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| Ruth Kyser |
No longer is there only one path to publication—writers have
many options. Today, author Ruth
Kyser shares the road she took, as well as some advice for both new and
experienced writers. ~ Dawn
A
Road Less Taken
I’ve chosen to take a different route to publication than most
of my counterparts. Perhaps it’s because I got a later start in my writing career
than most.
Several years ago I received a plaque from my sister. It was a
quote from George Eliot:
“It is
never too late to be what you might have been.”
Back then I was working as an insurance agent in a stressful,
full-time job. For years I’d dreamed of becoming an author, but I had never
become serious about it. Oh yes; over the years I’d written countless stories.
I’d even submitted them to major publishers. One manuscript had even been
considered by a publisher for almost a year. Then I received a letter with
those dreaded words, “I’m sorry, but your manuscript doesn’t fit our needs at
this time.”
Fortunately, I also received a heartfelt note from the editor
telling me my writing had promise and he hoped to receive something more from
me in the future—and encouraging me not to quit. Several years passed and I
suddenly realized one day that if I were ever going to do anything with my
writing, I needed to do it NOW. I wasn’t getting any younger, and at this point
in my life, I certainly didn’t have time now to submit my work to publishers
and wait for months for feedback.
Then my husband gave me a Kindle. I checked out Amazon’s
website and quickly discovered the world of self-publishing.
Becoming an independent publisher/author (‘indies’) fits my
life well. I’ve always been a little bit of a renegade, choosing not to do
things in the usual fashion.
Seven years and thirteen books later (the fourteenth is being
released in November), I still feel as if I’m learning the trade. I’ve also
learned that as authors, we need each other’s encouragement more than ever in
this solitary, occupation we’ve chosen for ourselves.
So, for what it’s worth, here’s my advice to upcoming authors
and veterans alike:
1. Don’t allow discouragement to seep into your life. It’s easy
to get depressed when you feel you’ll never finish your current project. Just
keep plugging away.
2. Stay grounded in scripture, and take time for prayer.
3. Find a network of other authors. There are online groups of
veteran writers who are more than willing to answer your questions.
4. Hire professionals, especially if you are going the Indie
route.
5. Don’t quit. Keep writing—no matter what.
And remember, the stories you have to tell can only come from
your heart. Study the craft, read the Classics, reflect on the beauty of words,
and what you have to say that no one else can say.
Then, and only then, can you write those words the Lord has
placed on your heart to share with the world.
May God bless your writing journey, dear friends!
A Place
Called Hart's Desire is a contemporary Christian romance, set in the hills of
the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Christian
Romance Author Ellie Hathaway escapes for two weeks to a cabin in the Blue
Ridge Mountains, intent on finishing her book within the deadline. Of course,
it only confuses the issue that the cabin she's staying at is the same one her
parents originally reserved for her now-defunct honeymoon.
Then
Ellie meets the owner's son, Lucas Hart—a widower wracked by grief and with a
heart hardened against God. Ellie is immediately drawn to Luke, but she
cautions herself against falling for a man so obviously still in love with his
dead wife.
Can Ellie
help Luke find his way back to God? And in the process, will Ellie's heart be
totally broken—or will she also learn to forgive, and love again?
Ruth Kyser is
a native Michigander--wife, mother, and grandmother--who writes Christian
Inspirational Romance. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers,
and enjoys reading almost as much as she loves writing!
Ruth's Mission Statement: "My goal is to write stories
that entertain, but more importantly, educate readers about Jesus Christ and
His love for them."
You can learn more and connect with Ruth here:
Website: http://authorruthkyser.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruthkyser.author
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rkyser154
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyser_r
