10 Tips for Aspiring Authors: What You Need to Hear Before Publishing
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When I was fresh out of college, about to start my first publishing job at Penguin Random House, I knew my passion was providing advice and tips for aspiring authors to help them share their stories with the world. But I had no idea just how hard it was to be a debut author. Fast forward to now, I’ve worked with hundreds of authors on their books, including New York Times bestsellers.
Here are my top 10 tips for aspiring authors who want to see their book on the shelf one day, including some hard truths you might not want to hear, but need to.
1. Work on your story as much as your sentences
Most aspiring authors equate good writing with beautiful prose, poetic metaphors, lyrical turns of phrase, and surprising imagery. All of that is important, of course, but if your goal is to have people actually read your book, it doesn't matter how pretty your sentences are if they don't tell a good story.
Once I started working as a developmental book editor, I became less interested in the beauty of individual sentences and more interested in the mechanics of effective storytelling. How to maintain narrative momentum, how to develop a strong character arc, and how to deliver emotional impact.
Think of the story as the foundation of your book. The sentences are the rugs, the wallpaper, and the furnishings. But beautiful decor doesn't matter if the floor is collapsing beneath it.
The flip side is also true. A solid structure will feel empty and lifeless without some style and furnishings. And even if you have the best plot in the world, if your writing doesn't hold up, the story will feel bland. You need both a strong story foundation and strong sentence level craft to create a truly engaging book.
So, as you're drafting your manuscript, ask yourself: am I spending as much time developing and refining the story as I am the prose?
This next point might hit too close to home, but of all the tips for aspiring authors on this list, it’s probably the one you need to hear the most.
2. Identify your procrastination traps
Many aspiring authors fail not because they don’t have the talent or the ability, but because they spend their time doing everything else except the thing that matters most: writing.
I see it all the time. Endlessly tweaking your author website, designing mock book covers, and getting lost in BookTok drama. You can do all of these things—but not at the expense of actually getting your draft done.
There is, sadly, only one way to finish a novel. Sit your butt in the chair and put your fingers on the keys.
I have a friend who’s allegedly been working on a book for 10 years. He keeps promising me it’s coming, and I haven’t seen any of it. If that sounds like you, it’s time to look at where your energy is really going.
You don't need to write every day because that doesn't work for every writer, but find a writing schedule that works for you and stick to it. Procrastination wears many clever disguises, so identify yours and snap out of them. Then go write the dang book.
3. Go to the bookstore
I talked to so many aspiring authors who admit they haven't actually read a novel since they were required to read in high school or college. Then they say there's no point in picking up a book now because they don't want it to influence their writing, which sounds to me like a lazy excuse.
Sure, avoiding reading of all kinds is a fine approach if you intend to write only for yourself and never get published. But if you want to see your book on the shelf one day, you should know what's already on that shelf.
So next time you're out and about, stop by your local bookstore and go to the section of the store where your book would one day live. Pick up a book that came out recently, within the past 10 years, by a living author. Bonus points if it's a debut author. Buy it and then read it!
Not only will this give you a sense of what your future readers are enjoying today, but reading is also one of the absolute best ways to improve your own craft. It'll help you internalize story structure, pacing, character, and style in a way that no craft advice can. That’s why reading more is one of my top tips for aspiring authors.
I'm not at all saying that you should copy what's already being published out there or write to specific trends, but you should know what the publishing landscape is like if you intend to bring your own voice into it.
As someone who reads for a living, I know how hard it can be to carve out time for pleasure reading, especially when you have a million other things on your plate.
Two of my favorite tips for fitting reading into a busy schedule:
Read for 10 minutes just before bed instead of scrolling on your phone.
Listen to audiobooks while you're cleaning, cooking, or walking the dog. Yes, I do believe that listening to audiobooks counts as reading!
Reading is going to make you a stronger writer, and it's not even going to feel like work.
4. Pick up the axe
No book is perfect on the first draft, not even from your favorite best-selling author. When writers are just starting out, they often treat their draft like it’s sacred, like no word can be changed. But if you want to craft the best possible story, you need to be willing to break it down and tear it apart to build it back up stronger.
This is the work that I love doing as a developmental editor, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s not easy, and sometimes it hurts. Sometimes you have to remove scenes, characters, or plot lines that you personally love. Sometimes you have to make an edit that changes every single scene.
That’s not because the work you did in the first draft was bad. It’s just that it was step one in the process of bringing the strongest version of this story to life.
Great stories aren’t written, they’re rewritten, often many times. The sooner you can stop being precious with your manuscript and embrace the revision process, the better off you’ll be.
This is one of the most important tips for aspiring authors. Trust me, you’re going to love your book so much more once you’re willing to take the axe to it.
5. Don’t let the wrong people read it
Sharing your book with someone is an incredibly vulnerable, scary act. So, it makes sense that aspiring authors often turn to the people they trust the most first. Your best friend, your partner, or your mom. But it’s very rarely the case that these are the right people to give you the feedback you need at this point.
They can’t be objective. They know how hard you’ve worked on this project, so they’re likely going to shield you from their most honest opinions because they don’t want to hurt your feelings or damage your relationship. As a result, they often end up giving you vague praise that is, at best, not helpful and, at worst, gives you a false sense of security.
What you need at this point isn’t for someone to give you a pat on the back, but for someone to give you real, actionable feedback that will make your story better.
Be incredibly thoughtful and selective about who you ask for feedback. The quality of the feedback always matters more than the quantity.
Ask yourself: Does this person have a background in writing or editing? Do they read avidly in my genre and understand what I’m trying to accomplish with my book? Do they have the ability to give me honest, constructive feedback?
And before you hand your manuscript over to anyone, ask yourself: am I really ready to receive critique on this book?
6. Walk away from your story
You’ve been grinding away at your draft late at night for weeks. You’ve reread your draft ten times and now feel overwhelmed by the revision process. When you are this deep in your story, you simply can’t see the forest from the trees. You’re still seeing the book you intended to write, not what you actually put down on the page. You’re blind to the issues and gaps that readers will notice quickly.
So, when you’re dealing with a bad case of writer’s block or feeling paralyzed by the revision process, here’s what I want you to do: take a break from your project.
There’s actually science behind why a break is so productive. It activates a different part of your brain and allows you to creatively problem-solve when you return to your project. You’ll have so much more clarity after you get some distance from your book.
The best thing you can do after you finish your draft is to let it sit for at least a week, though several weeks is even better. Take this time to do something else entirely and refill your creativity well. Read something new, make some art and practice music.
This isn’t abandoning your story; you’re actually nurturing it.
7. Tell someone you’re a writer
As someone who has worked in publishing, trust me when I say there are no specific credentials you need to become a writer.
I’ve worked with authors who got book deals with major publishers with no writing background of any kind, no MFA, and no previous publications. If you are writing actively and consistently, you are a writer. Full stop.
Too often, writers downplay their work in conversations. When someone asks what you do for work or as a hobby, you say, “Well, I’m trying to write a book,” or “I’m hoping to become a writer one day.” Here’s my challenge for you. The next time someone asks, say, “I’m a writer.” That’s it.
You do not need to be published to call yourself a writer. You also don’t have to be a certain age. When Delia Owens published her debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, she was 69, and it was a massive success.
Owning your identity as a writer can shift everything. You will legitimize your writing to yourself. You’ll likely prioritize it more and take it more seriously, and so will everyone around you.
8. Get the beginning right
When a reader or literary agent picks up your book, the first few pages are everything. That’s where they decide if it’s worth their time and if they want to keep turning the pages. I spend more time helping authors with their first pages than any other part of their manuscripts.
Those opening pages need to spark curiosity. We need to care about where the story is going. There must be momentum pulling us into the next scene, and the next, and the next.
Too often, first pages are bogged down by backstory or world-building, or they carry no tension or conflict. You can’t ask readers to give you fifty pages to get to the good part, because they’ll never get there.
You probably won’t get the opening right on the first draft, and that’s completely okay. Once your draft is complete, go back to that first chapter and ask yourself:
Is this really the right place to begin?
Do I plant enough curiosity seeds?
Do I give the reader a reason to care?
Your beginning is your invitation into the book. Give the reader no choice but to accept it.
9. Don’t Jump the Gun (Publishing Tips for Aspiring Authors)
Querying literary agents too soon is the biggest mistake I see aspiring authors make.
I get it. You’ve finished your draft and you’re excited. You’re imagining a book deal, a launch party, your book on a shelf. But the truth is your draft probably isn’t ready yet. And once an agent passes on your manuscript, that door is very hard to reopen.
Publishing is not a race. You have far more to gain by waiting until your book is truly ready. Ideally, you should go through several drafts, including developmental revisions, before querying.
Agents are looking for manuscripts that are polished and nearly ready to go to publishers. It’s the same reason turnkey houses sell more easily than fixer-uppers.
Take the time to do meaningful revisions, get feedback, and step away from your manuscript so you can see it clearly. Traditional publishing will test your patience. It’s slower than any of us want, but if it’s your dream, give your book its best shot.
This final tip for aspiring authors is what will enable you to keep going when the publishing process gets you down.
10. Practice Getting Rejected (Advice Every Aspiring Author Needs)
Every writer you admire has been rejected many times. You will get bad reviews. You’ll be passed over for awards and bestseller lists. If you pursue traditional publishing, you’ll be rejected by agents and publishers, and it will sting, especially at first.
Of course it’s personal. This is your book. But rejection becomes easier when you stop letting it define you. Practice rejection in low-stakes ways. Submit a short story you don’t care much about. Share a rough chapter with a critique group. Let people not like your work and see that you’re still standing.
Rejection doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. It means you’re in the game. You’re putting yourself out there, and that’s what real writers do.
Writing a book will be one of the hardest things you ever do, but also one of the most rewarding. I hope these tips for aspiring authors help you on your journey.
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