The Rights, Responsibilities, & Resources Of Today’s Writer

 

Writers who want to be successful authors often zero in on their goals, wishes, and desires.  hey may be some combination of mission-focused, ego-driven, and fame-focused.  However, they need to also explore their rights, responsibilities, and resources as a writer. To fulfill their purpose with passion and a pay-off, exactly what will it take?

Writers need to recognize they have certain rights, responsibilities, and resources available to them - -and they should usurp these rights, recognize their responsibilities, and utilize their resources to push their agenda forward.

Let’s examine these areas:

Rights

Certainly there is no greater right bestowed upon authors than what is stated in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Let’s recite it together:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Amen!

Writers have a legal and moral right to pen their views, record facts, and share analysis. They have a right to make up stories and guide us with their imagination, wisdom, and fantasies. Writers have a right to influence, impact, and inspire readers with their words. They have a right to publish freely, and without fear of jail, retribution, or violence. Writers represent freedom and liberty and democracy, for they are the observers, the recorders of history, the fact-checkers, the moralists, the philosophers, the advocates of good over evil, and the soul of our nation.

Responsibilities

Writers should use their talents for good, to further a just cause, advance a powerful idea, and to promote the truths that keep us honest, judged, and in check. Writers should be committed to the pursuit of truth, to question everyone and everything, to see that it holds up to scrutiny. They must avoid being reckless with their words. No lies, no half-truths, no statements without double-checking sources and facts. Writers need to clearly label whether their writings are fact, fiction, advertisement, or opinion. 

Writers have a responsibility not to rush to publication. If they know their work is not in its best form, if potential errors go unlooked at, if there are editing miscues, and if the content could incite hate, violence, or false conclusion, they should stand back and reevaluate what they are doing and question why. Don’t publish something unless it adds to the world. Don’t write just because you like to – do the “write” thing. You should write with a sense of passion, purpose, and pride – it will invigorate and inform your works.

Don’t abuse the power of the pen. It is a weapon, like a gun or fist. It must be used with caution, to champion a sense of righting a wrong. Your writings must be clear, concise, and interesting. Do not bore the reader or force them to indulge in your fantasy to nowhere. Do not confuse the reader or demand they read any more than is needed to get a point across.

You must seek out critics. Be willing to hear what others find fault in when it comes to your writings. You will also benefit from courses in writing, researching, and editing. Read books about writing. Don’t just fall in love with the potential riches or glory of being published – fall in love with the hard work, dedication, and self-examination needed to produce quality content.

Before a writer can judge something or advocate for someone, something, or an idea, he or she must thoroughly hold it to scrutiny and seek to tear away at the very thing he believes or wants, in hopes of confirming the validity of the point raised. The writer has a responsibility to write, and to seek to influence with those writings, but only if those writings reflect hard word, honesty, and a commitment to something greater than the writer’s needs or wants.

The writer wants to create change, to uncover truth, to lead, and to be rewarded and praised – but none of this shall happen unless the writings warrant it. Dear writer, be driven, creative, and hopeful, but also be responsible, respectful, and reliable.

Resources

Writers have many resources available to them, both free and paid.

They can hire a coach for anything, from writing their book to promoting it. They can get pros to help them: literary agents, book shepherds, book marketers, etc. They can read about book publishing, marketing, editing, writing, etc. They can take courses. They can attend webinars, seminars, conferences, and book fairs.

They can network on social media and build up their platform. They can grow their brand with their own blog, podcast, YouTube channel, Facebook posts, tweets, etc.  

They can build a great web site, print a cool business card, and do lots of little things to take control of their brand.

They can write a great book – no one is stopping them!

They can be creative, passionate, energized, savvy, aggressive…. no limits!

They can self-publish and remove all barriers to get their book out there.

Authors also have each other, their greatest resource. Authors can advise, support, and teach one another. They can share resources, model success, and collaborate with one another.

It is a great time to be an author. Writers have the more opportunities now than ever before to get published, promoted, and sold. 

Learn, Grow, Succeed!!

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Brian Feinblum, the founder of BookMarketingBuzzBlog, can be reached at  brianfeinblum@gmail.com.  His insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are the product of his genius. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2020. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby

http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo.