Everything I’m Doing to Become a Writer
Here’s Everything I’m Doing to Become a Writer
By Yashaswini Sharma
The path to becoming a published writer or author is indeed a labyrinthine one. The more you get into it, the more convoluted it becomes. I started submitting my work in December of last year, and boy, do I wish I knew better. By no stretch of the imagination, I am the most qualified person out there to be doling out writing advice, but I am a writer and a submitter on a journey. So, if you’re also interested in becoming a writer who gets published, follow along.
Here are the five things I’m doing—and I would recommend to you—to be a capital ‘W’ writer.
1. Write
…duh. There is no point in dreaming of publications if you don’t have anything to submit or share with the world, so let’s begin by making sure you have at least two pieces you are proud of. They don’t need to be your magnum opuses, but they need to be coherent, cohesive, and grammatically sound. Most magazines prefer pieces that can spin traditional plots or tropes on their heads and produce something new and untraditional, so if you think your piece fits the bill, even better! My strongest piece of advice here would be for you to work on writing something you’re truly passionate about, There’s no point in making your piece lock-and-pop and breakdance if it is not a story you love.
2. Submit
This is a natural second step if you want to be published. There are websites like Chill Subs, Duotrope, Authors Publish, and Submittable where you can find magazines, their guidelines, and their deadlines. There are also several newsletters you can find on Substack (and elsewhere) that compile lists of magazines currently open for submissions—these folks really make our job easy. All these databases and websites are free of cost; however, there are a few Substack newsletters that only let you access their database if you’re a paid member. Another important tip is to read the submission guidelines extremely carefully; doing that will maximise your chances of being published (but also, the chances of being published are really, really, really, very slim).
3. Advertise
This is the most important step, in my opinion. For one, you could forego that whole submission rigamarole if your advertising game is an A-star. By advertising, I mean social media, and unfortunately not billboards and TV adverts. Tell your parents, friends, neighbours, lovers, enemies, strangers, and everyone else about your writing. Be shameless but respectful; nothing beats consistency and persistence. I’ve just started posting regularly on Instagram and Substack, and I’m definitely seeing results.
4. Network
Consistency and persistence bring me to networking. In all honesty, this is something I’ve yet to master, but within the last week or so, I’ve been really focusing on growing my presence online and making friends. As a creative, you’re only as good as your network. You could be the best writer out there, but if you have no audience, no one to see your work, and maybe commission or recommend you, then it is extremely difficult to become someone who earns from their art. Being a creative is a difficult job in and of itself, but having a strong support system helps.
P.S. Please take everything I wrote about social media with a grain of salt. Surely there are ways to achieve your goals without ever being on social media. These are just things I’m trying out, but I know several writers out there detest social media. This is your path, your career, your art, and you should only do what feels natural and best for you.
5. Be Delusional
This, in my opinion, is the most important skill to have as a creative. Believe in yourself, even when the voice within says otherwise. Apply for opportunities you think you are not qualified for, just to see what happens. I’ve started doing this, and I actually ended up getting a job interview back in April for a copywriting job. It might not always work, but casting a wide net increases your chances of being noticed and considered. And remember folks, confidence is key—even when it’s fake.
Being a writer is hard work and, honestly, the best way to ‘make it’ is by doing what feels natural to you; no one really knows your journey except you. This, in itself, is also what’s so fun about figuring out a career as a creative; the path is never clear, but it is always exciting to traverse.
