Building a writing career involves a multidude of skills. First you must master language. You need to be able to create distinct settings, build intriguing characters, write words that drip with suspense, and dialogue that makes readers feel like they're eavesdropping. Tackling these areas takes discipline but offer the rewarding feeling of expressing your creativity.Once you've fine-tuned your writing, it is necessary to learn the business of getting published. This part requires developing the practical skills of writing the perfect query letter, researching publishers, and studying agents' submission guidelines. It takes perseverance, which keeps you busy, and patience, which is no fun at all. I help lead aspiring writers through this area by offering personalized consulting sessions.
Between formatting query letters, researching publishers, and beginning another writing project, consider enhancing your career by volunteering with a writing-related organization. My activities with the Young Alberta Book Society and other writing groups have been very rewarding. They allow me to connect with other authors, learn about publishers, compare publicity ideas, and explore many areas of this work-in-solitude business.
Volunteering with a writing, book, or literacy group offers a good break from writing while still allowing you to move your career forward. Alberta groups include The Young Alberta Book Society (YABS), the Writers Guild of Alberta, Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers (CANSCAIP), Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling (TALES), SCBWI Canada West, Canadian Authors Association Alberta, Room-to-Read Edmonton Chapter, and many others.