Being a Better Type of Writer

Many of us are writers here on Vocal, and I believe that all writers want to always be better writers: we want to improve our craft and have our words touch more people. That’s my goal every year. However, this year, I also want to be a better type of writer. What this means is that I don’t want to just do things to help myself. I want to do things to help other writers. I want to be one of the writers that truly supports the writing community.

I hybrid published my first book over four years ago, and yet it took me almost three years of hard searching to find real ways of promoting that book, along with the book that followed. There are very few articles and videos giving clear, precise advice for marketing writing. Writers don’t need bland statements such as “tell your network.” We need clear, step-by-step tutorials on how to make book-specific ads and where and how to place them. We don’t need to be told to have a website. We need to know how to get more people on that site. We already know that we need to practice our craft regularly. What we need is to find places where we can publish that craft online.

I only discovered Vocal in 2024, although I’m writing all the time and I’m online much of the time. I discovered just one other writing platform (Medium) not long before Vocal.

I am still, very slowly, discovering more, legitimate publications that allow for creative writing on any topic, potentially pay for writing and/or run writing challenges.

True advice feels hidden: as if when someone finds something that is real and actually works they fear they may lose the advantage if they tell anyone else. Very few writers make social media content that is clear, precise and leads other writers to exactly where they need to be. But, those types of writers do exist and they are the reason I have learned, grown and…honestly speaking, made some money from my writing. So, as a Thank You to those incredible writers, my goal is to be one of them: a writer that isn’t scared that they will sell less if someone else sells more. A writer that doesn’t fear losing their advantage in a writing challenge if they tell more people about it and thus more writers apply for it. A writer that doesn’t hide advertising tactics because they think if too many people use them then they will stop working. In summary: I will be A Better Type of Writer.

I started this year by writing an article called Marketing for Indie Books, which provides clear links to basic advertising channels for new writers. I published this article on Vocal as well as another writing platform and promoted it on my IG. I want to follow this up with a minimum of one clear, concise article per month which will HELP WRITERS BE READ. I will promote the articles across multiple channels and they will inform writers of:

• Platforms such as Vocal (and including Vocal) where we can practice our craft and potentially get paid for it.

• English-speaking publications around the world that accept unsolicited work.

• Writing competitions

• Hands-on techniques to promote indie books

• Real ways of locating literary agents as well as publishers not requiring an agent.

And much more.

I’ve had moments in my writing journey that have been unpredictably touching. I had a random teen girl write me a Thank You letter once for the fantasy book I wrote, stating that it really helped her find herself. I never expected a teen fantasy to help anyone find anything (except potentially an imagination). This made me realize that we don’t know who needs to hear our words and we can never predict how one word can change a course of thoughts, feelings and events. So, I don’t want to keep anything I learn a secret. Even if I never become a best seller, one of us should, and all of us deserve to have our words read. After all, there may be someone out there, just waiting for that word that you have written.

Part of my goal of being a better type of writer is to be a more active reviewer.

I’ve met some nasty book reviewers, and the nastiest of them, have been starter-writers. I’m sure you’ve met them too: they are writing a book and hoping to publish it and for that reason alone, they feel compelled to show the world that they are better than any other writer out there who is also trying to make it. They pick up Indie writing, or first-time-published books with the sole purpose of finding fault in them, somehow believing that if they find 101 ways to trash another writer who is starting out, they will look like literary experts to the world.

I have read some amazing Indie writing and first books, and yes, also some horrid Indie writing and first books. However, let’s be frank, we’ve all also read amazing bestsellers and absolutely awful, overrated ones. But, a bestseller will not suffer much if one writer-to-be goes haywire and rips them apart in a review, because they have thousands of reviews and millions of dollars poured into advertising them. On the other hand, Indie writers, and writers who just got their first book out, struggle to build up reviews, so even a couple of negative ones can really affect them.

So, I’ll admit it, I’ve given the occasional best seller a bad review because I know they can take it, and frankly I believe it’s up to us, readers, to tell the publishing world to stop pushing overrated writing our way. However, I’ve never been a nasty reviewer to Indie and new authors. If I truly can’t give an Indie or first book a decent review, I just don’t give one.

But, I am a lazy reviewer.

That means that I just don’t review much period. I especially forget to review things I like. If I love a book, the knowledge of its awesomeness is very likely to die with me. I believe that part of being a better type of writer is to be a more active and conscientious reviewer.

We are all more inclined to review things we dislike. It’s human nature. But, I want to remember to review the things I love, especially when it’s an Indie book or a first book. Because I know that this single review, as little as it seems, and as little time as it costs me, is something this writer may really need to get them off the ground.

Yes, I have other personal goals and projects, but, writing is my love. It’s a part of me. So, being not just a better writer, but a better type of one, is at the forefront of my 2025 and I hope all the other amazing and talented writers out there join me in this goal.