Goodbye 2012...

This is my last post of the year and it couldn’t be anything else than New Year’s resolutions! As we all know when a year is ending we make promises to ourselves and we try to keep them and that’s what I will do. But before that, let’s recount the year that passed…

Talk or stay silent?

I was wondering…is it wise to talk about your writing? The obvious answer is that there is no harm in it but…is it really that way? And by talking I don’t mean to blog or tweet about it, I mean talking to people who surround you.

Do you keep notes when you write?

I do it all the time.

The truth is that without my notes it’s like I am blind. They are my map and guide me step by step from the beginning until the end of my novel. So far I have two separate notebooks for my two novels and I keep them with me all the time. I feel like the Gollum from the Lord of The Rings some times. They are my precious! If someone will look through those pages he will see my stories unfolding before his eyes, so I keep them hidden. I don’t want for someone to learn the end before they have the chance to read the book, right?

Inspiration has no time.

It’s true. You can never know when or how the next idea for a novel or the inspiration to continue an existing one, will come. It can come from every little thing. Me for example I have some experiences to share.

Holidays and work...collide!

So, holidays are good and we all want them. We get to rest from our job, to see friends and family, to do things that we couldn’t because of the everyday routine, to spend more time with kids and parents and generally holidays are days of joy and love. But is this really what people do on holidays?

World's end..hmmmm

Today’s post was predetermined and you know why. Everyone is speaking for the world’s end tomorrow and so I had the need to write my opinion too. Personally, I don’t think that the world will end but let’s assume that this is the end. And now…what?

Cover it...

Well, let’s assume that your book is ready, the editing is done and after many weeks and even months of polishing it, you are finally ready to publish it. What’s missing at this point? The cover! I don’t know about you but I am not capable of creating my book’s cover. I just can’t do it. Every time I tried, I created a mess that no one would ever like. So, what can we do and why the cover is so important?

Dedication

Writing a book is not easy and everyone who has tried it knows it very well. At this post though, I am not going to talk about those difficulties. I will talk about dedication, which I think is really important when you decide to write a book.

First of all, let me clarify that dedication is crucial for everyone who wants to fulfill his goals but I am going to talk about writers. So, fellow writers, if I had to pick one characteristic that a writer should have, this would be dedication. 

Exposure.

Recently I read a blog post from an agent who said that the reason for rejecting someone, in some cases, was his online presence and I agree with it. The online presence is real presence.

Liking or hating a book is really subjective.

I recently finished Switched by Amanda Hocking and I wrote a small review on Goodreads. So, while I have added my opinion, I take some time to read other reviews about it. As I scroll down the page, I see four, five and even three stars next to the title but when I see one single star, well, I have to stop and read it.

Write with your soul

Writing a novel, as I've said before, is going to take a lot of time! Whatever you do, whether you know how your story will go or not, it will need TIME. So, my advice as a young writer is not to rush it. Believe me, I want my books out there, available for everyone to read, but this isn’t how it works. And after all, the journey worth more than the destination. So, sit comfortable and enjoy each journey because it's unique and despite how long it may takes you'll remember it like it happened in a blink of an eye.

Try to do what you love and life will find a way to reward you.

Something I tweeted yesterday inspired me to write this post today. I said: “Try to do what you love and life will find a way to reward you.” I strongly believe that and I want to talk about it a little further.

Here is the thing. It is very important being able to do what you really like but as life goes on and we are growing, our priorities change and sometimes we are forced to let our dream jobs in order to do something else.

Why do you write?

I think this is a question that a writer may come to answer in his life. It can be form in many different ways like When did you start writing, or what writing means for you, or how you decide to write? However we can mask it, change and beautify it, the question is plain and straight…why do you write?!

This may address to a famous writer, a first time novelist but also to any person that writes a story. He may be a teenager, a student, a wife, a father or generally anyone who is trying to spread his words out there. So, why do you write?

What is happening when you finally finish your novel?

Well, new month arrived and I wish this will be the month I will finish my second novel! But there starts the real thing. So what is happening when you finally finish your novel? Here is my reality which you may find it helpful.

I have written almost two novels and yet I hadn’t the chance to publish one (self-publish). Well, I did publish my short story titled THE ANGEL OF CHRISTMAS and I am happy about that. To my point, when I finished my first which is an adventure/crime novel, I was so excited to publish it, and I still am, but there are things that must be done. Here is what I did and what I recommend you too.