What advice would you offer a writer contemplating publication in today’s market?

Tanya Anne Crosby

Do your homework! Don’t set your heart against any particular road in this business. Listen to what others are saying, and take the right road for you. And most importantly, just write from the heart. It shows.

Benjamin Wallace

Be sure and get the dark roast. Buy it in bulk.

Vicky Dreiling

Decide what you want, and then do everything in your power to make it happen.

Kat Martin

Try for a traditional publisher and get a good advance.  BUT  keep an eye on the digital marketplace.  The future made require changes in thinking.  Also, write the best book you can.

Suzan Tisdale

Don’t go into self-publishing thinking you’ll publish one book and sell a million copies in your first month. Don’t whine about lack of sales, bad reviews, and all the other stuff that usually happens. If you are writing because you love to write, because you have to write to purge all the voices in your head, if you’re writing from the heart, with passion and zeal, you will always be happy and successful. And for the sake of everything right in the world, get a professional, experienced editor! 😀

Lauren Wittig

Learn everything you can about all your alternatives. Decide for yourself what avenue to publication will fit best with your goals, your personality, and your definition of publishing success. And don’t be afraid to walk away if you can’t be happy with your decision.

Catheine Bybee

Yes, work hard to edit and publish”¦find a good agent if you can. But keep writing. And don’t self-publish anything that isn’t ready to be published. Have several beta readers who will give their “honest’ opinion. And no, your mother doesn’t count. I don’t care if she’s the head of a big six. *shakes head*

Donnell Ann Bell

Write, take classes dealing with craft.  Don’t get consumed with social media.  Writing is the most important.  Without a great book, social media is a time sink.  Most of all, have fun.  Remember the joy you found when your first started storytelling.  Do your best to find it in every project.  Try not to compare yourself with other writers who you assume are doing better or worse than you. The only competition you should have is yourself to do the best that you can do.

Morgan Hanna MacDonald

Make sure you put out a professional product. The cover is so important, it’s what catches the readers eye first. Unless you are a graphic designer, I don’t suggest you do your own. Remember, the thumb nail has to pop! Make sure the title can be read.  I also advocate having professionals do all that they can.  Why spend hours trying to get your book formatted for all the different venders when you can hire someone to do it for only $50.00? Seriously,  that’s only $10.00 a file. And time is money.