Look, I get it. You're staring at that blank document wondering how anyone actually finishes a book. I was there too – eight years ago when I nearly deleted my entire manuscript because I thought it was garbage. Spoiler: it wasn't (eventually). Becoming an author isn't about magic talent. It's about navigating a messy, frustrating, exhilarating process without quitting. Let's cut through the fluff.
What Being an Author Really Means (Hint: It's Not What You Think)
When people ask "how to become an author," they often imagine book signings and royalties. Reality check: I made $3.17 from my first book. Being an author means:
- Shipping finished work (not just talking about writing)
- Treating writing like a job even when inspiration ghosts you
- Embracing terrible first drafts – mine looked like a toddler's ransom note
Truth bomb: You become an author the moment you declare your work finished and share it. Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? Doesn't matter. The book exists because you made it exist.
Quick reality check: My first novel took 14 months to write and earned less than a fancy coffee. My fourth paid my mortgage. This career operates on delayed gratification.
The Unsexy Fundamentals You Can't Skip
Forget "find your muse" nonsense. These are the actual skills that pay bills:
| Skill | Why It Matters | How to Build It |
|---|---|---|
| Butt-in-chair discipline | Writing happens when you show up daily | Start with 15-minute daily sessions (phone on airplane mode) |
| Editing ruthlessly | First drafts always suck – yes, even Stephen King's | Kill 10% of your favorite lines during revisions |
| Thick skin construction | Rejection is guaranteed (37 rejections for my debut) | Celebrate every "no" as proof you're pitching |
Notice I didn't mention "having an English degree"? That's because my plumber-turned-thriller-writer friend outsells half my MFA classmates. Practical beats theoretical every time.
The Actual Step-by-Step Process
Let's break down how to become an author into actionable phases:
Phase Zero: Pre-Writing Essentials
- Read voraciously in your genre (2-3 books/week minimum)
- Study story structure – Save the Cat Writes a Novel ($15) beats expensive courses
- Build your writing sanctuary – Mine's a $20 folding table in the laundry room
Big mistake I made: Starting without understanding three-act structure. Had to rewrite 200 pages. Don't be me.
Phase One: Drafting Without Self-Sabotage
Your mission: Complete a full draft without editing as you go.
| Task | Time Commitment | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Outline (or don't) | 1-4 weeks | "Pantsers" still need knowing ending destination |
| First draft | 3-9 months | Aim for 500-1000 words/day (quality irrelevant) |
| The "ugly middle" | Where 80% quit | Reward yourself for hitting midpoint (whiskey optional) |
Fun fact: My fastest draft (82,000 words) happened during NaNoWriMo writing on my phone during commutes. Constraints breed creativity.
Phase Two: Revision Hell (Where Books Are Actually Made)
Put your draft in a drawer for 4-6 weeks. Then mercilessly:
- Structural edit – Fix plot holes and pacing ($300-$1500 if hiring)
- Line edit – Sentence-level polishing ($0.02-$0.05/word)
- Proofread – Catch typos ($200-$500)
Total cost range: $500-$3000 if outsourcing. I bartered editing with critique partners to save cash early on.
Phase Three: The Publishing Crossroads
Here's where "how to become an author" forks:
| Route | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional | Advance payments, prestige, distribution | Years-long timeline, low royalties (7-15%) | Literary fiction, big nonfiction |
| Hybrid | Creative control + some support | Upfront costs ($3k-$10k), mixed reputation | Niche genres, photo-heavy books |
| Self-Publishing | 70% royalties, speed to market | All marketing on you, stigma (fading fast) | Romance, sci-fi, series authors |
My hybrid model: I kept ebook rights (70% royalty) while selling print rights. Best decision financially but took lawyer fees ($350) to negotiate.
Phase Four: Marketing Your Masterpiece
Newsflash: Writing the book was the easy part. Marketing determines if anyone reads it.
- Pre-launch: Build ARC team (100+ readers), secure book blog reviews
- Launch week: Amazon ads ($10/day), BookBub Featured Deal ($300-$800)
- Long-term: Newsletter building, TikTok book snippets
My friend spends $200/month on Facebook ads and earns $3k monthly from backlist titles. Treat it like a business.
Essential Gear & Resources That Don't Suck
- Scrivener ($49) – Worth every penny for organizing manuscripts
- ProwritingAid ($70/year) – Better than Grammarly for fiction
- Reedsy (free) – Vetted freelance editors marketplace
- Atticus ($147) – Formatting tool cheaper than Vellum
- Library card (free) – Research databases and audiobook craft guides
Skip expensive writing retreats. My best plotting happened at 24-hour diners with bottomless coffee ($4).
Career-Landing Pitfalls to Dodge
Warning: Most aspiring authors implode here. Don't be them.
| Mistake | Why It Kills Careers | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Chasing trends | By time you write it, trend's dead | Write what fascinates YOU |
| Skipping beta readers | Blind spots destroy reader experience | Recruit 5-10 target genre readers |
| Ignoring platform | Zero audience = zero sales | Start newsletter BEFORE publishing |
My cringe moment: Wrote political thriller during pandemic when everyone wanted escapism. Sold 27 copies. Learn from my faceplant.
Real Talk: FAQs on Becoming an Author
How long does becoming an author take?
From first draft to published: 18-36 months traditionally, 3-9 months self-published. But your first book might take years. My debut took 4 years; my latest took 5 months.
Do I need an agent?
For Big 5 publishers? Absolutely. For self-publishing? Nope. Hybrid? Sometimes. Querying agents takes 6-18 months – have your next project ready while waiting.
Can I make real money?
Median income: $6,080/year (Authors Guild survey). But top 10% earn six figures. Key strategy: Write series. Book 1 might flop but hooks readers for Book 2-3 profits.
Is traditional publishing dying?
Nope, but it's changing. Print sales grew 9% last year. But self-pub authors dominate romance and sci-fi. Smart authors do both – my trad deal came AFTER self-pub success.
How do I avoid scams?
Red flags: "Publishing packages" over $1,000, royalties under 60% for ebooks, no ISBN provided. Always check Writer Beware before signing anything.
When You Want to Quit (You Will)
That crippling doubt around 30,000 words? Normal. The 10th rejection? Standard. I nearly rage-quit when my developmental editor said my protagonist was "unlikeable." (She wasn't wrong).
What finally worked:
- Joining a writing sprint group (free Discord servers)
- Printing my favorite 5-star review when impostor syndrome hit
- Setting micro-goals: "Write one paragraph" often tricked me into pages
Serious question: Why do you want to become an author? Hold that reason close when it gets brutal. Mine was seeing my immigrant grandmother's name on the dedication page. Ugly cried at Barnes & Noble.
Look – if I can go from writing terrible fanfiction to earning royalties while wearing pajamas, you absolutely can become an author. But ditch the romantic illusions. This is a grueling, glorious marathon where you build the track as you run. First step? Close this tab and open your document. Right now.
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