Advice on becoming a novelist ...
Mar 17, 2023 3:43 pm
The Itch to Write
A dear friend of mine, who is also a writer, told me recently that she's giving up writing. After five years of work, she's written maybe a dozen novels and novellas, figured out how to market herself, built a following, joined a community, and then decided she'd had enough and is going to pivot to another occupation. When she told me she was quitting, my first thought was "YOU CAN DO THAT?"
I remember hearing the writing advice once that if anything gets in the way of your writing career, you should let it. Unless you're very lucky, writing stories is not a financially lucrative pasttime. I did my taxes this week, which means that I saw how much money my novels earned for me this past year. Even in good years I could earn more money doing DoorDash part time. It's fun, but it's also a lot like work. There's no logical reason to do it. But I ain't quittin'.
After completing a novel, I can successfully give up writing fiction for about two months before I start to feel like there's something missing in my life. When I'm not working on my novel, I miss my characters. They feel like friends I have adventures with. I hope you like having adventures with them too.
If you haven't read my Alternate Susan series, here's the first book free:
Susan has swapped places with her doppelganger from a magical version of her hometown. Her siblings are dead, her mom is missing, and the MIB is asking uncomfortable questions.
Did you read this book? I'd love your reviews and recommendations!
If you haven't read my Kit Melbourne series, here's the first book free:
Fey. Vampire killer. Witch. Friend to dryads. The woman who says yes to impossible jobs. But before that, she was just a barista who inherited trouble.
Did you read this book? I'd love your reviews and recommendations!
This week's question: What's the thing that you just can't quit?
A childhood tragedy trapped Remy Keaton in the fey world with nothing but a blade forged by his need for vengeance. When Remy rescues the daughter of a wealthy elven merchant from bandits, he falls madly in love with her. But a kiss from the elf girl would bring him a curse. The only option for Remy is to enter the fight of his life and lose his past forever. (Wide)
Cole Holton tells himself he is a burden, and death would be the only way to end the nightmare known as his life. Until he meets Mallena, a woman with the stars in her eyes and a curse haunting her heart. A woman who is losing the one thing she gave him ... Hope. Can Cole break the curse and free Mallena from despair? Or will he fail and fall to his own demons? (Review copy)
Seventy generations ago, the angel Ramatel was cast into hell for sleeping with human women. Now he has returned to earth, carrying the scars of hell, only to find that he has been strapped with a beautiful young female apprentice. Will he be able to come to terms with his past before she gives up on him? (Amazon)
When a mentee and friend, betrays Thea and ruins her name, a coven of male witches demand she lend them her power and cast a forbidden spell -- a spell with disastrous fine print she failed to read. Now, she’s forced to live with five breathtaking men who have their own agenda. (Amazon)
Gratuitous Cat Picture
My newest friends got here last week. Zinko finds them fascinating. Hades isn't so sure.
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