The most important element in becoming good at writing, is to be an active and voracious reader! You will not know what works or does not work, if you do not read works from other authors and read widely.
The most unethical and angering practice is how so many companies have sprung up and keep springing up that prey on an aspiring author's dream, by selling these hugely expensive book promotion & marketing packages at HUGE mark-ups. The marketing packages are complete junk, you have no way to get your money back and pull-out once you realize you have been had, and worse of all, you do not get a return on your investment.
To read more about these kind of practices, I strongly urge any aspiring authors to read the blog, "Writers Beware", before they pay out a company to do their marketing for them. That informative blog names the companies that are engaged in these unethical and deceptive practices, so that new authors can avoid them like the plague.
I realized I was a decent writer when I would write stories for my English class in Grade 6, and I received a lot of praise for it from my teacher and peers. I was asked to read out my stories to the class. This made me realize that I had a strong interest and skill in it and from there I had the dream that one day, I would like to become a writer! I'd like to say that with the publication of my debut work, I am closer than I have ever been to that goal.
I think Social Media, particularly visually stunning bookstagram accounts and GoodReads, have gone a long way toward promoting awareness of new book releases and also reviving beloved classics. In addition, thanks to Social Media use, we are seeing online book clubs and reading groups, which have turned book-reading into a community activity/friendly-competitive sports. As a Millenial myself, I have received many wonderful book recommendations from online book clubs and bookstagran accounts myself.
"Judge a book by its cover" is a motto to keep in mind when you are working on a book cover. Your cover and title needs to not only relate to the story itself, but it is the first and single-most important thing that will convince a browser to pick your book up off of the bookshelf. Also, with so many indie authors paying big money to use professional cover designers, you have no excuse to slap on a DIY, tacky looking cover.
I have already given up another passion of mine: doing Indian classical dance. Being a mom of two and spending more time writing, learning about the craft and marketing my book, I knew that the vigorous dance rehearsals were something that I would no longer be able to do.
Do not forget to do an activity that relaxes and de-stresses you. It can be something completely unrelated to writing. For me, it includes reading avidly and for fun, spending time with family, working out, travelling.
To become a well-known author and make a full-time living through my writing. Also winning and/or being nominated for a few of the bigger literary awards would not hurt either.
