To new writers, I would say if writing is something you
love, don’t let anything or anyone
stand in your way. There will be ups and downs along the way, but never stop
believing in yourself. Surround yourself with people that support you and
believe in you. Having author buddies that understand your struggles is also a
huge plus.
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As authors, we are letting our
readers inside our most profound thoughts and sending our work out into the
world to be judged and often criticized, and that is a terrifying thing. Do the
best you know how and learn all you can. Never think you know it all. Keep an
open mind when criticism comes your way and learn from it.
Set aside time to write every
day and make sure the people in your life respect this time. Don’t put
limitations on your work and don’t rush the process. The pressures of writing
can sometimes become overwhelming, but I encourage you not to lose faith. Study
your work and understand what your author voice is.
Don’t try to save money by not
hiring an editor. Editors are like fairies that sprinkle their magical fairy
dust over our finished product and help make it sparkle. All editors are not
the same. There are different levels of editing and I personally choose to use
them all. Find an editor that is as passionate about your work as you are and,
if possible, find ones that love the genre you write in. When hiring an editor
make sure they don’t try to change your voice; a good editor will preserve your
voice.
Spend time people-watching. I
spend a lot of time studying people close to me and what makes them who they
are. Also, in public, I notice mannerism of complete strangers. Yes, usually
behind a big pair of sunglasses. In a recent novel, one of my characters came
to life from a guy walking down the street in Vancouver . Some of my favorite characters
have developed from people I know.
If you are taking the
self-publishing route, do yourself a favor and have your novel professionally
done, from the book cover to the editing and the formatting. Your brand is key
to marketing yourself, and you want people to take you seriously with your
first step out of the gate. Even with all this, you will invariably hit
stumbling blocks along the way, but don’t let them stop you. Push through, and
in the end you will find it was all worth it.
Jane lives life to the full because she doesn’t want to wake up twenty years from now regretting all the things she didn’t do. She’s an avid traveler who also loves throwing elaborate dinner parties where she wows her guests with gourmet meals. Jane has a passion for writing, interior design, history, movies, board games, and fitness. In her quest for an exciting life, however, she now draws the line at zip-lining, which she experienced in Costa Rica. Never again!
Jane comes from a family of six sisters and lived in a Tennessee plantation house for several years while growing up. She now lives in Western Canada but dreams of owning a vacation home in South Carolina. She lives with her husband (her high school sweetheart), two teenagers, and two dogs. When she grows up, she’d like to be her brilliant sixteen-year-old daughter (minus the mood swings).
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