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Ten Winning Habits of Frequently Published Writers

 

Are you ready to sign off on your first project or publish more of what you have already written? Have you been wondering who will publish your work? The publishing industy is changing in the new millineum and doesn’t appear ready to stop changing. It is estimated that in the next 10 years, 50 percent of all books will be self-published or published by smaller presses. Even so, it should not exempt us from the pursuit of excellence in our craft through sound writing rules and business etiquette.

 

With that said the way to more published writing credits is basically the same as Anne Wayman says, "Write well and write often." If you want to get published more by industry respected magazines and even enter into the competition for the attention of traditional book publishers, you may want to examine some of your writing habits. There are some habits those writers who consistently get published share. If you want to join the winner’s circle of frequently published writers develop these habits:

Habit #1 Develop and maintain a strong sense of professionalism

Frequently published writers know they are not just creative artists. They know publishing is a business. They realize as a writer they supply a product to the publisher or directly to the customer. The writer that comes to terms with producing their writing as a product develops a professional attitude. He seeks to develop the most excellent product that will satisfy the demands of its consumers. The professional writer follows the basic rules of business etiquette. For example, they use crisp, clean paper for letterhead. They never handwrite letters or manuscripts. They always include a SASE with each query.

Habit #2 Write your best, always.

Unseasoned writers and those who lack professionalism always seem to be saving their best effort for later. Other writers who save their best for the next project often procrastinate themselves out of enough time to do a good job. Some feel the buyer has left them no profit, so they give them what they feel they paid for.
 

The solution though it may not be quickly is to always do your best. This practice works well with the universal law that says, ‘What you give comes back around to you.” When you continually give your best – the best is always coming to you – the best assignments, the best rewards, and the best credit. So write your best and expect the best.

 

Habit #3 Tap your passions and spread your joy to the world

Most writers who publish often are passionate people. They make the most of their passions through their writing topics. As many of you do, the author has varied interests. She has had to streamline and focus more than several times over the years. The greater the numbers of things you attempt to focus on the less effective you become. Two of her passions have burned brightly in her life in the last decade her writing and web development business. So its no surprise her published credits line up in the writing arena and internet/computer category. Identify your passions and you will rake in the publishing credits. Your joy will be contagious with editors contacting you to publish your work.

 

Habit #4 Write compelling leads and hook your editors and readers

The lead often called the “hook,’ because it hooks the reader – is the first few sentences or paragraphs of whatever you are writing. The job of the hook is to draw the reader in to read more. Frequently published authors realize strong leads are not just for good journalism. Strong leads are for plain good writing. Use strong leads with everything you write, from non-fiction articles to good stories, from query letters to book proposals.

 

Use a compelling lead at the beginning of every chapter in both non-fiction and fiction. If you are writing an article, write a strong hook each time you transition to a new idea. A strong hook for an article may make the difference between selling it to an editor and not selling it.
There are different kinds of leads. Stories that set a scene or mood, startling facts, interesting statistics that spark interest are often components of a strong lead. The question lead entices readers to keep reading to learn the answer.

 

Habit #5 Develop Sizzling Titles and Headings

Successful writers sizzle their titles and headings. They know the title may well be 90% of the pulling power for their project. An excellent title is short. The best selling titles are benefit driven. Don’t forget to heat them up with emotion. Use terms your audience can relate to. Use action words and verbs. Quantify change with ways and time limits. Use one or two word ideas to tell a story. Pledge change. Spark interest. Instead of How to Write an E-book a client author chose the title Ten Secrets to Write Your E-book Like a Winner. She quantified change, sparked interest and branded her title.

 

Have a meeting of the minds with friends or associates. Let them help you choose the best title from the list. Find out which will make them want to read your project. Pinpoint the sizzling one and the same title may capture your editor’s attention as well.

 

In the beginning, the acceptances are slow and sporadic for the successful and unsuccessful writer alike. But the difference is the successful writer keeps submitting. On a regular basic they see their work published because of their investment and persistence. Start with 1-3, keep submitting, and be persistent until you are invited into the winner’s circle of frequently published writers.

 

Habit #6 Do your own dirty work; make your editor’s life easy

Professional minded authors don’t expect the editor to do all of their editing, rewriting and spell checking their work. Many authors seem to think their writing talent should out-weigh ever having to rewrite, fix grammar or spelling errors. Remember you are forming your trust factor and creditability from day one. If you make an editor feel as though she has to triple-check your facts and rewrite portions of your work because its always turned in sloppy she won’t favorably anticipate your next project. Do your own dirty work and make your editor expect excellent work when your projects come across her desk.

 

Habit #7 Read avidly

Winning writers are avid readers. It’s a scientific fact that most avid readers are prolific writers. Well maybe not scientific but it’s a known fact that reading other people’s work makes you a better writer. If you want to become a better writer or better yet a frequently published one make reading one of your habits. For sure read what you enjoy and are most interested in but don’t forget to expand your horizons; read a broad range of literature. Read non-fiction, stories, read poetry, read newspapers. I read a couple of marketing and internet related articles per day. But I also fit novels, magazines and newspapers somewhere in there during the week. Don’t feel you have the time? Take a book or magazine along with you to your sitting/waiting appointments. Long commute? What else is there to do with your mind but read? Fit more reading in your schedule and become a successful writer that editors are looking for.

 

Habit #8 Cultivate your skills, forever

Frequently published authors are life long learners. They have a strong desire to develop and cultivate their skills. They believe in forever learning and improving their craft. With this attitude you receive a lot more of the “Yes, let’s publish it!” Start building your writer’s library with the basic style book such as The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White (Allyn & Bacon). Then make it an annual tradition to read and brush up on your basics to keep improving. Remember excellence is a habit. Glean from the field of writing and your colleagues who are improving. Subscribe to writer magazines like Writer’s Digest, attend conferences, take a class, and be active in your writing group. Make it a habit to develop your craft and enter the circle of frequently published writers sooner.

 

Habit #9 Think investment

A lot of writers wish these two responsibilities would go away or at least someone else take up the task of doing it for them. The truth is you have to submit and you have to promote. Consider it an investment of your time and effort with rewards waiting just around the corner. You have the most passion and interest in your work. So accept it, relax, submit and promote to enjoy the journey of seeing your name in print more and more. Regularly published writers submit their work and if it comes back with a rejection letter, they look for improvements and send it out again. They develop a cycle – a habit of while one article, short story, book project is out, they write something else and send it. They keep sending until they have 5, 10, and 20 circulating.

 

Habit #10 Target your reader and audience

Learn as much as you can about the demographics of the potential reader for whatever it is you are writing. Widely published writers study their potential reader. Some even sketch their reader in word or drawing and post it on their computer so they can write directly to them. The widely published writer find out what gender is she or he? What education level? They try to discover if they are conservative or liberal? What do they like and dislike? What will this person enjoy reading? What other interests will they likely have? Keep this reader in mind as you pitch your idea to the editor and especially when you write your project.

 

In the beginning, the acceptances are slow and sporadic for the successful and unsuccessful writer alike. But the difference is the successful writer keeps submitting. On a regular basic they see their work published because of their investment and persistence. Start with 1-3, keep submitting, and be persistent until you are invited into the winner’s circle of frequently published writers.

 

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© Earma Brown, 10 year author and business owner helps small business owners and writers who want to write their best book now! Author of “Win with the Writer Inside You”, she mentors other writers and business professionals through her monthly ezine “iScribe” at http://www.writetowin.org Subscribe now at iscribe@writetowin.org
P.O. Box 612
Wylie, Texas 75098
877-846--9908
 

 

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