably the first paragraph. I wouldn’t say I necessarily did this in my novel, or at least not as overtly as I’m now suggesting. But as I went through the process I saw how critical this can be to get it published, get an agent, get reviews, blurbs, etc. I wanted to develop a bit of a back story that was important to my plot, and I wanted to do that more gradually. However, when I write another one - and I will - I will absolutely establish a hook right away - so long as the story lends itself to one. That’s crucial, particularly if the author is seeking commercial success.

5. Don’t be shy about telling people about it.

When I started I wasn’t sure I had what it takes to pull it off, or do it in a way I’d be proud of that wasn’t cringeworthy, so I kept it a bit of a secret for a while. Only later did I start to tell some close friends and others I wanted advice from. Those conversations not only had the effect of making me fully commit to it - its harder to turn back if you’ve told people about it - they inspired me time and again to really try to make this something special. People love hearing about someone taking this plunge, particularly when they can sense the enthusiasm you have for the project.

In more than one of these conversations I got really good advice that I used in writing it, and started to get a sense of what aspects of the story might be more appealing to various readers.

Perhaps just as importantly, these people can perhaps be some of the first readers of your drafts, but also people who might actually buy the finished product and tell their friends to do so as well. I made a point of writing down every time in the last two and a half years everyone I have had a discussion with about it - dozens and dozens of people. As this got released I reached out directly to all of them to let them know.

6. Writing a novel requires scaling three distinct and equally challenging mountains.

I focused so much on the writing of the novel - which is an enormous task of course, but had not thought nearly as much about the publishing or selling part. Those are each monumental tasks as well, requiring skill sets and knowledge very different from the ability to write well. And each can be enormously time consuming.

Plan on devoting a great deal of time and effort to getting the manuscript in a condition to be published - with an editor, beta readers, multiple drafts, proofreading, etc., and then finding the proper place for it in the publishing world - literary agents, traditional and indie publishers, self publishing, etc. That can easily take up to a year or longer.

Finally, marketing and selling the book is an entire universe unto itself. No matter what mode of publishing you are employing, selling it will necessarily require an enormous amount of time, effort and creativity. I might have to break that out into its own “Lessons Learned” essay.

By the way, I have thoroughly enjoyed all three of these challenges - and that all circles back to #1 above - really loving and believing in your story.

7. Be prepared to accept criticism - some of it very hurtful

I think every writer has a good sense that they are putting themselves out there rather nakedly to be judged, and that will inevitably lead to criticism - and so much of that in our culture these days with the internet and social media can be brutal. I think that just comes with the territory, and it needs to be accepted rather than feared or lamented. Listen to it, learn from it if there’s anything constructive in it, and take it all with a grain of salt - just like any praise you get.

If that’s not good enough for you, consider the words of Teddy Roosevelt, my favorite character to write for in Presidential Spirits:

If you tend to let criticism bother you, like I do, and like so many others by the way, keep this image and quote close by at all times. I love Teddy. I wound quite easily, but recover quickly. This quote helps immeasurably in that process. The benefits of being true to yourself, having the courage to put yourself out there, and living your most consequential life far exceed the noise you’ll get from detractors.

8. Chronicle the whole thing.

You’re a writer. Make are record of every aspect of this journey. Take a photo on your first day of the blank screen in front of you. Record your thoughts at the start, and after chapter one, and every time you make a change in characters or plot, etc. Having that record can not only provide inspiration but solidify your commitment as you go along. And you might find in the end that some people are just as interested in the process you went through than the finished result of that process . . . :)

Once again, I’m clearly no expert, but these are some of the things I learned in helping me pursue my own little passion project.

Cheers!