Ask the Author: Sable Sylvan
Answered Questions (1)
Sable Sylvan
Hi Shelly! I'm going to hunt you down on FB because I didn't know authors could get Goodreads questions, so you might not see this.
I would say that if you are aspiring to be an author...!
Figure out what genre you want to not only write, but master. I'm a big proponent of sticking to a single genre and learning to write in it well, rather than spreading out too quickly. This is something that will vary on an author by author basis. I know authors that can master a genre in a handful of books. I know I'm the kind of author who can't.
Know when to hire things out, so you can focus more on your writing. Namely, buy your covers premade and hire an editor. I make my own covers, but I have graphic design experience. Remember, you're a self-published author, not necessarily a graphic designer, and it's 100% cool and awesome and okay to hire something out. Do you think traditionally published authors make all their own covers? Heck no! So why should you?
Write what you know, even if what you know is a specific fantasy or world. Love imagining reverse harems, even if you don't live in one? Write it. You "know" that fantasy. This'll vary by author, of course.
Gives yourself time everyday to write, if you can. Even if it's just 100 words. It's better to write a book and take a month, a year, years, than to have never written it at all.
Find out how you write best! Do you need quiet? Or do you need noise and a cup of coffee? Do you need to take a walk first? Do you work best with the TV on in the background? Whatever it is, find it, and make sure to replicate that setting the best you can whenever you can. Going to a cafe daily can get expensive, so, for instance, you can put on background noise videos from YouTube and make a cup of tea for yourself at home.
I hope this helps! I'm flattered you'd write to me and ask this at all.
xoxo,
Sable
I would say that if you are aspiring to be an author...!
Figure out what genre you want to not only write, but master. I'm a big proponent of sticking to a single genre and learning to write in it well, rather than spreading out too quickly. This is something that will vary on an author by author basis. I know authors that can master a genre in a handful of books. I know I'm the kind of author who can't.
Know when to hire things out, so you can focus more on your writing. Namely, buy your covers premade and hire an editor. I make my own covers, but I have graphic design experience. Remember, you're a self-published author, not necessarily a graphic designer, and it's 100% cool and awesome and okay to hire something out. Do you think traditionally published authors make all their own covers? Heck no! So why should you?
Write what you know, even if what you know is a specific fantasy or world. Love imagining reverse harems, even if you don't live in one? Write it. You "know" that fantasy. This'll vary by author, of course.
Gives yourself time everyday to write, if you can. Even if it's just 100 words. It's better to write a book and take a month, a year, years, than to have never written it at all.
Find out how you write best! Do you need quiet? Or do you need noise and a cup of coffee? Do you need to take a walk first? Do you work best with the TV on in the background? Whatever it is, find it, and make sure to replicate that setting the best you can whenever you can. Going to a cafe daily can get expensive, so, for instance, you can put on background noise videos from YouTube and make a cup of tea for yourself at home.
I hope this helps! I'm flattered you'd write to me and ask this at all.
xoxo,
Sable
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more