Competition to get into the limelight is rife for aspiring authors, especially so with the internet so readily available – giving everybody equal footing. Get a step ahead of your competition with a marketing strategy. And know who you are competing against.

Get ahead of the game

  1. Understand the basics of writing & publishing.
  2. Start a blog.
  3. Submit your work to literary magazines.
  4. Choose between traditional publishing and self-publishing.
  5. Build your own brand.
  6. Create a professional website.
  7. Promote yourself on social media.
  8. Join groups of like-minded people.

We all want the “delicious rewards” of writing: the feeling of accomplishment, a completed work of brilliant prose, and possibly an audience of thousands throwing money at you is you idea of success.

10 Essential lessons from the best writers

  1. writers read – a lot – “Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.” ― Lisa See
  2. practice writing – “You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.” ― Octavia E. Butler
  3. write, write and write some more – “You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.” ― Jodi Picoult
  4. start writing – “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” ― Louis L’Amour
  5. be prepared for rejection – “I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.” ― Harper Lee
  6. writing is hard work – “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” ― George Orwell

Quality is the key to out-shining your competitors.

 

“Linda has published twelve books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish.”