Ten tips for becoming a successful author

The busier you get, the more you accomplish, so get busy.

Whatever software you use, learn it well: it can teach you more than you'd imagine. 

Be influenced by the best books you read, write the best book you can and let it influence others.

Editing is important, easy, and enjoyable like weeding your garden: the more weeds you plug out, the more clearly the remaining errors will be visible, so once over is not enough.

Be different: It will bring nods in the media room and give you coverage.

One teacher paid his students to find errors in a writing sample, a penny for the first round, then a nickel, a dime, a quarter, and a buck for the final round. This is a good idea for you, a good idea for your readers.

Make your readers think by asking important questions, such as this about self-publishing services: How do they make their money, selling books or selling services?

Ideas are your invisible goldmines—catch yours before they are forgotten. They come and go so fast while you do something else or are half asleep. Write them down.

You write like you drive: If you look at the ditch, your car will steer you into the ditch—and if you focus on failure, that’s where your book will steer you. Simply think of clear road ahead, think of success and great markets.

Have courage and confidence, do your research, and don’t be intimidated by thinking some big guys or important companies know better.

And one more, the best for last: Read my 170-page book “Sell Your Words” for hundreds of invaluable tips to guide you to write, self-publish, and market nonfiction books. Write to me with comments and questions.