 1. Read, write, then do it again If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut. -Stephen King Stephen King outlines the road to writing succinctly. Quite simply, you cannot be a writer if you are not a reader. While there are many ways to refine your writing further down the line, the foundation on which you will build your core understanding will come from those who wrote before you. Learning from this and interpreting it into your own work as you go along will aid greatly in developing your skills as an author. If you feel, however, that you’ve done all the reading and writing in the world yet still you’re missing the mark, our Developmental Editing services can aid in ensuring your writing is mature in its style, structure and characterisation.  2. Write for yourself My advice to ‘up and coming writers’ is, don’t write at first for anyone but yourself. It doesn’t matter how many or how few universities one goes to, what matters is what one learns, either at universities or by oneself. -T.S. Eliot A theory espoused by many successful authors is to write for yourself before you write for others. In a rare response to a fan letter, T.S. Eliot wrote of these beliefs and emphasised the importance of learning from your own experiences while writing for yourself. Through writing in a space that is purely orchestrated for your own purpose, you’ll allow yourself the opportunity to wholly focus on the work you produce. Eradicating external influence and enabling yourself to grow from your own mistakes will prove invaluable as you learn how to best write for yourself and begin to write for others.  3. There’s only one you Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that – but you are the only you. -Neil Gaiman This tip is something of a classic, and is often a soothing remedy we tell small children to remind them of their brilliance. As adults, we are much the same. Sometimes we find ourselves needing that confidence boost that renews our self-belief, which is exactly what Neil Gaiman seeks to do with this tip. No matter how hard we try to replicate something or someone else, it will never be as good as the original. This is why writing as your authentic self, drawing from your own experiences and conveying your own style, will make for the best stories in the long run.  4. Character likability is optional Likability is a factor when you’re choosing a roommate, but it’s not necessarily a factor when you’re creating a living character. -Margaret Atwood Once you’ve familiarised yourself with your own writing and feel your story is ready to start, developing multidimensional and well-thought characters will demand much of your attention. Many authors might feel character likability is a necessary draw for audiences, though that is seldom the case. Margaret Atwood reiterates the importance of allowing your characters the scope to have some unappealing qualities, just like humans. This can be a difficult balance to strike, which is why at Rowanvale we provide our Beta Readers service that allows your work to be read by our specialist pool of readers. Through this you will receive thorough and constructive feedback that can provide insight into how readers respond to your cast of characters.  5. Show, don’t tell Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. -Anton Chekhov Anton Chekhov famously spoke of the importance of descriptive passages with his perfectly apt use of imagery to capture the brilliance of its effect. While many authors advise against highly embellished language, rarely is there an argument that combats Chekhov’s. Readers seek to be captivated when picking up a new book, which means as an author, it’s your job to ensure they continue to turn the page. We suggest adopting this refined version of ‘show, don’t tell’ to bring life to the stories you write and allow your readers to become engrossed in your words.  While you’re here, why not check out a few more of our blog posts here. Alternatively, if you’re interested in the services we offer, our plethora of packages can be found here.
Can’t find what you're looking for? Not to worry! Feel free to contact us at info@rowanvalebooks.com or call us on 029 2128 0200 where we are more than happy to answer any other questions.
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 Being new to any job can leave you feeling unnerved and perhaps unsure of yourself, so just because you might not necessarily have a new office to frequent doesn’t mean some of those first-day jitters won’t be following you around as you embark on your journey as a new author. Here at Rowanvale Books, we spare no effort in supporting our new authors throughout the writing process and offer a selection of Pre-Publication Services to help guide the way. Our utmost priority is always to help authors reach their full potential, which is why we’ve compiled a list of our top tips for those new to the job. 1. Read widely
Be sure to take plenty of notes as you go along, learning what you like and don’t like when it comes to style, narrative and characterisation. A useful practice to utilise in your early days could be to keep a record of your favourite passages, giving you a literary goldmine to draw from when you’re feeling low on inspiration. 2. Find your own method Making it in the literary world is no easy feat, and for new authors, it can be a daunting experience to simply start writing. Because of this, writers can often find themselves yearning for a step-by-step guide to becoming an author. As convenient as this may be, a one-size-fits-all blueprint to writing doesn’t exactly exist, which is why we strongly believe in the importance of following yourself to find your story. Trust your instincts and use them to discover your own method when it comes to getting your ideas on paper. Having said this, that doesn’t mean you have to go the journey alone. Our Writing Advisor services can offer you the support you need, regardless of what stage of writing you’re at. Whether you’re just figuring out the plot or approaching a final edit, our professionals are here to help guide and perfect your story. 3. Take a creative writing course
When you feel you have thoroughly reflected on your own work, our Editorial Assessments are here to help take your work one step further as we delve into your manuscript, seeking out any fundamental issues before you progress into your next draft. Just as you evaluate your peers’ work, we can offer an advanced and professional service that allows your work to be thoroughly examined through a fresh and experienced lens. 4. Write from experience As a new author, it can be overwhelming deciding which story to give life to first. Even if you have your whole plot mapped out, it can feel like an impossible task to fill in the blanks in a meaningful and well-thought-out manner. Choosing to write from your own experiences in life, be that love, grief or even fear, enables you to capture real human emotion, making your story all the more captivating and engaging. This isn’t to say you must stay strictly within the confines of what you know, but primarily that you can apply personable and relatable facets to your story, allowing your readers to fully immerse themselves in your writing. 5. Write often to write well As the age-old saying goes, practice makes perfect, and it’s no different when it comes to writing. From everyday journaling to short stories, the more often you write, the more familiar you become with your own style and narrative. As well as improving your overall tone and grammar, writing often can help cement your unique voice throughout your career as an author.  High-quality writing is a vital component in a successful career as an author, which is why at Rowanvale Books we place an emphasis on a thorough and rigorous Proofreading & Copy-Editing process to uphold your reputation. Ensuring you’re writing often alongside any services you seek out will only develop the standard of your work, allowing your stories to be the best they possibly can be. While you’re here, why not check out a few more of our blog posts here. Alternatively, if you’re interested in the services we offer, our plethora of packages can be found here.
Can’t find what you need? Not to worry! Feel free to contact us at info@rowanvalebooks.com or call us on 029 2128 0200 where we are more than happy to answer any other questions. |
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