Hello dear readers!
A 'short' while ago (summer of 2018) I started a non-fiction project titled Simple Ways to Write, Publish, Market a Debut Novel (+ Intimate Testimonials from Published Authors).
Because of various things going on in my life (working on several fiction books, turning my newest release — Whispers and Other Strange Stories— in audio book format, and some health issues) this particular book is taking me longer to publish.
I have, therefore, decided to release extracts from my project here on my website. These extracts are from Part 4 of the Simple Ways book, titled Intimate Love Letters: From Published Authors to Aspiring Authors. They contain, as the name suggests, letters I have gathered from authors about their journey to, through, and after publication. These are the questions I have asked them to specifically write to me (and you) about:
How was the experience of writing your first / debut novel? What is some (brief) advice you would give to aspiring novelists now?
What are the essential things to do, and others to avoid, to make a good start as a writer and aspiring author?
How has writing the first novel influenced writing your second one, and/or your writing career in general?
What did you learn the most from this author journey you’ve been on so far?
What lessons have you learned about life from reading?
What book changed your life that you would also give to a friend’s child on their 18th birthday?
What would you tell your 16-year-old self if you could go back in time ‘disguised’ as a stranger?
What is one thing that always makes you smile?
‘The thing’ of your choice can be tangible or intangible and doesn’t have to be writing related. Can also be a pet, person, book, movie, poem, memory, etc. If you’d like to mention more than one ‘thing’, please do.
I will be releasing their 'letters' one by one, every week or so, in the order they got back to me.
I hope you enjoy them and find them useful. I love reading them and think are most enlightening, especially to aspiring authors, but also to seasoned ones. It is always great to learn from others.
This second letter is from Heather Grace Stewart. Heather Grace Stewart is a poet and journalist who writes fast-paced, humorous and touching romance novels. She lives in Canada.
You can find and follow her here:
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Dear Crina,
I’ve just published my fourth romance novel, and can hardly believe it. It’s been a whirlwind since my first novel, Strangely, Incredibly Good, was published by Morning Rain Publishing. I’m glad you wrote to me and asked for some advice on writing and marketing because it gives me a chance to take a breather and look back on all that has happened in these last four years. It feels more like twenty years — there’s been that many changes and challenges since I decided to self-publish my second novel!
Most of the changes were industry-driven. It’s hard to believe that the audiobook industry has been around for decades because for me it only just started taking off in 2016, two years after Strangely, Incredibly Good came out. In their 2016 annual report, the Audio Publishers Association, which tracks the industry, found that sales totaled $2.1 billion in 2016, an 18.2 percent increase from the previous year. Compare that to $1.8 billion of hardcover copy books sold in 2016!
Needless to say, I never saw that one coming. The Ticket being performed by two talented voice actors? An Irish-born actor playing Pete? Cool! But I never imagined that when I wrote it, or that there might one day be interest in making it into a movie. Yes, that’s happening! It may take years to finally see it realized, but a producer is interested in adapting it for a television movie. I’m thrilled. As well, Good Nights become an audiobook in October, and I’m hoping that all of my novels are one day recorded in this format.
Surprises around every corner. That’s how it’s been for many aspects of this career. I didn’t realize that my paperback sales would take off once enough people started learning about me due to advertising my e-books on Amazon. Now, I sell just as many paperback books a day as e-books, if not more some days.
Sales are going well now, but there were bleak days when I just wanted to quit and go back to full-time freelance magazine work. When I decided to start creating marketing materials for Facebook and Instagram and used those images to ask interested readers to sign up to my mailing list, that’s when I started seeing a noticeable difference in sales. I think I was afraid to market my books at first; afraid it would seem egotistical to tell others about my own work, but if you aren’t going to tell the world about your art, who will? There’s so much material flooding our timelines now. The chances of you publishing your book and then someone just “discovering” it and spreading the word are so minuscule.
You asked me if I have any advice for aspiring authors. They probably don’t want to hear it, because, if they’re like me, they don’t really like the tedious work involved in marketing. However, if you want to write a novel and you hope to sell more than then average 300 copies typically sold: be prepared to market it, whether you’re self-published or traditionally published. Be prepared to spend at least 40 percent of your day on the marketing! It’s a big chunk of time, but it’s necessary to start building an engaged readership.
I’ve never found marketing very much fun, but I do find chatting with readers enjoyable, so I do a lot of that on social media, using the video chat tools, and via email notes. It’s important to me that I get to know my readers well, and they seem to enjoy interacting with me, too.
Of course, if you want to finish a book, you need to put in the time, every day, for several months. We all have excuses as to why we can’t find the time, but if you really want to realize this goal, then I suggest getting up an hour earlier than you usually do, or staying up an hour later. It’s amazing how much writing you can get done in just one hour, set aside every day. Start small, and then, once you start a habit of writing, you can write a few more hours every day, until it’s routine.
You’ve asked me some questions that no one has ever asked me, in the ten years I’ve been interviewed as an author! I love that. The book that I’d give to a friend’s child on their 18th birthday would be Michael J. Fox’s Lucky Man. My favorite book of all time is The Neverending Story, but if they’re 18 I think Michael’s book is the perfect gift. It combines his quick wit and keen sense of the absurd with beautiful storytelling, and offers his wonderful way of looking at how Parkinson’s was like a gift (that keeps on taking) to him. You have to read it to see why I love it.
What would I tell my 16-year-old self if I could go back in time ‘disguised’ as a stranger? I’d tell her to stop worrying about other people and what they think of me so much. Just do your thing. Keep at it, because you’re on the right path, and you’re going to be happy and successful, so have a little more fun! (although I wouldn’t want to set 16-year-old me off into “girls gone wild!” teen years. She worked a little too hard at school, but maybe she got me to where I am today, so I’m grateful).
Many things make me smile – I try to find joy in the simplest things. I love making people laugh really hard (I aim for the snort-laugh), and hearing children laugh while they play. I love the sound of rain on our steel gazebo roof. I sit out there a lot to write, or just to drink tea and relax. I love making our cats purr, the crackle of a fire; how the ocean looks when it rushes onto the sand. I love being alone with nature, watching different species of birds and squirrels, even bees, just going about their business. It gives me a sense of peace.
Thanks for asking me to spend some time with you and your readers, Crina!
Hugs and best wishes always,
Heather Grace Stewart