New and aspiring writers often ask me for tips….
1. Don’t expect to make a living out of writing, unless you’re already famous.
2. Read as much as possible in your preferred genre.
3. It’s essential to have an excellent grasp of grammar/syntax. Don’t expect your publisher or friend to correct it all for you.
4. Write about what you know, including witting testimony from your own life experiences, e.g. ‘Pensioners in Paradis’ (click book icon on the right).
5. Choose a genre that interests you.
6. Non-fiction and historical fiction require extensive research.
7. Learn about plagiarism rules: you can’t include song lyrics or copy swathes of another writer’s text in your book. A minefield. A comedian once said: “If you copy just one line it’s called plagiarism; copy bits from hundreds of different books and it’s called research!”
8. Learn extensive marketing strategies and develop continuous social media skills.
9. When submitting to literary agents or small publishers, always look up and follow their very different submission rules.
10. Try to deliver a message by your writing that will influence readers worldwide. ‘The Mandarin Seeds’ was borne because of my admiration for a modest man who saved the lives of 20,000 people. If my book can motivate one person to help others less fortunate, then it will all have been worthwhile.
…The big countdown begins. Nine days to the full release of THE MANDARIN SEEDS, an epic saga based on true events. Pre-order it now for only £0.99/$1.54 by clicking the image on the right. Put a note in your diary for the big release on Tuesday 30th May 2023 - there’ll be prizes!
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