It Takes a Team

Remember in the last post how I talked about having a team of researchers? Well, they aren't the only ones on my team. I also have a typist, proofreader, promoters, a secretary, and a personal assistant. They are an amazing group of people, and I wouldn't be able to do most of my work without them. 

A lot of authors don't have the privilege of having a team behind them, but I've been lucky enough to find a group of gals who support and guide, receiving little in return. I wish I could give them more for what they do for me, but it's not in the cards right now ... like it might not be for other authors. That is why every day I thank the cosmic powers for them and their willingness to help. 

They're friends and family. 

This isn't a long post, and it really doesn't have much in the way of education on the life of a writer, but it's an important post nonetheless. I want to thank them all for everything they do.

Crissy Sutcliffe, Christy Parks, Bridget Parker, Ebony McMillan, Jessica Tahbonemah, Aislinn Pearce, Kelly Langford, and Stephanie Puterbaugh. This post is for you. <3 

You Don't Need Time Travel to Learn About the Past

Today, I am doing research on time travel. While I don't have any immediate plans to write a book with time travel, there's no such thing as too much information. And this has always been a topic I've been curious about. So, I'm sitting here with a stack of library books, a notebook, and a pen, writing anything of importance down for future reference.

Research is one of the most important aspects of writing a book. No matter if it's a romance or mystery, or even fantasy, accuracy is essential. Now, being that it is Fiction, there is leeway to stretch the imagination. But anything not made up by the author should be concise and true. You may be surprised at the amount of backlash one gets if even the slightest thing is incorrect.

It takes up a lot of time when in the process of writing a book, but it is not a portion that should be skipped. Therefore, an author needs all the help they can get. And, thanks to some amazing people, I have a ton of help. I have a team of three researchers (one for traditions, organizations, and social aspects/one for clothing, food, and language/and one for general research that doesn't fall under the other categories) who find the best, most accurate information while I continue to work. With just a text, they jump into action. I'd be lost without them and the rest of my team ... which we'll discuss next time.

So why am I doing my own research this time, do you ask? Well, because it's fun research. Also, I can't always assume my team is available. So I do some of my own research every now and then to expand my knowledge. I use library books, websites, and professionals willing to chat. It's a blast and a half to broaden my mind and learn something new.

Self-published or Traditional, We're All in This Together!

Believe it or not, there are people out there who think self-published people and books are not as significant as traditionally published. That is ignorant and rude. An author is an author, regardless of how they've become such. Granted, authors under a publisher may have more opportunities for promotion or inclusion in big name bookstores. However, that does not mean one book or author is better than another. Authors who are not under the name of a publisher have enough disadvantages against them already, so, please, give them a chance. 

But I digress. That is not the point of this article. While there is a slight competition in the book industry, because, let's face it, there's competition in everything even if we try not to let there be, authors are not in the business to prove they're the best. If they are, or if they are in it for the money, they're in the wrong profession and have gotten an ill conceived notion about the rewards of writing books. Okay. I know you're saying that, yes, there are some authors out there who advance in the profession quickly and gain the title of "bestselling" or "most popular", etc, and you're right. However, that does not come easily, and there are no guarantees. It's a waiting game for most.

And even those whom do make it that far, do not become rich beyond their wildest imaginations. It is possible they could be more well-off than others, allowing them to write full-time, or, at least, most of the time, but writing is not money-laundering. I've spoken to a few well-known bestselling authors (No. I will not give names.) who have assured me that the idea that they "sit around drinking champagne while bathing in their cash" is laughable. 

Yet, they continue to write. Why? Because they love it. They are passionate about the concept of story telling, and they can't get enough. That is the real reason to become a writer. Which is why there is no difference between self-published or traditionally published authors. Those under a publisher may have learned more than others, but that is a matter of experience; it comes with time. 

There has been so much negativity in the community lately, I feel like I need to remind everyone (trad. authors, self-pub. authors, models *hint hint*, designers, editors, etc) that we are all in this together. Not to quote High School Musical too much, but "once we know who we are, we're all stars, and we see that..." W.E. A.L.L. I.N. T.H.I.S. T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R.