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The world of publishing certainly has changed. There was a time when authors earned the right to be published; bookstores honored authors; authors honored their craft; and the “love-hate” relationship between publishers and authors had respectful boundaries.

Now any fool with a computer can write and publish in three weeks or less; bookstores, what’s left of them, have little time for authors; and authors launch venomous attacks on their own publishers simply because they have access to blog sites. It was hard in the “old world” to get established as a writer and they had to battle their way to become successful. Authors had to constantly work on their craft. After years and everything authors have accomplished, they still have a lot to learn. Authors should celebrate independent bookstores by doing whatever they can to get people to buy their books. Some writers may fall in-and-out of love with their publishers a dozen times over, but never mutter one negative word about them. The pair work out grievances face-to-face, and with the utmost respect for the publisher’s position. In turn, these authors were given respect. Because writing and publishing is important in so many of our lives, here is a little advice for new writers:

1. Since publishing can be a matter of uploading a file and ordering a book on demand, instead of earning the right to be published: Earn the right to be read.

2. Learn your craft—honor it, love it and NEVER think you have it mastered

3. Bookstores are a dying breed. They don’t support new writers, in fact they seem to go out of there way to hurt them, therefore: Think outside the trade. If you have to sell you books on the street corner, do it.

4. Whether or not you self-publish, co-op, or are given a million dollar advance by one of the big companies: Market your book and yourself like your life depends upon it. Don’t wait for someone to create your success for you.

5. If you do have a publisher, remember you signed the contract. If there is a violation of the contract, get it fixed. If you can’t, then handle it in a prudent manor. But don’t jump on the scam-calling bandwagon. Thanks to the Internet it’s already overcrowded.

6. READ. I don’t care if it is a physical book or kindle. READ.

7. Support your colleagues. This business, at best, is fiercely competitive. Some writers and publishers try to undermine the competition by supplying a arbitrary lists of who’s hot and who’s not and who’s a scam and who isn’t. Ignore them and their lists. Seek out positive, helpful people. Seek out what works for you.

8. If a door doesn’t open for you: Build your own door and walk through it. Don’t sit around belly aching and bad-mouthing that the industry isn’t what you want it to be. Get off your butt and do something positive and good.

9. Get editorial assistance. There aren’t many writers worth their weight that do not have an editor that is twice their worth. Be prepared to pay for this expert service. Please don’t think for one minute that you are above it. Everyone needs help sometimes.

10. This is a big one: Nothing is free. Stop believing that an agent is going to fall so in love with you and your work. They are not going to become your editor, publicist, agent, best-friend and punching bag. If they don’t put a value on their work and expertise why should you? There are a few agents and agencies that don’t require any fees upfront and they will perform the duties of all of the above, but don’t count on just that.

11. Here’s a bit of recent nonsense: Writers should be paid, not pay. This rumor was obviously started by a writer who has never been published and doesn’t want you to get published either. If you are not paying with your time, money, ideas, sweat, tears, laughter, joy and everything else you can think of, your are not going to amount to much in any industry. Therefore, Invest in yourself.

12. Live your passion NOW. Life may look long and time may seem endless but it is over in a blink of an eye. One day your running strong, carrying you’ve lost a dream that you thought you would have time to make come true.

13. When all else fails, and it will, take a deep breath and start over

There has been an abundance of information and advice from authors from this end for those who are interested in writing either novels or short stories. Many of the articles have described what potential authors can do to improve their writing and thus, their chances of publishing. There’s a lot of work involved, a lot of sources from which to garner what is necessary to succeed. One of the sources suggested is to get involved with a writers club, a club with which assigns homework that is presented at its meetings. The finished products are interesting, helpful, and a lot of fun during discussions of the works.

Following are some of the assignments used to progress writers. Choose a number of them and complete the assignments, each between 500 and 750 words–no more. Then try to do an objective critique of your own work. That is difficult, so to get a better objective discussion about your work, do what has been suggested by several WritersNewsWeekly contributor, join a club. Here are some potential subjects:

1. Objective description of a place in which something has or is about to happen.
2. An experience of déjà vu or a prior life.
3. Analyze the opening two pages of a novel.
4. Write a scene where a couple meets for the first time since their divorce.
5. Write about a very old house that you’ve seen or visited.
6. Have a character explain why he/she stole an object.
7. Write about one of your most embarrassing experiences.
8. Write what you think made Scrooge so mean.
9. Write about your favorite author and why.
10. Create the following characters: a rich snob whose closest friend is a homeless person; a wealthy prostitute who doesn’t like sex; an old West sheriff who is a serious academic.
11. A Christmas story without mentioning Santa Claus.

Now, go over your work with a fine tooth comb, covering points that have been pointed out in Writers News Weekly. Undoubtedly, it will be a very difficult chore to analyze your work objectively, but try it anyhow. Finally, realize how advantageous it would be to have other writers critique your work and offer their comments to you during a writers club meeting.

If you would like some feedback on your work, e-mail a completed assignment to james@jamesfalk.net.

Questions/Comments? Contact Jim at james@jamesfalk.net, or visit www.jamesfalk.net.

James Falk, as a teen-ager, used to dream of being a big-time racketeer. Fortunately, his dream didn't come true. A 10th grade dropout, he finished highschool after four years in the Marines and went on to earn a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Communications.