Goodreads asked Alexis Kaye Wright:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Alexis Kaye Wright Never give up! In the last 5 years, since I began writing again in summer 2011 - beginning with articles for newspapers that never got published - I have been rejected time and time again. But I never gave up writing, and when I finished my book that I published last month, I got several rejections from Christian publishing companies I sent my inquiries too based on their instructions in the "submissions" area on their website. But once again, even on days I really want to and almost did give up, something told me to keep trying and not to give up and my book would be published. Whether writing a book, or writing articles or stories for a newspaper or magazine, thoroughly research the publishing companies, newspapers, or magazines that publish the genre and style of writing that you do and then send your work (to newspapers and magazines who have their own set of instructions for submitting your work) or if sending inquiries to a publishing company for your book then on their submissions page, make sure you follow the guidelines to a T so that they won't just delete your submission, or toss it out for the companies that still do take manuscripts via mail. If you hit writers block, I do address that in my book for ways to get inspiration. Some examples real quick are snip-its of conversation you hear OR bits of conversation you have with someone, lyrics, lines from a movie, going somewhere peaceful and calming (for me it's the beach to listen to and watch the ocean waves crashing). And I will say it one more time - NEVER give up on writing, or on being published if you have a passion for it and believe it's what you are meant to be doing. One final piece of advice: Get readers before your book is finished. When you have written at least 1 or 2 chapters of your book, look for a good website for creating an author page and make sure it shows your unique personality in a way that mixes well with what you will be posting from your book and about it. Once it is published, you will have a few readers since you began building interest in your book before it was published, but do not lose heart when sales do not pick up immediately. I have been told by other authors that it takes time to get readers for first-time authors. Engage with your visitors to your author pages. You will find out which ways work over time.

flag