Many of us have dreamed of the day that we publish that first article, how-to-book, or novel, destined to be a best seller. While most authors will never know what it is like to gain international notoriety, many will get a taste of the writing life. As a new author or wannabee, we tend to scour all the books and magazines for the magic formula (assuming it exists).

Unfortunately, it is as elusive as the Fountain of Youth. There are however, good bits and pieces of advice that we can gain from many people along the way that will help us in our writing career. Here are 77 bits of advice i have gleaned along the way. Some of you may have others you care to share. If so, please feel free to add them in the comments.

Happy Writing!

1. Network with others in the industry
2. Get feedback
3. Read book reviews
4. Study the Market
5. Read widely
6. Attend writing Events
7. Write Daily
8. Get good advice
9. Write an elevator pitch – explain your novel in Twitter style
10. Look at what is selling
11. Less is more
12. Be persistent
13. Have something to say
14. Write clearly, as if you were writing a step-by-step process
15. Review many books
16. Gain insight into others mistakes
17. Know that there is no huge barrier into writing- except you
18. Meet other writers – do not stay isolated
19. Tell people your idea
20. Join support groups
21. Meet readers- readers like to meet writers
22. Define your inspiration- know what inspires you
23. Make ideas understandable to the general public
24. Don’t be boring
25. Be accurate in your facts
26. Look to history
27. Be prepared for rejection
28. It’s not about you, it’s about the work
29. Ask yourself- why isn’t it working?
30. Be prepared to re-write (more than once)
31. Writing is work
32. Understand the publishing industry
33. Look to new self-publishing opportunities
34. Be involved in writers groups
35. Collect interesting stuff for ideas
36. Make an idea journal
37. Look to niche markets for possible success
38. Know the different ways to publish
39. Three P’s to publishing: production, printing, promoting
40. It takes money to advertise your book- often it is your money
41. Read publishing sites- know what publishers talk about
42. Selection does not assure publication
43. Large Publishing houses are in the business of making money
44. Critiquing another’s work can help you become a better writer
45. “Show” don’t “tell”
46. Organize your thoughts
47. Write the way you speak (on your best day)
48. Check the competency of your writing- do you tell your story well?
49. Does your story have an interesting plot?
50. Is it believable?
51. Do the characters interact or act in a way that is consistent and believable?
52. Are your characters interesting?
53. Pay attention to the details
54. Is there a weak or strong hook?
55. Learn to write with precision
56. Querying can be a long process
57. Know the audience you are writing for
58. Get used to “tough love”
59. Learn to promote your own work
60. Create tension
61. Use a pen name
62. E-Book sales are gaining in popularity
63. Independent bookstores may be a foot in the door
64. Identify what is unique about your work when writing a query letter
65. Be polite but don’t be apologetic when approaching a publisher or agent
66. If you are a new author, it is OK to state that as a fact
67. Don’t use a spam query letter company
68. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground with an agent or a publisher
69. Exclusive queries to agents are not in the writer’s best interest
70. “Full” means your full manuscript
71. Read authors from cultures and times other than yours
72. Explore all genres before deciding where you think you fit
73. Writing is storytelling in print
74. Be a keen observer of the world around you
75. Be emotionally connected to your characters
76. Ask questions about your book that an interviewer may ask
77. Do not get sucked into daily time wasters that keep you from writing- write, write, write!
    

77 Writing Sites for Professional Writers Here