For Writers

I get a lot of e-mail asking questions: how to write a book, finding an agent, what software or equipment do I use, how to publish a book, etc. I get them enough that instead of answering them over and over, that I’ve put together some advice, and a list of posts and sites new writers might find useful.

Writing is hard.

Advice:

Write. There’s only so much reading about writing you can do.
Read. Read in the genre you want to write.
Write. Seriously. It doesn’t matter if Sue uses a PC and John uses a Mac. It doesn’t matter if Mary writes at midnight and Tom writes first thing in the morning. Some things you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Be selective and careful to how much research on writing you’re doing. Decide what is important right now. If you’re starting out, the craft is more important than finding an agent or figuring out how to market a book.
Not all advice or research applies to every writer. Again, some things you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Read a book from the author you’re taking advice from.
Get used to rejection, writer’s block, nerves, bad reviews, fluctuating income. While it’s not an everyday occurrence, you WILL experience all of these throughout your career. If you can’t accept them, writing probably isn’t for you.
Get used to doing research. You and Google should become well-acquainted. Oh, and get used to doing most of your own marketing, too—even if you are signed on with a big publishing house.
Write. I can’t say this enough.

Still with me?

The questions I’ve answered most frequently are in my FAQs. Scroll to the end and read the section On Writing

I’ve also written quite a few posts on various subjects – software, books on writing, tools of the trade, editing, speculation on the biz, etc. From time to time, I add more. You’ll find them in the category On Writing, here.

Michelle Muto

Author of dark fiction

For Writers

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