What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a brand spanking new writer?

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a new writer at the very start of their journey?

A couple of days ago, I got to chatting with a very young and very new writer who’d just finished their first manuscript. They asked for my advice, particularly around self-publishing. I actually found their question quite difficult to answer. The world of writing and publishing changes so quickly, and there’s so much I wish I’d known before I published FOUND YOU all those years ago.

This writer was also concerned about budgeting. She had some money to put into the publishing process, but was on a very tight budget, so she wanted advice on how best to allocate it.

My advice went like this:

– Steer clear of AI in any capacity. If nothing else, it’s a great way to end your writing career before you’ve even started.

– If you can’t afford full editing, at the very least, you need a proofread. (Also, beta readers are beyond valuable for feedback. As are critique partners, etc).

-You need a professional looking cover. There are so many incredibly talented cover designers who are able to adapt to a smaller budget. The cover is the first thing readers see, and bad covers are a great way to hobble yourself before you’ve even started. Also, pre-made covers can be a godsend for smaller budgets! Again, not to harp on about AI, but check with the cover designers that no AI elements or tools were used during the process.

What do you think? Is there anything absolutely essential you think I’ve missed?