Whenever I’m asked about writing,
the first thing I clarify
is whether the person is a writer
or a reader.
Readers want to hear the writing myths.
They want the author to talk
about how the characters talked to her,
telling her their stories.
They want to hear writers write for the love.
That they would write for free.
That every story is a gift.
Writers want to hear the truth.
They expect to hear
that writing is a business,
that each story is a product
to be developed,
and how we change stories
to make them more marketable.
Using Joe Bastianich’s terminology,
they want to hear the restaurant math.
As the restaurant mogul shares
“Too many people think
running a restaurant is all about the food
and forget it’s a business
and needs to be run like one,
and that’s why so many fail.
Restaurant math is
the fundamental formula for success,
and it’s one of the key things
I learned from my father.”
EVERY industry is business.
Figure out your industry’s math.