Top 5 Tips for Becoming a Fiction Writer

Millions of people dream of becoming a published writer. Ask the people around you right now whether they think they could write a book someday. Probably about half of them will say "Yes! I could write a novel about ..."

Having the idea is one thing. Becoming a published writer is quite another. But to put you at least slightly ahead of the pack, at least you can consider these five tips that could help you become a published fiction writer.

Anybody who's read a few how-to books will be familiar with this advice but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be repeated.

If you are going to be a successful fiction writer you MUST WRITE! You must write often, just like a sportsperson must train every day. Writing is just like that - you need to practice to get better. And if you don't write a lot then you'll never have enough material for a full manuscript, either.

Writing is usually something that writers have to fit around the rest of their lives. Distractions in the form of a day job, children, pets, friends, family and even the TV can get in the way.

Many writers perfect the art of procrastination rather than the art of writing. Don't be one of them. Write down your specific writing goals and stick them on a pin-up board in front of your desk. Look at them regularly. Make sure the goals have deadlines and are specific enough that you can complete them easily. And make plenty of smaller sub-goals which are easier to complete.

There are some key skills you need to be a successful writer. You need good grammar, no excuses. If your grammar is poor, learn about it. Don't expect your software to fix it

Then you need to learn about your genre. Get tips from websites and books on the best kind of story structure and plot, character development and style to suit the genre you want to write.

But be careful: don't spend so much time learning about writing that you don't actually write.

You won't be a good writer unless you read a lot. Don't stick to just one genre, either - read outside your usual interests and as you read, think about how the writer has developed a character or given information with flashbacks. Be critical and analytical as you read so you can learn what you think works best.

But again: don't spend so much time reading other fiction that you don't write your own.

The statistics look bad. The chances of you finishing a novel and then successfully having it published are extremely low. But don't let that put you off.

Believe in yourself or you will definitely fail. Work hard at your craft and strive to practice your writing regularly. Tell people around you that you are writing; tell them you are a writer. Self-belief is the first step in a long journey to walking into a bookshop and finding your book on the shelf.