Hello Taylor,
Your reputation for thoughtful storytelling really stood out to me, and I appreciate how you’ve inspired so many to think differently. I’ve always wondered: What is one piece of advice you wish you had received when you first started writing?
Write what's in your heart, NOT to the often narrow ideas the big 5 publishers push on writers. If you are writing to meet someone else's guidelines, it will show in your work.
Thank you so much for sharing this advice, it’s both refreshing and inspiring. Staying true to your heart really is the difference between writing that merely exists and writing that truly connects.
It’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought and passion into your journey, and I imagine that resonates deeply with your readers. I’d love to hear more about what keeps you motivated day after day, is there a particular moment or reader interaction that reminded you why you write?
Looking forward to learning more about your perspective!
Speaking of my romance series, The Camerons of Tides Way, more than one reader has said they wished they could just drive there and meet the Camerons, despite the fact both the town and the family are entirely fictitious. A year ago, a new reader to that series, bought them all and wondered, since they live relatively close to my city, if I'd be willing to autograph her copies. Then she realized I was in Maine at the time and asked where. I told her and we were both surprised to find she had been here years earlier and after sharing what she remembered of the little island at the end of a peninsular and what was still here, she asked why didn't I write a series set on Bailey Island. That seed, once planted flourished. Book one in the Bailey Island Romances, Unspoken Promises, came out on June 6th. I am currently working on book 2 and have a 4 book series outlined. Long story short, I've also found readers/friends who love the idea of me using their names in my stories. Several of them have appeared, not as themselves, but as my characters and they loved it. So, I guess I'd have to say reader enthusiasm keeps me going.
The cover is the first thing a potential reader sees and if they are not inspired to pick the book up and check it out, then you've lost a sale so in my opinion that cover better be very good. The title can be catchy or thought provoking, but it's not nearly as important as the cover or even the short blurb or tag line that a potential reader checks out to see if it's something they might like.
I wrote IAIN'S PLAID based on a personal experience and it's one of my favorites, but when it was picked up by my publisher the editor they assigned to me wanted a prologue. I didn't agree with her thoughts but she had a lot more experience in the genre so I gave in and did it her way. But since then all the negative comments about that book were about that prologue. If I ever get the rights back I will definitely remove the prologue and scatter those back story details into the narrative the way it was originally written.
I've actually changed my genre - twice, or three times depending on how you cut it. My first book published was mainstream (THE CANDIDATE) then I had a contemporary romance series going (THE CAMERONS OF TIDES WAY) which I interrupted to publish IAIN'S PLAID which is a historical romance. Now I am working on a mystery (BULLSEYE) which I hope will be come a series.
The publishing industry today is changing so fast that every week there is a new challenge for an author whether they are multi-published or just have one book out there to promote, but the most unethical thing is pirating. Using the words an author spent months creating and throwing it out there for free when the author gets no royalties for their work. Next to that is the constant expectation from readers that a book should be free or next to it which means the author doesn't get paid for their work. That expectation just isn't fair and for all those readers who think books should be free, how would you like to go to work every day, put in 8 hours doing your best work and then getting no paycheck?
I read all the reviews of my books. For one thing, it's only fair to take the time to read what someone else took the time to write about my work, but mostly those reviews help me to become a better writer. When the reviews are positive, they give me enthusiasm and encouragement, when they are negative, I learn from what didn't work. The only reviews that are not helpful are those from trolls that just love to pan anyone and anything. I dismiss them figuring if that's all that person has to get enjoyment out of life, then I feel sorry for them because my life, both my real life and the life I spend with my imaginary friends is rich and fulfilling.
For two years in high school I had a teacher who not only inspired me to write, but to dig deeper than just the surface of whatever assignment he'd given us. His first assignment was daunting at first - 500 words on an odor. I'm like "YIKES! How is it possible to spend 500 words describing something I can smell?" But that was the beginning of my affair with writing. That was non-fiction to be sure (and there are several essays on my website about my personal experiences in the Peace Corps 2002-2004 that are also non-fiction) but once I'd gotten started there were stories in my head that needed telling. Although Marriage and motherhood took up most of my free time early on, eventually I returned to writing and can't imagine not having a book in progress these days.
