by Gail Dennehy

Created on: July 25, 2009   Last Updated: August 05, 2009

Writers are strange animals. You see them on the street, walking around with their heads in the cloud. They're the ones who stop the garbage man to ask them what was the oddest piece of garbage he ever picked up. You might see them in the grocery store, asking the clerk about the new vegetable the store just started displaying. But, successful writers need to temper curiosity with good habits in order to produce work that sells. Here are seven habits you'll need to cultivate if you want to be a professional and successful writer.

First, of course, is to write. Write often and regularly. Schedule time, daily if possible, to do nothing but write.

Second, learn how to develop ideas. Where do your ideas come from? Could you build a career on the ones you have already? Start observing the world with different eyes. Ask what if? What if that detective on the television didn't know all about bugs? What if the alien in the sci-fi movie was omni-sexual instead of stunningly female? Make time just for developing ideas. Let the world think you're lazy and just laying on a river bank, but you'll know you're creating your next great novel.

Third, read everything and anything. In particular, read magazines and literary journals. See what they are publishing. Notice what sells commercially. Find editors who publish pieces with a style similar to yours. Remember them, keep records

Fourth, analyze what you read. Teach yourself to see patterns of plot and language. Notice why a piece is well written. Does the plot move well? Does the dialogue flow? Are the characters funny or serious? How do you know? What did the author use to show what kind of people he has chosen? Why is it good or bad? Do it with everything you read until it's as natural as breathing. Then, do it to your writing.

Fifth,learn. To be a writer is to be a life long learner. Read what others have written about the craft of writing. Attend seminars and interact with professionals there. Join a writers' group. Offer your work for critical review. Remember, criticism is to help you improve. It's not personal.

Sixth, be organized. Ouch! Now that one hurts. If you are anything like me, you have stacks of paper all over your office. My desk is a disaster area, but my work is organized. When I work, I keep copies both on-line and on paper and they are filed where I can find them. I use a small free program called Sonar2 by Spacejock to keep track of submissions and follow up with editors. I also have a program that mind maps because I absolutely hate making outlines. But that's me. Find the way that works for you but, whatever else you do, organize. It will make your life and your work so much simpler.

Seventh, watch the market. Publishing has suffered with the economy. Notice who is buying and what is being published. Make yourself aware of the marketplace and of the legalities of publishing. Be a businessperson about your work. Writing is your career, take it seriously.

Take these suggestions and make them work for you. Remember; writing is an art and a career. It has skills that you need to polish regularly. So, write. I'm waiting to read something new.

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