I’ve been in a writing mood recently, which is great from my point of view. Today, I wrote “the end” on my current work in progress. Since my mind is in the groove, I thought I’d give some advice to aspiring authors.
1. Sit down and write every day. Make writing into a good habit.
2. Join a writing group, either a chapter or an online community for support.
3. Read and read widely. Analyze books that work for you and those that don’t. Use them as a learning tool.
4. Make a point to learn about websites and social media.
5. Enter writing competitions to help yourself improve and also to give yourself a writing deadline.
6. Research markets, agents and editors to familiarize yourself with what publishers and agents are looking for. This will help you narrow down who to submit your book to. If you’re thinking about self-publishing learn as much as you can about the process.
7. Keep a record of how much you can comfortably write each day. Knowledge of your possible output will help you once you’re published and facing deadlines.
8. Take online classes and attend conferences to learn as much as you can. I’ve been published for a while now, and I’m still learning!
9. When it comes to actual plotting, try all the different methods. Plotting, pansting and in between until you find a method that works for you.
10. There is no right or wrong way to write a book. There is only your way.
11. Find a critique partner/s to help critique your work and critique other writers’ work. This is a learning process too.
12. Once you’ve completed and polished your book send it off to your chosen publisher or agent. While you’re waiting, start work on your next book. If you’re self-publishing, complete the publishing process and start work on the next book.
13. Celebrate each success because writing is a difficult business and plain hard work.
Do you have any suggestions to add to my list?
I love #10. So true!
Each writer has their own style and plan of attack when it comes to writing a book. Writers should definitely follow their own plan rather than force themselves to follow someone elses.
Great advice. Although I’ve never attended a writing course, read a how to book or joined a writing circle.
You’re right, Anthony. They’re not necessary, although they do help writers learn and from feeling isolated.
I used to be so much better about so much of this. It’s hard to do it all year after year.
That’s true, although a lot of it comes from habit.
Read, read, write, edit, edit. Yes.
I might quibble with 10. I’ve seen a lot of people publish with crazy margins, illegible fonts, typos, cover stock less heavy than the paper stock of the pages, trilogies that are long-winded, ungrammatical, plot accidentally conflicting with itself, and uncontrolled. Often with no one seeing the books before they hit print. It’s a slow art to be comprehensible.
Formatting is one thing that should be followed. When I say follow your own plan I mean the actual writing/ plotting part.
My one big piece of advice is to keep a notebook with you at all times. (Of course in this digital age you can also use notepad on your electronic device lol)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a great idea for an article and didn’t write it down only to forget what I was thinking about later.
That’s excellent advice. Don’t think you’ll remember your brilliant idea either because it will probably fall right out of your head. At least they do from my head.
Great tips!
*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com
Thanks, Paige.
I love these. I find that crit partners are GOLD!!!! PURE GOLD! And more scarce than gold too. LOL!
Another tip? Things change–your routine, your career, publishing–be FLEXIBLE!
I hear you on the gold bit. Finding a critique partner who meshes isn’t easy.
Flexibility is a good addition to the list.
Good post with some awesome reminders.
Thanks for sharing.
The Food Temptress
Thank you :)
I wasn’t sure what pansting meant. Good pointers here, particularly for fiction writers.
Pantsing is when you just sit down and write with no clear idea of the direction your heading.