I dug around online a bit, but there wasn't a whole lot out there for me and I really didn't know what I was looking for. So what are my biggest pieces of advice for new authors? What are the road map tools that i would encourage any new author to be equipped with?
1. Always keep writing. Whether is is good or makes sense, keep the pen to paper and don't stop. I did NaNoWriMo one year and wrote 50,000 words in one month. The tip I got was to write whatever came to mind and keep going. Push yourself. You can edit later, but there will be some great things in what you write. And there was. I kept about 30,000 of those words. Just don't stop.
2. Build your Social Media presence. I am still working on this myself, but the world we live in today requires that you are every where all the time. Don't fool yourself into thinking that they will just come to your and know you exist. You have to tell them and tell them why they should pay attention!
3. Make sure you have a support network. I would not have made it this far without my family and friends supporting me. It isn't an easy industry to be a part of and you will run into road blocks. That is why you have support, to help you over the road blocks, around them, through them, whatever it takes. But don't be silly enough to think you can forge this path alone. You can't. You also shouldn't.
4. Do your research. One of my biggest mistakes was investing in a new book festival in Queens, NY and sending copies of my book to them. I never saw a dime of money or those 20 books ever again. Know who you are doing business with and know the terms. These are your books and you deserve the money and the experiences from them to be positive. Don't trust just anyone and take the time to find the right opportunities, not just the next one that comes along!
5. Know what you want from the book. Identify for yourself if a publisher or self-publishing is your best route. It is easy to get excited when you submit your work and get accepted by the first publisher, but again do your research. There are a lot of publishers out there and like any group you join, make sure they serve you the way you're hoping for. And if you go self-publishing, know all the different pieces that go into it before you do. It's great to have control, but as I've said, that comes with a lot of responsibility too.
Have questions? Want more tips? Comment below and tell me what you're loooking to hear!
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