There are no hard and fast rules with writing but listed below are some tips:
- don't be afraid to experiment with style and form
- read broadly, not just in your area of interest
- emulate what you read until you find your own style
- write everyday, even if it's only a couple of sentences
- carry a notebook
- edit and redraft until it's as good as you can get it
- being a writer is like being a teenager – rejection is the norm
- get used to being self-directed – nobody else is going to do it for you
- make a career plan and reappraise it regularly
- be real about your goals but don't give up your dreams
- work out where your writing fits in the publishing industry
- find a mentor
- network with other writers
- raise your profile locally first, then try nationally and internationally
- join a professional organization such as ours, the ASA or if you write for the stage or screen the AWG
- build a professional web and social networking presence
- be prepared to market yourself when the opportunity comes
- be friendly – don't fawn – because people have long memories
- treat your craft as a business – have a business and a tax plan
