So, you want to be a writer? Let’s be honest you do not want to be a writer; you want to be an author. How about a best-selling, award-winning author? I know, a best-selling six-figure, full-time author. I cannot predict when you will achieve your dream, but I can tell you four ways to make it happen. For the record, I have had several Amazon best-sellers and won an award. I currently do not make six figures and I still have a day job. I am a degreed woman, and you can consider me to be a nerd. A cute nerd who loves God, books, aliens, corny shark movies, and documentaries. Enough talk about me it is time to make you a best-seller…
Read in your genre
If you want to write books you need to read books. Reading books in your genre will help you understand the structure and expectations of the reader. For example, if you are writing a romance the heroine and hero must come together in the end. Trust me, readers get very upset if the two people that have occupied their hearts as they read do not become a couple. I learned this the hard way. ( Her Pleasure His Principles)
Read books about writing, marketing, publishing, and people
Reading non-fiction is important to your career. Books on marketing help you sell books, and books about people teach you how to make your characters human. The publishing world changes and knowing the business is a key component to your survival. I personally thought I was a fairly good writer until I read a craft book on showing versus telling. The book opened my eyes to things I needed to work on if I wanted to transition from good to great.
Make writer friends (virtual friendships count)
Writer friends understand deadlines, characters talking to you in your head, and staying up late. Writer friends know what it feels like to write ten-thousand words and feel like a failure. They are an extra set of eyes and ears. I am grateful for the writing community that God has sent to embrace and challenge me. I attribute my growth to those that I am around. Finding writer friends is surprisingly not as hard as it sounds. You can start a virtual conversation with someone in a writing group, talk to authors at events, or participate in virtual forms like NaNoWriMo.
Attend retreats, conferences, and courses
Education doesn’t stop when you walk across the stage or get your certificate. Taking courses allows you to sharpen your craft and business skills. Conferences are a networking and learning opportunity. Before you invest please do research on the conference or course. I attended the Christian Book Lovers retreat this month. I can not put into words the knowledge I gained nor can I articulate the amount of fangirling I did at this virtual retreat. CBLR is hosting an Author Extravaganza in June 2021. The event is virtual and very affordable. I will be there and if you write Christian Fiction you should register (here). Path to Publishing has a wonderful conference that will take place in 2021. Registration for the 2021 Path to Publishing Act Like an Author Think Like a Business Conference is open (click here) and I pray we meet there. Path to Publishing holds a conference for authors and those that want to learn about the business of books.
Well future best-selling author, those are my tips to get us to the top. If you have found this content helpful, please like and share it. If you are an author and have additional tips, please put them in the comments section. Remember I post new content every Sunday and Wednesday. Subscribe below so that you never miss a post.
xoxo