Five Things a Newbie Author Should Avoid

[caption id="attachment_198" align="alignright" width="300"] Courtesty of vial3tt3r[/caption]

Show me someone who isn’t afraid of taking that first step on a new venture and I’d say they were either very brave or very foolish. Mistakes are inevitable, aren’t they? If you don’t know what NOT to do because you don’t understand the rules or have any experience, that’s the natural learning curve, isn’t it? Everyone stumbles around in the dark for a while before finding their feet?

The short answer is no, no and no. I hope the message is clear.

Harsh? Maybe, but true all the same. With a little resource called the Internet, the answer to everything you could ever want to ask is merely seconds away….

1.Don’t ask silly questions.

OK, so you’re asking “what’s the definition of silly?” When joining Twitter would you ask a notable author, in an open Tweet “I’m new to Twitter, how does this work?” If your answer isn’t immediately “Wow, I’d never do that …” then start surfing the net this minute, there’s lots of guidance out there for first time users. If your answer is “I thought about it, but decided it wasn’t a good idea” then you’ve made a great start. Despite knowing nothing, you are using your common sense.

The golden rule is don’t just jump in, ease yourself in. On Twitter for example, follow authors and publishers, readers and reviewers. Learn by example and if you aren’t sure, hold back and play safe. Begin by thanking people who follow you and try to strike up conversations. Keep it light and pleasant. Some people will be eager to engage with you and some will wonder what’s happening if you bombard them with a long exchange. Be led by the person with whom you are engaging.

2.Don’t forget … what you say on social media...

...and on your blog/website is out there for the whole world to see. It’s about being sociable, not anti-social. It’s not a place to rant and rave because you disagree with something someone has said or done. They do say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but do you want people to remember you for something negative? If you want to attract good karma you have be sending it out in the first place!

3.Most authors are sensitive folk

Their books are their babies and the bond is similar to that formed when welcoming any newborn into their lives. However, there are millions of readers out there with millions of different opinions. Some will, no doubt, absolutely LOVE your book and then there will be others who won’t like it quite so much...or at all. That’s not a bad thing, it just emphasizes that we are all very different. You have to learn to take the good with the bad and respect other people’s views. Criticism can actually be good for you if it has a point and is constructive. It’s a tough industry to be in and you will need to develop a tough shell to survive.

4.Friendships take a long time to develop in the normal course of events.

Online friendships happen much quicker, but tend to be one dimensional. You might get to know a lot about an author and their work, but have no idea about their life away from the internet. Don’t make assumptions and if you want to get to know someone a little better offer your email address. If they are receptive then you know they are happy to engage with you. Asking detailed questions, or asking for personal favours in an open forum isn’t something you should do. It puts the other person in an awkward position. There is a protocol with online friendships and it’s much the same as getting to know someone face to face, only you don’t have the benefit of seeing the body language. So err on the cautious side and be respectful.

5.If you want people to support you, first you must support them.

No one wants to be on the receiving end of a constant barrage on social media from someone who only advertises themself. That’s one of the benefits of setting up your social media presence in advance of having a completed manuscript in front of you. You can spend time supporting other people and building those links. Learn by watching what other people do and how they do it. Become a part of a mutually supportive network by sharing and caring!

Everyone makes mistakes, it’s all about ensuring the mistakes you make are small and you won’t regret them later. Watch, learn and if in doubt someone somewhere on the internet will have had the same problem and posted something helpful. Don’t re-invent the wheel, learn from others and when the time comes share your own knowledge with the next round of newbies!