Will Self: ‘I write first thing, when I can suspend disbelief in the act of making things up’
theguardian.com – Saturday June 18, 2016
When I’m working on a novel I type the initial draft first thing in the morning. Really: first thing. For preference, I have a cigarette ready-rolled and a coffee percolator loaded the night before; then I simply roll out of bed, fuel up and set to it. I believe the dreaming and imagining faculties are closely related, such that wreathed in night-time visions I find it possible to suspend disbelief in the very act of making stuff up, which, in the cold light of day would seem utterly preposterous. I’ve always been a morning writer, and frankly I believe 99% of the difficulties novices experience are as a result of their unwillingness to do the same. Narrative structure, mise en scene, characterisation − you can’t get to grips with these problems unless you’ve put the words on the page.
Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? It's a Lifetime Learning Experience: Tips from an Indie Author
publishersweekly.com – Saturday June 18, 2016
Although Carole Nelson Douglas has traditionally published more than 60 novels, she wanted more control over her books and decided to go indie. And while she did find the transition challenging – and encountered a “status downgrade” in some of her writers groups -- Publishers Weekly gave her latest, Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit, a positive review.
24 things that everyone goes through when writing their first novel
metro.co.uk – Friday June 17, 2016
Everyone has one novel in them – but when you sit down to actually crack on with your masterpiece, little do you know the journey that you are about to embark on.
While whacking out a story might seem like something easy to fill up some spare time, your first book soon takes on a life of its own. Your dreams of success, your eagerness to finish and your desperation for people to enjoy the story and characters you have crafted combine to turn the project into a bit of a beast.
Should You Track Word Count While Writing a Novel? Yes, No, and Maybe So
huffingtonpost.com – Wednesday June 15, 2016
If you eavesdrop on a conversation between writers, it’s easy to mistake talk about craft for something else. Marathons, maybe.
“I had such a slow day. Only 500 in two hours!”
“Mine went well. I topped 2000 before lunch!”
What are these writers despairing or gloating over? Word count. Some authors—particularly those high-stepping their way through a fantasy, romance, or mystery series—count words every day as a way of meeting their deadlines.
2 Productivity Tips From 2 Superfast Writers
forbes.com – Monday June 6, 2016
I am a writer. I write slowly.
This is a problem, because I am a writer.
About a year ago, I tracked my productivity and learned that I write on average 500 words per hour. Most professional writers produce at least twice that amount.
Tips to Writing a Book You’ll Love
huffingtonpost.com – Friday June 3, 2016
Part of being an author is having trouble writing. No matter how great the story, even well-polished writers inevitably get stuck, frustrated, or lost somewhere along the way.
Before I started working on Tale of Tala, my most recent novel, set to be released later this year, inspired by a girl who leaves home to join ISIS with her husband, I spent a considerable amount of time researching some techniques to help facilitate my writing process. But many suggestions, such as “remember to live,” seemed a little too vague for practical use.
With every book I write I seem to pick up a few techniques that make everything a little easier the next time around. Below are some of the best practical writing tips I’ve acquired for writers like me who occasionally need a push in the right direction.
If Writing Books Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It
huffingtonpost.com – Thursday June 2, 2016
A debut novelist wrote to me the other day about his manuscript. I had first “met” this author a year ago through email. A friend of a friend. The email he sent me back then, I’ve received many times over, albeit from other writers.
I’ve even sent that same email myself, years before I published my first book.
The letter goes something like this:
Writing a series? Here’s a series of things to think about
irishtimes.com – Thursday June 2, 2016
The concept of serialised fiction is not a recent one. A significant number of nineteenth-century novelists (Charles Dickens and Alexandre Dumas among them) were published for the first time in serial form, some even reacting to readers’ responses while they continued to write.
How to Start a Blog: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
onblastblog.com – Thursday June 2, 2016
I think you’ll agree with me when I say:
Everyone wants to feel and achieve success and happiness in their lives.
You’re here because you’re considering starting a blog.
Forget what you’ve heard about making a blog. Creating your own is very simple and rather quick when you know what you’re doing.
This step-by-step guide below will show you EXACTLY how to get started, so that you can have your blog up and running within minutes.
Why Do Magazines and Book Publishers Rip Off Ideas? (Because They Can.)
huffingtonpost.com – Wednesday June 1, 2016
There’s nothing new under the sun. This old saw is one of the first things you learn on the job if you’re a writer, artist, or other drudge who tries to earn a living making things up.
I can still remember my astonishment when, a few years after my first book for kids was published by Henry Holt in 1994, an almost ridiculously similar children’s title (though in pop-up form) came out from Little Simon.
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