There Is No Right Way to Be An Author

While there are rules for basic story structure and rules for writing in general there are no actual rules for being an author or a writer. 

If you want to write 100 pages of an outline detailing every single instance in your story then by all means go for it.

If you don't want to write a single word of outline and simply write your story flying by the seat of your pants then you absolutely can.

Authors can write on paper, type on a computer, or scribble notes onto the back of a Mcdonald's cheeseburger wrapper. 

The only thing that matter is that they are taking their story out of their head and they are putting it somewhere that others can read it. 

If you want to write an entire novel line by line on a sandy beach somewhere or by rearranging garden pebbles into the words you need then absolutely go for it as long as you take a picture so I can see it because that just sounds amazing. 

There are too many authors and negative Nancy's out in the world who will try to convince writers that they are not true authors until they have the right tools or fit into some weird ideal of author they have pictured.

What It Doesn't Take to Be an Author

• Buying anyone's course on "How to Become a Bestselling Author"
• Having an agent or being signed with a publisher 
• Buying the most expensive word processor you can (that someone is getting a cut of your subscription fee) 
• Publishing at least one book a year 
• Making at least six figures from your novels 

What It Does Take to Be an Author

• You wrote a poem, short story, or novel, and you shared it with others
•  You're willing to write when there are others who will tell you to give up or that you're wasting your time
•  
• That's it 
• Stop looking for more 

As writers, we put enough pressure and expectations on ourselves that we don't have the time to give thought to those of others who are not in our shoes. 

Write. Publish. Repeat. That last step is optional, but that's all it takes to be an author.

Don't waste money on courses, or someone else's E-book that promises to tell you all the secrets to writing an amazing story.

All you need is to put one word in front of the other and keep going until you place that final period, the final line if you're writing poetry.

Make sure to sign your name and celebrate a job well done. 

Best of luck and keep writing!

With love, 

B.K. xo

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