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Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller
  • Home
  • blog
  • Writing
  • Helpful Hints for Writers of Fiction
  • WHAT OTHER WRITERS HAVE TO SAY
  • AUDIO ESSAYS-STORIES-AND MORE
  • ArtWithMyCamera
  • Rory and El Paso
  • Pierre and the Baker
  • About
  • Connect
Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller

THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
​a Fictional Book

"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
​ BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."

​AMY TAN






                 #HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL                                                   NOVELIST                                              #TIME MANAGEMENT

12/18/2016
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​If you are a writer of fiction making a six-figure income or above then this post is not for you, go away and continued success.


If you are making $50,000 writing fiction, move along please because you are on your way and should be reading posts from the writer making $100,000+. Stay healthy and keep writing.

No, this post is for those who have written and for those who want to write. For the first, this post is another aspect of the long journey ahead and for the latter, well, read the post and put the information in your satchel. Also for the latter, sit down and start writing!



​The last 14 months I have calculated I have spent 2000 hours writing and developing stories.


Published two novels and three short stories, and read numerous articles and books about writing. I have been so deeply engrossed with the product that, like Gertrude, I forgot to give any serious thought to the marketing aspect of the craft. 
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My definition of an "Indie Author," is one who says, "My story, my book, my work, my way!"

However, when I became an indie author and like any venture or dream one goes after it is of vital importance to, get ready here comes the painful part, MAKE A PLAN!


​"Oh hell," you say, "a plan, I write isn't that enough?"  Sorry, but no it's not.

 think I am more in the camp of the majority than not. I do not have an agent, or a publisher, or an editor, or a big budget. Hence, the road as a self published Indie Author, and all the pitfalls that go with it.

So I write and I write and edit and rewrite and edit some more. Finally, after hours, days, and months I am ready to publish. Hooray!!!! 
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Where's the crowd, the door is open, but there is only a few browsers, where is everybody?

I can see them, I watch them walk by, but they ignore me. I feel like one of the girls standing in the window in the Red Light District of Amsterdam.

Potential customers will stop and look, but even though I might be the best and they'll have a great time, I know it, but they don't.

Writer's have a tendency to be introverts, which means that like a life that is away from the crowd not in it. However, writing is a business, unless of course your writing for Cousin Lou or Aunt Rose, then it doesn't matter.

As a business though it's a completely different story and as a writer one has several hats they must wear.


Think about this, you have opened a one-person shop and hang a banner outside that reads: 

                  "I AM AN INDIE
​ WRITER."


Here are some of your responsibilities:

              Employer-(Writer)
              Employee-(Writer-Gopher)
              Researcher-(Gatherer of information)
              Marketer-(Salesman)   
              Financer-(The bank)
              Creator-(The Genius that makes thing)
              Storyteller-(Dreamer)
       
Writer-(Works with no lunch breaks and meets deadlines)

Editor-(Tells the writer, storyteller, and creator that everything is shitty and drives them to improve.)
 
Blogger-(Works with the salesman to tell the world they can't live without you)

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That is only ten hats, and there are only 168 hours in seven 24-hour days. Minus 6 hours per night for sleeping=42 hours.

Meals, if you can afford a steady stream of them, 5 hours. Commuting to work, if you have a job plus working, part time because we are writers, 36 hours.

Breathing, worrying, schmoozing, worrying, paying bills, worrying, thinking, worrying, happy, sad, worrying, and having dinner a mom's, more worrying. Equals 57 hours. 

That would mean as a writer if one were to spend a minimum of 4 hours a day perfecting the craft one would have invested 28 hours in that one week to complete ten various jobs.

Uh-oh TIME MANAGEMENT, without it a writer will be good at no more than four out of ten tasks.

You can write, write, write, write, write, to your heart's content, but if you want to sell, sell, sell, sell, the books you write then you need to create a marketing plan as you would any business.  

#marketing,#sellingyour novel,#writingyournovel,#successfulwriter,#marketingplan,#planning,#writing,#robertstephen,
#stevejobs,#notenoughhoursintheday,#Iwanttobeawriter,#novelist,#writer,#hardwork,#lovewhatyoudo,#writeeveryday,#Theytrytothinklikeus,#MyDiaryMyLove,#RoryandElPaso

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HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NOVELIST-CONTINUED

12/8/2016
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I don't think that this will be a long post, but I believe it will be interesting. I feel it is important to share many discoveries we make as writers and pass them along. Currently, I am working on another new story, which is moving rapidly.

Today, I was in the middle of an action scene when to my surprise suddenly an antagonistic and threatening figure came out of nowhere. Not only were the main characters startled and shocked, but so was I. Was this planned, no, but when the scene finished, it was a vast improvement. 

I have mentioned this about writing before. I am just a passenger in my stories. I try to put myself in the scene and observe the goings on at sea level. Not from above or below, but standing next to my characters. They dictate where we are going next.

I am learning to take chances and push through all of the safety nets. If I remain conservative then I don't believe I am any good to my readers or myself. One cannot be afraid to venture into the unknown or push the envelope a little further than one would normally. What is the worst that can happen, oops made a mistake?

In the bigger picture, taking alternative paths can be quite gratifying and quite surprising. 

#surprise,#howtobeasuccessfulwriter,#howtobeasuccessfulnovelist,#writing,#novel,#writer,#robertstephen,
#takechances,#becomingawriter,#stephenking,#amytan,#ernesthemingway,#marktwain,#startwriting,#becomeawriter,
​#lovetowrite
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#HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL NOVELIST

12/3/2016
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​Let's treat that title like

all get rich quick ideas so

that I can keep as many

readers interested as

possible. 

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​DO YOU DREAM OF SITTING ON A BEACH WRITING,


​MILES AWAY FROM THE ADORING CROWDS,


KNOWING THAT MONEY IS COMING IN EVERY DAY FROM YOUR SUPURB PROSE?

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  • DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WRITING ONE BEST SELLER AFTER THE OTHER JUST LIKE JAMES PATTERSON, J.K. ROWLING, STEPHEN KING, AND THAT YOUR NAME SHOULD BE THERE TOO?
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PARTIES, NOTORIETY, GUEST ON THE TONIGHT SHOW, OR ELLEN
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Well why not! You deserve it, don't you?
(Here comes the close)
Well for a dime, one tenth of a dollar, I will give you the secret that all of these famous authors possess.

Here it comes: #1-HARD WORK, #2-HARDER WORK, AND IF YOU FAIL AT THE FIRST TWO,
​ #3 HARDER HARDER WORK !

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​    Sorry, but there is no quick way, or promise, that you or I will ever become a successful and famous Novelist.

I have alluded to this on other posts. Writing is a difficult, arduous, torturous journey, full of numerous hazards and obstacles.

Sometimes one would be better off holding out their hand, palm up, and sticking it several times with a very long sharp needle.

It would not hurt as much as writing and publishing a novel.

Now that I poured a pale of ice water over my head, and discovering I have a masochistic side to my personality, I wouldn't change things or have it any other way.

Writing is without a doubt, one of the greatest gifts one could have. When I am sitting at a desk typing on my computer or, believe it or not, at the beach on my laptop as long as I am writing I am never alone.   

I am in charge of my destiny and its outcome, of course, I have to toss in a little bit of luck along with lots of hard work. During the process of sorting through what is and what isn't the proper way to go about all of this, I came across an e-book, which cost me $12.99 on Amazon.   

The book written by Stephen King is titled "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft."

For me, it has been the best $12.99 I have spent. Not to say I haven't purchased other books, but this one is far above the rest. I do not have the money or the time to sit in a classroom, a conference, or even a round table with other hopefuls. I do have time to read and read and read. 

The first half of the book he writes about his childhood and growing up. He touches on his desire to write and shares his weaknesses. We all have flaws after all, we're human. He writes about dismal times in his life and other personal difficulties. 

The second part of the book is invaluable for all new novelists and I highly recommend this book. When I read it, I feel as though I am in a living room talking to Stephen King personally. If I told you how to make a million dollars, but it would cost you $199 to learn my secret, OR for $12.99, you could read a book from Warren Buffett on how to make a million dollars, do I have to ask which you would choose?



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I am sorry if I mislead you, but in all honesty, there is no
"Get Rich Quick" road to being a successful novelist.  


​ #Howtobeasuccessfulwriter,#howtobeasuccessfulnovelist,#stephenking,#jkrowling,#georgerrmartin,
#jamespatterson,#writer#robertstephen#success#hardwork#becomingawriter,#novelist#writer,
#persistence,#justwrite
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    Author

    Robert Stephen.
    What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

    Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny? 

    My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

    I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring.  Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

    Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in. 


    Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

    Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure! 

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