Essential Writing Habits for Self-Publishing Your First Book

Becoming a successful self-published author is a dream for many aspiring writers. With the digital age in full swing, self-publishing has become a more accessible and viable option. Developing productive writing habits is imperative to your growth and success as a writer.

In this blog post, we will explore five writing habits essential to helping you self-publish your first book and kickstart your writing career.

1. Set Concrete Goals and Deadlines

Developing a successful, reliable writing habit starts with setting concrete goals and deadlines. Determine what you want to achieve with your book and break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. These tasks can include character development, outlining, research, and writing specific chapters or sections.

By setting deadlines for each task, you create a timeline to follow, ensuring that you stay on track and maintain momentum throughout the writing process.

Our recommendations:

- Start with a broad goal, such as completing your manuscript within six months.
- Break down this goal into monthly, weekly, and daily tasks where appropriate
- Use productivity apps, like Trello or Asana, to create a visual roadmap of your tasks and deadlines.
- For more robust writing projects that also require a high level of ideation such as comicbooks or fiction novels, consider Milanote

2. Establish Consistency

Consistency is key to becoming a successful self-published author. Allocate specific time blocks in your daily or weekly schedule dedicated to writing. This could be early mornings, evenings, or weekends, depending on what works best for you. 

The important thing is to stick to this schedule and treat it as a non-negotiable commitment. Ensure that this time is uninterrupted and adhered to. By establishing a specific part of your day, you are steps closer to building and engraining new writing habits. This is known as time-blocking and is applicable if you have a tendency to start and stop a task.

By remaining consistent you will be better able to concentrate and achieve states of flow when writing, ultimately empowering you to produce your best work.

The key is to gain momentum through small wins. Each writing session makes way for new ideas, or progression towards a finished product.

This consistency will help you develop a writing routine, and over time, writing will become a natural part of your day.

Our recommendations:

- Set a daily word count goal, such as writing 1,000 words per day.
- Set time-based goal, such as writing for 30 minutes per day.
- Create a designated writing space in your home to encourage focus and reduce distractions. 

3. Write Multiple Drafts

One of the biggest hurdles aspiring authors face is overcoming the fear of writing a less-than-perfect first draft. It's crucial to understand that your first draft is just that – a draft. It's an opportunity to get your ideas down on paper and start shaping your story. This will not only develop the quality of your work but also hone your skills as a writer.

Give yourself permission to make mistakes, knowing that you'll revise and refine your manuscript in later drafts. Embracing imperfections will allow you to move forward with your writing and maintain progress.

Our recommendations:

- Write a draft that is even less polished than a first draft, allowing you to focus on getting your ideas down without worrying about perfection.
- Use tools like Grammarly to help catch errors and improve your writing as you progress.
- Remind yourself that many successful authors, such as J.K. Rowling, went through multiple drafts before publishing their final manuscripts.

4. Seek Feedback and Be Willing to Learn

Constructive criticism is essential for growth and improvement as a writer. Share your work with beta readers, writing groups, or friends and family who can provide honest feedback. This will help you identify areas that need improvement, as well as give you a fresh perspective on your work.

If you are already share pieces or previews of your work on social media, this can be another resource for feedback. Comments from your followers and your overall engagement can serve as indicators to what themes resonate or work best.

Be open to criticism and willing to make necessary changes based on the feedback you receive. This will ultimately strengthen your manuscript and increase your chances of success as a self-published author.

Our recommendations:

- Join local or online writing groups, such as Critique Circle or Scribophile, where you can exchange feedback with other writers.
- Attend writing conferences and workshops to receive feedback from industry professionals.
- Consider using beta reader services or platforms like BetaBooks or Goodreads Beta Reader Group to find readers who can provide valuable insights on your manuscript.
- Keep an open mind when receiving criticism, and remember that the goal is to improve your work, not to satisfy every individual opinion.

5. Develop a Strong Editing and Revision Process

The editing and revision process is crucial in creating a polished and professional book. It's important to take your time during this stage and approach your manuscript with a critical eye.

Develop a thorough editing process that includes multiple rounds of revisions, focusing on different aspects of your work. For example, one round might focus on plot consistency and character development, while another might focus on grammar and sentence structure, and another round dedicated to the layout and formatting.

If you plan to edit on your own, be sure to take ample and adequate breaks. Separate yourself from your work. It is often too easy to overlook mistakes and errors when editing if we are also the ones doing the writing! Step away, go for a walk, or even stretch your editing sessions over shorter, but more frequent periods. 

Constantly laying fresh eyes on your work will lead to throrough editing, and therefore a better writing output, whether fiction novel, poetry or recipebook.

Our recommendations:

- Follow a structured editing process, starting with a high-level review of your story and characters, gradually moving toward more detailed reviews focusing on language and style.
- Use editing tools like ProWritingAid, or AutoCrit to help identify areas for improvement and enhance your writing.
- Consider hiring a professional editor who specializes in your genre, and be prepared to collaborate closely with them during the editing process to review your manuscript and provide expert guidance.

Stay The Course

Self-publishing your first book can be both an exciting and challenging journey. By developing these five essential writing habits, you can set yourself up for success and create a strong foundation for a fulfilling writing career.

Remember, consistency, persistence, and a willingness to learn and improve are the keys to becoming a successful self-published author. Embrace the process and enjoy the journey!