Becoming a published writer is not as difficult as many newbie writers think. You don’t need “natural talent” or any “lucky charm” to achieve your writing goals.
If you’re looking for tips that can help you get published, you’re at the right place. Keep reading this blog to find fourteen actionable tips that can supercharge your writing game in no time – let’s dive in!
1. Identify Your Genre
The first thing you need to do is to identify your genre. As a newbie writer, you should not force yourself to experiment with genres you don’t like. It’s better to pick your favorite genre and start writing.
Choosing your favorite genre can be difficult for you. If you struggle to pick your genre as a writer, you should try to “rewrite” bits of famous works from different genres to easily make your decision.
2. Build A Writing Routine
Most newbie writers don’t have a specific writing routine and write whenever they want. Remember that if you follow this same approach, you won’t be able to achieve your writing goals.
Writing only gets easier and more fun for you when you follow a proper routine. Having a routine allows you to concentrate your thoughts on a topic and spend your time productively. Follow a fixed writing routine, so you don’t run into problems.
3. Set Achievable Goals
Having a proper writing routine doesn’t mean you will be able to achieve “unrealistic” writing goals. You have to be mindful of the fact that nobody will read your books if you write incoherent “gibberish.”
Try getting the most out of your time by setting achievable goals. For example, instead of forcing yourself to finish your book within a month, you should aim to write a chapter within 30 days.
4. Avoid Perfectionism
Thinking that you can write “perfect” as a newbie won’t help you improve your writing skills. You have to embrace that mistakes are part of developing your writing muscle.
Instead of trying to write perfectly, you should focus on your creative expression. Make sure you don’t let superficial standards stop you from achieving your writing goals.
5. Be Patient
You must not try to “haphazardly” achieve your goals as a writer. Remember that all good things take time, and you will have to wait for the right time to achieve your writing goals.
Don’t try to rush through the learning process. Make sure you spend your time productively and gather as much useful information as possible about improving your writing skills.
6. Read More Books
The simplest way you can boost your writing skills is to read more books. Reading famous books that have gotten a lot of positive feedback over the years allows you to identify the elements that make a book famous.
Writing more books can take a lot of time and effort. Make sure you don’t spend all your time reading famous books. You should set some time aside from your routine to read books.
7. Identify Your Writer’s Voice
How can you ensure that your books stand out and grab the attention of your readers? A simple way you can achieve this goal is by identifying your writer’s voice. People will feel more connected to your writing if you use specific phrases and sentence structures.
Identifying your writer’s voice is a simple process. You can start by rewriting famous short stories from your perspective to learn how you formulate your thoughts differently from other writers.
8. Follow An Outline
The best way to achieve your writing goals in a short time is to follow an outline. Having an outline allows you to stay on a topic and avoid distractions.
You should create a basic outline before you start writing in any genre. Don’t stress yourself to create a “perfect” outline, as you can modify your outline whenever you want.
9. Avoid Distractions
Small distractions can stop you from focusing on your writing routine. You should not let distractions hijack your writing routine if you want to achieve your writing goals without wasting your time and effort.
Make sure you write in a quiet place where distractions cannot disturb you. Avoid using your phone or listening to music when you sit down to write so you can stay fully concentrated.
10. Create Your Website
One of the best ways to build your brand and showcase your writing skills is to build your website.
A website allows you to provide all the information about your books, and people can also buy your books online through your website. Make sure you learn how to develop your website to promote yourself the right way.
11. Grow Your Social Presence
Growing your social media following can help you increase your readership and sell more copies of your book. The good thing about growing your brand on social media is that you don’t have to learn coding or any other technical skills. All you need to do is to create your accounts on different social platforms to get started.
12. Avoid Using Jargon
Using improper phrases and sentences cannot help you engage your target audience. It’s your job to ensure that you use simple phrases that your readers can easily understand, so you can easily sell more copies of your books.
13. Get Proper Feedback
You should be willing to get critical feedback about your books if you want to improve your writing skills. Send your final drafts to skilled proofreaders and established writers before you publish your book. You should start growing your network so you have more proofreaders and writers in your circle who can give valuable suggestions about your books.
14. Learn the Publishing Process
It’s important for you as a writer to learn about the publication process. You’d struggle to get published if you explore the publication world after you finish your book.
Remember that you can either try self publishing a book, or you can find a publisher who can handle the publishing process for you. You should know both publication strategies well enough to choose the best route for your specific needs.
