Saturday, April 9, 2011

So you want to be a writer?

I think everyone has a story in their heart. Something they may have waited all their life to find the time to get down on paper. I've talked to many of these people at conferences and events like my booksignings where they ask my advice. It's the same every time and I have to wonder why they choose not to just sit down and do it.

My advice is the same every time. I have three simple rules to becoming a writer.

1. Read.

Don't think it comes easy. You need to study the books you read. The plot, the grammar, the spelling, and the style it's written in, but not just the obvious things. Look at the best sellers and try to figure out why people are hooked on those books. You need to understand what people want to read and study other books in the genre you wish to write.

2. Write--but more importantly Re-write.

Your book will never get written if you don't sit down and write it. Make time to pound on the keyboard and try to keep your writing time sacred, but when you finally finish that story don't stop there. Now the hard part is editing and rewriting your story to make it a great story.

3. Look for opportunities to publish what you write.

It does you no good to write and then bury your work in a closet. You need to try to put your work out where the general public can see it. Whether you get paid for what you write or not is not important (yet). This will enable you to get feedback and see what you need to improve to begin living your dream.

Being paid as a professional writer.


So, that's my basic advice. Whether you choose to follow it or not is another story, but becoming a writer is simple. You can do it.

Lots of love,
Missy Lyons
Author of Magic, Seduction, and Fantasy


Siren Author of

COWBOYS DON'T DANCE
HEART OF A COWBOY
LYNNE'S LOVE TRIANGLE

available at Bookstrand.com:

http://www.bookstrand.com/missy-lyons

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool advice, Missy. :-) Thanks!

jan

Savanna Kougar said...

Missy, well said.