Is Writing Your Dream? Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know

Millions of people have great book ideas, but not many aspiring authors get to see their dreams come true. That is perhaps because the process of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing a book can be a much more difficult task. 

But there is no reason to worry if you are an aspiring writer and are wondering how to actualize your writing dream.

As an aspiring writer, you may have heard of how hard it is to get your work published. But, this does not have to be the case for you. Sometimes failure to have a book published is mainly due to a lack of knowledge on the publishing process or going for the wrong publishers. 

To make the process less daunting, you need first to understand the different publishing options – self-publishing, independent publishing, and traditional publishing – and pick one that best fits you. If you are not sure which publishing option is ideal for you, this article on the book publishing process can help you decide what will work best.

Having set deadlines when writing a book is critical in getting the work done. 

The good news is that your publisher or editor will give you a deadline to submit your manuscript if you are working with a traditional publisher. However, there will be no deadlines if you are self-publishing, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't create a timeline for your book writing project. 

Research shows people with set goals have a higher chance of achieving them compared to those without. So, ensure you set actionable deadlines and put them into writing to increase the chances of getting through with writing a book as a self-publisher.

Being a writer is no mean feat, and it is not a career for the faint-hearted. Today's authors are expected to write and market their work by creating newsletters, blogging, and starting social media pages to build a thriving fan base. Simply put, you must be ready to work hard if you want to become a successful writer.

While you can make a living out of writing, it may take quite some time before you start seeing significant financial benefits. Renowned authors can easily create a living out of selling books; however, most writers depend on other sources of income to get by. 

Even the best-selling authors didn't quit their jobs immediately after they got published. Instead, they had to hold on to their day jobs. A good example is John Grisham, who worked as an attorney while writing his first book, A Time to Kill, and became a best-seller after writing The Firm. 

Like in any other career, persistence is key in succeeding as a writer. In your book writing and publishing process, you will encounter challenges, discouragement, and rejection, but that shouldn't kill your dream. 

Just because a publisher rejected your manuscript doesn't mean another won't accept it. An excellent example of a persistent author is James Peterson, whose manuscript for the book  The Thomas Berryman Number had been rejected by 31 publishers but went on to win the Edger for the best novel after it finally got published.

Writing a book can change your life and give you the ability to change the lives of many others. However, you must be willing to put in the hard work in every step, from writing a manuscript to publishing to marketing.