Becoming a published writer is not as difficult as people think. There’s no denying that you will face challenges when you try to get your book published. But following the twelve actionable tips mentioned below will make the process easier for you – keep reading to find out!
1. Explore different ideas
Getting tons of ideas is the first step to writing your book. Remember that only those books resonate with people that highlight an amazing idea. You have to come up with different ideas and choose one of them as your book’s theme.
Many people find it hard to develop ideas. Contrary to popular belief, exploring new ideas is not as difficult as people think. You can read detailed guides on how to find ideas as a writer in the shortest possible time.
2. Pick a genre
After writing down some ideas, the next step is deciding the genre of your writing. It can be hard to start writing if you don’t choose a genre.
Your decision to choose a genre will impact your writing journey. Therefore, you should be cautious when picking a genre instead of making a decision haphazardly.
Being careful doesn’t mean that you have to complicate the process of choosing a genre. You should make a list of your favorite genres and then choose one genre to get started with the writing process.
3. Create an outline
Writing without a plan in mind won’t help you publish a book. You need a certain framework that allows you to enlist your ideas in a specific manner. An outline makes it easier for you to pen down your words on a certain topic and avoid writing irrelevant content.
You don’t have to think about “perfection” when creating an outline. Instead of wasting your time creating the “perfect” outline, you should create a rough sketch of how you will develop your story.
4. Write your first draft
After creating an outline, you should move on to write your first draft. Developing a draft will make it easier for you to see the direction and flow of your book.
As with the creation of an outline, you don’t have to stress about creating the “perfect” draft. You should only focus on writing down all the essential details of your story .
5. Develop a writing schedule
As a newbie writer, you might think about writing 24/7 to complete your book in the shortest possible time. But keep in mind that such an approach will only cause problems. You should try to follow a realistic writing schedule that makes the writing process easier for you.
Keep in mind that your journey as a writer should not disrupt your work-life balance. Make sure you only write during a certain time and avoid staying awake for the sake of writing.
6. Get rid of distractions
Distractions are your biggest enemies when it comes to writing. It can get next to impossible for you to jot down your thoughts when you are constantly disturbed by factors around you. Therefore, you should get rid of distractions before you write a single word.
You don’t have to relocate to the remote countryside to get rid of distractions. Making small changes to your home can help you overcome distractions and focus on writing.
7. Value your readers
As a writer, you have to value your readers and write to captivate your audience. You should try to write in such a way that people want to read your book time and again.
Being a “narcissist” and caring only about what you think won’t help you write a persuasive book. You should try to incorporate the thoughts in such a way that resonates with your audience.
As a new writer, it can get hard for you to identify what your readers want the most. Understanding the factors that make a book interesting can help you pinpoint what you should do as a writer.
8. Avoid perfectionism
Perfectionism is the enemy of your writing ability. You won’t be able to write anything if you rewrite the same sentence a thousand times. Instead of being fixated on writing the “best” book in the world, you should be more concerned about letting your thoughts flow.
Here are some tips that can help you overcome perfectionism:
- Set achievable goals for yourself.
- Get rid of procrastination.
- Don’t be ashamed of your mistakes.
9. Polish your skills
Even if people call you a “born writer,” it doesn’t mean that you have the best writing skills. It’s your job to reevaluate your writing skills from time to time and identify the mistakes that you can resolve.
One of the best ways to rectify your writing mistakes is to join writing classes. Learning from a skilled tutor will make it easier for you to polish your writing skills. Another great benefit of joining a writing class is that it allows you to learn from fellow writers.
It’s better to join a writing class in your area to connect with people in person. However, you can also join online classes if no writing classes are arranged in your area.
10. Join an online community
Connecting with other writers can help you rectify your writing mistakes and grow your network. Therefore, you should set some time aside to focus on your networking needs.
Many writers think that spending time on networking will waste their time. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend hours and hours on networking efforts. You can easily join online forums that help writers connect all over the world.
11. Edit your book
Proper editing allows you to rectify the problems in your book and make it more interesting for your readers. Many writers find it hard to edit their books.
There’s no need for you to learn to edit as you can get help from skilled editors. For example, if you are located in New York, you can connect with New York copy editors to help you get your book edited.
12. Get published
The last step is to get your book published. You should know how the publication process works so you don’t have problems with publishers. If possible, you can link up with a publication agent who will help you easily go through the publication process.
