A person might be asking, how does one become an author? The answer to the question is through writing a book. Although the answer might appear simple, the truth is that not so many people enjoy the entire writing process. On the same note, not many people have taken the initiative to go to school and be taught the basics of excellent writing. The simple definition of an author is that it is a person who has written, published, and completed all the literacy processes of writing. It is important to note that an author can write a screenplay, literary prose, novels, poems, books, and short stories. The majority of the students do not enjoy the entire writing process because they are tiresome, lengthy, and time-consuming. For instance, in a scenario where a person is required to write an essay, they are required to identify the most appropriate topic, perform in-depth research, organize all the relevant findings, and edit as well as proofread their work before submitting it to the lecturer for grading. Being an author entails almost a similar process.

Although some people enjoy the entire writing process, others do not, and hence, they often take too much time writing, even when it comes to simple topics. This is one of the reasons why you should never compare your writing abilities with those of your colleagues. The chances are high that you might end up disappointed, depressed, or having low self-esteem. There are millions of people who have writing as their hobby. However, it is essential to note that transitioning from a writing hobby to an author can be challenging. Given the traditional writing industry, it seems like a person needs to sacrifice so much to be a successful author. For instance, an individual will need to develop book ideas, develop the habit of writing daily, and seek a professional editor or a reputable publishing enterprise. Apparently, performing all these tasks simultaneously is not a walk in the park. The good thing is that if you systematically tackle all these processes, you will encounter less difficulty writing and publishing your first book or novel. The secret to achieving so much within a short duration is creating a plan and sticking to it.

Character Traits of a Good Author

The truth is that it is difficult to know whether you are a good author if no one has ever given you negative feedback. All in all, one of the ways of spotting an excellent writer is through checking their behavior. The majority of them will demonstrate a sense of openness and devotion, which are two of the essential elements to becoming an excellent writer. The following are other characteristics of excellent authors.

• They are disciplined

Being an author requires a person to be disciplined at all times. Once in a while, you will be required to perform in-depth research, write, and re-write the same thing a couple of times until it becomes perfect. It is important to note that doing and re-doing the same thing requires a lot of discipline since most people will be frustrated and be tempted to give up. Indeed, one of the essential characteristics of being an excellent author is discipline.

• They are passionate about reading

If you want to be a good author, you must have a passion for reading. The majority of the writers obtain motivation from what they read. Whenever they are reading, they will try to understand the author`s point of view, the tone used, and the flow of ideas, among so many other things. In other words, they do not read for the sake of reading. Essentially, if you are passionate about reading, the chances are high that you can make your way through becoming a top-notch author.

• Most authors are often sleep-deprived

It is important always to remember that sleep plays a significant role in a person`s life. Whether you are a student, parent, or author, you will need to have sufficient sleep to achieve your desired objectives. The majority of the writers are usually sleep-deprived because of reasons well-known to them. Some will tend to sleep for only two hours daily, which is not healthy. Sometimes, writers concentrate too much on their work that they forget that sleep is as important as the good books they want to write and publish. The most surprising thing is that some writers write best during the night hours. It is not possible to describe all the characteristics that make a good author. Therefore, to mention some of them, they include expressing ideas clearly, being open to new ideas and things, attentive to details, being patient, and being creative.

Is it Hard to Become an Author?

Unlike in the past, the advancement of technology has made it easier for people to become authors. Currently, there is a significant advancement in self-publishing. However, it is important always to remember that being a great author demands a lot of patience, hard work, determination, and self-discipline. On the same note, aspiring authors should never forget that to some people; opportunities come easier as compared to others. Whereas some people struggle for many months or years to write and publish their books, others find quick success after writing and publishing their books.

Steps to becoming an author

• Spend more time preparing

Most people do not know this, but a person does not need to have formal education to become an author. However, in most cases, it is recommended that a person should have a minimum of a high school degree. On the same note, having specific skills could make it easier for you to be a great author. Examples of these skills include patience, discipline, creativity, and being attentive to details. To be a great author, it would be best if you strive to have good communication skills. You must also be able to create exciting stories that engage the audience, have excellent researching skills, and be able to observe places and people naturally.

• Take your time to learn the basics of writing

Having a strong command of English will strengthen the foundation of your journey into becoming a great author. Although so many people can write, few people can write well. If you are struggling to improve your writing skills, you should not worry anymore. The good thing is that there are many published articles online on improving writing skills. Here are a few writing tips: the first one is learning the basics of writing, which you can do by seeking assistance from your lecturers or considering taking a writing course. Secondly, you can improve your writing skills through practicing. In this case, you might consider mirroring the style utilized by an author who you admire. You should also write as often as possible and make it part of your daily schedule. Finally, you can try the different writing genres and decide on the one that works best for you. Indeed, what might work well for your colleagues might not be the same for you and vice versa, which is why you should always strive to be unique.

• Develop a positive mindset

Most people have a lot of self-doubts. They have a negative perception that no one will ever read them regardless of how much they try to write excellent papers. It is important to know that it is normal to have self-doubts and experience the feeling of self-inadequacy. The majority of the writers suffer from self-judgment and the fear of insecurity, which is not healthy. The following are some of the ways a person can develop a positive mindset: developing a writing habit, not comparing their abilities with those of their colleagues, identifying a few techniques that work best for you, and acknowledging that you are not perfect.

• Write your first draft

Writing a draft might seem like a straightforward thing. The truth is that it is a very simple yet challenging task to practice. However, the good thing is that anyone can access information from anywhere in the comfort of their home, provided they have a secured internet connection. As you write your first draft, you should always remember that best writers do not write full-time. However, it would be best if you learned how to manage your time effectively. Otherwise, there are high chances that you might not utilize the time at your disposal effectively.

The other most important thing when writing your draft is editing and proofreading your work. Researchers believe that a person can edit their work more effectively if they first take a break of ten to fifteen minutes before resuming to edit their work. If possible, you might consider hiring a professional editor who will ensure that your work is devoid of grammatical and spelling mistakes. After completing your draft, you may either submit your work directly to the publisher or self-publish it. Once your book is published, you become an author.

The final thoughts

Becoming a great author is not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of determination, practice, and patience. Hopefully, by reading this article, you will learn everything about becoming a great author.