Hunterland by Dana Claire Book Tour, Guest Post and Giveaway! {Ends 3/23/23}

10 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before

I have so much advice, I could talk about it for an entire week and still not be done. But I’ll narrow it down to 10 things I wish I knew about before becoming an author.

1. Take the time to learn the industry. Go to conferences, online/virtual events, speak to
other authors, and do your research. It’s an overwhelming industry but there are a lot of resources and tools out there that can support you.

2. Make author friends. Many writers get caught up in the insecurity of a lonely occupation.
Make friends in the industry by joining writer groups, going to events, and staying
connected online.

3. Build a brand. Figure out what type of author you want to be, what message you want to portray, and how to execute it. For example, I knew right away I wanted to write Young Adult but I also knew I wanted to write all types of genres and not be pigeonholed to one specific style. It’s why I spent my first six books in all different genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, PNR, Retelling, and Contemporary Romance all in the Young Adult category.

4. Create a street, beta and ARC team. My success as a writer is only partially from my deliciously captivating stories, the rest is from the love, support, and feedback of my fans. Without them, I’d be still living my stories in my head rather than seeing them in print.
They will help you take your stories to the next level and then help you promote them out into the world.

5. Learn your market. Do research on who your readers are, where they hang out, and what they like. For example, I write Young Adult fiction. My readers are on social media, especially Tik Tok (or rather BookTok), they follow tropes, are passionate, and are vocal. I meet my readers where they are and this helps me grow as an author.

6. Ask for help. If you don’t know something, ask. Many times I found myself frustrated and wondering how to get to the next step. I’ve been lucky to build a community and use those resources as a way to get “unstuck.” If you do the same, you will save time and energy.

7. Develop a book marketing strategy. Writing a book is only 50% of the work, the other half is getting it out there. You could have written the next Hunger Games, but if no one knows about it “the odds will never be in your favor.” Wink wink… Learn how to market your book to the right audience and you will be successful.

8. Time management. There are only so many hours in a day and as an author, you have a lot on your plate: writing the book, editing, strategizing your launch, releasing your book, and then continuing to build excitement around it. You have to manage your time.

There are many software tools out there that can help. Sometimes I use them. Sometimes I just have a daily or weekly To-Do List in my planner, but regardless I stay on top of my time and make sure to use it wisely.

9. Take breaks. Some authors talk about writer’s block. I call it writer’s overload. Whether your not sure where the story goes or you just can’t find the words to write out the scene in your head, stepping away from your work is always a good idea. Go for a walk, hang out with friends or family, play a game, go for a drive along the coast, watch a movie, or read a book. Whatever it is, do something that is away from your computer screen and manuscript. Sometimes the best thing you can do for your story is to walk away from it. It’ll be there for you when you come back with fresh eyes, a clear mind, and a full heart.

10. Stay positive! Do not let self-doubt cloud your ability to fulfill your dream. You are good enough. Your story does need to be heard. And you do have an audience for it.

I hope these ten things help others feel encouraged to follow their dreams, motivated to write the stories in their minds, and be inspired to stick with their writing. It’s not an easy job. But then if it was…. everyone would be doing it.

Thank you to anyone and everyone who has read one of my works. You make it all worthwhile.