Ricky
If you want to become a novelist, what kind of networks and skills do you need in order to one day get published by a well known company?
Its always been a dream of mine to be a well known writer, so knowing the steps that I need to take to make this dream a reality would be really beneficial. #writing #english #skills #books #process
2 answers
Pran Mukherjee
Pran’s Answer
Write. Every day. A lot. Also read as much as you can.
I know several published authors, some more well-known than others, and that's what every single one of them says. Beyond that it's mostly a question of knowing who to submit your work to and having a thick skin for when (not if) you get rejected. There are groups that can help with both of those things, and the internet is great. You can always self-publish the first few times if necessary these days. But the key is writing a lot so that you can get better. You look back at stuff you wrote even a few months ago and cringe.
One thing that might be useful is to do NaNoWriMo every year. It encourages you to finish a full novel in a month (November), even if it isn't perfect. That's a big step, because you can get caught in the trap of eternal editing without ever finishing something.
Thank you! although this wasn't my question I found it incredibly helpful.
Anthony
Suzanne Reisman
Suzanne’s Answer
Certainly you'll want to have strong writing skills. I don't think you need to write every day (there's a risk of burn out - I don't write every day!), but as one of my writing professors told me, writing is generative - the more you do it, the better it gets. I also agree that reading a lot of different types of books is essential. You'll learn style and language by reading widely.
That said, so much of publishing is who you know! You will want to go to as many literary events as you can. Readings at book stores, open mics in coffee shops, panel discussions as universities are all great places to be. An internship with a literary agency or publisher can be very helpful, if you can get one. Taking creative writing classes are also great ways to meet writers and peers and network.
The other thing I strongly advise is to remember that most people who write are not able to support themselves with their writing. My first book took 4+ years, and I earned $6,000. If I'm lucky enough to have the second one published, I doubt I'll earn more than $15,000 for 6+ years of work. Hence you should think about what you will like to do as a day job, and find ways to work while also creating time for writing.