Nine Tips for Young Authors

cj Sez:  I was fortunate to participate in a Young Authors Conference in Mobile, AL, earlier this year (see my April 3 post), and developed a couple of handouts for these talented writers.

What follows are nine tips for young authors, with a quote from Harper Lee to introduce the task. I think, however, they apply to all authors. See if you can find one that fits a philosophy of yours.

Nine Tips for Young Writers

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.”     Harper Lee

9. Take the business minor. You'll need it later.

8. Being nice and being kind aren't the same thing. You don't always have to be nice . . . you always need to be kind.

7. You're perfect just the way you are. Honestly, I have been on a diet for most of my life, and didn't need to be back then. I was fine.

6. Worrying about what other people think is such a waste of time. You can't control it. All you can control is how you behave. Behave well.

5. Regrets are such a waste of time. Both having them and avoiding them.

4. Take risks. The worst thing that can happen is that you fail. And really, how bad is that?

3. Your life won't work out the way you expect. 

It will be great but different.

2. You know that dream of being a writer? It works out.

1. First, and foremost, Set a goal, 

make a plan to reach it, and

go for it.

Since authorship is truly a business, I believe #1 and #9 are the way to start. I’ll admit to being prejudiced though, because that’s how I started the process, and it worked for me.

If you have a tip to add to the list, let me know. I’d love to pass it along.

The yin and yang of eBooks vs.“real” books is back in the news. I found the following opposing views:

“Books are Back” by Simon Jenkins reports on slowing eBook sales. Read it here http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/13/books-ebook-publishers-paper

Or are they?  Read the 2015 challenge here: http://fortune.com/2015/09/24/ebook-sales/

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. And you folks in my home state of Texas, be safe. Turn around, don’t drown.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

(PS: The toons are from Facebook.)