5 MUST DO TIPS for NEW WRITERS

5     MUST DO TIPS for NEW WRITERS

1.    This seems really simple, but you need to write good stories. 

Not great literature, but good stories that people like to read. 

Your goal as a writer is to reach a ton of readers who like what you write in the shortest amount of time possible. 

You do that with fun, engaging stories.

A lot of folks will argue about “well, it depends on what your goal is.”

Duh. 

Your goal is to make money writing so you can keep writing. 

You may want to write the Great American Novel, or the lit sensation that is going to win the Pulitzer.

Fantastic.  Do it.  I think you can.

But create a Pen name and write a lot of good stories under it, because until you win the Booker Prize or get the publishing contract, it's going to be tough to make a living unless you have an audience.

Just think of your sci fi romance stories as practice.

Just think of your cozy murder mysteries as training you need to do to get money to pay for your “real” writing. 

I happen to like both of those genres, and since I don't dive too deep into high brow literature, I don't wear an air of snobbery about what I write. 

You can, and it's okay to do so, just own it.

I write what I like to read. 

Fast paced. Fun. Couple of Jokes. 

Maybe a double entendre or two.

Whatever you choose to do, make it a good story first.

2.    Write fast. 

Don't think you need to spend years writing an opus. 

You don't. 

You need to write every single day, set your target on 1,000 words, and at the end of two months you'll have a 50,000 novel done. 

Then write another. 

And another. 

Do this for a year and you will have an entire series done.

1,000 words isn't a lot.

It takes fast typists about a half hour or less to plunk that out on the keyboard.

Devote 1,000 words a day to a novel you plan to finish in three months, and if you can do it faster with more words, do so.  Or write 1k on your opus after you put 1k on your bread and butter money maker.

Write.

Make it a routine. 

The more routine it is (the same time everyday at the same place) the more your brain becomes accustomed to that being it's creative time. 

Your brain will actually go into writing mode if you make it a habit. 

And once you're in writing mode you're in the flow, which makes you create more faster.

Trust me, write fast and in a habitual time and place. 

Your library of work will thank you for it.

3.    Start a Facebook page or Blog now with you as the author. 

Even if you haven't written your book yet, start building your platform so you can communicate with the people who like what you do. 

What should you post about on either?

How about writing.

Or your life.

Or things that inspire you.

I have a couple of places where I like to build a platform.  Twitter, my blog and Instagram, though I'm a johnny come lately to Facebook. 

I do have an author page, but I haven't been posting there. 

You should and I will.

Facebook as over a billion users. 

Write your posts, put them out there and people will find you. 

As you finish your books, invite people to join you there. 

Give them something for it. 

Free books, free excerpts, works in progress.

When someone comments on FB or Instagram, comment back.  That's how you start conversations.

Do the same on Twitter.

If you start this before your first book comes out, you can ask for help. 

What do you think of the cover? 

What do you think of the first chapter? 

Anyone want to read the book and leave a review? 

That sort of thing.

Be very giving in your posts. 

If you can pre-schedule them, do so in one block of time so they are published on a regular schedule.

Then get engaged.

4. Covers

If I see one more author post about how you need a professional cover, I'm going to platz all over the place. 

There are fixed costs that are going to go into your business of being an author and you need to be prepared for them.

But it's tough to tell a new writer, hey, save $1,000 for a professional cover or you will suck.

There are a couple of things that are going to help you find readers.

The number one thing is STORY.

Tell a good story.  The number 2 thing is Description, keywords and categories.  Cover is important, but not as important as people who double as book designers will tell you.

Here's what you need to ask yourself.

Have you done a search on Amazon for the types of books you write?

What do all of the covers look like?

Do it right now and get back to me.

That's right, they all look almost exactly the same.

This is why I have a problem with book cover designers who are also authors trying to tell you how important it is you work with them and give them your money. 

Cause all the books look the freaking same in thumbnail.

I just finished up a zombie book and tried to find a designer to do the cover.

They call came back with a rotten Zombie on the front. 

But the damn book was about surviving after and more like THE ROAD than a splatter fest.

Do you need a professional cover?

Yes.

Get a pre-made for 50 bucks or so, and use the rest of your money to run ads.

A good cover should catch the eye, and look like it belongs in the genre, but you don’t need to break the bank to do it.

If you’re writing space opera, you can find a pre-made sci fi cover with a ship on it, blue/black background, orange-ish planet, and adjustable font color.

Same for whatever genre you choose.

I’m not trying to take away money from good designers.  They are what you will need to catapault you past step one.

But when you are just starting out, a good designer shouldn’t be trying to separate you from your money.  In fact, the difference between a good designer and a great designer is one who will work with you on book 1, knowing that books 2-10 are going to follow and they have that to look forward to.

Save it for when you have a body of work that's making you some money.  This chicken and egg debate is moot except for a couple of things. 

Make your cover as professional as possible, probably by using a pre-made cover design by someone who knows what they're doing.  That's going to run you $50 - $60 bucks instead of $1,000.

And don't make it look like very other cover out there.  Have it look like it belongs in the genre but stands out so that when someone is searching on a book site, it catches their eye.

4.    This is a two-fer.  Or maybe a three-fer. 

You need an awesome kick ass title. 

You need to write an incredible description for your book, and include any reviews you've gotten in it.

And you need the right categories and keywords.

Why is this so important?

Because a kick ass title will attract attention and when you combine it with a decent cover, the first thing folks are going to do is read the description.

It should be a miniature story.

It should have a cliff hanger. 

Take a copy writing course on YouTube to find out some of the principals of copy writing and incorporate it into your description.

Use rich language that evokes a feeling.

Your description and title are the second and third most important things you can write.  Spend some time on it. 

But what's the number one most important thing you can write, or you can do as an author?

After they see your title, and click your description, they click LOOK INSIDE. 

This is your writing. 

Remember that great story I was telling you to focus on? 

That's what's going to sell your readers on you and help you find the ones who like your style.

If you focus on telling a good story above all else, and combine it with these other tips, then you can find success as a writer. 

I'm not talking about success defined as however you like it, I'm talking about readers who buy your books and put money in your pocket, or read it on KU and you get page reads for it.

Write your 1k words every single day for a year, publish each book as soon as it's done and build your series and you will be successful.

This may take a little time, but it is time well spent. 

Keep writing.

Keep dreaming and focus.