WRITING, PUBLISHING

Before starting your journey as an author, read this

Reflections on lessons that are best known before starting the journey

Shawn Seah with “Leader and Legislator: Seah Liang Seah” and “Seah Eu Chin: His Life and Times” in the background. Photograph taken by Shawn Seah’s team at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Singapore.

Starting your journey to become an author is both exciting and challenging. However, the journey is also full of challenges. I have made so many mistakes in writing, editing, self-publishing, and mainstream publishing. But I have also learnt from them.

Here are some key lessons and reflections every aspiring author should know before starting their journey. I hope my lessons and reflections (from hard experience) will be useful to you.

Our Amazing Pioneers: a children’s book series on Singapore’s pioneers, like Teochew merchant Seah Eu Chin; founder of the people’s hospital Tan Tock Seng; and many others. Photograph taken by Shawn Seah’s team at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Singapore.

1. Don’t expect to make a fortune

Don’t be too quick to quit your day job once you start writing.

Statistically, not every book you publish will be a bestseller.

Not every idea is going to be sheer genius.

The harsh reality is that few authors make significant money from their books. Trust me, I hate to be the one to tell you this hard truth, especially since I love writing, but I think it’s important to be…