You want a gripping tale that is also fun
To write and to read
And hope it will feed
A best-selling series that can run and run!
This has to be a kind of holy grail for most writers. I’ve got to the point where I want to enjoy what I write and if I can sell it so much the better. To have any chance of achieving the latter, I’ve got to make what I send out there as good as I can.
Be suspicious of anyone in the writing industry not willing to discuss their terms upfront. See the Jonathan Clifford website for warnings about the vanity press. Any industry has its charlatans and publishing is not the exception to prove the rule.
Write because you simply must.
Read authors that you can trust.
To deliver the characters and plot,
No giveaways, well at least not a lot.
Then go write, sod the housework and dust.
And enjoy what you do as, especially with a novel, you’re going to be living and breathing with your characters for a long time. Are you convinced by what you’ve written? Always allow at least one of your edits for a “does the story make sense?” or “plot holes, are there any?!” go through. You will spot something. I always do. Usually something minor which is relatively easy to correct. Best to spot now before sending the work off.