Is your New Years resolution to become a professional writer, meaning to write at least four to six hours a day? Turning the phone to silent, unplug from the world for a couple of hours and just write? Not thinking about writing or talk about writing, but actually writing? Resolutions aren’t what makes a New Year new. You need to take on new habits, which is way more powerful!
.
Yes, new authors will likely find it necessary to work harder than ever before. This isn’t the industry for people who expect a quick profit, or who think their single novel is going to make them rich or they can make a living from the first book on.
.
Never Give Up!
Bestseller authors need years and years to build up their audience, so it is surprising, that authors dream of their first book as a potential bestseller. To make a full-time living as a writer, it takes at least five books and ten-thousand hours!
It takes a long time and hard work to get an audience, one reader at a time – especially if you don’t have a large network of potential readers and following at Social Media, in forums or in real-life before you start to publish. Don’t think about sales numbers and earnings from your first book, write more books instead!
.
Lots of Competition
To compete with millions of other writers means to create more books, short stories, blogs and magazine articles and to market them professionally. If not trained in book marketing – and I am not talking about just having a presence on Facebook or Twitter – get professional help long BEFORE the book launch (even better before you write it) in order to have a smooth and successful publishing experience and to establish a great author platform.
Many authors have unrealistic expectations when it comes to the time required for effective book promotion and to make meaningful connections with readers. Don’t expect wonders from a single sales campaign.
.
Author-Publishing is Like a Completely New Profession
Professions need to be learned! It takes years to become an excellent writer and it also takes years to become an excellent publisher. It involves lots of skills and knowledge business-wise, marketing skills, not to mention, learning constantly new internet techniques and get to know the latest changes in publishing. And for the writing part: there are hundreds of websites with writing tips, critique groups and even more writing teachers and classes out there. Even from editors one can learn a lot.
.
Take Advantage of their Knowledge
A book marketing professional has to learn years and years. Why, as an author, not take advantage of their knowledge to keep your head free for writing and interacting with your readers? No one would start an accounting business without learning the ropes, and knowing how to create a revenue / expenses sheet or fill out income tax forms. Writing a book does not make for a publisher, no matter how clever businesses want you to imagine. Take the time to build your author platform and establish a brand, it will eventually give you an advantage in the publishing market.
.
By setting a goal and committing to it, you start to prioritize the goal in your daily writing schedule and make it a habit. Write a list of actions it needs to take to complete your goal, and applaud yourself as you get closer. Don’t forget: what are you writing now can be published and leveraged for decades to come! Be confident that you will succeed.
Have a Very Happy New Year!
<><><><><>
.
If you would like to get more support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites – or to learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer for three months all this and more for only $179 – or less than $2 per day! Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting for writers: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars
Please check out all previous posts of this blog (there are more than 1,150 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? There is also the “SHARE” button for easy sharing at Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn etc.
.