Be An Author

A writer who doesn’t read is like a chef who doesn’t eat. Authors nourish themselves by feasting on the kinds of narratives they hope to create. If you want to write for publication, ensure you read the type of work you wish to produce. And know that being an author is hard. It takes years to learn the craft and just because you have words on a page, doesn’t mean you have a finished work. What you have is a draft that needs testing.Get feedback on your work by finding a critique group or partner. Follow a give and take process where you examine each other’s drafts to see what is working, what isn't and why. When receiving feedback, don’t be precious. Be open to criticism. When giving feedback, be kind but honest. Point out what parts of a text support your response to it.The ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ of writing are subjective. Where there is nothing to support suggestions for change, they can be disregarded. If feedback reveals issues, make changes. That’s what improves a draft. Robert Graves was right when he said ‘There is no such thing as good writing, only good rewriting.’Rewriting is a repeat process used to develop a story.If you want to achieve, you need to be committed to the process and keep at it.Once a work is as good as can be, authors investigate options for where to send it. This includes magazines, the education market and competitions. The School Magazine has published Emma’s work and added visuals by big name illustrators. She’s also had works picked up by publishers of other magazines and school resources.Competitions guarantee that work falls into readers’ hands. They compare it to that of others which is important because these entrants are who you are up against if seeking publication. Gaining a place or positive feedback via this path indicates where you’re at in your writing journey. When Emma’s work was shortlisted in competitions, she knew she was on the right track.WARNING! Modest entry fees are worth it, especially if you receive feedback. Big fees should be investigated. Beware of promises of publication of winning entries, especially if entrants must commit to purchasing copies. Generally, competitions advertised through reputable writing organisations such as the ASA, CBCA and Writers’ Centres are fine.Reputable writing organisations can be useful. They can keep you in touch with what’s going on in the writing world by letting you know what courses, workshops, competitions and festivals are available.