When I was young, I would listen to the Beatles’ Paperback Writer and dream of someday having a published book of my own. Or several.
Fast forward to present day and guess what! I have a published book of my own! In all the years in between that early musical inspiration and the day I opened the box and held my book-baby in my hands, I learned a few things.
1. Writing a book is hard work.
2. Finishing a book is even harder. Of all the writers who start, maybe ten percent accomplish this.
3. If your command of grammar, spelling and punctuation are totally dependent on your word processor, you’re in trouble.
4. Writing by mental wandering is called “pantz-ing” as in “seat of the pants.” It’s fine in small doses, but I don’t recommend it unless you have a decade or two available to finish your book.
5. Create an outline a storyboard, a synopsis – whatever helps you get your thoughts in order and know how you’re going to get from page one to “the end” in less than a decade.
6. Strict adherence to that plot plan is impossible. Every once in a while, the characters take over and send you off on a snark hunt. Let them. See if they’re leading you somewhere that improves the book. If so, great. If not, shoot the snark and rein in your wandering plot. 
7. You may not need a critique group, but if you’ve never tried one, do. A good one tells you the truth and helps make your book better. A bad one tells you your book is wonderful.
8. It used to matter who your publisher was, or whether you were relegated to the ranks of self-published. Nowadays, the playing field is more level. Some houses still carry a lot of prestige, but some authors are making a lot more money on their own.
9. No matter what route you take to being a published author, you need an editor. Seriously.
10. A cover can make or break you. If it’s not right, let your publisher know. If it’s really wrong for your book and they won’t fix it, find another publisher.
11. Yes, you have to do marketing and promotion. 
12. Respect your readers. They pay good money for your book. Treat them well.
13. Enjoy your newfound status as a published author. Of that ten percent who finish a book, maybe ten percent ever see it in print. You can be proud of your accomplishment.
And now for a bit of shameless self-promotion:
That Barnes & Noble Events poster is real – the book signing is this Saturday (9 Feb) from 2-4 at the B&N in the Shops at La Cantera in San Antonio. If you’re in town, come on by! I’ll be signing Highland Healer and I’d love to meet you!
Tomorrow (8 Feb) I’ll be on San Antonio Living on WOAI TV with several of my fellow San Antonio Romance Authors. The show airs from 10-11 CST and our segment should be up on woai.com under the SA Living tab soon after it airs.
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