Everyone takes some risks in life and work. It is an essential part of life, and what makes some people successful is the fact that they are able to take calculated risks. An author too can take some risks, especially when the rewards expected are huge as compared to the losses. Read on to learn about five such risks that are worth taking by authors.
1. New genre
Authors generally find a niche and stick to it. Some write historical fiction, and others write romance. Some prefer to write science fiction while others are drawn towards writing thrillers. One reason why authors stick to their specific genres is that it has become their comfort zone over time, with established readers and fan-following. But for those who take the risk of writing in a new genre and experimenting with different subjects, the rewards can be huge. Apart from the enjoyment of discovering a whole new world, you may also win new readers. What’s more, your readers might discover new genres along with you. There is nothing quite like readers that follow your journey.
2. Self-publishing
Self publishing is a huge risk for a budding author to take. While there have been some major successes with self-published books, most of them turn out to be duds. This is mostly due to the bad quality of editing and lack of awareness in authors who publish their books before they are ready. This has given self-publishing a bad name, especially with traditional publishers and many readers. But if you have faith in your product and you have done everything to polish it to a great final version, self-publishing can be rewarding. It affords enormous control over all aspects of marketing, distribution, and publishing.
3. Write from the heart
Too often, writers churn out books within strict guidelines set by the publisher or the market. This stifles creativity and you end up with a mediocre book, which might have had the potential to be a great one. If you want to get satisfaction from your writing, write for yourself. Readers will always be able to appreciate what comes from the heart and from the depths of the mind, and understand the difference between these books and smartly packaged marketable books. You might not become a rage, but you will definitely appeal to many readers.
4. Try out different styles
Explore and experiment. This is the secret to a versatile portfolio. Try daring new styles that appeal to you. If you are used to writing in third person, try writing in first person for a change. Many authors fail with the first person narrative, but you can consider it a challenge. Vary your voice and tone, so that you can grow as a writer. It is important to realize that different styles might not appeal to everyone but no book will be universally liked anyway. That should not stop you from exploring different ways of expressing yourself.
5. Dump the extraneous
Be brave enough to let go of extraneous material you have written for your book. Your book must be crisp and tightly plotted and stick to the main plot. Sub plots are fine as long as they are tightly woven into the main narrative and are firmly wound up at the end. You might think that the extra character with their meandering plot and character development is interesting and it might very well be so. But when it affects the overall quality of a book, it is better to take out the extraneous stories.
Image credit: Ged Carroll on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0
Kavitha is a freelance content writer and French translator, and has been working in this field since 2008. She has degrees in computer applications and international business and has a background in business and international trade. She enjoys learning languages and is currently learning Japanese. Her interests vary from books and writing to travelling and history.