Writing is one of those fields that seems to accomplish just about anything you can think of. From being a lucrative hobby to becoming a very successful career, honing your writing skills is a solid choice. There are so many ways you can go about this, but maybe you want to take it to a more professional level. If this is the case, then becoming an author may be the best thing for you. In this article, we’ll be providing a few tips to help you become a successful author.
Decide on a Genre
Before you can start your career as an author, and celebrate your book being published, you need to have an idea of what you want to write. This can take a little time to figure out because there are so many genres for you to consider. Not only in terms of what kind of content, but what kind of author you want to be. Maybe you don’t want to write books and prefer to create helpful articles or blog posts. If so, then you can consider specializing in lifestyle and wellness, travel and leisure, and even cooking guides. For aspiring novelists, here’s a brief list of genres you can dive into:
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Science fiction, or Sci-Fi
- Mystery
- Children’s books
- Fantasy
- Horror
- Poetry
- Adventure
- Romance
Do you think you’re best suited to write sci-fi novels? Or are you going to try and usurp Stephen King in the horror genre? Writing will only feel fulfilling when it’s something you connect with and are passionate about.
Get a College Degree
If you’re not confident in your current writing skills and want to develop them further, then going to college is your best option. When it comes to honing your writing skills, you’ll want to center your degree around creative writing or journalism. Both provide the necessary courses to help you learn the ins and outs of writing. Regardless of your choice, you can expect to pay around $35,000 on average. This price isn’t set as it will differ on where the school is located and what they charge. There are plenty of ways to cover such a cost, but the fastest method is to take out a student loan. Student loans cover finances relating to your education, like textbooks, school supplies, laptops and even room and board. To see what you’re going to be eligible for, you’ll have to fill out your FAFSA and consult the financial aid department.
Write Short, but Effectively
Whenever someone starts writing, they constantly feel the urge to be as detailed as possible. While this is a sound idea on paper, the same can’t be said for the execution. Adding detail is great, but you need to be careful not to incorporate too much. Long-form content can drag on before people reach what they came to learn. Today, short form content goes a very long way. You can easily sum up all that detail in just a few short sentences. This is something you’ll learn during your degree program.
