@Jer delighted us with witty dialogue, a glimpse into an intriguing fantasy world and a journey of no return to the bottom of the ocean. In the course of her life, she has been working as a nurse, a midwife, a visa officer and a teacher, and she has lived in the US, Ghana, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Siberia, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. She is now retired. @Jer has contributed poetry to several anthologies and written teaching materials for student midwives. She writes services and sermons for churches within Woughton Ecumenical Partnership, and this year, she is planning to write a historical novel. We asked her if she had any advice for aspiring authors.
Here’s her answer:
I would like to encourage people to read widely and write the book that they would enjoy reading.
Learn the different homophones, such as they’re, there and their. Learn your spelling and grammar, otherwise some people will be put off reading your book.
Keep a note of interesting things you hear, you never know when they will come in handy, such as a chance comment in France about the salt tax and a similar comment from the miller at Guedelon Castle in France.
Remember that you don’t have to be published to enjoy writing. Go ahead and have fun for your own satisfaction.
What are some things you wish you had known when you first started writing? Comment below!
This post is part of an ongoing series about our winning Turning Tales authors and the secrets to their writing. Previously, we had the pleasure to read The Musings of @reneeschnebelinbooks.