Vanity Press. They are a blight, an ulcerous blot on the literary world. Remember people, if a publisher asks YOU to pay to publish YOUR work, they are not a publisher, they are a money-taking machine only interested in taking your money that you have worked hard to earn
I wouldn't. Sure some books or stories are stronger than others but I wouldn't rewrite them, even now. I love them all, any flaws, warts and weaknesses included. It is how you grow. if we went back and rewrote books we were not entirely happy with, we would never learn the art of story-telling and we wouldn't grow as an author. And most of all, we would move forward, it would be a perpetual cycle of going back and fixing something that we would like to be perfect but will never be.
I think it has become more nuanced and become more niche, while at the same time, unafraid and much more open and prepared to go anywhere in any genre. These days, I simply let the story go in whatever direction the story naturally wants to go.
I knew writing was a profession and a full-time career. But did I see myself doing it as a full-time profession? No, not at all. I still don't. I hold down a day job, like most authors these days and I write because I love it, I have a passion for it, not for any other reason.
The smile, the excitement and the sheer joy in somebody's face after reading a book of mine. That one moment, the brief time that my words exist in someone else's mind and imagination, bringing out a whole world in their heads and to see that reflected back to me, that is every success I could honestly ask for. Yes, sales and royalties are obviously gratefully received, I'm not a fool, I wouldn't be disappointed by strong sales and a healthy bank account, but to see my words have a positive impact in someone else's imagination and their own little world, that's something you can never foresee or expect. That is very special
I'm not the best for advice. But I will say that I write when I feel like I have lots to say. If you are struggling to think, don't force yourself to write. It will notice that it was forced and will not read or sound like you. We all have a natural storytelling voice, if you force yourself to write, you lose this. Writing has to be about passion and desire, if you don't have that when you go to write, then you have to ask why you are sitting there trying to force yourself to write. Write what and how it comes naturally to you and your voice, unique, beautiful and passionate, will be there, on the page, in every word and every space between the words.
Characterisation, story-telling, passion, excitement and being concise. A good story doesn't need to be forensically detailed in its language to inform you of all the information you need to know. Good concise language with basic details of the where, why's, who's, when's and how's will tell the reader all they need to know to be informed and keep them up to speed. Remember, it is all about the story and what happens, who with and why. Let the story take control and simply let that story tell YOU what happens inside it. If the story takes you the author on a ride, then you know that the plot etc are strong and engaging, everything you need to get someone to stay with it and ultimately enjoy it.
