Ask the Author: Xavi Lang
Answered Questions (7)
Xavi Lang
The Oranyn. :) The synopsis is here on Goodreads.
Xavi Lang
This is tricky. When I have an idea, I write the outline as fast as I could. And then I'll flesh it out. Whenever I have writer's block, I just refer to the outline and see what ideas I can come up with for a certain scene/dialogue.
Xavi Lang
Everything. Being a writer, is like giving birth to a part of your self, a part of your soul, of your being. You get to share a part of you to the world.
Xavi Lang
The same advice that was given to me by Neil Gaiman, David Baldacci and Kelley Armstrong. Just write, write, write and write until you hit The End.
You have to accept that you will write the most terrible first draft, it will be awful and cringeworthy. I know I did. Then you have to be open to constructive criticisms. I had to cut out at least two whole chapters because it didn't fit the storyline. They were just fluff. It was painful but the critics were right. To me, those chapters were awesome, but they served no purpose whatsoever. You have to let go sometimes.
Enroll in writing workshops, buy books about writing, download writing software. Prepare a little nook for your writing. A desk with things you need like post-its, notebooks, pens, references. In the center should be your device, whether it's a laptop, or a tablet, or a badass typewriter! Little succulent plants. A lamp. Pictures of things you love. A scented candle. Make it your holy place for your writing process. I promise you, you will write more efficiently if you have one place dedicated for writing.
Make time to write. That's one of the hardest things to find. And it's a sacrifice, You need to find the time to write and be strict with it.
Before writing, collect as many email addresses as you can. Constantly send your contacts little messages so by the time you're ready to release your book. They have you in mind and most likely buy and review your book.
Be active on social media. Update your followers of your progress to garner interest. Share your thoughts, ask if they're willing to become your beta readers.
You have to accept that you will write the most terrible first draft, it will be awful and cringeworthy. I know I did. Then you have to be open to constructive criticisms. I had to cut out at least two whole chapters because it didn't fit the storyline. They were just fluff. It was painful but the critics were right. To me, those chapters were awesome, but they served no purpose whatsoever. You have to let go sometimes.
Enroll in writing workshops, buy books about writing, download writing software. Prepare a little nook for your writing. A desk with things you need like post-its, notebooks, pens, references. In the center should be your device, whether it's a laptop, or a tablet, or a badass typewriter! Little succulent plants. A lamp. Pictures of things you love. A scented candle. Make it your holy place for your writing process. I promise you, you will write more efficiently if you have one place dedicated for writing.
Make time to write. That's one of the hardest things to find. And it's a sacrifice, You need to find the time to write and be strict with it.
Before writing, collect as many email addresses as you can. Constantly send your contacts little messages so by the time you're ready to release your book. They have you in mind and most likely buy and review your book.
Be active on social media. Update your followers of your progress to garner interest. Share your thoughts, ask if they're willing to become your beta readers.
Xavi Lang
The sequel! I didn't know that there would be another one, but I just had a dream recently about it, and Calyx actually showed me a way, a possibility for another storyline. And I was actually blown away. I didn't even think of it but in my dream, the plot was pretty solid. I just couldn't believe it. It's happening.
Xavi Lang
I get inspired by reading other authors' journey on how they struggled during their early days to get their books done. If they can do it, so can I! :)
Xavi Lang
The idea came to me in a dream on the night of my 25th birthday.
It was about this beautiful goddess who gave treasures to worthy men in their dreams to become leaders of their tribes. But one day, she fell in love with a young man, destined to become the next leader of his tribe. But the young man's father took advantage of the goddess' love for his son. So the father told her to give all the treasures to him so he can rule over everyone else's land or he will kill his own son. And she did out of her love for his son. She cut her chest open and the rarest of all jewel was her heart. It held immense power. The old man fell to his knees and regretted once he saw the beauty of the heart, but the young man grew wicked and wanted the power. The young man tried to take the heart but it shattered to pieces and flew to different lands. Now the young man set off on a journey to look for the pieces to become the most powerful man. But unknown to him, one piece ended up in his father's pocket so the heart will not be restored...
When I woke up from the dream, I wrote it right away so I wouldn't forget. And my story evolved from there to what it is now. Funny thing is, the sequel also came to me in a dream. :)
It was about this beautiful goddess who gave treasures to worthy men in their dreams to become leaders of their tribes. But one day, she fell in love with a young man, destined to become the next leader of his tribe. But the young man's father took advantage of the goddess' love for his son. So the father told her to give all the treasures to him so he can rule over everyone else's land or he will kill his own son. And she did out of her love for his son. She cut her chest open and the rarest of all jewel was her heart. It held immense power. The old man fell to his knees and regretted once he saw the beauty of the heart, but the young man grew wicked and wanted the power. The young man tried to take the heart but it shattered to pieces and flew to different lands. Now the young man set off on a journey to look for the pieces to become the most powerful man. But unknown to him, one piece ended up in his father's pocket so the heart will not be restored...
When I woke up from the dream, I wrote it right away so I wouldn't forget. And my story evolved from there to what it is now. Funny thing is, the sequel also came to me in a dream. :)
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