Eleven Tips for New Writers

1) Write…just do it.  Stop talking about it and get a first draft written, one page at a time.

2) Read.  Everything…the award-winning, the inspiring, and books on the craft and business of writing

3) Join a writer’s group, either on-line or local.  If you can’t find one, start one.  

4) Keep a journal for notes, inspirational  quotes, useful blogs,websites, books & authors

5) Work on your craft,  this is a never-ending process… there’s always always more to learn. 

6) Once you have a completed first draft, edit.  

7)Then edit some more.  Edit as many times as it takes to create a polished manuscript.

8) Research the market.  

9) Write a killer cover letter

10) Send your manuscript out to the most appropriate places. Do not, I repeat, do not send your manuscript everywhere.  If you do, you will be wasting everyone’s time (including your own).

11) Ignore your mailbox (or email inbox) and repeat steps 1-10.