“If you want to be a star, you better behave like one.”
That’s the tagline for the film Velvet Goldmine. I’ve had a poster for it hanging over my desk since I got into the Screen Actors Guild a decade ago. In the context of the film, it’s a cautionary tale about being a diva and getting in over your head; in the context of my life, it’s been about ambition and learning how to succeed.
Wanting to
tell stories for a living can often feel impossible, but the things I’ve learnt
about celebrity and success from watching movies, and being in them, are the
same things that have helped me succeed as a writer.
So how do
stars behave?
First, they
work hard. While stars don’t always need to be the first on set and the last to
leave, they often choose to be. This leadership extends to the “hurry up and
wait” that often transpires between takes, with many actors never choosing to
take a seat, knowing their energy and enthusiasm can help the rest of the cast
and crew survive what are commonly fourteen hour days.
Next, stars
always say thank you. Not just for praise, but for criticism, analysis, hard
work, and the time investment of others.
Third,
stars offer others a hand up whenever they can, knowing that their praise,
clout, mentorship, and kind words can help others persevere towards success in
a challenging industry.
What does a
writer’s version of star behavior look like?
First, put
in the hours. Get up early or go to sleep late. Write on your lunch break. When
the words aren’t coming, scribble down notes about why you’re stuck. Remember
the work isn’t just the words, but also polishing them, providing manuscripts
that are as clean as possible to first readers, editors, and publishers.
Marketing, too, presents an opportunity to lead with the knowledge that a
writer’s work is never done and never truly done alone.
Second,
always say thank you. Your friends and first readers may love your work, but
they are also being exposed to your raw ideas. Be grateful for enthusiasm and
criticism that helps you refine your story. Thank the publisher who reminds you
of deadlines and the editor who saves you from your bad habits regarding
commas. And, while sometimes it’s hard, try to have gratitude for everyone who
takes time to read your books even if they don’t offer you a contract or a
five-star review.
Finally, be
interested in writers around you. Offer encouragement, advice, and time when
you can. Remember all the days a kind word helped you to keep going. It’s often
also a boon to personal confidence to know you can help others succeed as
opposed to fearing them as the competition. You can help cement your own
success by sharing it with others.
While wild
success often comes from a combination of luck and hard work, you can always
behave like a star.
Even if
you’re not one. Yet.♥
Racheline’s first novel (co-written with Erin McRae), STARLING,
is an M/M romance set in Hollywood. It will be published by Torquere Press on
September 10, 2014.
Absolutely sage advice and I 100% concur. Both as a former actress and as someone who works in the entertainment industry now with occasion to meet celebrities, but also as an author. To be a winning writer you must, must, must embrace it as a profession, as a career, as a job. Education, professionalism, and dedication are required. Simply because it is a creative / artistic endeavor does not mean one can act the diva or forget the nuts and bolts. Brava!
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