Writing Insights

So, you want to be a published author?

There are so many websites and magazines out there that give advice on the Dos and Don’ts of writing. For anyone just starting out it can be daunting especially with so much conflicting information.

First and foremost, I’m not claiming to be an expert. Far from it. I can only go by what I’ve learned in the last ten years since taking writing seriously and hope someone just starting out will find this useful.

There’s no ‘right’ way to become an author. We’re all individuals and what works for one, won’t necessarily work for another.

I’ve put together a few tips and try to dispel a few myths surrounding being an author that I hope will be beneficial.

Myth: You need specific qualifications to be an author.

I often get asked if I went to Uni, college or at the very least, have undertaken a creative writing course.

The answer is none of the above.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school. I stayed on for my A-Levels, which included English Literature, and my final grade was average. I couldn’t afford to go to Uni or do a writing course afterwards even if I’d wanted to. It just wasn’t an option. After school I drifted into jobs I didn’t like. I’d often start writing something but never finish it. When I was made redundant in 2008 that gave me the push I needed. I just wrote, and I was determined to dispel the belief that only someone with qualifications can get published.

That’s not to say that going to Uni or taking a writing course isn’t relevant. For some it’s helped enormously. The point is, it’s not essential.

Tip: Treat it like a job.

Some people still think writing for publication is a hobby. It’s not. Writing a novel is hard work. It’s one thing to be able to come up with loads of ideas, it’s quite another to be able to put that idea into a structure that works with believable characters and with enough interest to reel the reader in and keep them turning the page until the very end.

Try and set aside a set amount of time that’s just for writing. It doesn’t matter if it’s five minutes or five hours. Make that time yours.

Myth: Self-published authors are failed authors.

This really annoys me, that sweeping generalisation and snobbery. Luckily that’s changing with the rise in quality self-published books. On the flip-side, there are some terrible self-published books out there. Just because anyone can self-publish doesn’t mean they should.

My decision to self-publish came after I’d had some great feedback with my DCI Claire Winters novels from literary agents. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to sign with one, but I took their advice and got my manuscripts in the best shape possible before I self-published. I wanted to prove to myself that I had a readership. I managed to get into some of the best-seller charts on Amazon before I was picked up by HQ Digital (formally Carina UK) an imprint of HarperCollins. In no way would I ever describe self-publishing as failure to break into the mainstream. You never know what door it may open for you.

Tip: Don’t despair in the face of rejection.

Time to grow a thick skin, because rejection is part of the process. Try and find some positives in rejections from publishers or agents. Don’t take it personally or think that you don’t have what it takes to make your mark. Rejections can come for many reasons and doesn’t necessarily mean your work lacks merit. Pick yourself up and carry on. Hone your craft and above all, never give up.

Myth: You need a huge social media presence to gain the interest of an agent or publisher.

Most authors are expected to have an online presence and it can be a great way to connect with readers and other authors, but in the end, it comes down to your book. Your social media followers are not a way to measure the quality of your work. The book needs to speak for itself, so don’t sweat it if you’re not very tech-savvy. Concentrate on getting your book into the best possible shape it can be before submission.

Tip: Write the book YOU would want to read.

Don’t try and write what’s ‘hot’ right now. For example, don’t write a psychological thriller just because it’s seen as the ‘in’ thing. If that’s what you like, then great, write it, but don’t try to write for trends just because you think it’ll get you published. By the time you’ve written it, the market will likely have moved on to something else.

Write from the heart. Write what you’re passionate about. Write the story YOU want to tell.

Finally (and most importantly) …

Don’t compare yourself to other authors and their successes. Be inspired by others but always concentrate on you and your own journey.

Explore all avenues in publishing, because you never know what doors could open for you or the contacts you could make.

Stay grounded. Don’t be pretentious. There’s nothing more off putting than arrogance. As writers, we can always improve and refine our craft.

Remember – mistakes are OK, so long as we learn from them.

Support and champion other authors. It’s a tough industry – us writers should stick together.

—

Tania (T. M. E.) Walsh began writing full time after becoming a casualty to the recession in late 2008 and pens dark and raw twisty thrillers. She successfully self-published the first two novels in the DCI Claire Winters series before being picked up by HQ – a division of HarperCollins – in 2015. Tania is currently working on a fourth book in the DCI Claire Winters series with plans for another standalone thriller to follow her latest novel, Pretty Little Things.

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Twitter: @tmewalsh
Website: www.tmewalsh.com
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About PRETTY LITTLE THINGS

It’s bad when the girls go missing.
It’s worse when the girls are found.
Six months ago, Charlotte almost lost everything. Now, she’s determined to keep her daughter, Elle, safe. So when local girls close to Elle in age and appearance begin to go missing, it’s her worst nightmare.

Charlotte’s fears are confirmed when a frantic search becomes a shocking murder investigation. The girls’ bodies have been found – half-buried, and with traces of mud and wildflowers under their fingernails.

As Charlotte’s obsession with keeping her daughter close pushes her marriage to the brink, local DI Madeleine Wood embarks on a gruelling search for the killer. And, as they dig deeper into the lives of the people they call friends and neighbours, they uncover secrets more terrible than they ever imagined…

Pretty Little Things is the nail-bitingly terrifying new serial killer thriller from TME Walsh – the perfect read for fans of Close to Home, Behind Her Eyes and The Child

 

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips