A young writer faces many problems. Let’s look into them.
- Does anyone else need it but me? This question is rhetorical, and you won’t get an answer until you’ve written at least one work. In fact, every writer needs moral and material support. It’s good if you have those people who will support you with a kind word, and even better with a little material help. If you don’t have such people, you have to take “the will in your fist” and go ahead. I advise critics not to pounce with their claims on the young writer, demonstrating their scholarship and knowledge. It is necessary to cultivate talent, not destroy it at the very beginning of the creative path.
- Should I finish my work if I have a new idea? That’s the problem with all aspiring writers. So many people take on work with great desire, and then abandon it and start a new one. That’s actually the wrong attitude. You should try to bring any work to its logical conclusion. That’s the only way you can achieve perfection. The work of a writer is not always a holiday of creativity, it’s also a routine and you have to be morally and psychologically prepared for it.
- Do you have to think through the plot of your work in advance? Each writer decides this for himself. There is no ready-made algorithm. Everyone works differently. I prefer to think through the plot in advance, before I put it on paper. I do it the way I was taught at school, when we wrote a composition in literature, namely, I make a plan for my work. It is clear that in the process of creative realization these plans “go away”, but sometimes it helps to write this or that work. This is especially true of large works: novels and novellas. I do things differently with short stories.
- Do you need a proofreader and editor to work on a book? Every writer and novelist decides this, depending on his or her knowledge of literature. If your knowledge allows you to do without people of these professions – you can try to write yourself, if not – find someone who can help you. Almost all serious publishers provide this service. I believe that to a beginning writer, they can by no means hurt.
- Do I need a professional book makeup if I’m going to publish it in a publishing house? If you publish on the Internet (samizdat), then you do not need such a service, but if you decide to publish a book in a publisher, this service you will need and here’s why: – any product must be beautiful; – illustrations should be appropriate and not clutter the text; – fonts should set up the reader on immersion in the story. It seems to you that all this is a trifle? In fact, in any case – there are no trifles.
- Do I need to order my book cover from a professional? If you know Photoshop or Acrobat (which is Adobe), you won’t need this service. Besides, there are now advanced neural networks that can help you with this question. But if you are not an IT expert, I advise you to find a professional artist who will make you a good cover. I can assure you that professionalism is immediately apparent. The first thing a reader pays attention to is a book cover, and if it’s done unprofessionally, it will scare away your potential reader.
- Do you need advertising to promote your book? I don’t think advertising has ever hurt anyone. But don’t rush to post your work on professional writer’s forums. You may get the “black mark” of a non-professional and you may find it hard to change that perception of yourself and your books later on. Any writer “grows” and gains experience, and only a professional can notice this growth. So first, show your book to those who have a positive attitude toward you, don’t get into a heated discussion if you hear criticism from these people. Try to approach the matter philosophically.
- Where should I post my books? I think the best place to publish an aspiring writer’s books is samizdat. Don’t rush to take your book to a publisher. Try your hand at it first. Feel the anguish of creativity, and then turn to professionals.
- Do you have to dub your books or make audiobooks? Yes, of course you should. You’ll find faults in your own books by dubbing them. Try to read them aloud first, and then read them to your family and friends. If the reaction is positive – the book can be voiced for posting on the Internet.
- Should you print books and give them away to your acquaintances and friends? A book has always been a good gift. If you see that a book is successful, give it to your friends. Don’t expect them to read it right away and give you a positive review. That never happens. The book needs to rest. If your book is worthy, it (your beautiful book) will change hands, and that’s the best advertising. Trust my life experience. The best advertising is a recommendation from a reader.
I hope my little article is helpful to you. If so, don’t forget to give me your likes, it will stimulate me to write new articles on my author’s blog on the excellent platform Books from Nikita (booksnt.site). Sincerely, Nikita T
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