As I make my way into the publishing world I've been learning a lot an am amazed by all the wonderful people that are in this industry. And yet I find it interesting just how many people who want to be authors don't take advantage of the FREE information that is out there to help make your way from the aspiring author to the published author to the published category.
So, here is a break down of the things I've learned in my last year of serious pursuing of Authorhood (Don't think that is a real word, but it works for now)
1. You only fail as an author if you never start and/or stop writing
2. Write every day. Even if your muse isn't wanting to work you need to learn how to work without her sometimes. If you want to be a full time writer that has a book come out a year that means working without your muse. That means taking full advantage of when she is around. Being disciplined will help your writing career and help your writing grow.
3. Know your genre. This means make sure that you know where your book will sit in the bookstores. This will help make sure that you will pitch it to the right agents and editors.
4. Read your genre. This also goes with #3 but if you know what others are writing and selling it will help your own writing. I'm not saying that you need to use other others ideas and writing styles, but like any business it's good to know what is out there in what you are writing.
5. This is a business. What you put out there in social media and in person does affect if people want to work with you. You can be friendly with the people you want to work with and those that you are working with, but in the end they can it comes down to business. You may talk kids and family trips and other personal things, but editor and agents are there to work with you and aren't your BFF. It's about getting your work out there to the right people and in the best shape possible. That means that sometimes you have blunt feed back or hear things you don't like. But it's a business not about making friends. Harsh, yet true.
6. Nothing happens overnight. It might seem like it to the outside world, but it doesn't. Put your work out there to agents and editors while you are working on a new work. That way you always have time to be continuing to grow your resume. If you wait till your one work gets out then you might never write that second book that you've always wanted to write. Just know it's about finding the right people who love your work as much as you do. Don't rush it just to be able to say you're published. It will happen.
7. This is an industry about rejections. You will get hundreds of nos before you get that one yes that get's your work published.
8. Hone your craft. To do this you have to write. And keep writing. Pick one genre or two to start out in. That way your writing can grow within that genre. If you are all over the place you will never be able to improve than if you focus on one or two things.
9. Do your research. Find the agents, publishing houses, and editors that focus on the genres you write. Then read the submission guidelines and FOLLOW them. By following them you are more likely to get a request for pages. I'm amazed at how many stories I hear about people who get things sent to them in genres that they don't represent. It takes two minutes to check what people are looking for and how they want it sent.
10. Social Media is an amazing tool. I've learned a lot from just using Twitter. Tons of publishing people post pet peeves, what they are looking for in queries, tips and a ton of other good advice. Also DONT query them on social media! That is a big no and an annoyance. Go their website and follow there directions. Social media is a great way to make new connections and to start branding yourself. It's never too soon to start branding yourself. Just remember the 80/20 rule. 20% self promotion 80% interaction. It's also not about the quantity of followers you have but the quality. Use Social media as a tool for research.
11. Only send email to agents and editors business accounts. Showing that you can find their personal information is creepy and sends up red flags. This will not get their attention in a good way. Follow the sub guidelines.
12. Write what you enjoy writing. Don't let the market dictate what you need to be writing. If you don't like the genre then don't do it.
Okay that is all I can think of off the top of my head right now. There are still a ton of lessons I've learned and still need to learn.
Even with all the struggles and hard ships in the end writing is worth it to me. Even if I don't get published, writing is a release and fun. Keep doing what you love doing. I know I am.
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