If you have always felt intimidated when starting to write your book, you are not alone. Newbie writers find it hard to put their thoughts on paper.
The good news is that following the proven tips that have helped other writers can also enable you to publish your first book. Keep reading this blog to find thirteen actionable tips to help you become a published writer – let’s dive in!
1. Join a writing class
The common mistake newbie writers make is writing a book without improving their writing skills. Keep in mind that you won’t be able to engage your readers if you make basic mistakes when writing. You should identify and fix your writing mistakes as soon as you can.
The best way to sharpen your writing skills is to join a writing class and utilize online writing tools. Enrolling in a class allows you to become a better writer by following the proven writing practices.
2. Choose the genre
Before you write a single word for your upcoming book, you have to decide what type of book you want to write. Choosing the main theme and genre will make it easier for you to complete your book without wasting your time and effort.
It’s not difficult to choose the genre for your book. You can start writing the book you’ve enjoyed the most as a reader.
3. Identify your writer’s voice
Using your specific writer’s voice will allow you to get recognition as an established writer. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not difficult to identify your writer’s voice and use it in your new book.
Writing simple short stories can help you learn how you formulate your thoughts and sentences. Another thing you can do is to “rewrite” famous short stories from your perspective. Doing so will help you identify your writer’s voice without having to wait for years.
4. Avoid using jargon
As a writer, you might try using uncommon words and phrases to show your “vocabulary” to your readers. Remember that this approach won’t help you increase your readership or sell more copies of your book.
You have to use simpler words and sentence structure that engages your readers. Instead of using technical terms, you should try to use simpler alternatives that everyone knows.
5. Use writing tools
One of the easiest ways to streamline your journey as a newbie writer is to use writing tools. These tools allow you to save time and effort and improve your productivity.
You don’t necessarily have to spend a ton of money to use writing tools. Most of these tools are free or have a “free version” that provides limited capabilities.
Some of the famous tools for writers are:
- Hemingway Editor
- Google Docs
- LibreOffice
6. Create an outline
If you think you should start writing without a basic outline, you’ve got it wrong. Remember that you’ll never be able to complete your book if you write whatever comes to your mind. Having an outline that allows you to stick to your main topic is always favorable.
Creating an outline is not as difficult as you might think. Your outline doesn’t have to be “perfect.” You should create a “barebones” structure of your story in your outline, so you can write faster and avoid distractions.
7. Follow your routine
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a newbie writer is not having a routine. Keep in mind that you’ll struggle with achieving your writing goals if you don’t set some time aside daily for writing.
You should have a writing routine that lets you put your thoughts on paper without disturbing your work-life balance. It’s better to spend a couple of hours writing each day, so you can achieve the writing goals you set for yourself.
8. Read more books
Reading more books is a simple way to sharpen your writing skills. Your reading habit will allow you to learn how other established writers keep their readers engaged and express their thoughts.
Reading more books should not distract you from your daily writing routine. You should not read more than 2 hours a day, so you have plenty of time to focus on writing. It’s better to pick the books of your favorite genre, so you enjoy your reading experience.
Also Read: 9 Must-Read Books of All Time
9. Choose an attractive cover
There’s no denying that you can create the cover of your book all by yourself. However, doing so might not be the best option for you. Keep in mind that readers do “judge” a book by its appearance. Having a bad book cover can make it difficult for you to impress your readers.
You should contact a skilled book cover designer who has created attractive covers for best-selling books in the past.
10. Overcome perfectionism
When starting your writing journey, you might try to ensure that every sentence you write is “perfect” for your readers.
There’s nothing wrong with thinking that you should improve the readability of your book. However, if you rewrite a sentence, again and again, you won’t be able to achieve your writing goals.
You should set perfectionism aside and focus on your writing. Try to sharpen your writing skills, so you feel more confident about your writing skills.
11. Grow your network
Networking allows you to increase your readership and get valuable suggestions to improve your books.
Growing your network is not as difficult as you might think. You don’t have to spend hours and hours every day adding more people to your network. It’s better to join online forums that help you connect with fellow writers and skilled professionals.
12. Don’t forget about editing
Your book won’t be interesting to anyone if it’s full of mistakes. You should ensure that you let a professional editor read your manuscript.
For example, if you’re writing a romance book and don’t know any editor, you can find romance book editors online to get your book reviewed.
13. Focus on publication
After writing your book, you have to move to the publication process. Remember that you can self-publish your book or let a publisher handle everything. Make sure you learn as much about publication as possible to avoid mistakes.
