Thank you
Caxton Newspapers for publishing another author interview with Evadeen Brickwood!
Here is the unedited version:
1. Do you have to be an avid reader?
It is certainly helpful to be widely read if you want to become a writer. Not only does it improve your general knowledge and vocabulary, but also gives you an idea of how books are constructed.
2. Should what you write about be a lived experience?
Most writers include their own experiences to some degree. The more you have experienced, the more you can relate to characters who go through similar experiences. However, with practice and depending on the genre, an author develops the skill to move away from this concept and to develop unrelated storylines. Just never forget that the story must be appealing to the readers in your target group and not simply be a form of self-expression.
3. How much time goes into writing a manuscript?
That depends on many things, such as research, skill and experience, the length of the manuscript and in which genre you write. My first book took about 1 year to write and that does not include the many edits it underwent after the draft was finished. We didn’t really have google back then and I remember doing research in the library every day for weeks to gain knowledge on prehistoric conditions, legends, quantum physics and such to give my time travel books an authentic feel. The more a manuscript is polished, the better and test readers are essential during this process. If you can afford a good editor and proof reader, even better. My latest book series requires no more than a few months per murder mystery episode and they are also not quite as long as my stand-alone novels.
4. How hard is it to find a publisher?
When I first started out, I had two publishers is quick succession, but the markets collapsed in 2008 and with it the publishing industry. I grew tired of jumping through hoops and waiting sometimes months before a response. I cannot say whether the situation has improved much, based on the choices publishers make. I got into self-publishing in 2013 and haven’t looked back. If you still require a publisher, make sure to edit and proof-read extensively and get readers from your target group to give you feedback before you contact agents and publishers. Do your research and pay attention to the genres these publishers focus on. Also, most big publishers do not even consider taking on authors without agents, even if they are fairly successful. Oh, and btw, even if you have a publisher, marketing your books usually largely remains the responsibility of the author.
5. What challenges lie with self-publishing?
There are so many challenges. The technical side of creating e-books and print books needs to be mastered. Covers and sizes and layout and requirements by online-platforms are just some examples. The marketing and getting reviews are a never-ending challenges, so constant perseverance and putting in an effort before you even earn a single cent is not to everyone’s liking. In order to break through to all the walls and ceilings that are in your way, you need to learn the ropes and hang in there. It hasn’t been easy for me, but would rather publish myself or become what we call a hybrid author, who publishes through a publisher and also self-publishes some of the books.
6. What are some ways a local writer can attract an international audience?
Marketing is essential and understanding how the market works. So again, the learning phase can be quite intense. Online marketing is the order of the day. If you can, use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts and start blogging. Making contact with the right bloggers, making e-books available to reviewers and constant input in online forums also help. Uploading book trailers, interviews, readings on YouTube, improving discoverability on the internet and learning what’s behind Amazon-rankings, being in the right categories in different countries are again just a few examples of what needs to go into attracting an international audience. Having just one book on the market often doesn’t cut it, so also look at improving your backlist with as many books as possible. Giving some attention to how to brand yourself and your genre can be very useful. My experience with publishers abroad has not been very encouraging, as they prefer the writers in their own countries and you usually need an agent. Remember J.K. Rowling being rejected over and over again? Unless you have the tenacity and a lot of time, I wouldn’t even go that route.