There is no plan B

Anne Perry

Recently I have been reading Anne Perry’s early books and trying to discern the secrets of her popularity and longevity as a writer. Perry published her first Victorian detective novel when she was 39 years old and has since published more than 50 books. The amazing thing is that not one of her books has ever been out of print and she has sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide. By any standard Anne Perry is a success as a writer.

As far as popularity, I would venture that her books appeal to readers because they provide interesting characters people care about and there is always a satisfactory conclusion to her tales. Her stories have beginnings, middles, and endings, and that is surprisingly rare for novels these days. She knows how to craft mysteries and has a knack for evocation of place and character.

But how did she begin as a writer? In a recent interview, Perry was asked about her career and coming to writing fairly late in life. She explained that her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published in 1979 when she was 39. “… it took a long time,” she said. When asked how she stayed motivated, she replied with what I think is the key to becoming a published author.

“There was no plan B. If you’ve got an alternative, it’s easy to give up; but if you haven’t, there’s no plan to fall back on. When I want something, I want it very much.”

I have heard this advice from other writers and I have found that it is true in my own case as well. When you begin to treat writing as your job and not just your quiet hobby, you can make a quantum leap forward as a writer. A writer I know who teaches at various MFA programs and writing conferences around the country told me that some of the most talented writers he has taught simply gave up. “It is not the most talented that always succeed,” he explained, “but the ones that refuse to stop writing and know how to finish things… The ones that trust the process and are trying to produce good writing rather than achieve success are the ones that find success.”

Commit to your writing and take yourself seriously. Finish what you begin and then start something else. Do this and you will find your path as a writer.

More information on writing and books on writing can be found at our bookstore tab and at www.creative-writing-mfa.org.