I Love Writing

If I had it to do over again, I would have become an author a lot earlier. I have always loved writing but having a complete series written and having people like it is an amazing feeling. There is nothing like it. My daughter wants to be a writer as well and while I want her to know what a pain in the ass it can be but I don't want to discourage her from doing something that she loves as much as I do. This is where the reality check comes in.

Authors do not make tons of money. Yes, some do but enough for anyone to believe that this is a sure way to pay the bills.Think of all the books out there. How many do you think have enough readers to make them multimillionaires? Unless you are writing a book that is touted by a celebrity (think Oprah's Book Club) you have very little chance of making anything more than a modest living as an author (if you are lucky). So while you are working on your books, you should also have another job that actually brings in an income... like an EA... on second thought, scratch that... EAs don't make that much either.

Authors are not all famous... see above.

Not all books become movies and the chances of your book becoming a movie is slim to none. Do not bank on it. If you do you will be eating beans out of a tin can in your lavishly furnished cardboard box overlooking a sewer.

Write about something you love. Do you like romances? Write it. Do you like science fiction? Write it. Do you like fantasy? Write it. If you can dream it, you can write about it. Some of the world's most wonderful inventions have come of dreams... and some of them are books.

Do not let anyone tell you that you can't write about something because you have not experienced it. In what lifetime do you suppose I was a six foot six man with black wings and long black hair? In what lifetime was JK Rowling an eleven year old wizard with a lightning bolt scar across his head? Who has ever seen Stephanie Meyer glittering in the sunlight?

With the above in mind, DO research your topic. There are websites, books and sometimes even people you can talk to who can give you some information. You cannot just make shit up. Oh, wait. You can. That is why it is called fiction. But, let's face it. Fantasy creatures are a hell of a lot more fun than boring old humans. Of course, I did research most of my creatures. For example, I looked up kelpies before I wrote about them (see Book Four... oh you can't yet because I have not published it.... BWA HA HA HA)

Last and most important of all... have a sense of humour... you're gonna need it...