Truth be told, it isn’t until recently that I finally got out of my garage phase of being a writer. I thought that all I had to do was to create good work and someone would just “discover me.” But the real story is that this is a saturated industry, and unless you want to be the person who says “Yeah I wrote a book once after college, nothing ever came out of it,” then you better get moving. Don’t worry, Auntie Kris is here to show you how.

#5 | GET A TWITTER

If you are a writer without a Twitter; well for one, I don’t even know how you would have found your way to this blog. But two, you should have gotten one…yesterday. I picked up this tip from Chuck Sambuchino at one of my writing conferences. He said to pretend like every connection you make is another dollar in your pocket. I didn’t understand the significance of twitter, and sometimes I still don’t, but in the end, these agents are posting what they are looking for, and you can keep track of any agent who is actively looking.

Plus, at the very least, you can take solace in the fact that you are not the only struggling writer out there who is ready to click the “delete” button and end it all.

#4 | GO TO A WRITING CONFERENCE

Yes, they are pricey, but you can learn more at one day at a writing conference than in a year of searching Twitter. (Where do you think I heard that advice from Chuck Sambuchino?)

Nothing could have prepared me for my very first writing conference, and that’s the point. You need some ice cold water splashed to your face to make you stop romanticizing this industry. It will help you start growing that thick skin that you’re going to need to survive this. Plus, you may even get to network with a few fellow introverts! I’ve always loved these conference groups: www.writingdayworkshops.com

#3 | CARVE OUT YOUR WRITING TIME AND STICK TO IT

I actually first heard this bit of advice from J.K. herself, and it was like something clicked. As a writer; your friends, family, and even your day job will try and put your writing time on the back burner. “You can just work on it later.” They mean well, but this is a slippery slope and deep down, we all kind of know it, don’t we?

Sit down at the beginning of the week, schedule out your writing time, and STICK TO IT. If you start to feel pressure to deter you from your writing time, just kindly remind them that if they didn’t show up to their jobs, they would be fired.

#2 | PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

Do you think Michael Jordan woke up the morning of his flu-ridden championship game and crushed it? Or did he spend years and years of his life practicing at his craft until he was the best? Probably the latter right?

So why do you think it’s possible to waltz in and be the best writer without first putting in the leg work? We all do it, we look at our earlier work and cringe and that’s ok, because at least you know you’re improving.

Stephen King even says that he sits down every day and won’t get up until he’s knocked out 12 pages, and that man turns out more work than anyone I know.

#1 | STOP TREATING THIS LIKE A WRITER AND START TREATING IT LIKE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

Here it is, the #1 key to getting yourself out of the garage phase!

When I was first told in a room full of introverts that writing the book was only 10% of the publishing process, (I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in) I spent a lot of time wallowing, and just about quit all together.

But then I had the epiphany when my best friend and marketing guru, Janine Allen, gave me a firm kick to the ass. That realization was that if I was ever going to make it as a professional writer, I was going to have to take off my introvert hat and put on my sales cap.

Nobody is too refined of a writer to not have to market themselves.

In today’s society; being able to publish is just a click away for most people, and because of that, the market is extremely saturated. If you want to be a successful writer, you’re just going to have to put on your big kid pants and swallow the yucky cough syrup.