I can imagine many people have already written articles here on what makes you an author. I have read a few and I guess I too have my two cents to add.
I write novels, although unfortunately I find it hard to call myself an author. I am hoping that you, who are reading this, can relate. I am a programmer, that is what I do. If someone was to ask me what I do, or what I am my answer would easily be - programmer, although I also write. But what if I left my job? What if I left it all for writing full time, just so that my answer would then be - I am an author? That is my dream.
So what makes you an author? If you write, you are an author. Very simple. But the dream isn't to just write, is it? It isn't to just be an author. The dream is to really
be an author. To wake up in the morning, have your espresso to some calming backyard view, close your eyes and wait for the muse. And when the muse comes, you take the laptop or the typewriter (whatever fits you) and you just
write . No worries whatsoever because your "job" is to write, and that you have already done for the day. I, sadly, make do with coming home for work and hoping the muse comes when I am not busy.
And then there's talent. If you're good, if you really believe that you're good, all you need is a little bit of luck. All you need is to interest the right publisher. Me, for instance, I really
believe that what I write is good. Not
how I write it (important as that may be), but I do believe the stories themselves are good. The problem sometimes is that you have this perfect image, this perfect scene in your mind. Joy overcomes you because you have just thought of a perfect continuation for your story. But then no words give that scene justice. You feel like you are writing badly, like there is this perfect scene that you have to describe and all that comes out is something kitschy that ruins it all.
I can go on and on about the ups and downs, the problems and loves of writing. I think I would pass the 900 word quota I am allowed.
.. I
do however have a few tips that, I believe, may really help a starting author:
1. Carry a small notebook. Every time you think of something write it down.
2. If you have a scene in mind but you don't really have the muse for the writing itself just take a peace of paper, or a new word document (whatever...) and describe it. In a cold, facts only sort of way. Just so that when
you read it, you'll know.
3. Sometimes you have the muse for writing but not the scene. You want to write because you suddenly have this urge, but once you are about to start...nothing. Well you're wrong. There is something, allot actually but you don't want to write it down because it's "not good enough". BS! Write it down, type it, continue your story. Worse comes to worse, if it's bad, you'll read it later and erase it. But it will probably be good, because when you don't think, the first thing that comes out is usually the most fitting.
4. If you're angry, sad, hurt, happy... Any situation where you're overcome by an emotion - WRITE!!! At first you'll write slowly but second by second you will see your typing speed up as your emotions do the story telling for you.
5. Read your story about once a week from beginning to end (well maybe not once a week, but every once in a while). You may even find new things to add or erase from what you wrote in the beginning!
There are a million pieces of advice out there for authors but these are what helped me the most. Just be yourself. Put yourself in the story, love your characters, cry when they die... The reader will feel what you feel. TRUST YOURSELF
.