10 Must Haves For A Writer
88A Writer's Needs.. From Editing to Blogging to Publishing
The Ten Must Haves a Writer Needs to Be Successful:
Below is a list of the ten things you'll need to have or do to publish a book. It's not so much a how to publish a book, but how to write a good book which in turn, will allow you to become a published author. It also will in some cases allow you to get more money for your work.
Some you've already done, if you've written a hub, you've already published. It that sort fo thing that makes a difference. So without anymore delay, here are the ten things you'll need.
A Good Editor
This is a must, I don't believe anyone can edit anything by themselves. This being said, I understand that writers do get better over time but still it is advised to work with an editor. In fact, it is a must. There are many people who can edit. I am not one of them, as many of you can plainly tell. Yes it may cost you some money, but in the long run a better edited manuscript will get more money. A Paradox I know but still.
A Great Literary Agent
They know contracts, they know what can and can not be negotiated, we as novices don't. For myself, it is important to get someone else to read any contract sI have to read. A person who knows the ins and outs of the industry are a must.
A Blog Which They Write On
This I would argue is a basic need, but there are so many authors and would-be authors who don't have a blog. Bad move, in this time frame, not having a blog is akin to missing an important plot line at the end of a novel. Write a blog, write a hub, get your online presence going.
A Personal Library
Go to amazon. This is simple and important. This is valuable. Build this library. For my own library there is grammar books and history books. Can you guess how often i refer to them? I also recommend taking an online creative writing course, or a writing course in general, as they normally recommend a lot of books that can come in handy while writing. I like both gotham writing classes, and writers online workshops.
A Name In The Online World Such as Hub Pages
Again, go to hub pages. Get an account and begin to write hubs, as often as you can is best. Duchess O'Blunt, Scott.Life Leslie Saunders Dohn 121 are some great hubbers to watch for in the writing forums. There are tons of others, make good use of them.
A Good Sense Of Humor
I can't say how often I can make fun of my own shortcoming in writing, it helps especially when the going is at its hardest.
A Great Sense of Networking
Write comments on people's hubs, tell people about other good hubbers, write on blogs, respond to emails in a timely manner. Write and write and write some more.
A Strong Writing Ethic
This is a job, especially if this is something you want to make a career out of. You need to make it a job. I know sound hard, but it is true. Are you a writer? Do you want to be a writer? Prove it.
I Know this sound harsh, but it is true at some point you either write and work on your work or you don't. If you find other things to do (such as video games) you aren't writing now are you?
Good Friends Who'll Tell The Truth
A Must. If my friends won't read my work and can't find teh tiem to read it, well there is a problem right? They need to tell me that my writing is horrible from time to time.
Confidence In Themselves... But Not EGO!
It's your writing and you need to be proud of it. At the same time you need to be honest, it can use some work and some one else might know better than you.
- A to Z Guide for Hubpages Beginners and Intermediate...
This is actually a bold move of making a hub about improving the hubbing experience of the so-called rookies, newbies, newcomers or starters of HubPages. I hope I have the honor to share my ideas for I... - Chapters.indigo.ca Canadas online bookstore Books, Toys, Music, DVDs and Games
Canadians shop online for books, kids' toys and games, movies and TV on DVD, and music CDs at Canadas biggest bookstore. Buy bestsellers, bargains and gift cards. - Hubpages Help - A Reading List For New Hubbers
New Hubber? Then come and work your way through this hublist of who and what to read first. It will save you some time when you're lost and set you on the right track, re hubbing. A win win situation. - ProBlogger.Community
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100 Ways to Improve Your Writing (Mentor)
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On Writing
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Writing Magic: Creating Stories that Fly
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On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
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Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
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The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well
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Publish a book?? well that isn't hard, as long as you remeber that you can make money writing, but that takes a bit of time and an online creative writing course or three!
So from literary agents, to a perconal library to online writing courses, you've got a good start to becoming a great writer.
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Comments
Scott, so are you! Thanks for the compliment!
Good, solid advice. Getting an agent is the catch.
way to go Rebecca!! thank you...I will do the 30 hubs in 30 days challenge again...that was really good for me, I didnt guite make it (28) but it made me focus just as you said, write write write and oh yes write!
Now how did you know I was playing mahjong last night instead of working on my current hub? hmmmm? :) love to you and thank you...shall we call you writer kratchet then?
Thanks once again, and yes RNMSN, I to am guilty of guilty pleasures such as video games some times, but as a reward...
This is great information,..editing is important,..hoping my daughter will catch on to it,..LOL. Networking is my biggest for my niche,..I have come along way because of it.
Great advice. Every writer better have an advanced sense of humor and a thick skin. Somebody will always be unhappy with your work. And somebody will fall in love with your work. The latter category might include only your parents, but it's a start.
What good advice Rebecca, this is a must for my bookmarking library. I appreciate what you said about editing your own work. When I began on hubpages, my writing was atrocious, because I would just write and publish immediately, but I since learned to be patient, and let my hubs sit,and marinate, sometimes a day or two and read and reread them constantly, before I publish. And I do find errors, that I would have otherwise let slip through. It's nothing like reading a badly written article to turn you off. Even though I am not a writer of sorts, I am an avid reader, and I know good and bad writing. Oops, what am I doing here, writing a hub. Sorry! Very good hub!
Great job pointing out all of these tips, Rebecca. Thank you again for sharing.
A lot of great information here - as a 'writer' one of the things I neglect most is 'networking' - in the internet world that means writing blog entry after blog entry!
Rebecca, I totally agree with your list. Of course, since I've beat my head against a couple of walls decade after decade--and found absolutely zero success in coming up with either an editor or a literary agent in the past 50 years of (admittedly intermittent) trying...I'm clearly "not a writer".
Ah, well. I'm building an earthbag home bare handed and single handed (my version of video games, I guess) so couldn't qualify at the moment, anyway. But I'm glad to MEET a writer!
Time to go Fan you!
good tips...thanks!
Thanks for all the tips, that should polish me up alot.
excellent list. Now to find an editor. (trembling in terror)
Rebecca, these are all good tips. However, I would not necessarily count on friends to read what you write. Some will, and some definitely won't. This does not mean they are not good friends. Some people have trouble reading, but they are not necessarily bad people or bad friends. Others read just fine, but they are afraid to criticize. Give them their space. They may be good friends in other ways. Finally, people who are not close friends may turn out to be better readers with exactly the sorts of constructive criticism you need.
Great hub! As an aspiring author, I definitely agree with everything you said. That's why I just write to write. About pretty much anything. And reading is good, too. I call it studying the masters at work. :) Thanks for this very helpful hub!
Thank you! I learn a lot from this hub and have already bookmarked it! Thank you for these helpful tips :)
Valuable tips...I would write more blogs, but my Creative Writing college class is keeping me pretty busy these days!
Good advice
All your suggestions have been noted
i liked what you said about having a good sense of humor especially when it comes to not taking yourself to seriously as a writer. course that's often done in mock humility i.e. Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to Her Book". she pretends her book of poetry is poor but she knows she's the stuff. thanks for sharing these helpful tips!
I really enjoyed reading this hub directed to the "new writer." Great tips and duly noted.
thanks to all for you comments, I can barely keep up. I try to have a sense of humor when teh rejections slips begint o pile up, not one of them says the same thing... can't please everyone!
Good advice. One thing that you didn't mention is leaving your comfort zone i.e. writing about a subject that you're not familiar with. I've found that this helps a lot with my researching skills....
Rob
Rob Deee, that's the one thing I would put as #11, as most new writers fear it, but still writing out of your comfort is vital. It helped me a lot as well.
Blogs indeed help in getting the word out about your writing stints and portfolio, so create a very good one.
John
Good solid advice. I just started writing hubs. I am an excellent writer but having trouble generating the income from hubbing.
sabbatha1,
that will take time, but the more good hubs you have teh better it will be.
Good thinking , knowledge as well this is great approach fro writers.
I just wanted to thank you for recommending "a good editor." I am a freelance writer by heart and a full-time freelance book editor by career, so I know the value of it. I work with writers all over the world who are great writers but benefit from a second set of eyes. It can be expensive if you aren't careful, but if you look hard enough, you will find affordable, great editors that can really make a manuscript shine before you ever submit it to a publisher or agent. And if anyone needs one, I always only charge $1 a page! autiej@gmail.com
this has helped me out tremendously thsnk you
It's important to have an editor any editor will do to begin with and i should know my editing skills aren't well. we all know that answer.
Rebecca, you have shared many great hubs and many great ideas. I like #1 and #2 here. But that generally only happens when you do think of writing as a job and you do prove your own work ethics. Good hub, great tips.
Thanks again for sharing
This is true, but numbers 1 and 2 always seem to come up don't they?
Great writing, Rebecca.
I write everyday. My first novel is being sold on-line at BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com. Actually, it was fluke at being bought and promoted. It has inspired me to write another novel. I am hoping to get good at writing. I did not have an editor for the first one. I can't afford one, yet. I hope I can afford someone to represent me before I finish the novel I am working on now. I do believe it will be better. I will be editing my web page to include an excerpt of Serving up the Soul at the Kitchen Table, this afternoon.
Good advice. Thanks for sharing.
Hy Rebecca E,
Thanks for these great tips. I consider myself an aspiring writer. I am strongly thinking of sending my finished book to LULU.com and getting published that way, and through selling an ebook version of my novel. Has anyone ever done this before and been successful? Just wondering.I have been in HubPages for about 2 months now. Much appreciated!
I've used lulu myself recently, and UNLESS you've had a following and this can be a easily marketed book not so great anymore, it's a case of grown to fast to soon and they have a great marketing plan.
Create A space for now is a bit better.
You are right with your list. Thanks very much.
Very interesting and useful Hub! Every hubber can follow all of your given tips to become a successful writer online! Thank you very much!
thanks for the info... great hub
Nice one, A hub for all writers, Good points. Yeah every writer don't have every quality, as i don't have Great Sense of Networking. I don't like to talk allot or joining groups but i want to get success i need to get it too. Few tips on that ??
Great advices Rebecca. Just started on my blog (still building it up) but I have to agree with you there, wasn't really comfortable being a writer and not having one. Thanks for the hub!
Patrick-- it's reallt trial and error. I've learnt that over the many years I've been writing
Emievil-- blgo are fun but teh same holds true as in hubs, many and good quality and time.
thanks for the tips. well, you keep reminding some lazy writers like me...we must keep writing. thanks.
All great advice, thanks :)
very helpful hub thanks
thanks for the great info!
I am writing a book and think I better work on acquiring these ten.
Thank you for writing this. :)
Good advice, especially the writing work ethic. That is most important. You can sit at the computer all day, but if you aren't actually writing your getting nowhere.
I loved the photo by the way!
why would a writer need a blog or hubs??
.......and how would one GET a blog site?
Very good advice for writers. I occasionally have to remind myself that writers WRITE! Thanks for the advice.
okay babylon69: Easy, because surf teh net if you're out "there" somebody will go back and find your writing and then your hubs, and by default, you, and you book which is listed on amazon.
You can get a blog easily by going to google and writing blog, there is for free blogger, and wordpress and for a small fee tyepad, which will be a starting platform. just google it!
Getting blogger is a good thing, and I like the other points on this list, but I must say it does go well with your book list, another excellent hub, rebecca
thank you , this makes sense, I will try it.
awesome hub ...........keep it up
The first and probably the most essential thing I will read right this moment.
hi Laura 101, keep up the good work and thanks for the compliment!
Thanks for these tips. I wrote a lot back in school but had got out of the habit over the years. I have been trying to get it going again and have some ideas I would like to make into books.
Nice article.
Web has opened a new avenue for writers. On web everything need to be conveyed through words.
I'm bookmarking this as soon as I'm finished sending you my comments..Thanks for the next step and as I hear my video games in the backround I'm writing to the soundtrack now..=) please check out my hubs from time to time so I could recieve some wanted constructive critism..Ali
beep beep beep goes my video games some days as well=) I'm adictted to soundtracks on my computer as well.
Verry good read and pleasure reading your hubs.
Thanks
hi rebecca, you are really an inspiration. i am starting to like you. i have book marked 2 of your inspiring articles.
you are absolutely great
It sure would be nice to have a literary agent. :) But first I have to get a manuscript finished!
Great hub, rebecca. Thanks for the info.
Love this short and sweet hub
At some point in my life I would love to publish a book.
I'm with you Richard...someday. Thanks for all the tips.
Don't worry I am sure you will both of you, Richard Amen and Mary Elena!
I think a trait that good writes have is showing their own personality and for me, the more unique the better.
Excellent piece. Short, informative, to the point. Very helpful. I especially liked he stress on "writer's ethic". Just do it! Thanks!
I'm a professional editor and proofreader. Yes, writers do need editors. I don't understand why a writer would want to publish an article that is full of misspellings and grammatical errors. This makes an article unclear and hard to read. I think that most writers feel they cannot afford to hire someone to edit all of their articles, or they don't know where to find an editor. I'm more focused on writing now. I love writing articles. I've written 27 articles for ehow so far and 5 for Hub Pages. I am trying to write faster and more often. I struggle to find time to network. I wonder how much money I will end up making, too. If anyone out there is making decent supplemental income from Hub Pages, I'd like to hear about it. Interesting what you said about lulu. I was thinking that maybe it was a good place to publish a book. Is Amazon still a good place to publish a book? I have a friend on ehow who is trying to figure out how to get her book published. What you said about needing an agent is important, also. People have no idea about agents or where to find them, me included. How much does an agent charge, anyway? Regarding commenting on a friend's writing, this is tough. You don't want to hurt their feelings or get them angry with you if you give them any constructive criticism. Personally, I'd feel very uncomfortable with it; unless, from what they said to me, I was sure that I could be honest. I would certainly be tactful if I did help a friend with writing advice. Thanks for the interesting hub.
Its true that no matter how good we are as a writer but we always need an editor besides us to point out the mistake..sometimes we don't find mistakes in our writeups.. nice tip...thanks :)
Good tips thanks. Guys visit www.hubpages/author/exellentte.
I am a young writer and need ur encouragement
phenomenal advice...i am working on becoming a writer :)
I am a newbie and have lots to learn. Thanks for the tips.
writing is great but for me an editor is better.
Just do it! Great advice, thanks...
Love it, nice list!
Thank you for the advice!!
I'm about to click on the 'A to Z Guide...'
right now, because I just joined Hub a few minutes ago.
God Bless
good luck, little wing !
Thanks to the many emails who suggested I add a few of my favortie amazon books here they are.
My favorite is a friend who tells the truth. If your lucky you have one friend who will tell you when you have written well or more importantly when you have written poorly.
I actually have three of them, and boy dot hey tell it like it is, a bit more than I'd like sometimes, but helpful none the less.
Advising one to post comments on what they read is quite a good idea! I would have absolutely not thought of it if you hadn't said that. With all I've already read as a new Hub-er, and no Hubs yet, it would help my name get around if I comment on everything I've read so far.
this works for both you and the person you are commenting on, also hit teh share it button and tell people with your network.
These are great ways to get your name around.
IS there anything else that should be in this top ten?
I think a basic knowledge of writing is a good thing to have as well. If you don't have it why bother writing?
I'll also add a bit of luck is involved in the whole process. This is great
luck luck and a good title.
I would have put the section about getting a literary agent last. They are almost as impossible to get as publishers. They rarely let newbie writers in the door. As we speak, there are 800,000 writers trying to show their manuscripts to any one who will look at them. No one will. Self-publishing on Lulu is dead easy - anyone can do it... and they do! But nobody reads them. The bulk of self-published books sell less than a 100 copies. About 3 out of 10,000 self published books sell over 1000 copies, and most of those are non-fiction.
It is the very thng the is the prime paradox, do we go to a literary agent to get a larger traditional publsiher to look when most agents... well don't have time to get out of the slush pile...
then there is self-publishing... and J Rosewater you are right.
Alot of help, thank you!
Hi Rebecca
What a beautiful name. I have a niece called Rebecca and she is beautiful also. She was my flower girl when she was three. I see you have so many comments you may not even notice me. I have been in about eight or so weeks. I am not a writer, in fact, I am a professional singer, but because I have picked up a terminal illness along the path of life, sorry that is my warped sense of humour, I needed to find something else to do when I couldn't stand without a walking stick and my tremors were so noticeable that I wasn't able to do solo work. I stumbled on hubpages, and like I said I am not a writer, but some people have indicated that I might be a bit talented in that regard. I loved your hubs, I have read several, particularly the one about how to become a writer.I started a course at the Aust. College of Education in Copy Editing and Proofreading. However, I had to stop because I wasn't well enough to keep up. I learned about all these different types of signs you draw to indicate to the writer when they have to change various things, such as if they have left a letter out, or if you want to put in an extra word, it was quite fascinating. sorry, I am going on a bit. Anyway, I have fanned you as well as writing this comment. I would love it if you could tell me what you think of some of my hubs. I just published my 25th, I have four poems as well as some stories, some fiction and some non fiction. Glad to have met you. God Bless BB
Beauty babe, I certainly will.
Scott.Life says:
2 months ago
You are a valuable resource for new Writers Rebecca. I appreciate the nod, I guess I'll need to get off my rear and write some more.