What makes a good author?

I regularly get PM's, comments and the like asking for help on how to be a good author, and tips as to how I write like I do. Granted, I'm no expert, but I feel I can share a little bit of wisdom and/or advice to help some of you writers - new and old alike.

Now, it's true that not everyone is cut out to be a good writer. I mean, it's the same with any art form. For example, I can't draw to save my life, and a lot of people probably don't know how to sing, or whatever. Anyway, the point is that not all of you are going to be great writers, or even moderate writers. But that's cool, because you can still try, and if you have fun, no harm no foul.

PATIENCE

So, in my personal opinion, one of the greatest assets needed for being a good author is patience. Why do I say that? Well, let me point out a few things an author has to deal with during the writing and publishing process:

-Lack of inspiration/Writer's block
-Harsh critics
-Busy schedules
-Trial/Error editing

Those four things I mentioned are inescapable and require time and patience to deal with and get around.

For example, I work 6 nights a week, so although I'd love to write a more, I realize I've work around and find time to do such.

Another example, I've had to come a long ways to get better as far as editing and such goes. My first few fics are barely recognizable compared to my newer efforts. It took time and practice.

Patience is a key virtue to writing that is often hard to come by for all of us, but it is essential to the writing process, and improving your skills.

TAKING CRITICISM LIKE A MAN/WOMAN/OTHER

You're writing your story you've worked super hard on. You've gotten the perfect plot lined out, your OC is perfectly written, the characters are believable, and you spell-checked that baby until the cows came home, ate some grass, and left again. You hit that submission button, Meeester gives you the copy-paste approval message, and bam! Your story is live, and you're ready to reap the rich rewards of your hardened effort.

Oh, look! You've gotten your first comment! What does it say?

This story sucks. Your OC is a Mary Sue, you obviously ripped that plot from [insert any well known author here], and your grammar looked like you raped it with power drill that you dunked in battery acid. Ima just go ahead and make a couple alternate accounts to downvote this story multiple times.

Now, you have two options.

1. Ignore him. His thoughts are stupid and obviously unfounded.
2. Attack back with your own insults/poorly worded comebacks.
3. Ignore him, but think about the points he brought out, and do a little research to see how you could improve from what he pointed out.

Granted, that's an extreme example, but sometimes we feel like our stories were given purely unjust criticism. So, what should you do? Let me give you a hint: #3.

A lot of criticism will be given rudely, but a lot of times we perceive it as rude because it's not what we want to hear. Like that comment up there, although perceived to be rude and harsh by the author, probably read something more like this:

Your OC is a Mary Sue, and the plot is a bit unoriginal. Also, your grammar could use some serious work.

That may sound rude, but honestly, that's really nice criticism. That's directly telling you what you need to work on so you can be better in the future. Most readers don't feel like taking the time to copy/paste and quote every mistake you made, so don't expect them to.

A good author, instead of getting butthurt by critics, will learn and take to heart the criticism they receive.

FINDING AN AUDIENCE

Being a good author doesn't simply mean you have to learn good grammar, storytelling and have heightened knowledge of mechanics. That's only half of it. Being a good author also requires that you know how to make your work appealing to the readers.

You can have the best written piece of work out there, but if it's not something people want to read, then congratulations, it'll flop. It's kind of like how some movies can win all kinds of awards for best picture or whatever, but go unnoticed at the box office or on Netflix, because they just aren't something that interests people.

So, how can you find an audience with your literature?

Well, no matter what kind of story your writing, be it dark, romance, comedy or tragedy, you can get it to be popular with a little effort.

First, that description has to be delicious. It has to make your story sound exciting, and something users will want to read. Keep it short, sweet, and leaving on a mysterious note, so the readers will have to give it a shot.

Also, you have to make sure the title is something interesting and memorable. Something that will draw readers in. Especially, your gonna want to make sure that it's a title that hasn't already been used before.

And as for the story itself, make sure you start as close to the action as physically possible. That way, you not left with mounds of boring description and lead up. Give us some drama and story, not filler and description.

KNOW YOUR MATERIAL

Please, don't be one of those writers who tries to write a story about stuff you have no idea about. Like, if your gonna god forbid write a Fallout: Equestria story, make sure you know a good deal about the universe and characters.

This also applies to characterization. If you're uncomfortable writing certain characters because you feel you can't capture their personality or something, don't write them. Focus on characters you can write and relate to.

Also, I would suggest that if your going to write MLP fanfiction, make sure to watch all the episodes correlating to the character your writing about. That way you have a broad spectrum to learn from.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Alright, obviously I don't have time to write a full essay regarding every possible niche that a good author has mastery over or whatever, so I'll leave you with those few points for now.

Remember, do what you can, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and learn from the mistakes you do make.

Later guys!

You're lucky, I usually get random fanfic promotions/advertisements and death threats from fanboys.

4043591 I'd say, knowing the material is my best bet.

4043620 I get those, too. The hate mail is my favourite.

4043629

Before I just stopped commenting and fesponding to these I once tood a kid the truth, if he really was the Navy Seal with "Gorilla warfare skills" that I keep a folding karambit in my left pocket, a butterfly knife at my desk and I own a gun, so if he did decide to dox me then I'll be waiting.

4043591 I know I definitely need to work on the first thing. The second may tie in to my main weakness in writing. I wonder what having a general distrust of editors counts as.

4043591 Good post with words to remember. I would add that once an author gets comfortable with their writing style that is when they should try to step out of their comfort zones and try to write something different. Be it a genre, a type of character, or anything else they haven't done yet. Just so they can grow and expand their abilities. A key point would be to make sure that, as an author, that they do their research on the topic. So that you have at least a general understanding of how something works before trying to write as if you were a pro.

4043591

Iet's not forget another thing a good author is not. Bias. If they absolutely love a character or on the flip side, despise them, showing that by having other characters simply being mouth pieces for that love or hate is certainly not the way to go. Interaction needs to make sense within the context of the scene and the personalities of the characters.