So you want to write a book
Some thoughts, tips and resources for getting started
Every now and then I get a message or an email from someone who wants to write a book, or is writing a book, asking about what to do next. So I thought I’d pull together the advice I always give into one place.
My general advice for people looking to crack in is:
Just start
Find a community & learn about the industry
If you want to be a writer, be a reader
Just start
You don’t need to do a course to start writing. You don’t need a degree, a PhD, a masters. If you’re an aspiring writer you might be waiting for a sign that your idea or work is legitimate. If you’re a woman in particular, you might feel like you need more qualifications before you can get started. And that’s bullshit.
There is nothing stopping you from starting to write, in small regular increments, that over a year could comfortably add up to a book. And nothing is going to improve your writing skills like actually doing it, finding what your weak spots are and solving plot problems.
But I was the same. I knew I needed some external accountability and structure, so I decided to do the Year of the Novel course at Writing NSW. It’s a great course and I’d recommend it to any aspiring novelists, particularly under the guidance of Emily Maguire who is a wonderful, generous teacher both in the classroom and beyond (it’s also offered online now).
Even just the act of spending the money for a year-long course made me take it more seriously - call it the gym membership theory.
So if you want to do writing courses, go for it. Writing NSW in particular has lots of great options, in person and online, short and longer-form. Kill Your Darlings offers online courses that can be really affordable and effective. You’ll often find great masterclasses offered around writers festivals. But I just want to say again: you don’t need any of these to actually start or continue writing. That part is up to you.
One great part of studying a writing course is building friendships and networks with other writers, and learning how to share your work. To give and receive feedback. There’s nothing more terrifying when you’ve been toiling away in your garret on your masterpiece, than to hand it over to someone you barely know who might be working in a totally different genre, and open yourself up to their criticism. But the more you do it, the easier it gets (maybe?) and the better your work gets.
I was really lucky to meet a couple of girls in that writing class who became a writing group to share work with (check out Emily Usher’s debut novel Wild Ground, just released!). I’m also in a fabulous online writing group called the Very Tired Writers.
My experience
It’s impossible to ‘make time’ for writing or passion projects: we only have a finite amount of time. Finding time to write a book means taking time away from something else - at various times I’ve had to give up watching TV after dinner with my lovely husband, miss fun things on weekends, or give up sleep and go to bed much later. Lately I’ve been trying to get up earlier, but that’s a work in progress.
The first draft of Five Bush Weddings took a bit less than 18 months. I was working full time and writing late at night, and on weekends. I was also pregnant… It took me a few more months to finish the draft - right up to my due date. My aim was to enter the Banjo Prize (which has now been replaced by The Australian Fiction Prize), closing in May, and I thought I’d probably be pretty busy with a newborn so I wanted the book done before the birth!
When I didn’t get anywhere in the Banjo, I paid for a mentorship with Emily Maguire through Writing NSW. My goal was to get the book to a standard to send out to agents by the time I was returning to work after my mat leave. I’ve written more about my path to publication here if that interests you.
Find a community & learn about the industry
Instagram is great for following other writers' journeys and reaching out in the DMs to make connections. No author will ever be mad if you reach out to tell them why you love their work, but do be respectful of people’s time. EG don’t DM an author and ask them to explain something to you that you could google…
Listen to podcasts where you can often hear writers talking about their path to publication. The First Time’s back catalogue is a treasure trove. I also love Writes4Women, Writers’ Book Club Podcast with Michelle Barraclough, In Writing with Hattie Crisell, The Word Count, and searching for favourite authors on Better Reading or So You Want To Be A Writer.
Even before you’re published you can join the authors' union, the Australian Society of Authors, for a reduced rate as an aspiring writer. I recommend joining the ASA for insights on the industry, and they offer decent webinars and pitching opportunities
Doing writing courses is a good way to meet people in the same boat and learn about the industry (Writing NSW have good short courses, Australian Writers Centre offer a lot of online, on-demand stuff).
Connect with the writers centre closest to you, and sign up to newsletters from writers centres and bookstores to learn about courses, resources, competitions, events and resources. Writing NSW / Queensland Writers Centre / Writers Victoria / Writers SA / Writing WA / KSP Writers Centre (WA) / TasWriters
The Romance Writers Association of Australia is a wonderful network and resource - and not only for romance writers! They have a huge annual conference and I can confirm crime writers and authors of all different kinds of stories have been sighted there. RWA run contests where you can send in work, get feedback and win prizes. They also offer workshops and if you want to tap into expertise around indie and self-publishing, these are the (mostly) women to talk to.
If you want to be a writer, be a reader
If you want to be a writer you have to read. It’s the best way to learn about form and craft. Read different genres - pay attention to what makes you rush on to the next chapter instead of putting down the book. Even the trashiest thrillers can teach you so much about this.
Understand where your story fits. When you start shopping around a book, people will ask you for ‘comp titles’, the comparison books that your story is similar to. You need to have a handle on what genre you’re writing and what kind of readers it will appeal to, so knowing particularly the Australian authors doing similar things will be handy. Go to the library/bookstore and see what's prominent in the genre/age group for your book.
Read the acknowledgements for Australian authors writing the kind of books you want to publish and they'll usually thank their agent and publisher - that's a good way to figure out who you might like to target when your manuscript is ready to submit.
Reading is (or can be) free! There is nothing stopping you - yes, it’s nice to be able to support writers by buying their books, but your local library is an amazing resource. You can request even the hottest or most obscure books and they’ll let you know when it’s ready for you to pick up.
Forget all that, how do I get my book published?
I'll include some thoughts/advice here on submitting to agents and publishers but there are some interim steps you could try to make sure your work is ready before doing that. First off I’d really encourage you to educate yourself about the industry so you know what to expect. Some good places to start:
Step one: FINISH YOUR BOOK. If you are writing fiction, you need a full manuscript to get a book deal. There are a couple of competitions you can enter with a partial manuscript (eg the Richell Prize) but apart from that do not start trying to sell a book you haven’t finished! Non-fiction works differently, you can sell an outline and some sample chapters. But if you’re writing a novel, until you have that book drafted do not start reaching out to publishers or agents. ‘Building your brand’ online is well and good, but the best use of your time is WRITING!
Did you finish your book? Good job! Manuscript assessments are a paid service many authors swear by. To dip a toe, try joining a writing group or doing a short course with a feedback/critique element to get feedback from other writers. Courses come with a price tag, but writers’ groups are free.
Unpublished manuscript competitions are a really great way to put yourself on the map and should be mostly free to enter. Short story competitions are also a good way to build a track record as a writer, and help agents/publishers see you as legit when they're considering your bio. Entry fees vary, usually around $15-25. There’s a good list of competitions and unpublished manuscript awards here.
It's important to have your manuscript and package (cover letter, synopsis, author bio) as polished as possible before submitting. Publishers and agents receive so many submissions, they're looking for any excuse (a typo, addressing the submission to the wrong person, not following submission guidelines) to reject. Often you only get one shot to submit a work - and if you've already submitted to publishers, an agent basically can't do anything with your book, so always approach agents before publishers if that's something you want to have. It's ok to have submissions in with multiple agents or publishers at the same time, but if someone gets back to you to ask for the full manuscript (a good sign) you should let the others know (also a good way to leverage interest). I recommend keeping a spreadsheet tracking all the submissions you’ve made and competitions you’ve entered, so you don’t lose track.
I personally decided to try agents first, but there are also pathways to pitch direct to publishers. For example, Affirm Press open submissions for various lists throughout the year, Allen & Unwin accept pitches on Fridays. Scour your favourite publisher’s website and follow them on social media for info.
Are there any resources for writers you swear by? Eg podcasts, social accounts, books, organisations… Let us know in the comments!
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