Writing is my release. When life gets tough, it lifts me. When life is good, it enhances my happiness. It allows me to explore worlds I could never touch with my hands; to comb through thoughts I could never vocalize.
New York based author and poet Sophia Elaine Hanson on approaching publishers, building a loyal reader following and continually evolving as an author.
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 can't please everyone. Everyone has different tastes; that's what makes the world an interesting place.
Alice Rachel, author of the Under Ground series, is a native French writer now based in the United States. She discusses the value of writing for yourself first, how imperfect characters bring a story to life and the need to be authentic.
The writer’s life is one of constant adventure. There will always be a need for great stories, so finish writing yours!
‘After the publication of my debut novel, The Truth About Awiti, I had nightmares that the wrong file was uploaded. I also had nightmares that readers would receive books with blank pages. I can laugh about it now but it was terrifying at the time.’ - Author CP Patrick on nailing your elevator pitch, nightmares post-publication and the difficulty of finding your audience.
It wasn’t until my early twenties that I stopped saying “I can’t” and started doing it. I have been writing with fervent passion ever since. Sometimes we are the biggest thing holding ourselves back.
As a child, Jennifer Wilson loved stories but struggled with reading. She was a painfully slow reader and had issues with dyslexia. It wasn't until in her mid-teens, when a persistent friend convinced her to read the Harry Potter series, that Jennifer found her love for the written word. She is now the author of the New World series, a dystopian YA tale, with the third novel due for release later this year.
I have always loved horror movies, especially anything with monsters. And even today when I sit down and plot a novel, I can’t help but add dark elements and monsters in my stories.
We chat horror and mythology with Australian-based, Romanian-born fantasy author T.F. Walsh.
My history is no longer mine to keep; it's a story that needs to be told.
Hoàng Chi Truong is the author of TigerFish, an autobiography of growing up in a war-torn Vietnam and coming of age in America as a refugee. She shares her tale to advocate and raise awareness to the issues of refugees in America.
If you want to do it, just do it. As with anything in life, the only way you’ll ever accomplish something is if you pave the road for yourself.
Utah author J. Kowallis, creator of The Enertia Trials series, on channelling Shia LaBeouf’s ‘just do it’ tirade, formulating endings as she writes and viewing criticism as an inherent part of self-improvement.
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.
It wasn’t until My Lea did I finally look at my writing as something more. It’s not just a hobby. It is me. Writing is who I am.
Indonesia author E.Mellyberry entered her first writing competition at the age of ten. Yet it wasn’t until years later than she began to publish and recognize herself as an author. She told us about embracing the isolation of writing, connection through social media and bringing your own voice to your work.
‘Don’t let fear hold you back. I was petrified I would never be worthy. I would never write anything worth reading. Now I know none of that matters.’
Western Australian author Nadia L King on overcoming self-doubt, the importance of patience in the editing process and carving out time for writing.
‘You need to be authentic and honest. Teens can sense when you are being real and you owe it to your audience to be real.’
YA author Krysten Lindsay Hager, creator of Landry's True Colors Series and The Star Series, on being authentic, doing your research on the publishing industry and her upcoming book Dating the It Guy.
‘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.
There was laughter and joy in the air, flowing through all of us. It was amazing. I knew right then and there why I had been writing these stories for so long. It is my calling.
Children’s Author Maldivian Stephen (Stephen Evans) on how a volunteer trip to the Maldives led to him penning a children’s book, writing every day and the power of cross-cultural connections.
‘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.
'Rejection is a rite of passage. You're not a real writer until you have been rejected.'
With a recently released teen historical fiction novel under her belt author Abigail Shepherd talks about perseverance, home-schooling and drawing inspiration from her native Scottish Highlands.
‘Write the book you always dreamed of writing and be confident in yourself and your work.’
Boston author and poet Paige Love-Rose on how she moved from avid reader to writing her first novel, finding inspiration and how to connect with potential readers.
