Start writing. There is only one guarantee with writing stories: if you never start, you will never finish. Don’t expect your first draft to sound fabulous. Just write. Fabulous comes with revision. You have to get your ideas on paper in order to rework them. Next, rework, rework, rework. Did we mention that it is vital to rework your story? The number of reworks required depends on your writing skill and experience. Once you have your best work, let someone that isn’t afraid to tell you the truth critic it.—J.S. Jaeger, author of Scrolls of Zndaria.
The hardest part of writing is finishing that first draft. Once that’s done, you’ve accomplished more than most aspiring writers will ever do. I never edit anything during the first draft. I wait until I’ve finished the last page, which can take anywhere from three months to a year, before I go back and start revising.—Laurisa White Reyes, author of The Celestine Chronicles.
The one thing that has always annoyed me when listening to anyone who has success is their fatuous advice. All I can say to any artist anywhere is that if you give up, you are lost, and just because you give your whole life to your art, you are not guaranteed recognition of any kind. This is the life you choose, that is the chance you take.—Daniel Nanavati, author of Midrak Earthshaker.
Have fun! If writing’s not fun, why torture yourself?— Angelina C. Hansen, author of Julius Caesar Brown and The Green Gas Mystery.
I have learned several tricks during my ten year career of writing professionally.
First: It takes a lot of work to get a book written and published. While the publishing process is arduous, you can’t even begin that process until your manuscript is finished. Most people don’t discipline themselves enough to get the book done in the first place. So, if you want to write a book, you will have to set aside the time, daily, to write. Write the whole book and don’t look back! Once the book is done, set it aside for a while. Give it a rest! Then, go back and reread it. Do you like it? Hate it? Are you willing to make changes and revisions? Now is the time to make edits and revisions, not as you are writing initially.
Second: If you are interrupted during your writing time, or your allotted time is up, NEVER stop at the end of a chapter. Stop in the middle of a paragraph or even in the middle of a sentence. That way, when you come back, you already have a start!—Margi Evans, author of North Mystic.
Write. That’s it. That’s the number one activity all of us must do. No excuses, no doubts, and no quitting. Because to get better, there is only one way, and that is to keep putting words on paper until we’re good at it. For some of us this might take years, but we really have no choice.
Most writers’ lives are a mess. Going in a dozen directions, overwhelmed by family and work, and trying to snatch a few minutes to write. This doesn’t work. You have to claim writing time. Make it a priority even if it’s only fifteen minutes a day. And find a method that works for you. I get away during the day to a coffee shop that doesn’t mind me lingering. Maybe once a month, I’ll go to a nearby state park, get a cheap room, and stay for a couple of nights. Whatever works. —Ben Woodard, author of A Stairway to Danger.
It would be the same as what they hear from everyone: write, write, write! Keep sending out query letters. If you want to self-publish, just be sure to do it absolutely professionally. Hire an editor. Pay a designer to make your cover. It's not about just putting something you love on Amazon and hoping it sells. Self-publishing is a serious business, and you become the publisher and have to take on all of those jobs. —Meg Dendler, author of Why Kimba Saved the World.
Find a writer's group and a critique group. If they don't have one in your town, join an on-line group. They are so important for feedback and encouragement.—Jacci Turner, author of Bending Willow.
And Now,
Welcome to the 58th Kid Lit Blog Hop where we continue to develop a dynamic and engaged community of children's books bloggers, authors, publishers, and publicists.
On this Hop, Carpinello's Writing Pages interviews
YA author Dr. Tara Fairfield
and
Children's author Gloria Repp
You are always more than welcome to join us by popping in a post and hopping around to meet some of your fellow Kid Lit bloggers and authors! This week, we are excited to be including a Twitter Linky Party to be held in conjunction with the Kid Lit Blog Hop. These linky parties are designed to give you the opportunity to connect with and grow your network of fellow kid lit bloggers, authors, and parents through your various social media platforms.
Hostesses:
Mother Daughter Book Reviews
Julie Grasso, Author/ Blogger
Cheryl Carpinello, Author / Blogger
Stacking Books
BeachBoundBooks
Pragmatic Mom
Reading Authors
The Logonauts
A Book Long Enough
Spark and Pook
Happy Hopping everyone and enjoy the Hop!
Kid Lit Blog Hop & Linky Party Rules *Please Read*
1. LINKY PARTY: Add the link to your Twitter profile page in the Twitter Linky Party list below. Be sure to visit at least the two links directly before yours, say hello and retweet a post and follow folks as per your interests. If you do not have a Twitter profile, you are welcome to link up a different social media profile (Pinterest, Facebook, etc.). 2. KID LIT BLOG HOP: Link up any Kid Lit related post in the Kid Lit Blog Hop. This can be a link to a children’s book review, a discussion about children’s literature/literacy, or a post on a recently-read children’s book or one that you love from your childhood.
* Don't link directly to your blog, it must be a specific post.*
* For Authors, we prefer you to link to your blog if you have one. Please link unique posts each time ~ no repeats please. *
* Make sure you include an image relevant to the POST (e.g., book cover), not your blog button or photo of yourself.*
* Feel free to link more than one post.*
3. KID LIT BLOG HOP: Please visit AT LEAST the TWO LINKS from the Kid Lit Blog Hop directly ahead of your own and leave them some love in the form of a comment. We are trying to build a community of bloggers, readers, parents, authors, and others who are as passionate about children’s literature as we are so please CONNECT and follow any or all of the blogs that interest you!
4. If you like, grab the button above and put it somewhere on your blog, preferably the post you're linking up. If you'd prefer, you can just add a text link back to this Hop so that others can find it and check out all these great book links!
5. It would really help us get the word out about the Kid Lit Blog Hop if you would be so kind as to tweet, share, and spread the word about the Hop!
