I have always been passionate about writing. As a child, I would write short fantasy stories and make up characters. Now, as an adult, I write blog posts for a living and dabble in fiction. I try to write something every day, whether it’s a short story, a tweet, or a Facebook post. I feel like there is always something to write about.
Many of my friends tell me they want to become “writers” or “journalists.” However, to be honest, I don’t think these are the right careers for everyone. I want to share with you the steps I took to become an author and how long it took me to write my first book.
I Wanted to Be a Journalist
When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to write news articles and interview famous people. When I told my parents what I wanted to do for a living, they were supportive but also insisted that I get a “real” job. I didn’t want to disappoint them, so I kept quiet as I waited for my chance to prove them wrong.
In middle school, I began to think about other ways I could contribute to the world. I discovered that many companies, brands, and organizations need help with advertising and marketing, and I decided to investigate how I could help these businesses.
During my senior year of high school, I began working for a public relations firm, where I learned how to write pitches, conduct research, and pitch in to conferences and events. After graduation, I landed a full-time job at the same firm and began to see the “day-to-day operations” of a real newsroom. This is when I decided that I no longer wanted to pursue journalism as a career. Instead, I wanted to write.
I Needed An Idea
Like many other people, I looked at the growing popularity of ebook readers, such as the Kindle, and decided that I wanted to write a book about my experience using one.
At first, I was sure that I wanted to write a traditional, non-fiction book about the Kindle. But as I researched the market, I discovered that there were already a lot of books out there about the Kindle. So, I began to think about whether or not I should write a fictional account about an aspiring author who finds success using the Kindle to publish her books.
When it comes to determining the “right” topic for my book, I often turn to Google Trends. If a topic is trending more than it should be, then it’s probably a good fit for my book.
I Needed A Platform
Since I decided to write a Kindle book, I needed a platform. Amazon recommended that I use their Kindle platform because it was the easiest to get started on. As a result, I now have a small publishing company whose name is derived from a famous author’s pen name (Crichton).
It wasn’t easy getting my book published, and it couldn’t have been done without this platform. With Amazon’s help, I was able to build a following and connect with readers. Through their promotional tools, I was able to build a list of potential readers who might enjoy my book. Now, when I speak at events or conferences, I often tell people that I wrote a book about my experiences with the Kindle and how I launched a business as a result.
How To Become a Successful Author
Even though I wrote my first book on a Kindle, it didn’t mean that my career as an author was easy. In fact, it was quite the opposite. When I decided to write a book, I didn’t necessarily know what would happen. In my opinion, as an author, there are a few things that you need to do in order to succeed.
Find Your Voice
In your writing, you will need to find your voice. This is what will make your writing unique and valuable. It’s okay to take inspiration from other writers, but you need to find your own voice in your writing. Once you do, you will be able to tell your story and connect with your audience.
Find Your Audience
You also need to find your audience. Just because you write a book doesn’t mean that you will automatically write in a way that connects with a broad audience. As an author, it is your job to find the readers that you can connect with and build a community around your work. To do this, you can begin to investigate the kinds of books your target audience loves and then write your story with that in mind. This will help you to write something that they will relate to, identify with, and maybe even love.
Research The Market
It’s important to know your audience, but it’s also important to know the market. This is the universe of your potential readers. By understanding what is out there, you can decide whether or not you should even bother writing the book. If you do decide to write the book, you can choose your own publishing company and work with editors to get the book ready for market. In the end, you will need to build a following before you can attract an audience to your work.
Get Inspired
Writing is easy, but sometimes you can get stuck if you don’t get enough inspiration. This is why it’s important to get inspired. Sometimes you can get stuck in a writing rut if you don’t get enough new stories to write about. Inspiration will come from everywhere, and it can strike at any time. When it does, you will know exactly what to write about and how to write it. Inspiration can also give you the necessary push to finish writing that book that you have been putting off for so long.
Create A Schedule
Creating a schedule is crucial if you want to be productive and finish writing that book on time. You don’t want to let your schedule slip because you were distracted by a new idea or a story that came up. You can set up a time every week that you will work on your book without distraction, and then you will see exactly how much progress you have made. This will help you to stay motivated and on schedule.
The Journey So Far
After going through all of the steps above, I’m finally here. I wrote a book, titled How to Write a Bestselling Novel in 2022, about my experiences with the novel-writing process. My goal with this book is to help other writers find their voice, discover their audience, and get their books published. So far, my writing journey has been quite the adventure, and I’m still discovering new things every day.
If I can impart any advice to aspiring authors, it’s this: Don’t be afraid to take a chance on your writing. No matter what, you will always have the option of going back and fixing things that you may have messed up. However, as long as you’re determined to succeed and put in the work, you will find your way.