Keep writing! Rewrite and edit and write a dozen more stories on top of it all. There’s honestly no better way to improve than to practice. It isn’t a fast process, but it doesn’t have to be! Just write and then write some more.
Australian author C. G. Drews grew up surrounded by books, so it was only natural that she would eventually want to write her own. With her debut novel launching last month we caught up with her to talk about breaking into the online writer community, self-doubt and how rejection makes her consider a career in cake testing.
Please give us a brief overview of yourself and your work.
Hi! My name is CG Drews and I’m a YA author from Australia who writes books to make readers laugh or cry…or both! My debut, A Thousand Perfect Notes, just came out last month with Hachette UK and it’s ridiculously exciting to have it out in the world. It’s about a boy forced to play the piano to fulfil his mother’s failed legacy. It’s a dark story and talks about passion turning to obsession, but it’s also woven with lighter threads of friendship and hope.
What made you want to be a writer? How did you begin writing?
I grew up surrounded by books, so when I was around fifteen I longed to tell my own. It started with scraps of paper and badly written novels (which may or may not have been heavily influenced by Narnia back then!) and now, nine years later, I have my first finished novel on the shelves!
What inspires you to write?
It feels like such a cliché answer, but truly: everything! Music and books, movies and people, absorbing art and letting myself daydream and see where my imagination takes me.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Keep writing! Rewrite and edit and write a dozen more stories on top of it all. There’s honestly no better way to improve than to practice. It isn’t a fast process, but it doesn’t have to be! Just write and then write some more.
What do you think is the biggest marketing challenge for new authors?
Being a new author myself, I’m still discovering all of this! Mine has been getting news of my book out there because no matter how much I talk about it, I’ll still turn around and find someone shocked I’m even a writer haha.
What methods of book marketing do you find the most effective?
For me, it’s been mixing up talking about my book + just talking humorously about the writing process or bookworm life. I try to sell my name, not just my current book, so people will recognise me and go search up my books or blog or other social media platforms later as well.
What struggles did you face in the writing/ publishing process?
The fear of “ohhh no am I good enough for this?!” definitely haunted me through querying and then, later, being on submission to editors.
Any advice for approaching publishers?
I signed with a literary agent for this exact purpose! If you want to peruse traditional publishing, you pretty much are guaranteed to need an agent these days. (Not always, but it’s the rule rather than the exception!) Research extensively on how to query and get to work on it!
How do you handle rejection as a writer?
With a lot lying on the floor crying and considering a career in cake testing (this would be delicious though, let’s be real) and then getting back to work.
How do you deal with isolation, as writing is an inherently private exercise?
I find writing is far less isolating when you’re really active online! There’s such a huge community of writers out there, and a lot of us love encouraging and cheering each other on. I talk about writing on my blog and, before I was published, shared snippets and critiques with friends. NaNoWriMo communities also have been amazing. I don’t think writing has to be isolating (unless you want it to be!) and it’s helpful and uplifting to find your people.
Find out more about C. G. Drews via her website and social media: Twitter, Instagram and Goodreads.
