Goodreads asked Nephylim:

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Nephylim Write. Write for the love of it, then take what you've written and find someone else who will read it. Someone who will not be gentle with it, who will tear it apart, but gently. Then take all the bits and put them back together again with the same love. Edit it to the best of your ability.

It is a good idea to research the publishers in your chosen genre and examine their requirements. Also look at other books they have published to see if they are doing well, if they are being well publicised by the publisher etc.

Send off your book and expect to be rejected - then when you aren't it's a great surprise and delight.

Getting your book published is only the first step. Get out there on the web. join every social media you can manage. Think carefully about who you are and who you want to be, that is who you want the world to see. Once you know who you are market yourself and your work, even before it's accepted. The more you are known, the more pull you have especially if the prospective publisher has heard of you.

Put free stories on your blog. If people can see how good your writing is for free, they are more likely to buy your books.

Help other authors, for example by advertising their work on your blog and social media. What goes around comes around. Never diss another writer. Get a reputation for being respectful.

Most of all...have fun. If you don't love what you do, no one else will.

Oh, and be a lot better at promo and marketing than I am. That helps.

flag