We all know that you get out of something what you put into it, right? If you don’t put anything into a savings account, you can’t expect to pull $100 out of it when you need it.

In the same manner, it’s critical that writers invest in themselves—in their skills, in time spent actually writing and in developing partnerships that can be beneficial.

So how can a writer invest in his/herself?

It’s easier than you might think. Here are three ways to ramp up your expertise.

Find a local writing group. My writing journey took a pivotal turn for the better by joining our local Christian writers group. And, while they may not be meeting now, writing clubs will eventually start to gather once more or will develop online capabilities. Make sure you’re ready when that time comes.

Participate in writing conferences. Here is where you really get the most bang for your buck. Writing conferences offer a chance to grow professionally, understand what writers actually go through, and make publishing connections. I’m slated to teach two workshops at the Kentucky Christian Writers conference—which will be held online—in about 2 weeks. Join us for an interactive, powerful experience.

Can’t make it to a writers’ conference? There are tons of free resources and low-cost options such as Jerry Jenkins’s guide to strong verbs . Dedicate a set amount of time each week that works with your schedule for professional development.

Read. You may have heard that “good writers were first good readers”, but in this case I mean read books about writing. Effective wordsmithing takes more than talent—it takes strategies that will make your work stand out. And there are plenty of authors out there who are willing to share their strategies, myself included.

Whatever you do, keep learning, and keep writing.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll write the next bestseller!