Guest Author Interview with Lynn Miclea
The journey as a writer is incredibly rewarding, and I support everyone who wants to follow their dream and their passion and put their heart into this. Don’t let fears and doubts stop you — go for it with all your heart. And keep learning every step of the way. No matter how many books we publish or how experienced we are, we can always improve.
To become a better writer, it’s important to read a lot and write a lot. Reading helps you discover what you like and what you don’t, and it also helps you learn how to phrase things and structure sentences better. I’ve often read something and been really impressed by how an author phrased something, and that has helped me improve my own writing. And, of course, write a lot, because the more you write, the better you get.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Each of us has a unique voice, perspective, and way of telling a story. Find your own voice, your own style, and the stories you want to tell. There will never be another person just like you, and no one can tell your story the way you can. So don’t try to be someone else — write the way it feels right to you, and be proud of who you are.
Feedback and criticism can be our best teachers. We learn throughout our lives, and writing is no different — we get better with feedback, no matter what it is — stay open and willing to learn from everything. Take what has value and let the rest go. The more you learn and improve, the better your writing and your books will be.
It’s also important to find your own method of writing and discover what works best for you. Some people like to plan and plot every chapter and every detail, while others write by the seat of their pants and have no idea where the story will go when they start. And some people do a combination of both. And all of that is okay — find how it works best for you. There is no right or wrong way.
In your stories, it’s important to have characters that readers can relate to. Make them realistic — let them have fears, insecurities, flaws, and quirks. Giving your character depth and difficulties to overcome helps the reader care about them. No matter how good your story is, if the reader doesn’t care about your characters or can’t relate to them, it won’t work well.
And a thought about success — I think we need to redefine how we think of success. Rather than measuring success in numbers of books sold or in royalties received, we should see success in the fulfillment of publishing the ideas and stories within us, in producing well-written and memorable books that we can be proud of, and in touching the lives of others through our words. Even one book that helps to inspire or empower someone, or opens up a whole new world for them, is a success. If you do everything with integrity and do your best, and if you are proud of the work you have done, then you are successful.
And I wish all of you much success — we are all in this together. And I hope we all keep learning and improving.
Bio
Lynn Miclea is a writer, author, musician, and dog lover. After retiring, she pursued her passion for writing, and she is now a successful author with twenty-two books published and two more books ready to be published. She also writes short stories and is featured in several anthologies. She has published fiction (thrillers, suspense, science fiction, paranormal, mystery, and romance), nonfiction (memoirs and self-help guided imagery), and children’s stories (fun animal stories about kindness, believing in yourself, helping others, and being more than you ever thought possible).
She hopes that through her writing she can help empower others, stimulate people’s imagination, and open new worlds as she entertains with powerful and heartfelt stories.
Originally from New York, Lynn currently lives in southern California with her loving and supportive husband.
Website — Please visit Lynn’s website at www.lynnmiclea.com for more detailed information about her books.
Blog — Please visit Lynn’s blog at https://lynnpuff.wordpress.com/ for her short stories and inspirational posts.
Facebook — Please follow Lynn on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lynnmiclea.author/ for writing humor and tips.
Twitter — Please follow Lynn on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hunnipuff.
Amazon Author Page — Please look for Lynn’s books on Amazon at amazon author page.