The Formula to Transition from Writer to Author

Anyone can be a writer, all it takes is the act of writing words down or preserving them in some way where they can be read again at a later date. A writer doesn't have to share these words with anyone and can choose to hoard them to themselves. 

Writers can bare their souls on the page, bleeding every ounce of themselves into poems or characters, and then lock them away in the bottom draw of the dresser where they can ever accidentally be discovered.

Authors?

Author stake their souls, laid bare, and share them with the world despite the praise or criticism they may receive.

So how do you transition from writer to author? 

Start Writing

Sure if you write here and there you can always consider yourself a writer, but to be an author? You need to make writing more of a priority and you can't wait for inspiration to pop you on the head like the fairy godmother's magic wand. 

One of the keys to being an author is making writing a habit, something you can do without thought like brushing your teeth in the morning. 

Stay Consistent 

Whether you want to be an author of poems, short stories, or novels, consistency is going to be the most important thing in your transition from writing to authorship.

Set goals for writing and meet them. 

Say you're going to write three days a week and do it. 

Hold yourself accountable when you don't. 

Consistency helps you build momentum, improve your skills, and shows not only yourself but the world that you mean business and you're not going to give up until you succeed.

Read and Improve 

Writing is not only a skill that can taught, but it can be improved. 

Read books in the genres or styles you want to write. Learn from the master's. Read books on crafting engaging works, editing, and marketing. 

Share your work with a smaller audience to find what you did well and make it better and find what needs a bit more work and work on it.  

An author never stops trying to learn how they can make their readers connect better with their words or how to improve it with each work they write. 

Publish or Submit 

Whenever I have someone come to me and tell me they want to be an author I always ask them if they are planning to self-publish or seek traditional publishing.

If they don't have an answer - they're not ready to be an author. 

The biggest difference between the writer and the author is that the author's books are published for the world to see and it doesn't matter if they did it themself or had the help of an agent what truly matters is that there is the plan. 

If you plan for self-publishing start building your intended audience on social media - now.

If you plan to publish traditionally then start doing research and making notes on which agents accept books in your genre and what their requirements are. 

Your book isn't going to magically publish itself. 

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Going from being a writer to an author is one of the simplest things in the world. 

All you need to do is write, publish, and repeat if you choose. 

But you also need to not give up and put in the work and the effort. 

Best of luck. 

With love, 

B.K. xo xo

Want to write with me live? I'm now on Twitch! Come join me in some writing sprints most days at 10:00 pm EST

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