Something About Sheritta #21

[image error]Advice you would give to new authors

I think I’ve said this before in previous interviews, but I’ll say it again. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t write something. If it’s what you’re passionate about, if it’s what you enjoy, then go for it. Don’t let anyone (parents, friends, spouse, coworkers) tell you that a certain genre or story won’t sell or won’t make money so it’s pointless to write. It’s not pointless because you love it. I had a lot of people tell me that I shouldn’t pursue a career as an author because it’s not a stable paycheck. In truth, it’s not, and it may not pay the bills some days, but it is fulfilling and that’s what matters to me in the end. I write because I love my stories and characters, and as I’ve said countless times before, it’s my therapy. It helps me to make sense of myself and my world, so it’s worth every bit of my time and energy.

Also, if you’re just getting started out, don’t skip on an editor. You can have the best cover in the world and the most air-tight marketing plan, but if your content is full of errors and typos, you’re SOL. The most capital you should ever spend on a book should be poured into the editing and proofreading. Take it from someone who has been there with an unedited book and regrets it immensely. Especially that first book, if you put it out with errors and the reviews come in saying as much, then it’ll taint the rest of your success as an author.