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 third letter is from Felix Blackwell. Felix Blackwell is an independent writer who emerged from the bowels of Reddit after writing a story about his and his fiance’s strange experiences in a mountain cabin. He writes novels and short stories in the horror and thriller genres and draws most of his inspiration from his own nightmares. He’s a zealous hiker and lover of nature. He’s never had a drink and he loves forests. He also likes to listen to relaxing video game soundtracks. If you’re going to read his work, be prepared for copious amounts of (psychological) nightmares, a little bit of history, but mostly for poetic composed language and simple elements that come frighteningly alive in his stories. Currently, he lives in California with his wife, and his stories are being considered by big movie companies for adaptations, so look up for a Blackwell movie in the years to come because it’s bound to be memorable.
You can find and follow him here:
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Dear Writer,
My first book started off as a dream I had at age 20. In it, a demon broke into my home and sat at the foot of my bed, whispering terrible things to me, trying to get me to kill myself. The dream disturbed me so much that I started journaling about it. I knew it had a deeper meaning. After a few months, my best friend suggested I turn it into a novel to help others overcome some of the issues I was facing at the time.
It took me four years of writing and revising to complete the book In The Devil's Dreams. The toughest part was finding the strength to press forward with the project because it was so dark and personal. On top of that, I had to teach myself about the publishing industry, and subsequently how to self-publish when I decided to go that route. I used tons of YouTube videos and forums to complete the project. I even tracked down and hired an artist!
My main advice to you is this: don’t ever write with the motivation of making money. The time you put into a good novel is rarely compensated in sales. When it does happen, let it be a huge surprise. Instead, write because you love to, because you need to, and because being creative is one of the reasons why we live.
Also, there will never be enough time in daily life to write. Make time. Make sacrifices. Works of passion are still work!
Read widely and often to shape your own voice. The difference in style between my early and later writing is pretty stark because I only started reading widely after I had already written a bunch. Do writing exercises where you write a short story multiple times, each one in the voice of a different author you love.
Don't try to make your writing sound smart. Make it readable. “Bucolic paddock” doesn’t paint a picture in the reader’s head. “Big green meadow” does.
Less is more. Short, pithy, punchy writing is more attractive than long-winded Dickens-homage.
I feel like I made a lot of mistakes with my first book, and while writing my second (Stolen Tongues) and third, I looked back a lot and said: “Okay, I’m definitely not going to do these three things.” My characters were a tad over-emotional. They sometimes handled situations in an unrealistic way. And sometimes I just bit off more than I could chew, narratively. I also droned on too long with descriptions of things that did not directly affect the plot. The greatest lesson I learned from my first book is, “You are not Edgar Allen Poe. You are Felix Blackwell. Write Blackwell.”
We all have complex feelings and emotions that must be expressed, for our better health. It’s often difficult to describe those feelings in conversation. Some people express them with their fingers on guitar strings or piano keys. Some express them with a paintbrush against a canvas. I express mine through stories. Writing is a compulsion for me, and I maintain it for my own sanity. Whatever your mode of expression is, find it, practice it, and let it all out.
In the words of George Carlin, “We think in language. The quality of our thoughts and ideas can only be as good as the quality of our language.” Reading doesn’t just make you smarter. It improves you as a person. This is one of the main lessons I have learned from reading.
The book that changed my life that I would also gift a friend's child is, without a doubt, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
What would I tell my 16-year-old self if I could go back in time ‘disguised’ as a stranger? Spend 30% less time on video games. Spend 15% more time on writing and 15% more time on career goals. Be nicer to people.
For the record, my 16-year-old self would tell that ‘stranger’ to go fuck himself.
As for a 'thing' that always makes me smile ... animals. They are my greatest weakness.
Sincerely,
Felix Blackwell.