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I keep a diary of words. Nothing formal. This diary has many forms – a notepad where I keep ideas for my books, a note draft on my phone, a document on my computer, a scrap of paper, a highlighted word or sentence amidst a blocky paragraph.

Some days I am a hoarder, collecting words like a magpie. I read the words in newspapers, blogs, books, and magazines. I take note, and I think how can I share this word which so perfectly expresses this idea? I treasure them, these little dictionary fragments and tuck them away for a rainy day. Big or small, unknown or known, each have their place.

When the sun appears I start over. I regularly pitch the words, deleting or tossing the words away. I’m determined to unclutter my ever-growing list of words like a relentless wood chipper, hacking at the words until there’s not even a reminder of their roots. But no matter how many times I ditch them, words keep coming back to me. Not always the same, but sometimes the very same.

Some words are tenacious, hanging on with unforeseen diligence, determined to have their say. Some are airy and blasé, eager to come and go as they please with a laissez-faire that is admirable. These words are secure in their meaning, they know if they’re not the right fit for today they may be tomorrow. So the list grows again with careful attention on my part.

It might sound strange, but as a reader and an author words have always drawn me in and taken me down a rabbit-hole of possibilities, whispering like the wind in my ear and dancing away just as intangible to hold. Do words speak to you? What word travels with you today, dear reader?

I am often asked what it takes to be successful as an author. There’s a lot of ways someone can be successful, but I find myself going back to these five tips over and over. To be a successful author, one should:

1. Read. Not just a little but a lot. The more you read, the better off you are, because you’ll develop your sense of storytelling. What works for you? What doesn’t? Why did you like this book, but not that one? And so forth.
   • Pro Tip: Read in genres you don’t write in to be exposed to words you otherwise might not find in your genre. If you can use these words in your writing, even better!
   • Pro Tip: Listen to audio books to get a sense of cadence and rhythm. You’ll learn what sounds right and this will enhance your own writing.
2. Research. As an author of fiction, you’re not expected to be an expert, but you are expected to know what you’re talking about on a broad level.
   • Pro Tip: Save everything you research in a file. Try to catalogue and organize everything so you can quickly pull up what you need whenever the situation calls for it.
   • Pro Tip: Be deliberate when breaking from the truth. Own any changes to geography, history, science, etc.
3. Write. Put fingers to keyboard, pen to paper, dictate, however you write – every day. Even when you don’t feel like it. That’s the sign of a professional author. Remember if you’re not writing, you’re not going to have a manuscript to publish.
   • Pro Tip: Set micro-goals and macro-goals. Both of these will help you feel like you accomplished something big when you complete one, and urge you onward.
     • For example, 500 word goals and chapter completion goals. I like to offset my 500 word goals to be at every 200/700 mark, that way I can also enjoy every 500 and 1000 mark and push myself between each goal. It’s a lot easier to talk yourself into pushing for an extra 100-300 words than it is to ask yourself to push for another 2,000 words.
   • Pro Tip: I hear all the time that a book is in the works, but never completed. Complete the book by any means necessary, even if you have to just type a stream of consciousness. There’s no wrong way to finish a first draft.
4. Edit. Your first draft can be sloppy, hard to understand, missing punctuation, filled with notes, etc. The polishing of your manuscript comes during the editing process. A successful author will tackle edits many times before a manuscript is considered publishable.
   • Pro Tip: Get a reliable and trustworthy beta reader team together to tell you what is working in your story and what needs help.
   • Pro Tip: Don’t get hung up on the word count. It used to concern me that I would hear about authors ripping out thousands of words from their books during edits, whereas I’d be adding that many into mine. I’m here to tell you, both methods are correct.
     • Let me explain as an author who finds herself adding more words into a story than she strips from it. I think of books like meals. I can easily convey the meat of the story, give readers the heart and soul, but sometimes I fail to give the side dishes – the potatoes, those little extras that make a book and world immersive. Knowing that about my writing style, I ask my beta readers to be honest about where I should add the extra details – either for clarification or for pure fun. I always know what to do when I see “Potatoes” in their notes.
5. Engage. A successful author engages with her fans. This is done across many platforms and through many avenues – social media, your author website, your e-mail lists, interviews, blog hops, book signings, etc. You should take the time to figure out what works best for you.
   • Pro Tip: Be sincere. Don’t do things you find taxing or annoying. Engage in ways that make you feel accessible, vibrant, and real. It should be fun. If it’s not, try something else. You should always be excited to talk about your books.
   • Pro Tip: Always travel with book swag, business cards, and books. You never know who will want to buy from you after talking with you. Sometimes you won’t need any of it, other times you’ll use all of it and wish you had more. Be prepared!