Everybody comes to wonder how authors got published, how they found an agent or publisher, how long it took to create their work, and what their daily life looked. Attending panel does improve your knowledge of the industry and provide infinite advice – it also gives the opportunity to do a little bit of networking.
Ed Cox mediated this interesting conversation with established and recently published authors. The sitting area of the Creator Stage at the ComicCon London slowly filled with attendees. An excited buzz sounded in the air; people had been waiting for the occasion to hear their favourite authors’ professional experience. Marieke Nijkamp (Before I let go), Stephen Aryan (Magefall), Lucy Hounsom (The World Maker trilogy), Tim Pratt (The Wrong Star), and Jeannette NG (Under the Pendulum Sun) sat on the red-white-blue sofa, smiling and curiously observing the crowded audience before them. “I’m not a full-time writer yet,” Nijkamp started off the conversation. “I’m planning to start living off writing soon, but now I’m still dedicating my day off to writing.” I was quite surprised to hear that the authors on the stage had part-time jobs. Lucy Hounsom worked for a bookshop – she told us that sometimes her colleagues called her on the floor to meet the customers who bought her novels, leaving the purchasers stunned and incredulous. Tim Pratt instead was an editor and he, too, used to write on his day off. “Finding time for writing is not easy,” Aryan said, “even if I work part-time.” Jeanette NG had strange and unusual habits before starting to write every day. The first was immerge her head in cold water and keep it for a few minutes – “It helps you to think clearly and liberate your mind,” she claimed – the second was the use of scented candles. “I love candles. I couldn’t write without them,” the author said. “Their scent inspires me.” Cox immediately got to the core of the meeting; how hard a writer has to work for creating their novel. “It’s very difficult to quantify the time I spent on my novel,” Hounsom said. “I can only say that it took a long time.” “Reading is the main part of the job,” Nijkamp said. “You have to read a lot of books without overlooking any genres. You also have to change your way of reading, by starting to look at them as a writer and not a reader.” “I’m not able to make up without reading,” Jeanette NG said. “Books are endless sources of inspiration.” Aryan felt that having an author’s point of view helped him to decide as to which kind of story he was able to create. “A big issue is not writing anything. It’s frustrating and stressing,” Nijkamp said. “Our mental health is very important. If I’m not happy and relaxed, I can’t write well.” Hounsom and Aryan had a similar solution to their difficult moments; they just handed the manuscripts to someone they could trust to read. “I different angle is always helpful to sort your doubts out,” Hounsom concluded. The authors admitted that motivation was essential to fulfil their desire, and it was the main factor which pushed them to make and, subsequently, submit their work. “Pomodoro technique,” Jeanette NG said, leaving her colleagues and the audience baffled. “Pomodoro technique is what keeps me motivated. I usually write for twenty-five minutes, then I take a small break. After that, I resumed writing for twenty-five minutes again. It works and keeps me focused on what I’m doing.”
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November 2020
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