If you love writing don’t give up on it. The people who rise to the top in this industry are not necessarily the most talented; they are the ones who work their butts off and don’t give up. They see obstacles not as dead ends, but as challenges.
Viewing entries tagged
Fantasy
Guard your creative time and space. If you aren’t writing no other advice matters.
There’s always something to take me away from writing—a flight, a mission, or artwork for a new product. Sitting down at the computer to write takes a daily commitment to fight the distractions. It’s anything but routine.
Don’t do what I did. In other words, don’t give up. The only way to guarantee failure is to stop trying.
Whatever book marketing method you are passionate about is the one that will be most successful. Why? Because you’ll follow through, you’ll work at it, and you’ll enjoy yourself.
Fantasy author Erika Gardner has always been a storyteller seeking to find magic in the mundane. We talk to her about evocative soundtracks, why you should polish your work to perfection prior to submission and the value of taking a break.
Write for yourself. If you are writing the book you want to read that passion will shine through and it will help you stay motivated to get the writing done.
Briana Morgan is a YA horror and fantasy writer, playwright and freelance editor. She loves dark, suspenseful reads with angst-ridden relationships and complicated characters. We caught up with her to talk about the comparison trap, counterintuitive book marketing tactics and the surreal experience of having her play brought to life.
At one point I thought I would never be an author. It was my dream, but I doubted I’d ever achieve it. But then I got serious. I turned my dream into a plan, and my plan into a goal, and now I’ve written five novels. You can do this – just believe in yourself, and never give up.
Natalia Leigh almost gave up writing after a crushing rejection from her writing professor. Her determination severely tested, she persevered eventually publishing her first YA novel. She swings by WildMind Creative today to talk about overcoming rejection, establishing a writing routine that works for you and making book marketing fun.
I’m a strong advocate for finding your own process and being true to it. What works for me or your favorite author or your critique partner might not work for you, and that’s totally okay. Create the way you and your stories need you to.
Young Adult Fantasy author Joanna Ruth Meyer is a dreamer, everyone that knows her says she’s not allowed to drive a car with a sunroof because she’ll get into an accident staring up at the stars. We catch up with her to talk about finding and listening to your critique partner, the bliss of playing with words and fitting in book marketing.
Don’t give up. Whatever obstacle is in your way right now, make it your life’s mission to overcome it. I promise, it will be worth it. Your story is worth it.
Ontario-based author Jessi Elliott writes ‘swoon-worthy romance with a dash of sass’. We catch up with her to talk about the steep learning curve of publishing, finding a critique partner through Twitter and juggling full-time work with book marketing.
Don’t be afraid to write crap. We all do it, and it’s always a weird, somewhat painful process but that’s how you learn and how you get better.
Michigan-based YA author Kim Chance didn’t always know she was meant to be a writer but once she put pen to paper she found she couldn’t stop. We chat with her about how to make your debut novel release a success, improving your writing and the role of literary agents.
I’ve come close to giving up many times because making it as a writer isn’t easy, but persistence is key. If I gave up when things got hard or when it was getting harder and harder to find new readers, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Mandi Lynn started writing her first novel at thirteen, and at the young age of seventeen, Essence, hit the press. Now working on her third novel, she joins WildMind Creative to talk about about finding your writer tribe through social media, perseverance and dreaming big.
It’s so easy to get caught up in everyone’s highlight reels on social media and to feel like you’re not good enough, you’re not doing enough, you should be marketing more, you should be writing more, you should be editing more . . . Trust me when I say that YOU ARE DOING ENOUGH. YOU ARE ENOUGH. Don’t compare your journey with anyone else’s because it’s supposed to be unique and beautiful to you. Don’t rob yourself of that experience. Please. It’s one of the best ones you’ll ever have, I promise.
Words of inspiration from Kristen Martin, best-selling indie author, YouTuber, podcaster and writing coach. We chat to Kristen about individuality in the creative process, incorporating book marketing into your daily routine and her top tips for reaching more readers.
The percentage of authors that explode in the market right out of the gate is very low. We all secretly hold onto hope that we’ll be an overnight success, and while it’s okay to keep that little dream nugget close to your chest, it’s best to have a solid plan built for readership reach as well.
Award winning author E.J Mellow on how a high school fairytales class inspired her to start writing, recommendations for securing an agent and the importance of reviews in increasing readership.
I’ve read books that have spoken to my heart and when I’ve finished them I’ve hugged them close to my chest and thought, ‘that’s what I want to do. I want to write like that’.
New Zealand romance author Rowena May O’Sullivan remembers first wanting to become an author after falling in love with the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. Later, writing competitions become her encouragement as she started small and learnt along the way. She fills us in on the value of connecting with writers’ groups and believing in yourself.
I realized it doesn’t matter how brilliant a book I write, it doesn’t matter if I wrote a Pulitzer winner, someone will hate it. In fact, lots of someones will hate it. I had to learn to let go of some of my need for affirmation, put my head down and do my work.
After receiving her first bad review fantasy author Devri Walls did something unusual. She pulled up every one-star review she could find on Harry Potter and read them all. It was a turning point. She came to the realization that not everyone is going to like your book and that’s no reason to quit.
Many new authors try to do too much. If you aren’t interested in doing pre-order incentives, don’t. If you don’t have time to read and review someone else’s book, don’t. Manage your time wisely.
Northern Utah based YA fantasy author Emily R King on time management for aspiring authors, starting a blog to form connections and getting to know the literary industry.
You don’t need a degree or workshops to write. I’m sure they help most people figure out the craft of writing but it won’t make you a better writer. Only you can do that with practice.
Ohio-based Justin Chasteen is the author of several published short stories and yet to be edited novels. He holds a bachelor degree in Creative Writing yet argues the best way for an author to improve their craft is to write. He talks to us about building character before plot, the benefits of writing short stories and eliminating procrastination with a daily word count.
‘Never give up. Even when life gets in the way and every writing door seems to be slamming, never stop writing.’
Advice from genre-hopping, multi-talented author Diana Anderson-Tyler, who fills us in on her life-long passion for writing, parting ways with her first literary agent and how she seeks to find a balance between creativity and consumption.
‘Writers have to look up the most random, obscure stuff. Our browser histories must look absolutely nuts!’
Nashville based author Dana Fraedrich on researching gun powder, the importance of connecting with a writer’s community and self-publishing her third novel, Out of the Shadows.