I don't want to begin talking about the publishing world just yet, since before you can get published, you have to write. I know a lot of people who struggle with the writing stage, and trust me, it can be a very difficult process, but it's not something that will ensnare you forever. You just have to get over that terrible thing we all know as writer's block (oh, even the name makes me shudder!)
First, let's talk about some basic tips that I have collected over the years of listening to the advice of other authors.
1. Read and Analyze
To be honest, my life is pretty dominated by books. I always have to be reading something, and while you can still be a successful writer without reading constantly, I still encourage you to read a lot. Read the genres that you are writing in, but also branch out---for a while, I refused to go anywhere near realistic fiction, since I thought I was only interested in fantasy. But then, I tried some realistic fiction, and it was great. And then I tried more sci-fi. And teen romance. And historical fiction. And it was all totally worth it.
But, more than just reading, you have to pay attention to what you're reading. Pay attention to how the authors compose their sentences. Frequent use of commas? Check. Lots of literary devices? Check. Line-breaks? Check. And then ask yourself, "Why?" Are they using said techniques to capture the audience, or is that simply their writing style? Once you begin to understand the reasoning behind these author's choices, you can begin to develop your own style.
Also, pay attention to plot, setting, and characters. All the stuff that makes a book great. Why do you love said character so much? Why do Harry Potter fans always wish they were at Hogwarts? Consider why the authors write the way that they do.
Now, if you want to get out your annotation kit, then I'm all for it. But if you're worried that reading is going to become a chore, then just subtly pay attention to these things so that you can become better at incorporating them into your stories.
2. Practice Makes Perfect
Never stop writing, remember? Even if it's writing silly things, like short stories where your pet turns human or you meet your celebrity crush. If you can, write something every day. A haiku? That's fine. A dialogue scene for your novel? Also great. Just don't stop writing, even if you think that your writing is bad.
I started practicing my writing through Fanfiction.Net, which is an extraordinary place of so much unrecognized talent. (If you want to find my account, my name is Key of Magic, and I have lots of Percy Jackson and the Olympians content). Fanfiction is a great way to practice your writing, and to get feedback from random people that you will never meet in real life. Another popular platform is Wattpad, and that was where I started my first original series---The Holders Trilogy---that I took down about a year ago, because... well, let's not get into that.
3. Getting Inspiration
Take a walk. Listen to music. Go to the mall. Read a book. All of these things may provide you with the spark you need to cure that heinous writer's block.
4. Self-Confidence and Being Committed
Finishing a novel can only happen if you love a story and its characters. If you hate it, don't write it. One of my favourite authors, V.E. Schwab, said that it's always important to write for yourself (you're not trying to impress the entire world, since "there is no book that exists for everyone"), and to write what you would want to read. So, if someone makes fun of you for being a lover of romance, then ignore them and keep writing romance. It's your book and no one else's.
Don't assume that you have to be Shakespeare while you're writing your first draft---there is always room for improvement, and in order to get better at things, you have to keep writing even if you feel like you're writing absolute garbage. Trust me, you have the potential to be great. It just takes effort. Tell yourself that you can do it, because you can.
When I was taking an English Dual-Credit course in the summer last year at my local university, there was something my professor said that I found really inspiring. He said, "If you don't know whether you're a writer or not, try stopping. And if you can't stop, then you're a writer. It's as simple as that." (I'm trying to recall his exact words as best as I can, but you get the gist).
We are absent-minded people, us writers. We collect the stories of the people that we meet. So, pay attention when someone gives you advice to become better. As V.E. Schwab told me in New York last year, "There is always, always room for improvement."
The words of these people really resonate with me. I hope that, in your endeavor to become great, you remember lots and lots of words. They will always guide you.