So You Think You Want to be an Author

I’m sure there are other career fields where people introduce themselves and the other person confesses they’ve always had an interest. I can attest that when I say I’m an author, often the other person admits they write and think they might get published one day.

I can tell pretty quick who truly means it.

If you think you have a book or a writing career in your future, you need the following:

At least one completed draft of a manuscript.

The willingless to let that draft die and be revived again.

And again.

And again.

The desire to read books on the craft.

The desire to read books in your genre.

The passion to find a critique group who will take that umpteenth draft and find more for you to re-write.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Tired yet?

Thing is, most people who ask me about their book want to start after this sentence.

They have the cover designed.

They wonder what size the cover should be.

Do they need endorsements?

When I ask if they even have a finished manuscript, almost all of them do not.

The writing life sounds glamourous, but I assure you it isn’t. I participated in an online launch party lat week. Before it started I needed four posts and images ready. Once it was my turn, I had to answer the comments. That part is fun. I love interacting and participating in events like that.

But in-between my posts?

I took care of my recylables.

Ran to the store.

Started dinner.

Yeah, I don’t have people for that. I am the people.

If a potential author makes it to publication, they are also often lost with the part most readers don’t realize authors have to be active in—marketing. I spend time nearly every single day on this. Social media. Newsletter creation. Attending webinars. Reading articles on marketing. There are ads to consider.

Oh, that’s if you’re self-published. If you want to be traditionally published, there’s deciding if you want an agent. Learning how to query. Going without an agent? Research what publishers work with authors. Make sure you also learn what vanity publishers are and what ones are scammers.

While you keep writing.

And that my friends in a nutshell is what the author’s life looks like.

Those that take notes and keep asking questions? Those are the ones I think are serious. There’s nothing wrong with the others, I just know they are hobbyists or procastinators. And that group will never be on Amazon.

If we meet and you let me know you have a story for me, I’m excited to chat. I just hope you like my answers.