Practical Advice for Aspiring Authors
BECOME A MEMBER OF A WRITING GROUP
A membership shows a writer is invested and dedicated, plus the benefits are invaluable.
A couple I recommend are:
ATTEND WRITING CLASSES
There’s always something new to learn so take advantage of opportunities to hone your skills. Some good places to start are:
JOIN A CRITIQUE GROUP
A good critique group will offer feedback, encouragement, and accountability.
Here’s some helpful info on how to find the right critique group for you:
Here’s some helpful info on how to create your own critique group:
CONNECT WITH FELLOW WRITERS
Writing doesn’t have to be isolating. A writer can gain motivation and support from like-minded creatives through local writing organizations as well as on social media. For instance: follow hashtags like #kidlit and #writingcommunity on social media.
PARTICIPATE IN CHALLENGES & CONTESTS
Participating in challenges and contests helps develop skills and is good practice for putting yourself out there. Some examples:
READ, READ, READ
Reading can help a writer understand what works (and doesn’t work), it’s a great source for inspiration, and is essential to keeping current with market trends. Check out these blogs for picture book recommendations:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES