Eleven Ways to Work Smart in Your Writing Career
By DiAnn Mills
Writers receive blog posts daily that offer advice to build their
careers. The publishing world has many sides, and each facet demands attention.
We read—
- How to be successful.
- How to sell more books.
- How to strengthen characterization.
- How to research and interview.
- How to increase exposure through social media.
- How to write a synopsis.
- How to prepare a proposal.
And the list goes on. We are thrilled to have valuable information
at our fingertips, and we dedicate time to read and study the content. But
sometimes we can let things slip.
Have we taken a recent assessment and considered the eleven ways
to destroy a writing career?
1.
Failure to invest time and effort into social media.
Work smart! We live in an age of
worldwide communication. The best and most consistent way of reaching out to
others is through a social media platform. Our readers are actively online. We learn
how and where they are spending time and what they long to read. Successful
writers understand social media is about building relationships and helping
readers with their lives by offering their expertise. Our platforms brand us as
real, caring people.
2.
Eliminate prayer. Why bother God when He doesn’t care about my writing
career?
Work Smart! Giving God just a portion of our lives means we aren’t
embracing the God who gave us the gift of creativity. We should eliminate
doubts in the One who is faithful even when we are not. Our relationship with
Him is more important than any accolades the world can offer.
3. Engage
in poor grammar and punctuation.
Work smart! Invest in a grammar guide
or take a college English course. Most publishers use the Chicago Manual of
Style. Online help can be found at www.prowritingaid.com
or www.grammarly.com
. No writer wants their work labeled as sloppy.
4. Exercise is a pain, and
proper nutrition is for health fanatics.
Work
smart! The neurons won’t fire, and fingers won’t move when writers disregard
healthy habits. Varying reasons exist why people
abandon sound nutritional practices. Medical stats prove those who choose an
unhealthy diet and inactivity are more likely to contract life-altering
diseases. Needless to say, their writing can suffer. Physical challenges may
prevent specific forms of exercise, but most of us can become involved in some
type of activity.
5. Ignore what is going on in the world.
6.
Practice pride.
Work smart! Rejections and edit requests
make us better writers. Grow a tougher skin and understand it’s not a personal
affront but about the writing project. Humility molds us into better people.
7.
Refuse to understand genre and the guidelines.
Work smart! Be an expert in your
writing niche(s). Know the distinguishing characteristics of your subject
matter and type of book. A professional writer knows where she fits and strives
to meet those criteria.
8.
Show lack of sincere concern for readers.
Work smart! Take time to discover and
meet reader needs. Life is about relationships, and when we are genuinely
interested in our followers, they become our friends.
9.
State condescending remarks online about those in the publishing world.
Work smart! Not only are critical marks
about others inappropriate and unprofessional, but also every word written
online can be retrieved.
10.
Neglect to learn the writing craft.
Work
smart! Stop for a moment before following through
with this career-killer. We never stop learning. When we do, we stagnate and
die. This is not only true for our writing life but also for every breath we
take.
Writers may have the gift of
communicating through the written word, but unless they commit to learning how
to write and practice the techniques, they may never sell their work. Learning
is ongoing, a means of always being at the top of our game. Wrap your writing
in emotion perspectives—the reader’s, the characters, and your own.
11. Practice a self-centered mindset instead
of helping other writers.
Work
smart! We were all beginners once, searching for
tools and guidance. We made mistakes, learned from them, and resolved to become
better writers. Take time to encourage other writers through involvement in a
mentoring relationship or writer’s group.
If a writer refuses to help a struggling writer, what will happen
to the next generation of quality prose?
We all need to be professional. If any
of the above items have slipped into the horizon of our work habits, perhaps now
is the time to consider changes that will positively grow our writing career in
the publishing world. We can all learn. What tip can you share that addresses a
mistake you've seen a writer make?
Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.
Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash
DiAnn is a founding board
member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers
and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, and International
Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around
the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
Connect with DiAnn on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, LinkedIn or diannmills.com
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