Today I’m sitting on the porch with author Rocky Rochford. The sun is shining and we’re  enjoying a beautiful day. Rocky is sharing with me some important truths about writing.

There’s no denying it, those of us who write, many of us dreamed and still dream of success. To become “that author” who penned the next international best seller of our generation, or the writer who authored the next work to change the decade’s most popular genre, but let’s be honest, it is a one in a one hundred thousand shot.

However just because the odds are against us as an individual, as a group, the odds begin to favor us, especially when you bear in mind that there are over 7 billion people on the planet right now, which with the stated odds, allows for 10000 success stories. The writing scene is just like music, sure there are thousands of acts, soaring the skies all over the world, but there are millions of acts who are still down on earth, but if you’re starting to think this is a “You shouldn’t bother wasting your time with trying to write a book” speech, well you’re dead wrong, this is just the opposite.

Writing, like music, like open heart surgery and many other things that are worth doing, is hard. It requires focus, drive and a lot of time and patience. There will be those dark moments when you’re getting rejection after rejection. Harsh critiques and even just general abuse some time. Writing isn’t an easy ride, and instant success isn’t a guarantee, but if you start this adventure with all of this in mind, then the game becomes a whole lot easier to play.

So here’s a few tips and techniques for starting out writers, and those still in the game and not yet gotten anywhere.

Don’t quite your day job:

There is no guarantee that you will find immediate success, so if you’re thinking about jacking in your job, so you have more time to write, don’t, it really isn’t worth it.

Writing your First Book tip:

A lot of writers would say look at what is popular in today’s market, to see what everyone else is doing and write that. The problem with this is not everyone wants to write the same as everyone else, we all have a story to tell and a lot of the time, it’s not the same as what is popular, so don’t go with the flow, go with what you know.

Putting yourself into it:

A lot of new writers struggle to finish their first book, because most of the time the book they’re writing, isn’t the book they always wanted to do, but the book they believe everyone would read. Passion is everything in this business, it’s not just words that sell a story, but the heart and soul behind it. A reader will always pick a book they can feel the author in, over a book they can’t feel the author’s presence. Plus when you are writing what you want and what you feel, then the work pretty much just writes itself.

Name is Everything:

It’s no coincidence that most of the best sellers out in today’ market, are all either authors signed with the top publishing companies, or celebrities, whom are either worldly loved, or are just in our faces every day, at the tip of our tongue and it is because today’s world is all about the name. You could be an unknown writer, overflowing with talent and still, people will buy the celebrities book over yours. So if you can get an agent, or a contract with a publisher, do your research first and see which names are popping up and are popular right now.

Be a Team-player:

You are not alone, there are many like you out there, trying to make their name and their mark in the world. Forming a friendship, or joining a club of fellow writers, is a good way to get ahead as you can review each other’s works, critique each other and even promote. The more of you who work together, the more visible you will become to the public. It’s not just in person you can back each other up either, there’s social media sites such as: Facebook and Twitter, but also services like Thunderclap and Headtalker campaigns, which can also help promote your works.

Adopt a “Never Say Die” Attitude:

As with many careers, this is one path that requires a thick skin and a listening ear to any and all advice you are given, especially from editors and publishers,

You are your own Enemy:

The last thing to know about writing, is that you can become too involved with your work. Our writings are precious to us, so when a negative review comes along, yes it will sting, but even a negative can be turned to a positive, no matter how bad it is and also a writer can be too attached to their own work, which blinds them to advise that is aimed to better their work, and not meant as a “put-down.” Also, the only person stopping you from finishing your manuscript, getting it out there, or making it the best it can be, is YOU. Because at the end of the day, it is your work and your creation, without you to see it though, you may just be denying the world a future classic.

And now you know all of that, now you are really ready to get the show on the road. To one and all, all and one, I wish you the best of luck with everything, from one writer to another.

Thanks for joining me on the porch today, Rocky. You make some very valid points we can all learn from.  Find out more about Rocky on my Porch Guests Page.