I'm Judith Hermann, I love connecting with fellow writers it’s always fascinating to hear how others found their way into storytelling. How did your writing journey begin?
Hello, Judith. I started writing stories in second grade and never stopped. But it took until 1992, when was researching my genealogy and Idiscovered a story involving my 9th great grandparents, for me to embark on writing a novel. Then I set it aside and didn't resume writing it until 2020. Meanwhile I taught school full time, married, raised my only daughter, was widowed, and retired! My debut, Hatfield 1677, was published in 2024. I enjoyed reading your bio, also. The ancestors in Hatfield 1677 were originally from England, but I also have many German and German-Swiss ancestors, including first cousins once removed living in Switzerland. I don't speak German, but through research for my novel in progress, with a German-American protagonist, I have learned how to decipher the old Fraktur style in German-American newspapers.
Wow, what an incredible journey, both personal and creative. It’s amazing how your family history sparked such a powerful story, and even more inspiring that you returned to it after all those life changes. Hatfield 1677 sounds fascinating, and I admire your dedication to researching Fraktur and your roots. Thank you for sharing this! For me, writing started as a quiet kind of necessity like something I couldn’t not do. It began with short stories, trying to observe the world in silence.
Did you always feel confident calling yourself a writer? Or was that a title that came later?
Definitely attend writing workshops, meet ups and online classes, where you will meet other writers. Most authors are very willing to help each other out. Also, don't push yourself for a daily word or page count unless you must - writing can't be forced. But do sit down with paper and pen or at your computer and do something writing related every day - journaling, long emails, a blog, research, writing exercises, etc.
Historical Fiction is nearly always a blend of the real and the fictional. Many readers are curious what was real and what was invented by the author. Look for the author's note or historical notes, where the author will answer that question. My debut historical fiction was mostly factual, but some names were invented, some dates were adjusted to fit the plot arc, and dialog was entirely my creation with the exception of several primary source letters.
Studies have shown, as has my personal experience as a reader, that people notice a book first based upon the cover and title. Only then do they pick it up, check if they know the author, read the blurb on the back cover, etc. before reading the first few pages. If you want someone to buy your book, don't skimp on the cover design, choose a memorable title, and hire a good copyeditor.
