The Art of Novel Writing with John Claude Bemis is a course welcoming enrollees. Ratika Deshpande, a prolific author who published 194 blog posts and received 33 acceptances in 2024, shares some key lessons from her experience. Firstly, the author emphasizes that personal circumstances can significantly impact a writer’s output, acknowledging that her productive year was affected by both good and challenging periods.
She suggests narrowing down the list of target publications, arguing that while submitting to numerous outlets may seem to increase chances of acceptance, it can also lead to confusion and perfectionism. Familiarity with the publication is critical, and having a smaller list enables writers to study those outlets in-depth. This approach can boost confidence when submitting work, as it reduces the uncertainty of the process.
Secondly, Deshpande warns against the search for an optimal method of writing. In her view, writing fundamentally involves reading, writing, and submitting work in large volumes. While the specifics of how to do this may vary, sticking to a known method is more efficient than endlessly seeking the perfect approach. She also mentions the risk of procrastination disguised as skill development and advises writers to recognize and avoid this trap.
Lastly, she advises caution with research,