Writing & Me

Born of Blood, SB Knight

In Writing & Me this week we hear from American author Brian Knight about his path to publication:

For the past twelve months S.B. Knight has been working diligently with editors, cover artist, and his publisher to see his debut novel, Born of Blood, published and released. On Friday, March 23rd, the efforts of many at MuseItUp Publishing came full circle with the official release of Born of Blood; book one of The Blood Chronicles. Prior to that, S.B. Knight traveled the familiar road so many new authors journey. He shares some of that journey here:

It is surreal to think that after five years I can actually say “I have a published book.” I believe what makes this a big moment is because in beginning I had no clue as to where to even start with writing a novel. Sure, I wrote some poetry and a few short stories but a novel? That seemed a little beyond my reach. The harsh reality of being unprepared and writing a novel was made crystal clear after my first attempt, what a train wreck that was. No, I can honestly say that manuscript will not see the light of day ever again.

Without a doubt, the best move I made to launch my writing was start a blog. The New Author allowed me to reach out to others. This proved very valuable as we shared concerns, frustrations, support and information. I learned a great deal that first year but the learning never fully stopped, it continues on to this very day. Yes, the blog has been instrumental.

Read more: Born of Blood, SB Knight

Mandy James: Righteous Exposure

I have written since I was a child, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have an idea for a story in my head. I was a big reader too and devoured anything from Enid Blyton in my early childhood to Tolkien in my early teens. As an eight year old, I pestered my parents to tell Father Christmas to bring me a Petite typewriter and remember feeling so excited and grown up as I rolled the paper in.

I wrote stories and songs which I would read to my friends and family and later, writing became a friend to me during the angst of teenage years. Poems then were my chosen method of self-expression and I would feel so much better after transferring my troubles onto paper.

I never really imagined I would one day write a novel as the years and life flew by. I married and had a child at nineteen and there just never seemed to be time to consider a novel. I never stopped writing poems and stories however. I guess deep down I never had the self-belief. As a working class girl growing up, writing novels was something that others did; it never really appeared on my radar.

Read more: Mandy James: Righteous Exposure

Where I Write by Heron's Flood Author Evelyn Walsh

A friend told me recently she had been thinking of me as she watched a movie about a writer who worked at a desk overlooking East Hampton in Long Island. I laughed. If only I could have a big mahogany desk overlooking the Hamptons. It's such a lovely idea, staring out a window at Natures beauty in one of the most expensive areas of the world.

I write in scraps of space and time. I can edit, hone and rewrite in the evenings sitting with the family but to get that first draft down I need to be on my own - no interruptions. Sometimes during the paying job's working week I get up early (not too often anymore mind!) I often sit up long after the world is asleep and write wrapped up in a duvet in my sitting room in the silence of the night. I unplug all electrical appliances barring the laptop - if it's poetry I'm working on I use pencil and unlined paper and play with the words that way, scratching out, arrowing words up and down, juggling.

Read more: Where I Write by Heron's Flood Author Evelyn Walsh

Finding a Literary Agent by Louise Hall

When I got married and had kids, I would anticipate the approach of night time when I allowed myself be transported into my own land of bliss as I delved into one of the many good books on my shelves. Reading was a natural form of escapism for me; but something changed in my life which found me unable to read for a very long time.

In January 2008, my youngest sister, at the very tender age of twenty six, passed away suddenly. We were all devastated.

Nicky had Down’s syndrome and was a massive part of our lives. Trying to pick up the pieces wasn’t easy.

Suddenly aware of my own precious mortality, I realized that I needed to replace the books I loved so much but couldn’t find the attention for anymore. After spending a year or so deciding whether or not to write a book, I cast away the unwanted negativity and began to embark on a project I wasn’t really sure I would follow through.

Once I started, it felt like it was the most natural thing in the world. Before I knew it, I had twenty thousand words down. The only problem I experienced at this stage was not knowing whether or not I was actually good at writing.

After much Googling about how I would even begin to get this unfinished book published, I came to the conclusion that I desperately needed an agent.

Obstacle number two, stood smirking right before my eyes as I also realized that for all the successful published authors we Irish seem to effortlessly produce, there are very few literary agents.

Read more: Finding a Literary Agent by Louise Hall