1. Writing is a business. Never forget it—if you want to get paid. And you get paid for your writing, so WRITE!
2. The old adage is true: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You are sculpting your writing career. What do you want? What do you REALLY want? Now go for it—it’s your writing and your career. No one else’s.
3. Successful writers get things accomplished. They don’t just do “busy body” work—checking Facebook, playing Mahjong, “researching” and ordering books off Amazon.com all day long. At the end of the day, what do you have to show for your efforts? If you’re not happy with the answer to that question, you know what to do—stay off the internet; quit playing computer games, forget Amazon.com exists during your writing time; and face your book instead of Facebook!
4. You’ve got to have goals. Goals that work, that see you through to success. Write them down. Get them out of your head and onto paper—you have a 90% chance of meeting those goals if you write them down. Make your goals have S.M.A.R.T.S. (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, Timeline, Submission) and you’ll hit the mark 100% of the time!!!
5. Technology is your new best friend. Acquire and learn all the systems, software, apps, etc., that you need to make your writing easier and fun! If, however, you’re a purist and love to write by hand, be sure to check out Rhodia tablets and Waterman pens—at least they’ll make the experience very enjoyable. Remember, all these tools and resources are TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
6. Promotion is not a dirty word! What good is to have the next great American novel and no one knows but you? You have to get the word out. Believe me, if you spend 4-5 hours a day writing, you want to spend 3 hours a day marketing your writing! No marketing=No sales=No money, Honey! .
7. Failure is not an option. Decide to succeed and you will do whatever you have to do, be whatever you have to be and have whatever you have to have to get the job done! Drive, Desire, Discipline—this is what it takes. Put your passion on paper. Drive yourself to complete that book. Discipline yourself to study your craft. This will get you to the Promised Land faster than a Maserati!
8. Research, Research, Research! Study the business of writing, the craft of writing and the promotion of writing! If you target these three areas and do the work, you’re destined to reach your writing career goals! As Dave Ramsey says, “Work now like no one else so that later you can work like no one else!” Pay your dues now and you can enjoy the rewards later.