WHY IT MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK
You can write an amazing book… but if people don’t see you as a serious author, they might not take that book seriously either.
That might sound a bit harsh, but it’s real.
Think about it like this. If you walk into a job interview wearing messy clothes and speaking unprepared, people will judge you before you even start. The same thing happens in publishing.
Being a professional author isn’t about acting fancy. It’s about showing people that you respect your work, your readers, and your journey.
At Kravitz and Sons, we’ve seen authors grow faster not just because of their writing, but because of how they present themselves.
Let’s break down how you can do the same.
What Does a Professional Author Actually Look Like?
Simple answer? A professional author is someone who shows up prepared, treats people with respect, and stays consistent with their work. It’s not about being perfect or already famous. It’s about taking your craft seriously and doing the small things right every time. And honestly, that alone already sets you apart from many others.
Professional Author
Responds politely and on time |
Shares clean, organized work |
Open to feedback |
Builds relationships |
Shows up consistently |
Unprepared Author
Ignores messages or replies late |
Sends messy or incomplete drafts |
Gets defensive quickly |
Works alone and avoids communication |
Disappears for long periods |
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be reliable.
Here are some simple but powerful tips to help you show
up as a prepared and confident author.
Tip #1: Communicate Like Someone People Want to Work With
Let’s break this down in a simple way.
Communication is one of the most important skills an author can develop. It affects how you work with editors, designers, publishers, and even how readers see you. Being a good writer is important, but being able to communicate well is what helps your writing move forward.
A prepared author understands that communication is not just about talking. It’s about being clear, respectful, and open to working with others.
Here are a few habits that make a big difference:
- replying on time shows respect for other people’s time and keeps the process moving
- speaking clearly and politely avoids confusion and builds a good working relationship
- asking questions when unsure shows that you care about improving your work
- staying calm and professional helps avoid unnecessary conflict
Now let’s look at a simple situation.
An editor sends feedback on your manuscript. This is a normal part of the publishing process, and how you respond matters more than you might think.
One response could be:
“Why did you change this? I don’t like it.”
This comes across as defensive and can make collaboration harder.
A more professional response would be:
“Thanks for the feedback. Can you explain this suggestion a bit more? I want to understand it better.”
This response shows respect and a willingness to learn.
Both responses come from the same situation, but they lead to very different results. One can create tension and close doors. The other builds trust and makes people more willing to work with you again.
That’s the real goal of professional communication. Not just getting your point across, but building strong and respectful relationships along the way.
Tip #2: Show That You Take Your Work Seriously
You don’t need to be famous to be seen as a professional author. What people notice first is not your success, but your effort.
Taking your work seriously means showing that you care about what you’re doing and how you present it. It’s the small actions that make a big difference in how others see you.
For example, a prepared author makes sure their manuscript is clean and easy to read before submitting it. They follow the instructions given by publishers or editors because those steps are there to make the process smoother. They respect deadlines, and if something comes up, they communicate early instead of going silent. During meetings or discussions, they come prepared and ready to contribute.
These actions may seem simple, but together they show reliability. And reliability is one of the strongest signs of professionalism.
Important Reminder
Being professional does not mean being perfect. Mistakes will happen, especially when you’re still learning. What matters is your willingness to improve, to listen, and to give your best effort each time.
When people see that you take your work seriously, they are more likely to take you seriously too.
Tip #3: Be Open to Feedback (Even When It’s Hard)
This is one of the most important lessons every author learns, and honestly, one of the hardest.
When you spend a lot of time writing, your work starts to feel personal. So when someone gives feedback, it can feel like they’re criticizing you, not just the writing. But in publishing, feedback is not meant to tear your work down. It’s meant to make it stronger.
Understanding this changes everything.
A professional author knows how to handle feedback in a productive way. Instead of reacting quickly or emotionally, they take a step back and focus on what can be learned from the comments.
Here are a few habits that help:
- listen first before reacting, so you fully understand the suggestion
- ask questions if something is unclear instead of assuming it’s wrong
- look at feedback as a way to improve the story, not attack it
Let’s make this easier to understand with a simple shift in thinking.
Instead of saying:
“They don’t like my writing.”
Try thinking:
“They’re helping me make this better.”
This small change helps you stay open and focused. It allows you to see feedback as part of the process, not something to avoid.
Not every suggestion will be perfect, and that’s okay. You still have control over your work. But being open to feedback gives you more options, more ideas, and a better chance of improving your manuscript.
In the end, authors who grow the most are the ones who are willing to listen, learn, and keep improving.
Tip #4: Build Your Author Presence
Readers don’t just connect with books. They connect with the person behind the book.
That’s why building your author presence matters. It simply means how you show up and present yourself to others, both online and offline. A clear and consistent presence helps people recognize you, remember you, and trust your work.
You don’t need to be everywhere or do everything. What matters is being consistent in the places you choose to show up.
Here are a few simple ways to build a strong author presence:
- have a short and clear author bio so people know who you are and what you write
- use the same name and photo across platforms so you are easy to recognize
- share updates about your writing journey to keep people interested
- respond or engage with readers when they reach out
These may seem like small steps, but they help create a clear identity as an author.
For example, imagine a reader finds your book online and wants to learn more about you. If your name, photo, and information are consistent across platforms, it builds trust. But if everything looks different or incomplete, it can feel confusing or unprofessional.
That’s why consistency matters more than quantity.
You don’t need to post every day or be on every platform. It’s better to choose one or two places where you can show up regularly and present yourself clearly.
Over time, this steady presence helps people recognize you not just as someone who wrote a book, but as a professional author they can follow and support.
Tip #5: Work Well With Others
Publishing may start as a solo activity, but finishing a book and bringing it to readers is a team effort.
Even self-published authors don’t do everything alone. At some point, you’ll work with editors, designers, or marketers. And if you’re working with a publishing partner, collaboration becomes a big part of the process.
Understanding how to work well with others helps your book move forward more smoothly and creates a better experience for everyone involved.
A professional author approaches collaboration with the right mindset. This means:
- respecting other people’s time by responding when needed and meeting agreed schedules
- communicating clearly so there is less confusion and fewer delays
- staying patient, especially when revisions or changes take time
- remembering that everyone involved is working toward the same goal
Let’s make this simple.
If an editor takes time to review your manuscript, or a designer works on your cover, they are not working against you. They are working with you to improve your book.
For example, if delays happen or changes are suggested, reacting with frustration can slow things down. But staying calm and communicating clearly helps solve problems faster.
At Kravitz and Sons, we always remind authors that great books are not built alone. They are built through collaboration. When authors and publishing teams work well together, ideas become clearer, the process becomes smoother, and the final result becomes stronger.
In the end, being easy to work with is just as important as being a good writer.
A Simpler Professional Author Checklist
Before you send an email, submit your manuscript, or join a meeting, it helps to pause for a moment and check yourself. These small checks can make a big difference in how others see you and how smoothly things move forward.
Think of this as a quick habit you build over time.
Ask yourself:
- Is my message clear and respectful?
- Did I follow the instructions given to me?
- Am I open to feedback and willing to improve?
- Am I showing up consistently and on time?
These questions may seem simple, but they reflect the habits of a professional author.
You don’t need to get everything perfect every time. What matters is that you are aware, willing to improve, and making the effort to do things the right way.
If you can answer “yes” to most of these, you’re already building the mindset and behavior of a professional author.
Final Thought Final Thought Final Thought Final Thought Final Thought | It’s Not About Being Perfect
Here’s the truth. No author starts as a “perfect professional.” Everyone learns through experience.
What really matters is how you grow over time. The way you write emails, respond to feedback, handle revisions, and communicate with others slowly builds your reputation as an author. These small actions may not seem important at first, but together they shape how people see you and how willing they are to work with you.
Being professional is not about getting everything right. It’s about being willing to improve, to listen, and to show respect in every step of the process.
So take it one step at a time. Focus on being respectful, consistent, and open to learning.
When people see these qualities in you, they are more likely to trust your work, support your journey, and help your writing reach more readers.
And that’s what truly builds a writing career that lasts.