10 Signs You Might Be a Professional Writer

This post started out with a five in the title but once I started outlining it the list grew with a mind of its own. Then I tried to rank them in order of importance and found the task impossible. Each one's importance varies depending on where you are in your writing and publishing career. So check your sign. Are you a professional writer?

1.  You continue your education in the field. There is so much to learn and so many sites available. Check out our links here on IWSG. And today, our very own Alex J. Cavanaugh is guesting on How to Write Shop, hosted by Lori Devoti. You know how helpful Alex always is.

2. Make a plan and then work your plan. Professional writers know what they intend when they sit down at their keyboards. Some of us call it setting goals and all businesses do it. Do you have a plan?

3. You're the boss. Even if you work under contract, you are the one who determines your hours and how hard you're working each day. There are no sick days or calling a temp agency for a substitute.

4. Know your field. Read within your field. If you write creative non-fiction then you should be reading it. If you write fantasy and read a fantasy book that you didn't care for or that you loved, figure out what worked or didn't work for you.

5. Network with others. All businesses network. Not only does it help with promotion, but it connects you with others you will learn from and perhaps some that can learn from you. And be reciprocal. If someone hosts you, do you offer the same back? Build a network of friends who will help you when you need it and help them back.

6. Always be professional and courteous. Unfortunately many of us have witnessed disagreements spiral upward into hurtful flames online. Stay out of it. Receive a bad review, let it go. Avoid politics unless that's the genre you're writing about.

7. Meet your deadlines and obligations. When your manuscript is due back to your editor in seven days, do you make the date? If you are writing a guest post for someone, do you get it to them in a timely matter?

8. Be alert for opportunities. Want to increase your blog's reach? Join a blog hop like the A to Z challenge or the IWSG monthly posting. Is your library hosting author appearances? Get in on that. Does one of your fellow bloggers do weekly book reviews? Maybe they'll do one for you. Some of these things take effort and work but put them in your plan.

9. Keep records of your work. Have you submitted to a publisher before? Is there a certain reviewer you want to use again and again? Did a certain promotion work or was it a bomb? Have you received timely payments for articles you wrote? Lists. I'm a big fan of lists.

10. Manage your money. Most writers don't earn a living from the craft though some do. Are you tempted to spend your money on a paid blog hop or cover reveal? Do your research first to make sure you're spending your precious dollars to their best advantage. Do you really need to purchase aprons with your book's cover on them?

And in between all that, you write, write and then write some more.

Don't forget to visit Alex at How to Write Shop today. You're sure to find something useful to you on Lori's site.

What would you add to my list of 10 signs? Any you would delete? Any of these you learned the hard way? Please share.

Susan Gourley/Kelley writes fantasy romance, epic fantasy and is author of the bestselling science fiction romances, The Recon Marines Series.
You can find her at:
Susan Says
Twitter
Facebook