Want To Be a Writer? Five Tips For Getting You There

I’ve been a writer for many years, but only claimed it last year when I got over the shock of having a publisher. My debut novel Love Through Time is out now for your reading pleasure so pick up a copy.  

Today I’m sharing five tips on how to be a writer. No secret actually, if you go to any writing blog you will find these tips in one form or the other. I’m just putting my Nana Prah spin on it.

1. Write. I’m laughing because this should be obvious. If you want to be a writer you must first write. Being a writer is not about talking about writing, but actually sitting your behind down and writing.

2. Accept rejection and learn from it. I dare anyone to name one writer who has never been rejected by an agent, publisher, reviewer, editor, whatever. Rejection is part of the writing game. We don’t relish it, not unless we are a little unscrewed upstairs, but we all understand that it is part of our job.

3. Develop a second, third and fourth skin. Your current epidermal layer isn’t going to cut it. You will be criticized and criticized some more. If you remember not to take it personally, then you should be all right (you may need a tad bit of counseling, but as a writer you probably needed it anyway)

4. Read. That’s one thing I have going for me. I love to read. I wish I could say I’m an all around genre lover, but that would be a lie. I do like to dabble in a little bit of everything though. Reading is what helps us to become better writers. Read. Just like the act of writing, you can’t escape it.

5. Take a risk. My mother used to always encourage me to try new things. Life is one big gamble. Sometimes you’re the Road Runner and other times you’re the Coyote. So what? Remove the huge rock, get back up and try again. Yes this may be easier said than done, but how will you know you can do it unless you actually do it? Notice I didn’t say try, I said do it.

Here’s a bonus for you. The last thing I’m going to contribute to you becoming a writer are these few precious words:

             Get on your ass and WRITE, darn it!

To all my fabulous author friends am I right or am I right? What piece of advice would you add?