Photo by Eric Prouzet on Unsplash

READ

FICTION BOOKS: I love reading purely for pleasure, but as a writer, I find that the best way to write in my chosen genre is to read in my chosen genre. What do other writers do that makes me want to keep reading and then figure out how to do that with my own books? Being immersed in books all my life not only continues to satisfy my love of great characters and their stories, but it fuels me with the desire to tell my characters’ stories for others to read and enjoy.

WRITERING CRAFT BOOKS: From Stephen King’s On Writing to Sandra Scofield’s The Last Draft and The Scene Book, I love a good craft book. Books on characters, story arcs, plotting, writing in specific genres and even those on the creative process keep me motivated and continue to help me elevate my abilities when writing my own books.

BLOGS: I have always been curious and a lover of knowledge, so I follow and enjoy a wide variety of blogs, but my favorites are those written by other writers, agents, and editors.

NEWSLETTERS: On any given day my inbox will have at least a half dozen newsletters connected to the writing life. I get newsletters written by agents and authors, newsletters from websites like AutoCrit and MailerLite, author’s associations and Query Tracker to name just a few. It’s exciting to log in every morning and see what exciting information will be presented to me through these small but worthy publications.

LISTEN TO PODCASTS

Because there are so many good ones online, it’s really hard for me to find the time to listen to all the ones I want to follow, but I often will have a podcast playing while I’m organizing my tasks for the day, or opening my book documents, or even getting ready in the morning.

VISIT AUTHOR’S WEBSITES

As an author who is currently putting together the copy for her upcoming website, I’m fascinated by all the different approaches other authors take in creating their space online. I love evaluating them for ease of navigation, font for readability, and how easily I can access the information I’m looking for.

RESEARCH

No matter what type of book I’m writing, there are always things to research to make sure my story is believable and that any facts are checked. When I wrote my first book, When Love Won’t Die, (published in 2010), I did a lot of research on domestic abuse, stalking and narcissists. In my second book, Amorous Obsession, (currently querying), my research included different locations and effects of having escaped from an abusive relationship. My third book, They’re Watching, (out for consideration), had me learning about AI and wind turbines, as well as mental illness brought on by severe trauma.

QUERY

I’m pursuing traditional publishing, so crafting a query letter and synopsis are necessary documents needed when querying agents and publishers who might be interested in my book(s). Queries often require filling out a form on Query Tracker with information about myself and my book. Besides the actual act of querying, I must also keep track of any requests for partials or full manuscripts, as well as my rejections. I find this one of the more tedious tasks that doesn’t involve writing, but it’s a necessary one on the road to publication.

ATTEND CLASSES AND WRITER’S GROUPS

I belong to a cohort of writers who meet weekly to discuss our progress within the frameworks of drafting, revising, and publication and promotion. I also belong to an online group of writers in the thriller/mystery/suspense/horror genres who meet twice/month and an email critique group where we share our work and offer our expertise to one another. Recently, I also joined a group of writers I’ve met online for a weekly Zoom where we discuss everything writing and enjoy discussing our own particular writing journeys.

BETA READ FOR OTHER WRITERS

A beta reader is someone who is familiar with the genre of the author’s revised manuscript and who offers insights into the story and the characters and answers the author’s specific questions about structure, arcs, what’s working, and what’s not working. I view being a beta reader as an honor because I’m being allowed to read an author’s work before it is ever ready for the public and to help the author shape it into their best version as they get ready for publication.

POST & INTERACT ON SOCIALS

I enjoy following other authors, editors, agents, and publishers, as well as posting about my own writing journey, in the hopes of finding my ideal readers, connecting with others working in the writing space, and sharing knowledge and support whenever I can. Each week I decide on a picture or video I want to share with my followers or posts I want to make, like linking my blog posts, or where I’m writing. Currently, I’m on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X.

KEEP RECORDS

Although I have an accountant who does my yearly taxes, I am tasked with my own record keeping. I must keep track of expenses (books/writing class fees/stationary supplies/office supplies) and any income I receive from my writing. Over the years I’ve kept it very simple, and I would advise anyone starting out to do the same thing.

So when someone tells you they’re writing a book, which in itself is a huge feat that, if done properly, takes a large amount of time, and it sounds like a glamorous way to spend one’s days, remember that just as much of their time is spent doing all of the above non writing activities as well.