Success as an author is not guaranteed. In order to get ahead in this game, you will need to work hard, focus of writing quality books and ensure you’ve got a strong marketing plan that you can put into action. In short, there are a number of things that you will have to. On the flip side, they’ll also be certain things you’ll need to stop doing. Here are 5 of them.
1. Stop waiting for the right time
If you want to write a book, and are waiting for the right time before you get started, the truth is there never is a right time; neither will there ever be one. Sure your circumstances can contribute to how much time you can spend on writing your book. However, whether you can write 250 words a day or 3000 words a day, the point is you can start today.
2. Stop waiting for a perfect plan
Waiting to have all your characters, plot and sub-plots meticulously planned before you put your fingers onto your laptop keyboard, or put your pen to paper is just feeding into the perfectionist mind-set, which is worry about not being adequate. You’ve already got a rough plan in your mind and/or noted down on paper. Use what you already have as a guide and start writing. Let your natural intuition take over.
3. Stop the distractions
The truth is if writing truly is in your heart, you will find time for it and be able to ignore distracting things around you. However, we all get distracted from time to time, from such things like television or radio. If these help you to write better, then they’re not really a distraction. However, if you end up losing focus from your writing, then it’s time to switch them off.
Also, you may be spending time on social media. Of course, you might be hanging out on social media to promote your book. However, please ensure you have a book written in the first place to promote!
4. Stop looking for quick, immediate rewards
Sure, you want to sell tens of thousands of copies (or even more – it’s always good to aim for the stars, because yes, you are good enough). However, unless you’ve written the next global bestseller with a large publisher and marketing budget to back you up, success will come a little slower. What the heck, it might even come a little later. However, when you expect success to come eventually, you’re thinking longer term and any lack of success early on won’t be able to deter you.
5. Stop the voice in your mind
One of the biggest hindrances to your progress can be the voice in your mind that tries to put you down; whose sole purposes seems to be to want to create havoc for you, by telling you that you can never be a successful writer. The interesting thing about this voice is that it is a lot weaker than it seems. It can easily be ignored. Stop paying attention to it. Ignore it. It will quieten. Trust me.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published on e-Books India in December 2014.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]