I have two authors on here in a row. I know I know I'm cool thank you. I am so so so excited to have Kate back on my blog! Becausssssssssse she is releasing the second book in The Blood Race trilogy aka World's Beneath! I was so so lucky to have been able to read it and ahhhhhhh it's super good you guys! She was here last year so if you want to take check out that post you can. Today she's going to be sharing her top tips for aspiring indie authors which seriously, I'm so excited for! Ok but first a bit about her and her booooookkkkkkk.
When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller and adventurer Kate Emmons is probably on the road for a surf or hiking trip, listening to vinyls, or going for a power run. Emmons’ debut novel The Blood Race is the first book in her YA science fiction/fantasy thriller series. Get connected with Kate on your favorite social platform, and be sure to check out http://kaemmons.com/!
Find her at these places:
Twitter: @emmonswrites
Instagram: @emmonswrites
Facebook: https://www.
Goodreads: https://www.Instagram: @emmonswrites
Facebook: https://www.
Buy it herrrrrreeeeeeee.
Ok ok, now Kate can show us her amaingness.
This is a question I get asked a lot: what advice do you have for aspiring writers? What tips can you give
to new authors? And my answers are always simple and have little to do with literary jargon, plot
devices, or story arcs. Let’s break it down to five points, and get to it:
to new authors? And my answers are always simple and have little to do with literary jargon, plot
devices, or story arcs. Let’s break it down to five points, and get to it:
#5 JUST DO IT. so many of us spend a heck of a lot of time, debating about whether we should write a
book, thinking about how we would write it, wondering if we’re good enough, or psychoanalyzing every
single detail. There’s nothing wrong with spending loads of time thinking about your book idea, in fact
that’s part of the fun. But make sure that’s not *all* you’re doing. Actually buckle down and start writing
the book. Just do it. Get started. Don’t wait until everything is 100% figured out, and the weather is just
right, and you’re in the perfect mood and the right music is playing… that day will never come. Just do it.
START NOW.
book, thinking about how we would write it, wondering if we’re good enough, or psychoanalyzing every
single detail. There’s nothing wrong with spending loads of time thinking about your book idea, in fact
that’s part of the fun. But make sure that’s not *all* you’re doing. Actually buckle down and start writing
the book. Just do it. Get started. Don’t wait until everything is 100% figured out, and the weather is just
right, and you’re in the perfect mood and the right music is playing… that day will never come. Just do it.
START NOW.
#4 DON’T TAKE ALL THE ADVICE. Let me tell you right now, when you write a book, lots of people are
going to have lots of advice for you about lots of different things in your book. Don’t take every piece of
advice and implement it just because it’s a piece of advice. Not a good idea. You book will not become
better as much as it will become a complicated mix of everyone else's ideas but yours. You have the
reins, take ownership of that and have confidence. Take advice from the *few* you really, really trust and
who you *know* have the book’s best interest at heart.
going to have lots of advice for you about lots of different things in your book. Don’t take every piece of
advice and implement it just because it’s a piece of advice. Not a good idea. You book will not become
better as much as it will become a complicated mix of everyone else's ideas but yours. You have the
reins, take ownership of that and have confidence. Take advice from the *few* you really, really trust and
who you *know* have the book’s best interest at heart.
#3 WRITE. We can talk about our plot notes and ideas and playlists and plot bunnies and all of the
above… but if we’re not actually writing? The book is not going to get done. It’s not going to become a
reality. I have known some very talented writers who spend far more time talking about their ideas then
they do figuring out how to make their ideas a reality: actually writing. It’s totally cool to talk about your
awesome brainchild… but if you’re serious about this project, respect it and yourself by spending the
most time actually *writing* the book.
above… but if we’re not actually writing? The book is not going to get done. It’s not going to become a
reality. I have known some very talented writers who spend far more time talking about their ideas then
they do figuring out how to make their ideas a reality: actually writing. It’s totally cool to talk about your
awesome brainchild… but if you’re serious about this project, respect it and yourself by spending the
most time actually *writing* the book.
#2 HAVE DISCIPLINE. So in order to make the above happen - in order to make your book a reality, you
have to cultivate a level of discipline. It may be becoming better at time management, so you have more
time to dedicate to writing the book, or waking up early for the same purpose. It could be not getting all
mad and down on yourself (which can take practice) when something doesn’t turn out how you wanted it
to. Discipline will get you through the editing process, and the often tedious re-reads to search for typos
or mistakes. It will get you through learning curves and teach you not to throw your hands up and walk
away defeated… which leads us to the number one MOST IMPORTANT THING...
have to cultivate a level of discipline. It may be becoming better at time management, so you have more
time to dedicate to writing the book, or waking up early for the same purpose. It could be not getting all
mad and down on yourself (which can take practice) when something doesn’t turn out how you wanted it
to. Discipline will get you through the editing process, and the often tedious re-reads to search for typos
or mistakes. It will get you through learning curves and teach you not to throw your hands up and walk
away defeated… which leads us to the number one MOST IMPORTANT THING...
#1 DON’T GIVE UP. if you do nothing else, do this and you *will* succeed. If you don’t give up ever, there
is no other option: you will eventually succeed in meeting your goal, finishing your project, and
manifesting your dream. Not giving up takes discipline, and it takes grit - dogged persistence through
trials and countless hours of hard work. It’s staying strong and holding the line even when you’re down
on your knees, even when you can’t see what the next step will be. It’s believing in the project, it’s
remembering the reason WHY you started in the first place and using that to propel you forward… to
victory. DON’T. GIVE. UP.
is no other option: you will eventually succeed in meeting your goal, finishing your project, and
manifesting your dream. Not giving up takes discipline, and it takes grit - dogged persistence through
trials and countless hours of hard work. It’s staying strong and holding the line even when you’re down
on your knees, even when you can’t see what the next step will be. It’s believing in the project, it’s
remembering the reason WHY you started in the first place and using that to propel you forward… to
victory. DON’T. GIVE. UP.
I hope these tips help you guys and act as a springboard and motivator to help you go forth and conquer.
I BELIEVE IN YOU! You’ve got this.
I BELIEVE IN YOU! You’ve got this.
Thanks so much for having me on your beautiful blog, Nabila!
Ahhhhhhh how cool was that??? Even I feel inspired now??? And I'm like not an author or aspiring one or really a writer (well a fiction writer) at all???
Are you a writer?? If so what are you working on currently?
Kate is so great and inspiring. These are all great tips!
ReplyDeleteIsn’t she????
DeleteThese are great writing tips!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting!
DeleteThanks for commenting!!
DeleteThis is such great advice, Kate! I love #1 JUST DO IT! We can't let fear or anything else hold us back. So good. :)
ReplyDelete:) :) :)
DeleteKATE'S ADVICE IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST
ReplyDeletealso look I'm actually commenting on your blog! yay go me! (forgive me for the fact that I'm such a failure at commenting here) it's a great blog you have, though ;DD
xx lisa
Awww thanks so much Lisa!! You should comment more haha. :)
DeleteHahaha I'm the same way: I'm by far not a writer, but I still love reading writing advice! and Kate's is especially awesome--I want to read every word she writes, because she's so amazing!!! I loved this post!
ReplyDeleteYeah no Kate is just awesome haha. :) So happy you liked it!
Delete