Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

What is your best tip for new authors?

Sharing thoughts on tips for new authors...

My first tip would be to enjoy the writing process as much as possible. It sounds simple but is such an important part of any author's fabric it must always be held up as the context for our stories.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Ronnert on July 9, 2012 at 5:15pm

So do you guys reckon that a writer is better to just dump his / her brain on the page and then come back to polish up later or to plan out your story and work out your chapters from there?

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on July 18, 2012 at 7:53pm

Hey Guys and Gals , thanks for the contributions. I am in and out just now, but will check in as I can.

Another piece of advice would be to know the difference between the editing and the proofreading, they are quite different animals. Editing concerns the story structure and the bones of it if you like, the proofreading is only the words and grammar and is only skin deep. Every author needs to check and recheck both parts.

Oh and kissing the Blarney stone helps too. I managed to do so the other morning. Go early, we had the castle to ourselves.

Good luck

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on July 18, 2012 at 7:54pm

Hi Dave,

Yup that works well for most. But we all find a way that suits us best.

Dave Ronnert said:

So do you guys reckon that a writer is better to just dump his / her brain on the page and then come back to polish up later or to plan out your story and work out your chapters from there?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stevenson on July 18, 2012 at 8:14pm

Take your time and make it a fun process. No has a gun to your temple--it's not a race--it's not a test of perfection. Write notes if have to--use keywords to spur your imagination in creating the next scene.

chris

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on July 26, 2012 at 9:42pm

Warren and Chris, absolutely, the first draft should be as chaotic as you need it to be, depending on what you are writing. Let those creative juices run free and the diamonds appear as if from nowhere. They will still nedd to be polished but at least they will be in sight...

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Permalink Reply by Stanley Morris on July 31, 2012 at 6:43am

My tip would be something practical like; purchase a copy of Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King. It helped me a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Stevenson on July 31, 2012 at 5:17pm

Sean, yes a thousand times. Finish the first draft--get it down. Take a long break--a week or two, if need be. Revel in the accomplishment. Start the editing process by concentrating on a scene or chapter at a time. Forget about the coming pages--live for the present and keep your eye on the prize.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia Gligor on August 1, 2012 at 3:07pm

I agree, Sean. Do what you love and love what you do!

Also, be prepared to wear many hats. As a new author, you will have to do tons of self-promotion online and offline. You will have to juggle your life (most of us still have to cook, clean, pay bills, etc.) with your writing career duties. Oh, and don't forget, you have to write the next book!

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on August 1, 2012 at 8:28pm

Yup Patrica, I agree.

I am on the fourth book of the current twelve book series and only the first one is actually out yet. Now comes the marketing... the writing... the juggling... the marketing... the marketing... the marketing...

Oh and don't forget to have fun. I do.

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Permalink Reply by Randal Agostini on August 9, 2012 at 7:37pm

I agree - that is how I got hooked in the first place. So easy with a computer - Can you imagine being a novelist 100 years ago - had to be a genius. I also enjoy the vast landscape that the English language offers - always a word to express the thought, but it can be a challenge to find it. Knowing that I do not depend upon writing for a living it is easy to get up and walk away when the brain stops cooperating.

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Permalink Reply by Sean Noonan on September 23, 2012 at 8:51pm

So, working on book five now (Inside a Dream Catcher), the marketing for the whole series is progressing but not yet fired off. We are doing a lot of research and planning before we set things in motion. Its just the same as writing, marketing requires knowledge learn all you can and remember to come from the heart, always.

http://authorselectric.blogspot.co.uk/ here is a link that might some with the marketing.