How long did it take you to publish, ‘Chasing McCree?’
Chasing took about 2 years from start to finish. The writing took the longest chunk. While the actual publishing process took about a month.
2. If you could choose one thing about the whole work involved from writing your first book, to its publication, what would you say was the hardest thing to achieve?
Flow. Making something flow really good for your first book is harder than it looks. I read some of my earlier books and sometimes think...I know what to do now :)
3. Of all the books you have written, which book did you enjoy writing the most?
Maybe Chasing McCree. It's so hard to pick one because I love them for specific things. But my favorite part was writing Grandma. I love her. I want to be like her when I'm old lol!
4. If you could give one piece of advice to a new writer, what would it be?
Don't publish the first book you finish. This may seem counterproductive. Your book is done. You should publish! BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. At least not for most people. The more books you write the better you get. The more you know what you are doing. So I say write 2 or 3. Have a few people read them and figure out which one is the best. Then publish it!
5. Many writers are warned about the dreaded ‘rejection letter,’ but speaking from your own experience, what is your take on the rejection letter?
I've gotten plenty and I took what they said as constructive criticism. They all sting in their own way. Sometimes you don't get anything back. Sometimes it can be very generic with your name copy and pasted onto a rejection letter, making you wonder if anyone actually read it.... Work harder. Don't take it personally. In the end I ended up self-publishing.
6. What would you say is the first steps of publishing?
Research. Know everything you can. And then learn more!
7. We all love writing our own characters, giving them personalities, histories and lives, but if you had to choose two characters from your own books, which two would you say are your favourites?
Grandma from Chasing McCree. She's all kinds of awesome.
And then...Grandpa from Chasing McCree.
Apparently I love the old cooky crowd :)
8. The publishing industry is beginning to get increasingly difficult, with less and less books being published each year, and this year is no exception. Book deals and publications are at an all-time low.
Many writers are turning to Amazon, Smashwords, Nook, etc. and self-publishing their books.
But this choice isn’t for everyone.
What would you say to young, unpublished writers out there who are debating about which route to take?
And had you been starting out all over again, would you still take the same route?
I would do everything the same...almost. I would have armed myself with better info going into self-pubbing. But I would still have self-published.
The publishing industry is changing. It has to change with technology. We as writers have to change too. Just because something was done one way for a long time, doesn't mean it will continue to be the best way.
What anyone considering publishing should do is research all possible ways, and pick the one they feel most comfortable with.
The one thing I will say is there is a huge misconception about traditional publishing. A lot of writers think that if they get a contract, then can sit back and relax. They don't want the headache of marketing and promoting. They think the big publishing houses do that for them. They really don't. It's still up to the author if they sink or float. They will plaster a best-seller all over the place, but they aren't going to do that for the new guy until they prove they can sell the books.
So in my opinion, I can keep my books, have a chance to earn more money, and do almost the exact some stuff I would do for a regular publisher. Or I can let the publisher have it. Get paid less money, and lose my rights to the book. (There are exceptions, I mean, if you're the next Stephanie Meyer or Stephen King.) If you want to know more about this and how the publishing world works, I recommend checking out JA Konrath's blog. He knows his stuff, and he dissects the publishing industry from all sides. Of course he's pro self-publishing. But he started out as traditionally published.
------------------------------------
I want to thank Jade for having me as a guest!!! Thanks for reading!!!
J.C. Isabella.
1.Chasing took about 2 years from start to finish. The writing took the longest chunk. While the actual publishing process took about a month.
2. If you could choose one thing about the whole work involved from writing your first book, to its publication, what would you say was the hardest thing to achieve?
Flow. Making something flow really good for your first book is harder than it looks. I read some of my earlier books and sometimes think...I know what to do now :)
3. Of all the books you have written, which book did you enjoy writing the most?
Maybe Chasing McCree. It's so hard to pick one because I love them for specific things. But my favorite part was writing Grandma. I love her. I want to be like her when I'm old lol!
4. If you could give one piece of advice to a new writer, what would it be?
Don't publish the first book you finish. This may seem counterproductive. Your book is done. You should publish! BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. At least not for most people. The more books you write the better you get. The more you know what you are doing. So I say write 2 or 3. Have a few people read them and figure out which one is the best. Then publish it!
5. Many writers are warned about the dreaded ‘rejection letter,’ but speaking from your own experience, what is your take on the rejection letter?
I've gotten plenty and I took what they said as constructive criticism. They all sting in their own way. Sometimes you don't get anything back. Sometimes it can be very generic with your name copy and pasted onto a rejection letter, making you wonder if anyone actually read it.... Work harder. Don't take it personally. In the end I ended up self-publishing.
6. What would you say is the first steps of publishing?
Research. Know everything you can. And then learn more!
7. We all love writing our own characters, giving them personalities, histories and lives, but if you had to choose two characters from your own books, which two would you say are your favourites?
Grandma from Chasing McCree. She's all kinds of awesome.
And then...Grandpa from Chasing McCree.
Apparently I love the old cooky crowd :)
8. The publishing industry is beginning to get increasingly difficult, with less and less books being published each year, and this year is no exception. Book deals and publications are at an all-time low.
Many writers are turning to Amazon, Smashwords, Nook, etc. and self-publishing their books.
But this choice isn’t for everyone.
What would you say to young, unpublished writers out there who are debating about which route to take?
And had you been starting out all over again, would you still take the same route?
I would do everything the same...almost. I would have armed myself with better info going into self-pubbing. But I would still have self-published.
The publishing industry is changing. It has to change with technology. We as writers have to change too. Just because something was done one way for a long time, doesn't mean it will continue to be the best way.
What anyone considering publishing should do is research all possible ways, and pick the one they feel most comfortable with.
The one thing I will say is there is a huge misconception about traditional publishing. A lot of writers think that if they get a contract, then can sit back and relax. They don't want the headache of marketing and promoting. They think the big publishing houses do that for them. They really don't. It's still up to the author if they sink or float. They will plaster a best-seller all over the place, but they aren't going to do that for the new guy until they prove they can sell the books.
So in my opinion, I can keep my books, have a chance to earn more money, and do almost the exact some stuff I would do for a regular publisher. Or I can let the publisher have it. Get paid less money, and lose my rights to the book. (There are exceptions, I mean, if you're the next Stephanie Meyer or Stephen King.) If you want to know more about this and how the publishing world works, I recommend checking out JA Konrath's blog. He knows his stuff, and he dissects the publishing industry from all sides. Of course he's pro self-publishing. But he started out as traditionally published.
------------------------------------
I want to thank Jade for having me as a guest!!! Thanks for reading!!!
J.C. Isabella.