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If you want
to make it as a writer, you need to forget about getting rich
quick,
being the new J K Rowling (or E L James, put the fluffy handcuffs
away), winning the Man Booker or being on Desert Island Discs.
The
surest way to succeed is to set achievable goals, work towards
them every
day and start right now.
Here are my top ten smart
moves for writers who want to get published
and stay published:
1. Write as well as you can - and
aim to get better. Develop your 'practice' as a writer and write at least
500 words a day.
2. Be proactive and network, both online
and face to face.
3. Keep up to date with new developments
in literary agencies and publishing houses. Get free emails from The
Bookseller
4.
Set up your own blog and author page on Facebook, and set up Twitter
and Tumblr accounts.
5. Go
to conferences and festivals and find out what is going on Example: The Winchester Writers' Festival is particularly useful for new
writers.
6. Read your work out at open mic events and at
festivals.
7. Enter
short story completions, first novel awards etc. Submit work to the literary
press, both online and in paper format.
8. Find
a day job that is compatible with writing, not too horrible and which you
can use as a source of material.
9. Learn
to manage your time and energy effectively.
10. Enjoy your writing – you
are an artist!
