Will You Be The Next Best Selling Author on Amazon? Advice For New Writers From Published Authors - Comments Welcome

You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance. ~Ray Bradbury

Some writing advice from some wonderful Indie Authors who have been there and done that. 

If you have some helpful advice, please enter it in the comments box below. 

Mel Comley  I'd say don't EVER upload a book until it's been before a PROPER editor and at least 3-4 proof readers. If you're serious about your work prove it. Trad pubbed authors don't or can't release their work without an editor looking it over. :-)


Selso Xisto Get an editor, don't think you'll ever spot all the problems and mistakes by yourself... Also, get a good cover artist; EVERYONE judges a book by it's cover

Julia Crane Don't worry about the first draft just get it on paper and go back to revise. (Several times)


Bryden Lloyd Definitely to read, especially in the genre's you know and wish to write in.
Find like minded individuals and get your name known through their blogs (reciprocating for them, of course).
Above all, I was always told to write for myself. If I don't love and appreciate my work, I shouldn't expect anyone else to.

 Trinity Wise Do your research and know as much as you can about the journey that you are undertaking. Hone your craft, read & write as much as possible..and support others, too.

Deborah Louise Richardson The best advice I ever heard was nobody asked me to do this. I write because I love it, and because I am compelled to do it. So if publishers or editors or ever readers give me feedback - positive or negative - I accept that feedback with good grace and learn from it.
 
Nicole Brooks Try to write everyday, even if it's just a few sentences. The more you write, the more you grow your craft. It's like watering your plants to give them the nutrients they need to grow.

Jonathan Gould Expectations - don't expect things to take off. Knuckle down and keep writing.

Saul Tanpepper Never publish something until it has been read and edited thoroughly by someone looking for spelling and grammatical errors. A good story well told will always be ruined by these kinds of mistakes. Weak dialogue, poor character or plot development can usually be compensated for, but mispellings and poor sentence structure are like spotlights showing your lack of professionalism.

Michelle Hughes Agree with Saul, hire an editor. Don't even think about publishing without one. Seriously it will come back to haunt you.

Mandy Trouten

Writing is far easier than promoting the book. If it's something you really, really want to do, don't let anyone tell you not to. Don't let anyone tell you it's a pointless dream or that it isn't a "real" job. If a potential promoter says they can't help you, don't let that stop you. You may have to do everything yourself, with only the help of friends and others here, but it can still be done.

As I'm also a new writer, I would love any advice on how to promote my book on a budget of $0, who to contact for endorsements, etc.

Philip V. Truman I would echo Jonathan. It's like a preacher once said to me about marriage, and the same would apply here - Lower your expectations, raise your commitment.
 

Nicole Brooks I was told if you can't afford to hire an editor then don't put the book out. LOL.

Kim Northrop Allow yourself to write whatever and however you want. Don't try to follow rigid rules, they just stifle creativity. Try to learn as much grammar and punctuation as you can to save on editing costs. 

Adona Pierre The best advice I received was to re-read, edit and let your words have a voice. Also, not to rush and make it enjoyable for all readers.

Catherine Stovall The best advice I can give is write from the heart and avoid the band wagon and second invest in an editing program. Seriously, it can save your career. You don't have to pay 400.00 for one. The cheap ones work well enough.

Glenn Starkey Before you worry about all the publishing and reviews, first write a work worthy of being read. (that's what I would advise.)

Shiri W Sondheimer Can't be a writer if you don't write.

Robert J. Oliver Be certain, whatever you do, that at the end of the day, writing is still fun for you. If it loses the joy, then it is time to let it go.

Jay Deb Visualize and be close to your characters.

Mark Alan Shaffer I was told to write what I like. And never let anyone tell you you are not good enough!



JT Lewis Author Don't rush your first book before it's ready...I mean REALLY ready.


Michael J Ploof Contact EVERY website that promotes free books and tell them about your free days. Give away at least 500 books and you should see numbers soar. Also category placement is key. But most importantly, write a great book. You can market the hell out of a turd, but it is still a turd.

     

Join active writing/author groups on Facebook that will support you on your journey:
 

Indie Authors - Soon to be released books

Authors Critique Group

The Write Stuff

"First 5 Chapters"

These are just four - there are so many more great sites worth following.

Don't forget to have a great blog and Twitter.

Writing Tips from the Masters.

Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. ~Mark Twain 

Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov 

Write without pay until somebody offers to pay. ~Mark Twain 

Learn as much by writing as by reading. ~Lord Acton 

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. ~G.K. Chesterton 

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. ~Oscar Wilde 

Zest. Gusto. How rarely one hears these words used. How rarely do we see people living, or for that matter, creating by them. Yet if I were asked to name the most important items in a writer’s make-up, the things that shape his material and rush him along the road to where he wants to go, I could only warn him to look to his zest, see to his gusto. ~Ray Bradbury 

Stephen King's final piece of advice echoes the wisdom of the ancients: "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut." 


 

Questions you may like to answer in the comments box below: 

Helen Howell I'm a new Indie Author with my release of Jumping At Shadows - I'm doing my best to promote, sent out review copies, gave a couple away in a comp, tweeted and talk about it here. Have already had two 5 star reviews, but what else can I do to promote and get it out there?  

My advice would be - 

Set yourself a daily word count goal. Start with around 300 and slowly increase it until you are writing 1000+ words a day.

Set yourself a realistic release date so you have a reason to write everyday. Writers need a deadline to work towards!

I like to design a cover and pin it on my work board where I write.  This gives me fresh incentive everyday to fill the pages and have the finished book published.

Try not to spend too much time on Facebook - I really need to heed my own advice with this one. Every hour you spend on Facebook is an hour lost to your writing.  Set limits... that is what I try to do - but have also been known to fail many times....


Read tons - great homework for writers.


Find an editor! You can not successfully edit your own writing - no mater how good you are. A lesson usually learned the hard way.

But most of all, the most important advice I can offer is - support you indie friends. You will never want for a better, more supportive group of friends! And I should know, I have the best!  Patti Roberts. 

   

Kindle Queen - Amanda Hocking's writing tips - HERE

If you have enjoyed this post please Tweet or share on Facebook. Many thanks, Patti