Ten Commandments for Writers

If you never follow any other advice as a writer, follow the ones here. Based on the "Ten Commandments for Writers" appendix in Writer's Digest's "Mini Market Book" that was included in their recent (and fabulous) Writing Kit, this article is as much a guide to being professional as an author as it is a series of guidelines to follow in your writing life.

1. Don't Make Excuses About Not Writing

How many excuses have you heard yourself utter when you haven't written? "I don't have time" is the biggest one, followed closely by, "I couldn't think of anything to write about."

When something is important to us, we make time for it. Instead of doing everything - including cleaning the bathroom toilet - other than sitting down and writing ... just do it. Prioritize, make a note in your schedule, write it down on a calendar, or simply have "office hours" where you're doing nothing but writing.

It's easy to talk. It's much harder to be honest with ourselves. When you haven't written something, don't go for a lame excuse. Out loud, tell yourself honestly why you didn't write. Just not in the mood? Fine. But don't try convincing yourself that it was because you didn't have time. There's always ways of making time.

If your most common excuse is about time, grab one of the free electronic day planners available here and work out a week's schedule at a time where you've planned for writing every day. Is it more common for you to say you don't have any ideas to write about? Check out Cynthia C. Scott's ideas on writing prompts, or learn how to find articles to write about.

2. Learn Something New Every Day About the Publishing Industry

Being a good writer is one thing. Being a good writer who is prepared and can show good author's etiquette is quite another.

Understanding the publishing industry helps you achieve "author greatness" - that point where editors love to work with you as much as readers love to be your audience. It also protects you from disappointment and bitterness, because you're much more aware of what goes on behind the scenes. When you start learning about the publishing industry, you'll discover more aspects to your writing and its potential than you can imagine. You'll learn how to keep your work current and relevant to what editors are looking for, and generally be better off for it.

Start out by making a daily visit to one of these websites: PublishingTrends.com, PublishersLunch.com or MediaBistro.com. Each of them offer up industry news and tidbits that are easily digested with your morning coffee, or to ponder as you wind down from a long day.

3. Read Widely and Often in Your Chosen Genre

Chances are that if you're a writer, you love to read. The written word is what got most of us addicted to the craft of writing in the first place; the way words form art on a page, and the idea that we can be the artist painting them. Unfortunately, reading often gets relegated to the realm of "luxury" amidst the daily grind.

Don't let it happen to you.

Reading makes you a better writer, but it also ensures that you're keeping up with market trends. If you want to write horror novels, are you aware of what types of horror novels are currently being published? Can you pinpoint at least one emerging author in the genre? And how does your work compare to what's on the shelf or in your hand?

There's nothing wrong with reading the classics, or re-reading an old favorite. But it's extremely important that you also take the time to read the latest releases as soon as you get the chance. You wouldn't go deep-sea diving without a wet suit ... why toss your writing into the literary ocean without at least researching what is the best bait?

Take some time to read the latest releases in your chosen genre, form an opinion on the work, and then look at what the critics are saying about that same book. This process is extremely insightful. NPR and the NY Times both publish book reviews by "professional" critics, while you can get another viewpoint by listening to the readers at AllReaders.com.

4. Never - EVER - Submit a First Draft

Yes, this should be common sense ... but it isn't. Many new authors have the ill-fated belief that they can submit a first draft as long as they let the editor or agent know that's what it is.

Seriously - you have one chance to get an agent or editor's attention. Very, very rarely are you going to get a second chance to submit your work to them. Be patient, really polish your work, and only send out something that truly shows off the best of your writing skills.

Check out the steps in this truly in-depth article about revising your writing from the University of Texas. Justin Schwan, a CP here on Associated Content, has also written a fantastic guide to revising fiction that you can find here.

5. Submit Professionally

As much care that went into preparing the manuscript you want to send off should go into your submission. Triple-check that you've got the right editor, that you're submitting your writing to a publisher that actually wants the genre you're writing in, and that you've tailor-made a submission package that is exactly what the agent or editor wants.

What this really means is carefully reading the submission guidelines of any agent or editor you're interested in submitting to. Do it, and take notes.

In general, you'll want to learn how to follow submission guidelines. As long as you request the information you need before you blast your writing into dozens of editor's mail boxes, you're on your way to being a much more professional writer.

6. Join the Community

You may be the most anti-social author in the world, and you might be able to get away with it. But the road will be much lonelier, longer, and rougher on you if you try.

Instead of trying to forge your way through the trials and tribulations of being an author all on your own, join the writing community. Take part in the forums linked to places like here on AC, join an online writing community, or attend a local writer's group. Then, help that community stay positive and upbeat - allowing yourself to be dragged into whining sessions only winds up leaving you bitter and pessimistic.

Check out the message boards at Absolute Write, and take the time to make a post or respond to someone else's post on the AC forums. Contact a fellow author. You never know who you might meet, what connections you might make, and what inspiration and opportunities might follow.

7. Be Professional

While many people want to write, the real "community" of professionals is much smaller. Writers, editors, agents, and book-lovers all comprise the community, and they share information and gossip that travels as fast as the Internet, email, or a phone call will allow.

What this means for you as a writer is that your professionalism - or lack thereof - will be noticed. Don't doubt it.

A professional writer always treats their editors and agents with respect, even when they want to rip their head off. They're not going to turn rejections into a personal issue, and they learn how to deal with change and make compromises. Most importantly, a professional writer always strives to become a better author than they were yesterday.

Many topics that fall under writer's etiquette and ethics have been answered on WD's "Questions and Quandries" blog, and you can ask your own by posting there.

8. Put Readers First

In the whole scheme of the written word, you're nothing but a conduit. Your readers are what matter, and your writing should benefit them in some way - whether that be to entertain or instruct.

You're not number one, your reader is. They make your writing successful in the first place. Remember this, and we'll leave it at 'nuff said.

9. Market and Promote

There are a few authors who continue to get away with never giving interviews, not doing book signings or pen a website or blog, and generally never reach out to their audience beyond the words printed within the pages of their book.

These authors are far and few between, and get away with it because they began writing in a time when author's weren't expected to market themselves. Since that time, they've established their writing as being the top of their genre, and they have a loyal fan following that doesn't expect anything other than another great book.

For the rest of us, we need to be prepared to actually go out in the world and make friends with the people we want to read our work. Your readers are the people who support your writing career, so the more ways you find to connect with them, the better your career will be.

Websites and blogs are both great ways to reach out to a worldwide audience, and they're the best way to lay the foundation for marketing efforts long before you've even submitted a book. A truly in-depth guide to building a writer's website can be found here or hit my CP Page for a guide on blogging for more readers.

10. No "High-Maintenance" Writers

You should always be firm about your rights, but beyond that ... seriously consider how your relationship with your agent or editors makes you appear as an author. No one wants to work with the writer who is combative at every turn, who throws a temper tantrum when they don't get their own way, and generally refuses to behave as a mature adult.