Raquel Byrnes with some Practical Advice and PURPLE KNOT!

Today we have Raquel Byrnes, who is on her tour to promote her book PURPLE KNOT!

Raquel Byrnes lives in Southern, California with her husband of sixteen years and their six children. She considers inspirational fiction a wonderful way to minister to others. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-your-seat pace. Her first book the Shades of Hope Series, Purple Knot, releases on June 3rd from White Rose Publishing. You can visit her at her website: www.raquelbyrnes.com and her writing blog, Edge of Your Seat Romance.

Practical Advice for Beginning Writers

Some of the best advice I ever received was from a fellow novelist. She said to give yourself time to get better. Writing is a trial by fire, learn as you go, type of endeavor and if you realize that the more you write, the better you get, you’ll save yourself some frustration in the beginning.

Here are some practical tips for starting out…

·        Have a plan. I know this may make some of you pantsers cringe, but I’m not talking binders and outlines. I’m talking about at least a bare bones idea of where you want the plot to end up and now you want your character to grow.

·        Have a schedule. Writing to get published is not a hobby. It is a career that you need to make time for. Enlist your family’s help by agreeing that you are not to be disturbed during your writing time. Better yet, ‘go to work’ by leaving for the library or coffee shop. The more serious you take your craft, the more other will.

·        Have accountability. Join a critique group or have an online friend that you exchange chapters with on a set schedule. Just knowing there is someone expecting you to produce helps to motivate in a big way. Also find someone to give you honest, constructive feedback.

·        Hone your craft. There are many amazing books out there on the writing craft. If you’ve sought feedback, then you’ll know what your weak areas are. Do you have a slow beginning? Does your plot sag in the middle? Are your characters not layered or believable? Find out what you need to work on and…work on it.

·        Have patience. With yourself and with your work. The most surprising thing I learned about the publishing industry is how…long…everything…takes! Crafting a story takes time, but it’s so worth it to see your name on the cover of a book

With a little perseverance and a lot of patience, you’ll get there. Just remember that you started writing because you loved it.