How to Become an Author

Becoming an author is a life-long journey, but it isn't just a matter of luck. Becoming an author takes hard work and persistence. You have to keep yourself from being distracted over a long period of time. You'll be rejected. Criticism will be a normal part of your everyday life. And people will say you're a fool to try.

But if you are born to write, you will become an author.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The drive to write.

1. Be a great reader.
   
   You can't become an author without being familiar with what authors do. Plus writing is always evolving, so even if you used to read a lot, you need to keep up with what is being published now, if you're going to write well.

2. Don't mix up reading with writing.
   
   Many people want to become an author because they enjoy reading. Unfortunately writing a book is a different experience from reading one. Reading has a sense of mystery and discovery. But to write a novel, you have to know where the story is going. Sure, when you first dream it up, you get to discover a new world. Everything is exciting and unexpected -- but by the time you write it, it's all old hat.
   
   You have to become good at finding joy in the story even after you know it well. That joy will come from the art of revealing things, not of discovering them.

3. Write. A lot.
   
   I know it sounds obvious, but as you develop as a writer, you are going to do things other than writing. You'll network with other writers, market your works, do research. At some point, every writer finds these things take up so much time, they forget to write. Don't ever let the process of becoming an author keep you from being a writer.

4. Learn your craft.
   
   You will learn the most by reading and writing continuously, but that won't teach you everything. Read books and articles. Take classes. Study how other writers work. Learn the rules of how to submit manuscripts or query publishers.

5. Network with other authors and editors.
   
   It will be easier to become an author if you have other authors and publishing people to learn from. You can find online author groups. Go to writing conferences. Check with colleges and libraries to see if there are any local writer's groups in the area. Go to author book signings at your local bookstores.
   
   Most professional writers organizations won't let an unpublished writer be a full member, but they will allow unpublished writers to join as an associate member. These organizations are an important step to becoming an author, because being a member tells everyone that you are serious.

6. Write...and finish what you start!
   
   This is the point where you may get distracted. As you learn and meet people, you get busy and excited. You may be tempted to jump from project to project. While a little of that is okay, it's especially important to FINISH some of your work. Finishing is a skill. None of your writing counts until you finish it.
   
   Before you go on to the next step, try to finish ten short works. It could be poetry, or short fiction. If you want to be a novelist, you really do need to write short stories too. These prove your mettle - but they also teach you the skills you need to write that novel.

7. Put your writing on the market.
   
   When you have finished ten things, look them over and pick out the top three. Then go look for markets for them. You can use Writer's Market, or some online sites such as ralan.com. Make a list of the markets that are the best match for your story. See if those markets have a website, and look for their writer's guidelines. If they don't have it on line, write to them and ask for a copy. (Include a SASE, or self-addressed stamped envelope.)
   
   Send the stories only to magazines that are looking for stories like yours. Do not send a children's fairytale to the New Yorker. You will waste your postage, and hurt your reputation with the New Yorker editors.

8. Never ever give up.
   
   If you want to become an author, you have to learn to shrug off rejection. Every time a story comes back from one magazine, send it back out to the next market. If you feel you have learned a lot since the last time you sent it out, you can do a quick rewrite on the story, but if you still think it's good enough to send, keep sending it.

9. Keep writing.
   
   To become an author, the key is to keep writing. Keep trying new things. Keep meeting people, and keep FINISHING what you start.

Resources

• Ralan's Guid to Markets

[bar10dr98]

on 3/2/2009 Great advice for how to become an author.

[sunshine11219]

on 3/2/2009 good tips