Career Tips for Authors

Most authors like to stick to a rigid writing schedule. That is, they like to write for a certain amount of time each day, and during the same hours, just like a regular job. While some authors like to write in the morning hours, others feel they are most creative at night, after everyone has gone to bed and it is quiet. Stephen King, for instance, writes a certain amount of words every day, from approximately nine in the morning to noon until the book he is working on reaches completion. Some writers spend eight hours or more each day on their work without tiring. No matter which hours you choose, always write. Authors put themselves in the mindset that if they are at the computer or typewriter, they must write, even if it is not the best writing they can do. One can always revise, right?

Location, location, location!

Some authors recommend writing in the same place every day, to make sure the creative juices flow. However, still others say that they love to try different places using a laptop, both outside and inside, and this helps them become inspired for different scenes or ideas. Authors who have a specific writing room paint them earthy colors, because bright colors like oranges and yellows can actually make us hungry! Try tans, browns, or dark greens, which are non-conducive to psychological hunger phenomena.

Authors try to be Healthy.

Almost any author will tell you that a good diet and regular sleep habits are an absolute necessity if you want maximum creativity and productivity. Some recommend staying away from a lot of caffeine and sugars, but other authors swear by them - when it comes down to it, this is a purely personal decision. Many authors try to avoid too much alcohol, as well, as it disrupts their clear thinking processes and can affect their work in negative ways.

Writing as a second job.

As crazy as it may sound, many authors simply write in their spare time, and hold down a regular job as their main source of income. In fact, the majority of authors out there had to start like that, because until an author sells his or her piece, it is simply words on a screen or paper. For this reason, many authors spend five or ten years on a novel, writing parts of it whenever they can.

Submitting their work.

Once an author is done with a book, a story, an article, or other items they may wish to publish, it is time to get to the query letters. This is a communication with the publisher to see if they will consider purchasing and printing the work. Classically, this was done through the mail, but currently, the use of the Internet for communications to the publisher is also common. The author may also have to contact publishers on the phone, or even meet in person. Then, if the work is accepted, it is back to the drawing board for editing. The publisher has editors that will guide the author along, and make the piece more marketable and/or simply improve for the sake of making it better. Depending on the size of the work, the editing process can take days, weeks, or even months to get the piece in top condition. The best an author can hope for is a handshake and an offer, and the worst is a rejection of their work.