Either way, I have gotten some great tips from established and emerging authors. I post a new author interview every Monday and always try to include a couple of questions about “advice for new writers.” I have been blown away by some of the responses, so I decided to collect a few of them right here.
Enjoy, and #keepwriting!
HARD BITE series and CRASHING THROUGH MIRRORS
(read the Anonymous-9 INTERVIEW)
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TUSSINLAND and ALL DUE RESPECT
(read the Mike Monson INTERVIEW)
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“Editing and writing, are inextricably linked. For me at least. As an editor, I learn what not to do as a writer. When I write I have the insight of what bores the shit out of me as an editor. Of course, they are very different animals.”
—Joe Clifford
LAMENTATION and FLASH FICTION OFFENSIVE
(read the INTERVIEW)
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(read the Naomi Hirahara INTERVIEW)
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“Find your way of working. Don’t worry about someone else’s word count goal, just reach yours. Don’t worry about how prolific someone else is, write at your own pace. I don’t buy into the ‘write every day’ thing. I get burned out. I get tired. We’re almost all doing it as a sideline to a day job/family/kids/responsibility. If I’m not feeling it, I don’t write that day. No big deal.”
—Eric Beetner
THE DEVIL DOESN’T WANT ME (Read the INTERVIEW)
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(read the Travis Richardson INTERVIEW)
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“The best advice, other than the old stalwarts of read a lot and write a lot, is to be professional and polite. Proofread and revise everything, especially cover letters. I once sent a cover letter with the salutation, “Dead Sir or Madam”—that’s the kind of mistake you only make once.”
—Sam Wiebe
LAST OF THE INDEPENDENTS (read the INTERVIEW)
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(read the Erik Arneson & Scott Detrow INTERVIEW)
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“One, love what you love. Doesn’t matter who your influences are. Study them like they’re the Torah. Two, read everything. Don’t just read crime writers. Don’t just read white guys. Don’t just read the artsy stuff. Don’t just read the trash. Read everything you can get your hands on. There’s nobody who can’t teach you. It all goes in the hopper. Three, write. Don’t talk about it. Don’t bitch about it. Write.”
—Jake Hinkson
THE DEEPENING SHADE (INTERVIEW coming 1/26)
