You’ve been toying with the idea of writing a novel of your own for a long time, and you’re finally ready to get serious about becoming a writer. Congratulations!
It’s a truly wonderful feeling when you’ve made the decision to focus on making your dream a reality. It can also feel a bit scary, like standing on the edge of a cliff while looking down into the raging currents of a whirlpool. (I’ll tell you a little secret, that feeling never completely goes away, even once you’ve been published.) So now that you’re serious about working toward a career as an author, be prepared to invest time, energy, effort, and money into your career. Because your dream is worth it.
Q: I’m an aspiring writer. Are you able to mentor me?
I love getting to chat with current and future authors about various literary topics, like the craft and business of writing. And I do occasionally give online and in-person workshops. However, my current schedule doesn’t permit me to do one-on-one mentoring.
Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Here are some of the things I’ve done that have helped me develop as a writer. These are things I continue to do, because it is always my goal to keep growing and to keep improving as a writer.
If you are ready to focus on becoming a writer, I would encourage you to:
- Join a writer’s group like:
- RWA: https://rwa.org/
- Women’s Fiction Writing Association: https://www.womensfictionwriters.org/
- A local writers’ group (they often meet at libraries, bookstores, or online)
- Attend writing workshops:
- At local library
- RWA.org (You don’t have to be a member or write romance. Most workshops are inexpensive and online):
- Margie Lawson: https://www.margielawson.com/lawson-writers-academy/
- A few others sites offer free or inexpensive online courses. I’ll update as I think of them.
- Join a program like Jeanne Vita’s Book Genie that does offer support and mentorship to new writers: https://school.book-genie.com/
Q: How do I get traditionally published?
I would refer you to this post: How to Get a Book Published – With Rebecca van Laer and The Key Book Publishing Paths: 2025–2026 curated by literary agent Jane Friedman.
Q: How do I go about self-publishing?
Check out Sarra Cannon’s Heart Breathings Channel. It’s loaded with hugely helpful tips about how to indie publish from plotting, writing, and editing your book to creating an indie publishing strategy. And I can’t recommend her HB90 and Publish & Thrive courses enough. (And yes, I’m a lifetime student, evangelist, and affiliate of her incredible programs and community.)
Q: How can I get my children’s book published?
Get tips and advice from published children’s book authors and illustrators in How to Get Started Writing and Publishing Children’s Books by Emma Walton Hamilton, 10 Tips to Getting Your Children’s Book Published, and How to Make Six Figures Self-Publishing Children’s Books.
I hope this helps, as these are the things that really helped me develop as a writer during my career.
Warmest Regards,
Reese