Think Like a Designer & Creator in Your Writing Process | Debbie Millman*

Let’s talk about tapping into your creative side to write. It’s tough. It’s overwhelming. There are many emotional roller-coasters. Finishing a book (more so than publishing it) is worth the exhilaration.

Named “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is an author, educator, brand strategist and host of the podcast “Design Matters.” In the 11 years since the show’s inception, it has garnered over a million downloads per year, has interviewed more than 250 design luminaries and cultural commentators, a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, and designated as one of the best podcasts in 2015 by iTunes. Debbie is the author of six books, including two collections of interviews that have extended the ethos and editorial vision of Design Matters to the printed page: How to Think Like a Great Graphic Designer and Brand Thinking and Other Noble Pursuits. In my conversation with Debbie, she walks with us through her own process of writing. In this episode you will learn…

Designing and Creating

Creating and designing varies on what you should do thinking of the title from the start and designing the cover itself. Involving yourself in the creation experience and pitching it is really important as well. It can be intimidating to design your own book, especially if you want it to be professional, gain respect of buyers and distributors, then sell head-to-head against books from major publishers. Read lots of books, particularly the ones in your genre or category. Your book’s cover is often the first and only chance your audience has of finding and reading your book. While it is clearly important for a book’s cover to be striking and appealing, it is even more important that the title of your book is legible and the design of your book cover can immediately convey to the reader the genre and the tone of the book you created.

Pushing through critiques and feedback

Eventually, you’ll encounter negative or unpleasant feedback. This might be in the form of a bad review of your book, but the range of criticism is evident before the manuscript is published. It can be difficult to deal with, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s normal to feel disheartened, but the trick is to move past this stage. Expect rejection and follow through on that experience. Push through this feedback. Hardship will be your tool to improve the work. Feedback is meant to be constructive. Constructive criticisms should help you to improve your piece. If you understand that critical comments from a reader give you a fresh insight into your work, it’s much easier to get over the initial hurt.

Everything takes time

Everyone starts with nothing. There is no such thing as overnight success. Success takes time. Writers are plagued with an impatience to see quick improvement, recognition, and publication. “Later” is not soon enough. Having patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s also a skill to develop. Patient writers finish more, adheres to a better standard, work sensibly, and are more productive.