Emma dropped in to tell me what she learned about writing by writing her novel
Emma Russell is a twenty three year old
freelance writer, blogger and book enthusiast. She graduated in 2011 with a
degree in English Literature from the University of Ireland, Maynooth and after
a year teaching English in Greece has since returned to complete an MA in
Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. She is a member of London Writer’s
Circle and Freehand Writers, Oxford. Emma’s first novella ‘The Stolen Rose’,
will be released as a free ebook in August. You can read a preview on
her website http://emmarussellwriting.com/
and can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/emmarussellauthor
and Twitter https://twitter.com/TheStolenRose
Over to Emma:
What I learned about writing when I wrote The
Stolen Rose: Lessons from a tumultuous journey
#1. Caffeine is gold dust.
First on the list, and rightly so. I have
yet to meet a writer not completely dependent on the life-giving,
idea-inspiring substance.
#2. Write
for others.
It’s too easy to get lost in the art of
your form, but the audience aren’t mind-readers so keep it simple. Don’t try to
be the next James Joyce, just be yourself.
#3. Write
about what inspires you.
Nothing shines through great fiction more
than an author’s love of their work. Writing’s not easy, so what’s the point if
you’re not passionate about what you do?
#4. Call
yourself a writer.
Establish an online presence with a website, build up a network of
followers on Facebook
and Twitter, offer interesting
content and stay connected. Nobody can sell you or your work better than you can.
#5. Prepare
to be the best and worst version of yourself.
Expect three-day old clothes, unbrushed
hair and a diet of chocolate chip muffins. You may terrify children in the
street but that elusive ‘writer’s glow’ will shine through the grime and stress.
Personally, if it means I can follow my dream and write, I’d settle for a
grimey, but happy, version of myself any day.
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