What advice would you give an aspiring author who wants to be published?
- WRITE- Get those words down, build those worlds up and bring your characters to life. Prove to yourself you can finish that first manuscript and give it wings to expand from there. Write more...
- NEVER GIVE UP- No matter what anyone tells you, believe in yourself and keep moving forward. There will be bumps in the road no matter what your dreams or goals, it's up to you how you navigate those potholes.
- BUILD YOUR BRAND- Know what you write and promote yourself. Whether you write romance, mystery, suspense, general fiction- find your niche and work it. Decide early if you're writing under your real name or a pen name. This helps build the brand.
- BLOG- Talk about your writing, things that interest or inspire you- things that make your writing life YOURS. Do you write with music? Do you have sentimental writing totems? Special habits?
- SOCIALIZE & NETWORK- Join online groups, follow other authors if you're on Twitter. Post your blog links where others will see them. Interact with authors and readers alike. Join writing associations where you can talk "shop" with other authors about the craft, the industry. Socializing and putting yourself out there is the only way to gain followers of your own & build your reader base. Guest blog and host other authors on your blog.
- SUBMIT/GO INDIE- Work hard and get that manuscript or manuscripts polished and then submit to publishers who are looking for your kind of stories. Or, take the wheel of your own writing career and drive the self-pub highway. Investigate, talk to other Indie authors. Do you want to go Big House or Small Pub? Or would you rather strike out on your own? Ebook or print or both? Know what you want and go for it.
- TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE- Most importantly- write for yourself- the stories of your heart. Yes, challenge yourself as a writer, but never try to "shape" yourself or your stories in a way you can't live with. If it makes you uncomfortable or makes you feel you are writing to suit someone else with something you're not proud of, don't do it. Some will tell you to pay attention to what's popular or sought after, but also be true to yourself and write what touches your heart. Paying attention to what's out there is important, but don't let the "popular today" handicap your writing or your confidence for your career future.
Have a great Wednesday! Write on-
I can see the weekend from here.
I can see the weekend from here.
3 comments:
Taryn, after all the years I spent hearing RWA's dogma about acceptable publishing venues, it's still so funny to me to see everyone talking about self-publishing as a valid career choice. I'm glad I went that route. And I'm glad everyone's talking openly about it now instead of whispering about it behind their hands. :)
Me, too. It's something I'm even considering doing. No stone left unturned, I say. It's good to have so many options. Are you going to be publishing anything new soon?
If you decide to go ahead with your next book, I wish you all the best. I'm always here if you have questions and for whatever. :)
I'm working every day on finishing Wild Texas Rose. After a looong delay, I'm back to it and determined to get it out there. Thank you so much for asking!
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