My second piece of advice to aspiring writers is know why you write.

Is writing fun for you? Do you see it as a way to make money? Are you hoping for fame and fortune? Do you have a message to share? Or maybe all of the above!

Writing that story you've had swirling in your brain is only the first of many decisions you'll need to make, and in order to make those decisions, you need to understand exactly what you want. Also, understand that what you want today may evolve into other goals as you experience the publishing world or as life changes.

For me, writing is fun, and I see story ideas everywhere I go. I mostly write for my own pleasure and because I enjoy the process of writing. I also love when a reader tells me that I surprised her with a plot twist or had her cheering on a couple to their HEA (happily ever after).

My first decision after completing my manuscript was to publish or not publish.

I decided to publish my stories because I wondered if I could, and when Wished came out and sold its first copy to a stranger (not my family or friends buying copies because they love me), I got addicted to sharing my stories with the world.

My original goal was simply to put out my stories and see what happened. To find out if I could be a "real" author. I've accomplished that goal, and I'm ready for the next one.

My new goal is to market my books and grow my reader-base. Which is one reason why you're reading this weekly blog.

All of my goals prompt decisions I have to make. Writing that great story is just the beginning.

In following Write Advice posts, I'll discuss:

• Different avenues to publish
• Social media
• Cover art
• Money

But before we discuss all of that, figure out what you want. Knowing your goals will help you make the "write" decisions for your stories!

I have several friends and family who love writing as much as I do, and occasionally, they ask me for advice on publishing. I thought I'd share my advice with you, too. So, I've created a new category called Write Advice, and I'll periodically post some things I think you need to consider if you want to publish your own stories.

​My Journey
You may wonder why I feel qualified to give advice on publishing, so I thought I'd share a little of my journey -- not to brag, but to let you know I've learned a lot in the years I've researched publishing and pitched my work to professionals.

​When I first decided to publish my work, I realized immediately that I had no clue what I was doing. So, I joined Romance Writers of America. This group has been invaluable to my success as an author. Through this organization, I learned so much about publishing and met established and up-and-coming authors. I had the opportunity to pitch my stories to editors at Kensington and Harlequin, and one of the most exciting events of my life was looking at the caller ID and seeing Harlequin on the screen. Unfortunately, I didn't sell to Kensington or Harlequin, but those editors gave me valuable, personal advice that I'm deeply appreciative for.
​
I've pitched to industry-leading agents, as well, and received incredible advice from them.

​Although I eventually decided to self-publish, I wouldn't be the writer I am today without the help of industry professionals. Therefore, I want to share some of the things I know and, hopefully, help you on your journey.
​
My Advice to You
The first piece of advice I can give, and it may sound cliché, is to write the best story you can.

​Remember all those rules your past grammar teachers drilled into your head? They're kind of important! Sure, lots of published authors have sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and other significant errors that make English teachers everywhere cringe in horror. They do it on purpose to create the reader's experience, NOT because they don't know better.

​I had someone tell me one time that he wasn't going to worry about that stuff because the publishing house would have editors to clean it up. That's not exactly the editor's job. They aren't there to clean up your mistakes. Sure, copy editors are looking for those types of easy-to-make errors that you may have overlooked. However, if you're story isn't strong enough, it will never make it to a copy editor's desk.

​Continue learning the craft of writing. Read well-written books. Study literary devices like themes, irony, metaphors. Even if you're not planning on writing the literary masterpiece, why not put out the best work you can possibly produce? It can only help your story.