Tips From Award Winning Authors

By Katrina Wheeler


The path to becoming one of the many successful, award winning authors is not without its challenges. Anyone thinking of reaching theses levels of success needs to be prepared to put in a lot of hard work and get over rejection, quickly. Following these tips from authors is a good starting point.

Writing skills, like muscles, need to be used often or they lose their form. Just like an athlete trains every day to improve their skills, so should a writer. The more you write the easier it becomes to produce quality content, deserving of praise. When you are felling uninspired, just look around you. You can surely find a story in many places such as a picture, a sculpture or watching people in the mall.

There are many methods and techniques that can be used to hone in on your art. These can be learnt by attending classes, receiving feedback and trying various methods till you find one that works best. If attending classes is not an option, then read books. This will introduce you to various tones and language styles, which is vital to identifying your own unique voice.

It is not easy to take something you have written and put it out for all to see. However, publication is important. Start by finding a publisher who believes in the piece of work as much as you do. The editor should be open and constructive. It is not easy to let go but at some point it is a necessity.

On the other hand, self-publishing is an option that more and more authors are considering. This option essentially cuts out the middle man. In this option, the author is responsible for all aspects including writing, editing, and book design. There are many platforms that can be used to publish your own novel or story. It also means control over distribution, PR and marketing.

Rejection is a reality in this industry. As demoralizing as this many be, find a way to deal with rejection. Any author will tell you that they received many rejection letters before they finally got an acceptance. This is a rite of passage, part of the process for anyone looking to succeed. Anyone putting their literature out there needs to build that thick skin and persevere. The important thing is to keep trying.

Don't be shy to enter competitions. Writing competitions are easy to find. Some have a submission fee while others have no charge. Either way, they are a great opportunity to have your work read by people who are active in the publishing field. In many instances, the judges are themselves writers, editors and publishers. This will be useful if you reach the final stages, where you'll most likely receive useful feedback and comments about your skills.

If you are looking to be enter the ranks of award winning authors, then you need to be willing to put in the work. Prepare yourself for some failures along the way but also leave space for the success. On top of that, make space for a little bit of luck. Sometimes you just need to be at the right place at the right time.




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