What’s in your writer’s toolbox? I invite you to follow along as we take a look inside the toolbox of professional writers. Author Hannah Rowen Fry shares helpful tips to take with you during your day. Take it away Hannah!
As a new writer having only been in this industry for about a year, my best advice is simple: take your next best step. Whether you’re a new writer learning as much as you can or an experienced writer learning about new trends, there can be an overwhelming amount of information to process through. It’s important to take notes on these trends and go with the flow, but when it comes to putting time and energy into your writerly life, taking your next best step will guide you in the right way every time.
I’ll give you a few examples of what this could look like. This is not an exhaustive list, as your next best step will be unique to you and your situation. It would be impossible to share them all! Instead, this will give you a few ideas and hopefully inspire you to do what’s best for you right now.
Sometimes it’s saying “yes,” especially if it expands your platform, grows your audience, or directly aligns with your goals as an author. Often this means hiring someone to help you with formatting, marketing, or editing, or attending a writer’s conference to get inspired and build friendships. There are so many ways and things to say “yes” to in our work as writers, and as long as it aligns with your purpose and goals, go for it!
On the other hand, sometimes your next best step is saying “no” or “not yet” which is usually harder to discern. For example, when I was uploading my book to Amazon KDP, there were sections on marketing, ads, categories, and so much more to learn about for my book. But I didn’t know how to save it as an ePub file. I couldn’t even upload it! So while it’s important to think about the marketing and the categories, my next best step was not to focus on that but on the formatting and file type. Otherwise there wouldn’t even be a book to market!
More often than not, your next best step isn’t a “yes” or “no” but a “why?” One of the biggest trends in online spaces right now is webinars, masterclasses, courses, and memberships. Each of these has its benefits to a writer, but each is a huge undertaking. As new trends come up it’s important to ask about the purpose of the trend and the purpose of your work. For me, there’s no reason to have a course. I could feasibly see how a webinar or membership would help my audience, but I don’t have the time to focus on nurturing an online community right now. Instead of saying “yes” or “no” to these trends, I asked “why would these be beneficial for me or my readers?” And once you have that answer, you often have your next best step. My response to these trends are a gratitude-challenge-meets-book-club! You can read more about it online at www.hannahrowenfry.com.
It’s important to remember that what your next best step is today will not necessarily be your next best step in a year. In fact, it rarely will. Your situation in life may change, your goals may change, or your audience may change. Whatever your next best step is will be right for a season, but not forever.
Whether you’re a beginner writer or advanced, focus on the next best step in front of you and relentlessly and unapologetically move in that direction. Keep doing that over and over again and you’ll be set.
Purchase a copy of THE WAY OF GRATITUDE on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Or support local bookstores by purchasing a copy on Bookshop.org. Don’t forget to add it to your GoodReads reading list!
Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer and speaker passionate about helping people live into their God-purpose. She shares practical tips, helpful resources, and clear purposeful steps to abide in Jesus daily without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Her thoughtful reflections on Scripture invite those who feel overwhelmed to slow down, choose simplicity, and experience greater joy in the present moment. Hannah lives in Florida with her husband Matt and spends most of her free time on the beach, at DisneyWorld, and listening to Taylor Swift. Read more about Hannah and her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.
Thanks for sharing!