When I first learned to roller skate, my dad was with me. He gave me lots of good advice, like how to move my feet and position myself. “You should lean forward,” he said, “because falling forward is better than falling backward.”
Without my dad there to teach me how to roller skate, I probably would have given up. If I had learned, it would have been much more slowly.
Aspiring novelists need advice from experienced authors for the same reason. You can prepare for a writing career much more effectively when you’re listening to authors who have actually done this.
Last year, I asked nine different authors this question: if you were to tell your younger self one thing you should have done to prepare for a writing career, what would it be?
These authors don’t all write in the same genre. Some, like Heather Creekmore, write Christian self-help books while others, like Kara Swanson, write YA fantasy. But no matter what genre you write, their advice will still help you where you’re at right now.
Preparation Tip 1: Your Identity is Not in Your Writing
We too often let our self-worth fluctuate with our successes. So many things can creep onto that throne in our hearts reserved for Jesus–school and friends and sports . . . oh, and writing.
If you’re like me, you have a dream of writing as a career. You write regularly and search for lessons and blog posts (like this one?) to learn more about writing and publishing.
Writing is close to your heart.
But it shouldn’t rule your heart.
Take it from Kara Swanson–published author of the Heirs of Neverland duology and Lyme disease survivor. Ms. Swanson knows just how important it is to keep your priorities straight when striving towards a writing career because when you can’t write well, your value is just the same.
Kara Swanson’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Don’t define your worth by your writing. Whether or not you can reach a certain deadline, whether or not your writing is as good as you think–make sure that you aren’t letting your sense of value be connected to that.
Instead, use your writing as a healthy place to connect with others and to process what you’re going through.
But also learn endurance; learn to push through when it’s hard and see the value in doing the hard thing.
There’s a balance. You have to be able to hold both, but not let one overcompensate the other.
Kara Swanson writes stories about fairytales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, Dust and Shadow.
3 Ways Not to Let Your Writing Define You
1. Root yourself in Christ. That throne on your heart is reserved for Jesus–so offer Him that throne! A practical way to put God at the top of your priorities list is to read your Bible and pray first before your daily writing time.
2. Engage in other hobbies. Find a few other things you’re passionate about–hobbies, sports, etc. While you may not be aiming to be a professional knitter or bowler, you’ll find your thoughts and spare time less focused on your writing and more spread out among your different interests. Obviously, there’s a maximum to how many extracurriculars you can participate in, but don’t make writing your one fun thing.
3. Give your writing to God. Pray before you write and trust Him with the results. Write for His glory, knowing that any skill you have is from Him. God should be the focus of every part of your life, and writing is no exception.
Preparation Tip 2: Trust God With Your Writing Journey
Jeremiah 29:11 has comforted me many times. When I am uncertain of whether I’ll become a career author, when I’m in tears because of social dynamics, or when I’m stressed because I feel like I have to orchestrate everything perfectly, I find peace in this verse.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
God spoke these words through Jeremiah when His people, the Israelites, were exiles in Babylon . . . right after He’d told them that they would be there for another seventy years. Even though things looked pretty bleak, He told them He still had a good plan for them.
Tricia Goyer, author of over eighty books, and C. J. Milacci, author of YA adventure, know that God still has a good plan for us too.
Tricia Goyer’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Don’t worry if some people seem to get published faster or find success faster. God has a unique pace for everybody.
Right away when I started writing, some of my friends got books published sooner, or different things happened sooner to some of them than to me.
But just focus on your path and instead of comparing yourself to everybody else, know that good things will come if you’re just dedicated to doing what God wants you to do.
Tricia Goyer writes out of her passion for God and her love for family and others. The author of more than 80 books, she writes both historical fiction and nonfiction related to family and parenting.
C. J. Milacci’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Let God lead you every step of the way.
When it doesn’t make sense.
When no one understands.
When it’s really hard.
Don’t try to figure it all out or do it on your own.
God has used every stage of my life to prepare me for the next stage, and trusting Him and taking each step of faith He has called me to has been the best preparation for my career as an author.
C.J. Milacci writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As a referee, she’s always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
3 Ways to Trust God With Your Writing Journey
1. Tell God you trust Him. And then ask Him to help you trust Him more. By speaking your trust aloud, you make it more real to yourself and commit to continue trusting in God.
2. Pray over your writing journey. Talk to Him about what’s going on with your sassy heroine or the difficult edits from your critique partners. Pray over your work-in-progress, your readers, and when you get there, your agent and publisher.
3. Plan your next steps. Trusting God doesn’t mean to just sit there and do nothing. If God has given you the gift of writing, then give it back to Him–by writing! And if you feel that it is within His will for you to pursue a career as an author and you want to, then pursue it. Take the WriterScore and make plans for progress. But don’t forget to pray continually.
Preparation Tip 3: Read Well and Study Writing
The first novella that I finished was thirteen thousand words. It was an allegory . . . sort of. It featured an amnesic main character who went by three different nicknames, evil wolves called skiplingies (don’t ask), and a hero who wore a navy blue cloak to match his eyes.
Brilliant, right?
And yet I was pretty clueless about creating authentic characters, and all the “deep” dialogue lines I wrote were forced and cliche. While reading books jump-started my journey as a fantasy writer, I still lacked the necessary knowledge.
Chuck Black, an author who writes solid fantasy allegories, knows just how important both reading and studying are.
Chuck Black’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
When I was a teenager, I did a lot of reading. I loved reading medieval works. I loved reading science fiction. I loved reading some of the older works, for example: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. I didn’t realize how much that was going to prepare me, and I would tell my younger self, “Keep reading a lot of good books.”
I didn’t start writing until I was 32 or 33. So if I could go back and give my 33-year-old self some advice, I would say to do a little more study on what good fundamentals of writing are. Study things like point of view, plot development, character development, and world creation.
At first, I just sat down and wrote my first book. It just happened, and it turned out very well. But if I were to go back and write that book over, all of the things I’ve learned since then would’ve made it a better book.
Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot, is the author of twenty-one novels, including The Kingdom Series, The Knights of Arrethtrae, the Wars of the Realm, The Starlore Legacy, and Call to Arms. Chuck’s passion is to inspire youth to follow Christ while equipping parents, pastors, and youth leaders to do the same.
3 Ways to Read Well and Study Writing
1. Read in your genre. Take note of the general reader expectations for that genre. Take note of overused cliches, as well as the attributes that make a story/nonfiction pop. The key here is to take note. You’re no longer an ignorant reader, you’re a researching writer. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the book. Just keep your eyes open.
2. Find a few trusted writing resources. These should be places where you know you can go when you have a writing question. Many sites will have a mailing list that you can subscribe to receive links to weekly blog posts. Writing books is also an excellent way to dive deeper into certain skills.
3. Pinpoint a few areas of growth. Don’t stress. Find a few things to implement in your next story and refer back to the books and blog posts that can help you along.
Preparation Tip 4: Find Community
Writing is awesome. You get to make up your own stories (sort of) and weave meaningful themes in between gripping plots.
But the hardest thing? It’s kind of a solitary activity. And if you choose it as a career, a major social aspect of life–work–just vanished.
Or did it?
Kate Albus, author of sweet children’s historical fiction, says otherwise.
Kate Albus’ Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Find your people!
For me, this was a revelation. As someone who never had a critique group before embarking on publishing’s wild ride, the fact that I made bookish friends on that ride was the most delightful surprise. The most splendid gift.
Writing is mostly a solitary pursuit, but there are times when emerging from that lonely room is necessary and important. Writer friends are critique partners, cheerleaders, shoulders to cry on, and invaluable sources of advice about the publishing world and all its many mysteries. If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to find those bookish friends sooner.
Kate Albus writes historical fiction for young people. Her first novel, A Place to Hang the Moon, was a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award recipient, and an ALSC Notable Book. Her second novel, Nothing Else but Miracles, was released in September 2023. Kate grew up in New York and now lives with her family in rural Maryland.
3 Ways to Find Community
1. Find an online writing community. These are often several hundred people large, increasing the chance that you’ll find like-minded writers. Online writing communities often have forums to discuss different aspects of writing and publishing, so this is also a great way to learn more about a writing career. If you’re a young Christian writer, check out our Workshop program. (Take it from an insider: it’s amazing.)
2. Find an in-person writing community. As everyone knows after the Pandemic, there’s nothing like meeting face-to-face. Check for in-person writing groups at your local library.
3. Find a critique group. Whether you find this online or in-person, giving and receiving feedback is one of the best ways to grow as a writer as well as utilize your writing community.
Preparation Tip 5: Form Good Habits
You don’t just wake up and decide one day to run a marathon. You have to train weekly, if not daily. You have to put in effort and time to make your dream come true.
The training is hard and glamor-less. Crowds may show up for the marathon, but not for the five months prior when you trained.
But those five months are crucial, or else you’ll be in the crowd, not on the course, the day the marathon comes.
- D. Smith, author of the bestselling Green Ember series, knows that writing is the same way.
S. D. Smith’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
I would emphasize the power of habits. John Dryden said, “We first make our habits and then our habits make us,” and Aristotle said, “You are what you continually do. Excellence, therefore, is a habit.”
The dreams are okay. They’re good when they’re married to habits. But the habits are like the fuel in the rocket. You’re not going anywhere without the habits, the daily stuff. So it’s more important to do little things every day than to do some big grand gesture some days.
S.D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million-selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. His newest novel, co-authored with his sixteen-year-old son, is a thrilling fantasy called Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”
3 Ways to Form Good Habits
1. Decide when and where you’ll write. Will you write in the morning or the evening? Will you write on the laptop in your room or in your notebook outside?
2. Set a daily goal. Start small and commit to writing for a certain amount of time, or a certain number of words, every day. This will ensure consistent productivity.
3. Set a big goal. Something like, “Finish outlining my novel in three months.” This will motivate you to reach those daily goals. This is especially helpful in stages like outlining, where you might not have a set word count goal.
Preparation Tip 6: Focus on Your Target Audience
“Oh my goodness, I’ve just read this amazing book!” you say to your friend. “It’s got breathtaking action and a stunning fantasy world.”
“But I don’t like fantasy adventure,” your friend protests. “I read slice-of-life.”
“This will be different,” you promise. “Here, just try it.”
After the first few pages, your friend hands the book back to you. “Sorry. Not my kind of thing.”
You thought that book was so amazing that everyone would love it. But the truth is–no book is one that everyone would love.
So what impact does this have on us as writers? I’ll let S. D. Smith say it for me.
S. D. Smith’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
I’d say to be more focused on the particular people to whom your work is geared: worry about the people who you’re called to love and serve, but don’t think you need to please everyone. Rejections, or people not approving your books, are okay because you’re just finding your audience.
Rejection isn’t the end of the line, it’s a stop along the way. You realize that they just aren’t your people. You don’t have to please everyone because your audience doesn’t include everyone.
S.D. Smith is the author of The Green Ember Series, a million-selling adventure saga featuring heroic #RabbitsWithSwords. His newest novel, co-authored with his sixteen-year-old son, is a thrilling fantasy called Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key. Smith’s stories are captivating readers across the globe who are hungry for “new stories with an old soul.”
3 Ways to Focus on Your Target Audience
1. Pinpoint who your target audience is. Do you know the specifics of who will enjoy your book the most? Check this article out for more details.
2. Be where your target audience is. Which sites do they visit? Which conferences do they attend? Focus your marketing on them.
3. Write for your target audience. Knowing your readers’ age, gender, and a few other specifics, you can guess at the struggles they’re going through. Write to encourage them, convict them, and bless them. Pray for them as well.
Preparation Tip 7: Stay Humble
We’d all like to be that writer who gets her first book accepted by the first agent she pitches to. In fact, her books are so perfect that publishers compete with one another over it.
When she finally decides on her favorite publisher, she then gets only a few editing notes back before the launch. Her critique partners have no criticism, only praise, and her story is practically flawless.
Facts are: no one is like that. No first draft is publishing-ready, and no one has it all together.
Here’s what authors and podcasters Shelby Abbott and Heather Creekmore want to remind us of on that front.
Shelby Abbott’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Be humble. Humility is something that we all say we want, but that often isn’t reflected in our pursuits. If we don’t proactively pursue humility, God will grant it to us…often through hearing “no” several million times when trying to get published.
Humility usually goes hand in hand with wisdom, so pray for humility and wisdom as you look toward your writing career, that way when you hear “no,” it won’t devastate you or make you feel outraged by the fact that some publisher doesn’t want your work.
Shelby Abbot is an author, radio/podcast host (Real Life Loading…), campus minister, and conference speaker on staff with FamilyLife, a ministry of Cru. He has one dog, a sizable sneaker collection, and a rather impressive vinyl LP record compilation. He and his family live just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Heather Creekmore’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
Learn to get good at taking criticism. Don’t be afraid of the teacher’s red pen or the edits! They will help you get better. Every time you have a chance to see how something is corrected, you have a chance to be a better writer.
Heather Creekmore writes and speaks hope to thousands of women each week through her books, coaching, and podcast titled, “Compared to Who?” Heather’s heart is to encourage women who struggle with body image and comparison issues and help them find the freedom to stop comparing and start living. Connect with Heather here.
3 Ways to Stay Humble
1. Pray for humility. As Shelby Abbott said, ask God directly for humility. Realize that our human nature has a natural bent towards pride. We all need God’s help in staying humble.
2. Find a critique group. There’s nothing like other writers’ eyes to discern the strengths and weaknesses of your work. Receiving constructive criticism will both keep you humble and push you towards growth.
3. Aim for improvement, not perfection or superiority. Instead of comparing yourself to other writers and gaining a false sense of superiority or inferiority, compare yourself to where you were last year and what you would like to be this year.
Preparation Tip 8: Just Enjoy It
Have you ever gone up close to a painting and lost sight of the big picture? The shadows and lines break down into disconnected swashes and dots until the picture looks like an abstract.
Then as you back away, those disconnected swashes and dots meld to form a cohesive painting–beautiful and pleasing.
You weren’t able to enjoy the painting properly until you backed up a little.
Below, J. C. Smith, teenage co-author of the Jack Zulu series, shares his insight into how writing is similar.
J. C. Smith’s Advice on Preparing for a Writing Career
I would tell my younger self, “Don’t forget to enjoy it.” I tend to overemphasize habits. And that’s not a bad thing at all, but writing is super cool and it’s a gift from God. It’s magical, and so find things that make you happy in the creative world.
Watch your favorite movie and read your favorite book. Enjoy it because it’s magical.
There are times when you’re really into it and you feel like the ideas and words are flowing correctly, and you’re just in the zone. Enjoy that. It’s a cool thing.
J.C. Smith is a seventeen-year-old student, author, musician, and visual artist. When he’s not creating or collaborating on stories, Josiah enjoys soccer, music, Sun Chips, and the study and practice of filmmaking. He lives in Grandview, West Virginia, with his parents and three siblings.
3 Ways to Just Enjoy Writing
1. Remember why you write. What first inspired you? Was it a character whose struggles you resonated with, or the way one line of dialogue made you laugh so hard that your ribs ached? Write that down, and then realize that you’re on your way to blessing readers the same way.
2. Have some writerly fun. Make a story collage or roleplay as your character. Draw a scene from your last chapter or cook up a meal that your characters like to eat. You’ve created whole worlds and character casts. Take advantage of that!
3. Cherish the “zone.” Like J. C. Smith mentioned: revel in the times when your story is flowing and knitting together beautifully. Thank the Lord for those times and delight yourself in your ideas.
Your Next Steps
You don’t just become an amazing author. You have to train.
You have to read good books and form good habits. You have to find a writing community so you don’t give up too early and reach your target audience so you don’t fizzle out after publication.
Most importantly, you must pursue God before pursuing writing. Anchor yourself in him and trust him. And enjoy writing!
Receiving advice from writers who have done what you want to do is crucial in your writing journey. But what if you could get personal insight into your own specific problems and works-in-progress and have an actual relationship with a more experienced writer? What if you could ask unique questions to a mentor and receive direct answers instead of searching up vaguely-related articles?
If that sounds like something you’d want, you’re looking for a writing mentor. But how do you find one? And what does a writing mentor do for you? Check out the guide below for your first step toward personal mentorship.
