So you want to become an author. Maybe you’ve had this idea living rent-free in your head for years. Maybe you’ve always loved books and wondered what it would feel like to see your own name on a spine. Whatever brought you here, the good news is this: becoming an author is entirely achievable. It takes time, commitment, and a willingness to embrace failure along the way, but there is no secret club, no magic credential, no single path you must follow.
Here is how to get there.
Before you write a single word, you need to be a reader. Not a casual one, a dedicated, curious, analytical one. Read widely across genres. Read the classics and the contemporary. Read books you love and books you hate, because both will teach you something.
More importantly, start reading like a writer. Ask yourself why a scene works. Notice how a particular author builds tension, or how a chapter ending makes you desperate to turn the page. Dissect dialogue. Pay attention to pacing. The more you understand what makes writing effective, the more tools you’ll have when you sit down to create your own.
Set a reading goal, even something modest like one book a month and stick to it. The writers who produce the best work are almost always the ones who read the most.
There is only one way to become a better writer, and that is to write. Not occasionally. Not when inspiration strikes. Every single day, even if only for fifteen minutes.
Many aspiring authors wait for the perfect moment, the right mood, the quiet house, the completely free afternoon. That moment rarely comes, and waiting for it is just procrastination dressed up as patience. You will write some days when you don’t feel like it, when the words feel wrong, when the chapter refuses to cooperate. Do it anyway. The discipline of showing up is what separates writers who finish things from writers who have been “working on a novel” for a decade.
Start a journal. Write short stories. Work on your manuscript. It almost doesn’t matter what you write in the beginning, what matters is that you’re building the habit.
Writing is a skill, and like all skills, it can be learned and sharpened. There are several excellent ways to do this.
Take a course or workshop. Creative writing courses, whether at a local college, an online platform, or a summer programme, it can accelerate your development enormously. They also connect you with other writers, which matters more than most people expect.
Read books about writing. There is no shortage of excellent craft books covering everything from structure and character to dialogue and point of view.
Study your chosen genre deeply. If you want to write literary fiction, read literary fiction. If you want to write thrillers, read thrillers obsessively. Understanding the conventions of your genre and knowing which ones to follow and which ones to break is essential.
At some point, you have to commit to a project and see it through to the end. For most aspiring authors, that means writing a complete first draft of a novel, a short story collection, a memoir, or whatever form suits your ambitions.
The most important thing to understand about a first draft is that it is allowed to be bad. In fact, it should be. A first draft is not a finished product, it is raw material. Its only job is to exist. Write quickly, silence your inner critic, resist the urge to revise as you go, and get to the end.
Many writers never become authors simply because they never finish anything. They rewrite the opening chapter repeatedly, polish endlessly, and never reach page two hundred. Do not let that be you. Finish the draft. You cannot fix what isn’t there.
Once you have a complete first draft, set it aside for a few weeks. Then read it with fresh eyes. You will see it differently, more clearly, more honestly. This is where the real writing begins.
Revision is not just fixing typos. It means reconsidering structure, deepening characters, cutting scenes that don’t earn their place, and refining your language line by line. Expect to rewrite significant portions. Expect it to take longer than the first draft. This is normal. Some authors revise three or four times before they consider a manuscript ready for outside eyes.
Learn to love revision. The writers who embrace it produce far stronger work than those who treat it as a chore to get through as quickly as possible.
You need other people to read your work. Your own eyes will always miss things, blind spots in the story, clarity problems, moments that confuse or bore. Feedback from outside readers is invaluable.
Start with a trusted writing group or a critique partner. A good critique partner is someone who will be honest with you, who reads your genre, and whose judgement you respect. Writing groups can be found locally through libraries or bookshops, or online through communities like Scribophile or Reddit’s writing forums.
When you receive feedback, listen carefully before you respond. Separate the emotional sting from the useful information. You don’t have to act on every note, but you do need to take them seriously. Feedback that makes you defensive is often the most valuable kind.
When your manuscript is in strong shape, you might also consider hiring a professional developmental editor. This is not cheap, but for many authors, it makes a significant difference before submission.
There are two main routes to becoming a published author, and both are legitimate.
Traditional publishing means submitting your work to literary agents, who then represent you to major publishing houses. If accepted, the publisher funds editing, design, distribution, and marketing, and pays you an advance against future royalties. The process is slow, querying agents alone can take months or years and is highly competitive. But a traditional deal comes with wide distribution, industry credibility, and a professional team behind your book.
Self-publishing means publishing directly through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, or others. You retain full creative control, earn higher royalty percentages, and can publish as quickly as your manuscript is ready. The trade-off is that everything from editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing falls to you. Self-publishing has produced genuine success stories, but it rewards authors who approach it with professionalism and are willing to invest in quality.
Neither path is superior. The right choice depends on your goals, your genre, your temperament, and how you define success.
Whether you publish traditionally or independently, your author platform matters. A platform is simply your visibility and reach, your presence online, your connection with readers, your ability to market your work.
You don’t need to be on every social media platform. Pick one or two that suit you and your genre, and show up there consistently. Many authors build an audience through newsletters, which are particularly effective because you own your subscriber list in a way you never own your social media following.
Start building your platform before your book is out. Share your writing journey. Talk about the books you love. Connect with other writers and with readers in your genre. Authenticity matters more than follower counts.
When your book finally comes out, whether through a publisher or your own efforts, celebrate it. You did something most people only talk about doing. And then start the next one.
The most successful authors are prolific. They treat writing as a career, not a one-off event. Every book you publish makes you a better writer, builds your audience, and increases your chances of long-term success. The second book is rarely as daunting as the first. The third is easier still.
The path to becoming an author is not linear, not fast, and not without frustration. But it is absolutely open to you. The only real requirement is that you keep writing. So close this tab, open a blank document, and begin.
The world has more than enough people who want to write a book someday. What it needs is more people who sit down and actually do it.
➡️ Ready to start your writing journey? Click HERE to drop us a message and see how we can help you.
