Becoming A Successful Author: 8 Tips To Lasting Success
Traditional publishing is an extremely subjective process. Due to the subjectivity of the field, becoming a successful author is never a guarantee. However, eight specific steps can greatly up your chances at publishing, and continuing to publish, over years and even decades.
Like any job, understanding the field, how to leverage your knowledge for your success, and grasping the role branding plays can contribute greatly to your journey. Consider the following three questions:
How long does it take to get published?
How do you get a publishing deal?
How does personal branding help?
We can break these questions into eight answers. When executed, these answers become the building blocks for future success. And if you want to become a successful author, taking the journey step by step makes it feel much more attainable. Let’s start with question one, and tip one and two.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Book Published?
The time authors must commit from when they get their book idea to when they finally sign with a publishing company can take years. But to make it as an author, it’s vital to grasp the details of the publishing process. Success starts with commitment to the task. Asking the above question is a jumping off point to two action steps: Committing to the journey and accepting success is not just your first book contract.
#1 - Commit To Becoming A Published Author
What ties the chaos of publishing to success comes down to commitment. It takes a lot of work to write a book proposal, find an agent, edit your book, and query publishing houses. When you hit the level of J.K. Rowling with twelve rejections, or are told to stick to your day job like Louisa May Alcott, it’s crucial to realize that long term success starts with short term commitment.
Instead of asking, What are the odds of getting a book published? Ask yourself, What are the odds that if I don’t quit I may actually succeed?
#2 - Accept That Success Is More Than Writing A Book
A second tip for long term success is to accept the fact that staying in the game includes the highs of holding your new book as well as the details of maintaining your career. Just like any job, the publishing industry has parts people love and areas writers wish they could skip.
That seventh edit can feel incredibly monotonous
Sitting at a computer typing in silence can get lonely
Book signings can feel overstimulating
The success of a lasting writing career comes down to more than the debut novel: It’s contracts, negotiations, losing your fifth edit, starting over, double-booking, having a great idea, speaking to an enraptured audience, speaking to a tuned-out audience…the list goes on.
Thankfully, if you reach the level of success where you get to write for a living, the pros will likely outweigh the cons! The second practical question to ask is how do you actually secure a deal?
How To Get A Book Publishing Deal?
The road to your first contract is different for every writer, but typically, it includes quite a bit of queries, rejections, and at long last, an offer. Once you sign your first contract, it’s time to start thinking about edits, launching, release day, and then your next book.
This brings us to tip three and four: Always network, and bring up other authors right alongside you.
#3 - Continually Network With Agents And Publishers
Tip number three is to never stop networking. You may sign with the best literary agent you think you can find, but what if your agent transitions out of agenting (as mine did)? It’s helpful to know other agencies, editors, and publishers who can work with you to further your dreams.
Additionally, networking is a two way street. The more you network, the better you equip yourself to help other writers connect with the right people as well.
#4 - Market Other Published Books
I follow an author who frequently posts about the new releases of other writing friends. His feed is not full of his own newest books and updates on his writing, which in moderation, is often necessary.
Instead, he uses his platform to share his writing but also boost the platform of other writers. I often scroll through stories and come across his with a “happy release day!” note of well-wishing. The best writers with the most impactful careers lift up others right alongside them.
Now that you know the first four tips, we come to extending your career for the long term. Lasting success frequently comes down to knowing how to answer the below question. Let’s dive in.
How Does Personal Branding Empower Writers?
Personal branding empowers writers to: Continually grow their social media presence (and therefore their readership) and learn exactly how to engage with their email list. Imagine a debut author who reached bestseller status the first week of their release—a one hit wonder or the next big name?
If this author continues to build their brand and write great stories, they may join the ranks of the authors we love today. But if they ride their success to its peak and down the other side, they’re bound to fade away. This brings us to the next two tips.
#5 - Actively Grow Your Social Media Presence
Should bestselling authors still appear on social media? When I was very much so new to the publishing world, I worked for a bestselling author. He has hit the New York Times list over twenty times and to date has sold over 70 million copies of his books.
The epitome of success, I was still hired to help with social media. When it comes to personal branding for writers, maintaining some sort of social media presence is crucial. Not only does it help you stay top-of-mind for readers, but it allows readers to see a bit more of the author’s life.
#6 - Treat Your Email List Like You Do Your Friends
Personal branding is a way to humanize your readers. Your email list is not just a number that allows you to market your newest release and bring in pre-orders. Yes, your email list can help with this, but every person who receives your emails is just that—a person.
Learn to treat your email list like you treat your friendships. Don’t contact them just to market to them. Where appropriate, share parts of your life.
Send them a short story you wrote. Let them know that you started working on your next project. Run a giveaway that primarily benefits them. Send them a genuine thank-you for being your faithful readers. This is the “personal” side of personal branding.
The Power Success Brings: Next Steps
I am writing this as a full-time writer but yet-to-be-published creative writer. Currently I’m working to secure an agent, have several manuscripts I hope to see traditionally published sooner than later, and in many ways, am an unsuccessful, still aspiring author.
But on the other side of things, I have the privilege of writing for a living. I’ve written five books, speak at writing conferences, and work with writers on a regular basis. This dichotomy of success, and lack of success, leads me to the last two tips: Humility and perseverance.
#7 - Remember Your First Query Letter
Writing that first query letter can feel daunting. Questions fill you mind:
Did I follow all the guidelines?
Did I include my most recent elevator pitch?
Did I talk about my credentials too much or too little?
But once you send your first query off, you’re no longer a beginner. Now you have the power to help other writers. Imagine after four, five, or six deals down the road. Think how much experience you can share as advice for new writers?
Lasting success means increased ability to help those around you. Remember your first query letter. Humbly share the tips you wish you’d known. Bring other writers up with you.
#8 - Start Writing
Last, but perhaps most importantly, start writing. Whether you are an aspiring author such as myself, or a multi-time bestselling author such as the writer I worked for, long term success hinges on long term writing.
My old boss has to sit down and type just like I do. I have to edit my work just like he does (granted, my initial drafts probably look much worse than his).
Successful author or aspiring author, writer is the core of being an author. If you want lasting success, start writing. Every writer faces the blinking cursor and the blank page. In this, we are all the same.
Just as our first tip dealt with commitment to the goal, our last tip brings us full circle: Persevere in this commitment. Decades of success is built on moment by moment perseverance to the craft.
Lasting success is never a guarantee, but we can take a proactive stance, execute these eight tips, and see where we go. Who knows, maybe one day you and I will both share space on the New York Times bestseller list!
. . . . . . .
Want to take the conversation further? Find a time to talk.
