Writing is a passion. It’s an art. It’s an expression of personality and creativity. It’s a jumble of words that are interpreted differently by everyone who comes across them, regardless of how concrete they are. Above all, it isn’t really very hard to do. All you need is paper, a pen, and a bit of spare time. Yes, it’s easy to write, but it isn’t quite as easy to become an author.
Becoming a published author is akin to beating the final boss in a video game about the literary world. With a pen for a lance, you pass every stage in the writing process and level up until you are finally knighted and dubbed a member of the court.
Hopefully without melodramatically mixing metaphors the way I just did.
There are five qualities a person must develop in order to “make it.” I call them the five commandments of becoming a published author.
1. Thou shalt not be inflexible.
We are naturally biased about our writing. We think it’s perfect the way it is. Changes, especially big ones, are hard to make when we think we’re done. However, fresh eyes often see things we don’t, especially those that belong to people who have been in the business for a long time. Being rigid is going to hold you back, no matter what. The “It’s my piece, so I know best” attitude will bite you in the head, shoulders, knees, and toes. You have to give a little to gain a lot. Publishers, editors, and publicists will appreciate and note that you are easy to work with, and that is extremely important.
2. Thou shalt trust thyself.
No story will ever be perfect. I repeat: No story will ever be perfect. Proofreading is indeed extremely important, but there is such a thing as going overboard. Second- and third-guessing yourself can lead to the essence of the piece getting lost in the midst of simply too many edits. A good strategy is to go all the way through a couple of times, and then leave the project alone for a while. Revisit it one last time after you’ve spent some time apart. You will return with a new perspective.
2nd Draft critique & editing services can help you perfect your manuscript, query letter and more.
3. Thou shalt not mimic another author.
It’s easy to fall into that trap. It may start out as just looking for inspiration, but remember, the path to hell is paved with good intentions. That isn’t to say that you shouldn’t read the work of your favorite authors for inspiration but tread softly. Think back to when you had to turn your college papers into plagiarism scanners. Book buyers are even more pedantic and harsh than your toughest professor. The nitpicking will drive you up to a wall, and though it is impossible to be different in every aspect, copycats are unpopular among readers.
4. Thou shalt not be impatient.
Don’t be pushy. Agents and editors have many other things to do. They will get to your project when they can, and constantly nagging them to make you a priority won’t work. It takes time to read a proposal and make a decision. A good book isn’t enough to keep a publisher or agent in your corner. A positive attitude is just as important as having an excellent piece.
5. Thou shalt not give up.
Nothing happens overnight. It is extremely unlikely that the first publisher or agent you seek out will give a first-time author a standing ovation and a contract right off the bat. There may be heartbreak. You might see the polite “I’ll pass on this project” many, many times. You might have someone read the first few pages and then ask for a full manuscript, only to turn it down in the end. This journey is chock-full of let-downs, but you are the only one who can seal your fate completely. Get feedback from experienced professionals, work and rework until your fingers fall off, and most of all, never give up.
All your dreams can come true if you grow out that spine and stubbornly chase them across seas and oceans.
Walt Disney said that. More or less.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. I fully agree with you that writing is a passion and art and it expresses our personality and our creativity. If anyone chooses this method/way of self-expression, he/she should be patient, accurate, with an optimistic attitude. Someone who knows he/she is able to do so, so not give up is also useful. You mention that ’ Publishers, editors’ like to work with writers who are easy to work with. Yes, I think it’s also true in every field you choose for yourself. How much time do you think should be waited after your last proof-reading to continue? I agree that ’all our dreams will come true’ – IF we actively do our best and never give up before achieving success!
Hey Agnes,
Thanks for your kind words. I really think you should give it a day or two, read it once more -or, even better, get someone else to read it and point out errors or logical mistakes- and then proceed.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marios
Hey Marios
Thanks for writing such an inspirational blog. Yes, you are right no one can be a good author overnight. It totally depends on one’s hard work and steadiness. This blog is really helpful for those who want to write. I should surely share it with my friends who are anxious about their writing career. Again thank you.
Hey Monalisha,
thanks for your kind words and for stopping by!
Marios
These five points you summarized is the truth. More I hope to get is a real strategy on how to improve on a daily, weekly based on plans! I started working on my website with English even though I am not an English speaker. Sometimes, I am confused as I don’t know what to do in the middle of the sea. I’ve lost direction! If there are real suggestions for people to follow, people will be easier to follow and we will have more good writers!
Hey there Cian,
Well, from this comment only, I can see that you struggle with English. I’d suggest working more on your English skills, and use a tool like Grammarly, or even a word processor’s (such as MS Word or Google Docs) Spelling and Grammar features before posting anything. You should also use a proofreader to check your text.
I hope I’ve helped
Marios
Many of us fancy being a writer but like any art, there is a learning curve.
I for one am a terrible speller but love to write so have needed to employ some of the rules of advice in the great reminder on the things to do.
It is also a lonely art with only you and a pencil (Or typewriter, computer, dictation) that takes you and your mind to great places as you let your fingers wander over the keys producing great stuff. Well until the critique comes anyway.
It is enjoyable and following the 5 Commandments will take some anxiety out of your effort.
Peter H
Hey Peter,
A friend of mine, Ryan Biddulph, suggest writing at least 500 words a day, every day. This way, you can practice writing and find your personal voice. Great tip!
Marios
Thank you for these great reminders Marios,
I find when writing an article that it can become very easy to fall into the trap of constantly scouring over the contents in search of perfection. When as you state it is not achievable and I find you end up wasting a lot of time when you could be productive in other areas.
My new tip is to place it to one side for a few hours and come back to look at it later with a fresh pair of eyes. I will also allow my wife to scan through the article to pick up on any grammatical errors I may not have picked up on.
Hey there,
Letting a post to “cool” before posting it, or even giving it to someone else for a proofread is a great idea. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Marios
Good for you, Marios! Your post won the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party. You’ll be featured on my site tomorrow!
Janice
Hey Janice,
Thanks! It is very rewarding for me to be featured on the Monday Linky Party. I like it myself, I find a lot of gems, and I will try to be there weekly.
Marios