Have you ever had a favorite author that you would stand in line and wait for hours just to get your copy of their book signed? Have you ever wondered how they could write such an amazing book? Well, that has a lot to do with talent as well as good public relations. There is another factor, however. Sometimes you read a book and wonder how something so simple could have obtained so much success. Maybe you have a ton of ideas, stories already swimming through your imagination, and thought to yourself: "I can write better than that." But you never share them because you make a ton of excuses. You think you are not lucky enough to know publishers or are not at the right place at the right time. Let me tell you something: You are dead wrong. Being a successful writer is not the product of luck, but rather a long and tiring period of hard work and ability to bounce back after a couple of rejections. Nevertheless, thanks to the many technological developments and the capability to stay connected with thousands via the Internet helps things move along faster. But make no mistake, every accomplished writer has said the same thing in his or her guides and Q&A's: There are no shortcuts in the writing business, and if you already complain about publishers before you even complete a half-decent manuscript then you should reconsider altogether because you probably do not have enough conviction to write a complete book.The very first thing you have to do is read. You have to read a lot of books in order grasp different writing techniques, story layouts and character dialogue. Some do not like this approach and claim it "strips away" their originality. Yet I believe that before perfection there needs to be imitation. Let me be clear on one thing – by imitation I do not mean plagiarizing. Do not go about stealing other people's ideas, just observe their style. Study how they make characters banter in order to achieve good dialogue. Watch how they progress their stories and build up tension by coming close to cliffhangers. Examine their choice of words and realize a strong vocabulary is needed to avoid repetition. And after finishing the book, hire a good editor and have them proofread your mistakes and polish your prose. After the writing part is over – which is probably the most tiring and demanding period – you now need to get your work out there. In the past, it was a bit tricky. You needed to send your manuscript to publishers and get rejection letter after rejection letter. Even after finding a publisher, your book could still be a dust-gatherer. There are critics who could give you a boost if your book got their attention though, and the Internet helps to spread word as well. Let's take a look at how all these processes became easier. It is quite a lot cheaper to publish a book then it was 10 years ago, and even if you cannot publish a physical copy, Kindles or e-readers are a viable alternative. For example, there are thousands of Kindle-only books available on Amazon, which only offer a digital edition. You never know what gems are hiding in there, and thanks to their cheap costs, more and more people tend to try out books in this category. I know of quite a few accomplished books that started out as Kindle-only editions, and after some recognition, they were also published as a hardcover version. So, if you want to become a writer with a minimum amount of cost, I would recommend you start your journey there.Moving on to the how to gain recognition, you might share it with your friends. However, unless you have a wide circle of friends who are also chummy within the writing and publishing sector, that option may not be very valid. And of course, if you had that circle, you probably would not need these tips. What I would suggest is that you may have heard of a website called Goodreads. If you have not, consider it similar to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) but concerning books instead of movies. It is one of the biggest databases about books containing all kinds of information from editions to publishers. I use it quite frequently and it is not just for readers out there. Many writers also use it to read their books' comments and also give comments of their own to other books. Let's say you are writing a fantasy book and George R. R. Martin, the author of the "Game of Thrones" series, left you a review or comment. Would you not freak out? But besides easing relations between readers and writers, Goodreads provides another essential service to upcoming writers. You probably know the expression "everyone is a critic," and in the case of Goodreads, it pretty much sums it up. Blog writers, book worms, intellectuals and regular readers all are there to review books they read and many of them have gained a lot of followers – some even more so than the conventional book critics who write for newspapers and magazines. You might try sending them review copies to spread the word, but if you get negative criticism from them, make sure to use it to improve your penmanship rather than take it as a personal attack. I' have seen too many rookie writers who got in fights with their reviewers and it is not a pretty sight, just a petty one. One last thing I want to add is that even though you write your books to share your ideas and imagination with others, always remember that your first audience is always going to be yourself. So, when you are picking up that pen or clicking those keyboard buttons, ask yourselves one question: Is this a book you would want to read?