How to become a writer
In the r/self-publish subreddit, someone asked how they can get into writing. I typed out a response, then realized I needed to share it with you.
Just start writing. At some point, you'll want your manuscript to be digitized, so if it's simpler for you to type it into Word or Google Docs first, go ahead and do that.
Some writers like to plot their book first. They'll make a list of scenes, with notes about what they want to happen in each. We call those authors "plotters." Other authors just write and see what comes to them; they're "pantsers" because they're flying by the seat of their pants. There's a third group that does a hybrid approach, with a little bit of outlining/plotting and a bit of pantsing too. They're sometimes called "plantsers," or as comedic author Jade Greenberg likes to say, "plotty pants." (Jade wants readers to know she didn’t invent the phrase, so if you know who did, please share that info!)
It doesn't matter how you do or don't prepare to write, because each author is different. Find what works for you.
When you have finished writing the book, close the file and walk away. Literary agent Scott Eagan says that authors should step away from their drafts and refuse to look at them for a week for every 10,000 words (Ex: a 60k novel = 6 weeks away). That way, when you read your book for the first time, you'll be able to read it fresh, with the perspective of a reader.
"Read your story as a reader, not as a writer," Scott says. "Would you hire yourself? If not, rework your book."
Revise your manuscript, then send it to a beta reader or seek out a developmental editor to give you feedback and constructive criticism. At that point, you can pursue editing that will prepare you for either self-publishing or pitching to a literary agent.
Amazon has loads of books on writing and publishing. You can find many of those titles on Bookshop.org if you'd prefer to support an independent bookstore while shopping online. Or check into what you can access through your local library. Find a few recently published books (within the last three years) with good reviews. Read and take notes. (NOTE: Make sure it’s a RECENT book. The publishing industry has changed leaps and bounds since before the pandemic started, and new changes are taking place every day. Out-of-date information will be of no help to you.)
Meanwhile, look into joining writing groups. Many are on Facebook, on Reddit, on Clubhouse (the audio social network), and on the web. There may be professional associations related to your genre. For example, I'm a member of Romance Writers of America because I'm involved with the Rainbow Romance Writers. I'm also a member of the Contemporary Romance Writers and the Romance Writers Club. So right there, I have access to hundreds of people to learn from and to help. I also participate in their webinars, workshops, and conferences.
Some groups are free; some have a fee. Writing is not an inexpensive hobby, not if you want to publish. It becomes a business when you can separate your ego from your book, when you can recognize that the story you wrote doesn't have a market at the moment, that it's something readers aren't interested in buying. When that happens, you order a few printed copies through a print-on-demand service and give them pride of place in your home. And then you research the market, find what's trending, write a compelling book in your own unique style, invest in editing and a quality cover, market the heck out of your book, launch it, and start writing the next one.
