SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER by Lisa Regan
Some people are practically born writing. I’m that type—I started writing stories at a
very young age. Other people come to
writing later in life. Either way, you
can be successful at it if you work hard and are committed to it. Even people like me who spend their whole
lives writing sometimes still take a long time to get published. Here are five things to keep in mind if you
want to be successful at writing:
- Figure out what you want to write and
stick with it. Many published
writers are successful because they can keep readers coming back for
more. Readers like to know what
they’re getting when they pick up one of your books so you should try to
focus on one genre and really give it your all. Pick a genre that you’re passionate
about and stick with it. This doesn’t mean you can’t write in multiple
genres. That’s why authors use pen names. You can write thrillers under
one name and contemporary romance under another, but you should develop your
own unique style and voice in whichever genre or genres you choose to
write in and build on those so that readers know when they pick up one of
your books, they’re going to be treated to your unique style of
storytelling.
- Read, read, read. One of the best ways to become a better writer
is to be a reader. See what other
writers do. Get the bestselling
books in your genre and read them.
Take note of how those authors craft and deliver a story. Re-read your favorite books with your
writer’s hat on and try to figure out what the author did that made you
love that book so much.
- Write, write, write. Try to write as much as you can. Even if you’re not working on a story or
a book. Write emails, letters to
your congresspeople, or keep a journal—write something as often as
possible. The act of getting words from your head to the page is going to
help you figure out your process. Every writer has a different process, a
different way that they come to the page, and a specific way of getting
their ideas onto that page that best suits them. To figure out what works
best for you, practice writing. Remember, you don’t have to use everything
you write, but you should write something.
Practice your craft and you will learn about yourself and your own
process for writing, and you will also get better.
- Connect with other
writers. Look for online groups. Take online writing courses. See if
there is a writing group in your area.
Get yourself some writing friends and cultivate those
relationships. They’ll help you
become a better writer and they’ll buoy you up when the business pushes
you down.
- Research. Take writing classes. Read books on the craft. Talk to other writers. If you’ve already written something and
want to get it published, research how to go about it. Make sure you know as much about the
business as you can before you put yourself out there. You don’t want to be turned away by
agents, editors or publishers or disqualified from contests because you
didn’t take the proper steps to submit or did not follow directions. Take the time to learn about the
industry before you plunge into it.
Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal
bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and
Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery
Writers of America, Crime Writers’ Association, and International Thriller
Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter and Boston Terrier
named Mr. Phillip.
Vanishing Girls
This
USA Today bestselling thriller is an utterly gripping crime story
perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner and Karin Slaughter.
The
little girl curled into a tiny ball as the chamber grew colder around her.
“Please,” she whispered, rocking back and forth. “I want to go home.”
When
Isabelle Coleman, a blonde, beautiful young girl goes missing, everyone from
the small town of Denton joins the search. They can find no trace of the town’s
darling, but Detective Josie Quinn finds another girl they didn’t even know was
missing.
Mute
and unresponsive, it’s clear this mysterious girl has been damaged beyond
repair. All Josie can get from her is the name of a third girl and a flash of a
neon tongue piercing that matches Isabelle’s.
The
race is on to find Isabelle alive, and Josie fears there may be other girls in
terrible danger. When the trail leads her to a cold case labeled a hoax by
authorities, Josie begins to wonder is there anyone left she can trust?
Someone
in this close-knit town is committing unspeakable crimes. Can Josie catch the
killer before another victim loses their life?
ISBN-10: 1786812428
ISBN-13: 9781538734117
Publisher: Grand Central/Bookouture
Paperback: 334 pages
November 26, 2019, $12.99
Language: English
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense
Comments