Have you ever wondered how to become a writer? Whether it’s in the hopes of publishing your first novel, starting your own blog, or even just writing for fun—and all with no experience. Well, there are many ways to go about it and this article will help you along the way!
1. Choose Your Career Path
Your first step in becoming a writer is to choose your career path. The best way to do this is by identifying what you’re passionate about, and then finding a way to connect that passion with writing.
Even if it’s not your dream job right away, having some idea of what kind of writing you’d like to do will help guide your studies and inform the types of projects you take on.
If you’re still not sure what kind of writer or editor you want to be, don’t worry—there are plenty of other options available! You can complete an internship at a magazine or newspaper while still in school and work toward becoming an expert on one particular topic or genre. Or maybe there’s something else entirely out there that would make all those hours typing worthwhile (hint: yes).
2. Publish Early (and Often)
You can publish your work on a regular basis, but it’s important to choose the right platforms for you. If you’re looking for an audience with a large number of readers, consider using sites like Medium or Wattpad. If you’re looking for an audience with a small number of readers (but still interested in writing), try publishing directly to independent websites like Bookly.com or Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
If your goal is to build up a dedicated fan base (even if they’re small in number), consider publishing on sites that cater specifically to the genre or niche topic area where your work falls into such as Wattpad (for YA fiction), LitReactor (for crime thrillers) or DarkFuse Magazine (for dark science fiction).
If it’s more important that other writers read what you have written than actual readers do, try starting a blog and sending emails out periodically when new pieces go live. This method allows writers from all around the world to comment on each other’s work which helps generate feedback from peers which is invaluable when developing as writers ourselves!
3. Pay Attention to Style
As a writer, you need to be able to produce content in different styles. For example, if you are writing an article for a popular blog, your writing style should be punchy and easy to digest. You don’t want your readers getting bored or frustrated with your work. On the other hand, if you are writing a technical manual for software developers or some other highly specialized audience, then it’s important that your prose is concise and jargon-free.
You also need to be able to write according to the purpose of the piece. Are you trying to inspire? Persuade? Make readers feel something? All writers have their own unique voice but when it comes time for publication—whether that’s online or in print—it’s important not only that they know what they’re doing but also why they’re doing it!
4. Set Goals
So, you’ve decided to become a writer. That is an ambitious goal and one that will require a lot of work on your part. But before you begin, it’s important to set goals for yourself so that when you inevitably feel discouraged or unmotivated along the way, there is something else to look forward to and work towards.
In order for these goals not only to be achievable but also rewarding, they need to be realistic; otherwise they won’t mean much when you hit them. If your goal is always “write the next great novel” or “get published,” then those are lofty aspirations that may never happen because those things can take years (sometimes decades) of hard work. Instead, try setting smaller goals in terms of numbers—how many words per week or month can I write? How many drafts does this book need before it’s ready for publication? Set quantifiable goals like these and keep track of them so that at any point in time if someone asks how far along on your manuscript is or what kind of progress has been made since last week/month/year/whatever, they’ll know exactly where they stand with regards to meeting their deadlines and making headway toward completion.
5. Build Your Platform
You’ve got a solid story, you’re working on your craft, and now? It’s time to build your platform. You want people to hear about your book before it comes out so that when it does launch, they’re already familiar with its premise and eager for more.
There are tons of ways to build up a platform before publishing: building a website or blog (my personal favorite), starting a newsletter, using social media like Twitter and Facebook regularly (but not too much), finding mentors in the industry who can give feedback on what could be improved in future drafts of your manuscript. These things all help get the word out about the work that you are doing!
In addition to these traditional methods of building an author platform, consider trying some nontraditional approaches as well. For example: writing guest blog posts; becoming involved with writing communities such as Reddit’s r/NovelWriting or Goodreads’ Novelists & Writers group; being interviewed on podcasts like Self Publishing Podcast or The Write Side Podcast; participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) each November—all great ways not only for writers looking for tips but also for potential readers looking for new books!
6. Network with Other Writers
It’s important to remember that networking is a two-way street. If you’re going to be asking people for help, you should also be prepared to give it. While the concept of networking may seem cold and impersonal, it’s not all about competition or popularity—it’s a way for writers who are building their careers to connect with others who can help them along the way.
It’s also important not to think of your network as just other writers, but anyone in any industry that can offer advice or support as you work towards success!
7. Diversify Your Skillset
Aspiring writers today can take advantage of new technology to build their platforms and publish their work – but they still need dedication and talent to succeed.
One of the best ways to become a writer is to diversify your skillset. The modern world offers many opportunities to work with new technology, including social media platforms and self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. But even if you’re not writing for a large publication or publisher, there are still traditional ways that you can build a strong platform and publish your own work.
So, how exactly do you get started? First, you need to learn how to write well. Reading widely (not just books) will help you gain this skill set. Next, you need to practice. This means taking time each day or week (or whenever possible) for writing exercises such as drafting letters or story ideas; it also means participating in local workshops and conferences where writers share their experiences and insight into the industry. Keep reading about publishing trends online so that when changes occur in the industry — which they inevitably will — they won’t catch anyone off guard!
Conclusion
I hope these tips have helped you start your own writing career. Remember that it’s a good idea to start small and build up your skills over time: don’t try too many different things at once, or you might get overwhelmed! Also, make sure that you don’t lose sight of the big picture: stay focused on what matters most to you as an author (e.g., style, voice), and always keep learning new things about how this industry works so that you can adapt.