1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art. Get those confused at your peril. Treat publication as you would any enterprise--as a professional. Meet deadlines, learn about the industry, and grow in your craft.
2. Know your market. You wouldn't sell meat to vegetarians, would you? Yet so many new writers don't know where to send their work. If you write mysteries, find a market that buys mysteries. It takes time but saves you the aggravation in the end. Check the recent Writers Market or similar books. Or look at your bookshelves. Which companies published authors you like or have similar stories to yours?
3. Know what you want. Do you want to be published in hardcover or paperback? Do you want an agent or literary lawyer? Do you want to work full-time or part-time? Knowing this will help you develop a roadmap to your chosen destination. You have to know what you want to get it. Remember to write it down. This will prevent you from going off track.
4. Set concrete goals. That means goals that are measurable. "I want to make the best-sellers list" is not a concrete goal. "I will write five pages a day/ one new query letter week/ an article a month" is.
5. Be realistic. Lower your expectation of making $800,000 on your first book. Build up to that. So what if some fifteen year old got a million-dollar deal? In all likelihood that won't happen to you, so don't be disappointed. Keep writing.
6. Learn the rules then make them work for you. Follow or fudge them. You can pitch a novel you haven't finished, just be prepared to write like a lunatic when they want to see the book right away.
7. Keep submitting. Every salesperson hears the word 'no'. You're selling your work so you will hear it too. Every no gets you closer to yes.
8. Think about quality control. Use a trusted reader, agent, critique partner, friend or spouse to go over your work. They'll help you keep your work in top form.
9. Forget the market sometimes. Between moneymaking projects write what excites you. It may eventually come into fashion. Aside from that it keeps your brain active.
10. Recognize frustration. You'll get frustrated and that's okay, it's part of the industry. A story that was rejected for being "too hard to sell" makes the bestseller's list for a new author. Your agent has stopped returning your calls, your editor leaves, your book sells poorly, or gets a nasty review or letter. Your writing friends are getting better deals than you. It is a competitive market fraught with obstacles, and there will be times you'll want to give up. Don't. Frustration will be a part of your career but it won't last forever.
11. Believe that you will succeed. Half asserted efforts will show. You don't need to be super confidence. You don't even have to think positive, but you do have to believe that you're worthy of success. You do have to write the best books you can. You do have to believe in your stories. Success is your birthright. Stay away from those who think otherwise.
12. Remember that you're enough. You don't need to change. If you can write coherently in your chosen language, you can write whatever you want to. So begin. You improve only by writing. That's it. There's no short cut.
You can secure the biggest New York agent in the business, you can get a Ph.D. in literature, you can become best buddies with a best-selling author, or know all the booksellers in your neighborhood. That will not sell your book or make you a writer. Writing does.
13. Forget about luck. Those people we consider lucky did something to receive their so-called luck. They went on the job interview (didn't know they would be hired on the spot) played the Lotto (didn't know that they would win) went on the blind date (didn't know they would meet their match) or wrote the book (didn't know that it would be a best-seller). I'm not saying luck doesn't exist; just that luck follows action. The more you do the luckier you'll be.
14. Have fun! Write without caring about what anyone will say. Remember the joy of creating.
Dara Girard is the author of three novels and a member of Romance Writers of America and Novelists Inc. You can find more articles and links for writers at her website: http://www.daragirard.com
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
ELICIT, ILLICITElicit means to extract or draw out; illicit means... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
Dave, I just got a contract for a book... Read More
Reading through a writer's notebook or journal is like discovering... Read More
'Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
Creating incredible characters can be easy if you know of... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
Originality emerges from structure. Once you have a story idea,... Read More
One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More
FERRETING OUT WORK You keep hearing that there's work out... Read More
Whether you are working for a small business, large corporation,... Read More
GAINING WRITING EXPERIENCE Some Catch-22, huh? In... Read More
If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you... Read More
If you want to be a writer, then you must... Read More
Nike's ad has taken on new meaning for me of... Read More
The process of developing a working title for your nonfiction... Read More
You know, I really hate it when someone catches me... Read More
Many experts recommend reading as a way to get ideas,... Read More
Working on my first humorous novel, I started with a... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
Do you consider yourself a storyteller? Do you consider yourself... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..Mixing and mingling with industry professionals is an opportunity that... Read More
Every morning I excitedly get out of bed. Just a... Read More
Proofreading worksheets are a great tool to help individuals open... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
What Makes a Great Headline?Headlines are far more important than... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Finding the time to write a novel is one of... Read More
Balance your life ... Read More
Whether you're interviewing for a new job, trying to woo... Read More
I do on occasion run out of ideas for my... Read More
SALE, SAIL Sale is either offering something for purchase... Read More
I started writing as a way of keeping safe memories... Read More
To help build your profile and reputation within a large... Read More
Arrogance has a bad rap. We think of arrogant people... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?Our plotting stage is our testing area.Everything... Read More
Self-examination is brutally honest. Self-indulgence is brutally maudlin.Writing requires the... Read More
1. No one else will do it for you.2. No... Read More
I've noticed a big shift away from traditional horror recently,... Read More
Whether you keep a separate spiritual journal or just want... Read More
Have you ever had a student write to tell you... Read More
It was reported that the great American author Sinclair Lewis... Read More
In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?We all tackle plotting differently. How you... Read More
"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More
Many of us dream of writing a book. Why not.... Read More
Writing |