Writing is a Business
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I am asked frequently about what is one piece of advice that I would give to aspiring authors or a younger me. It’s that writing is a business, and you need to treat yours like one. Writers write books and get royalties, right? Yes, but there’s a whole business side to the process that I didn’t really grasp until I received my first publishing contract. Here’s what I learned.
Writing is hard work. It takes time and practice to hone your craft. You have to put in the time to get the best results. And your first draft is NEVER the final one.
Editors, agents, and publishers are looking for books they can sell.
Not every person who reads is going to buy your book or even like your book.
It is hard to hear not-so-positive reviews or critiques of your work. But to improve your craft, you need to learn what you can from feedback (and learn to ignore the trolls).
No matter how big your publisher is, you will still need to market your books and build your author platform.
It is hard to go it alone. Find your crew who understand the process and the writing life. Your writer friends will celebrate with you and help cheer you up. The best thing I did was to join Sisters in Crime and other writers’ groups.
You need to research the business and financial (tax) aspects that affect you and where you live. You may need a professional to help you with the record keeping, business licensing, and other advice.
Once you have publications, you need to consult your attorney about what to do with the rights and royalties after you are gone. You need a will if you don’t already have one.
When I treated my writing as a hobby, it was hard to get family and friends to understand that this was more than a fun project. Now, I schedule the work and appointments like I do at the day gig.
Writing is tough sometimes and writing for publication is often an adventure. But there is nothing better than seeing your name on the cover when it finally launches into the world.
