So You Want To Be A Writer…

As an author, I hear so many people say they want to be a writer. My first question is always: what are you writing at the moment? You’d be surprised how often I receive a blank look, or the answer “I haven’t written anything yet”. But every now and again, someone will tell me what they’re writing, and it always brings a smile to my face. Why? Because I can tell them that they’re already one step closer to being published than almost everyone else out there. 

The only way to become a writer is to write. It’s that simple. Like everything in life, the only way to succeed as a writer and get better at writing is the act of writing itself. I wrote seven manuscripts over seven years before I was published, and I look back on that time as my writing apprenticeship. Those manuscripts will never see the light of day, but they were such an important part of my writing journey because over those unpublished novels I developed my own unique voice. Don’t get me wrong, at the time I believed each manuscript would be published, but looking back I know they simply weren’t good enough, and I’m okay with that. 

I think of writing as a muscle that needs to be flexed, and it’s something you need to do regularly to become good at it. I wrote every day in my pre-published years, and it helped me to create a habit of daily creativity. Some days I would write for hours, others just for a handful of minutes when I had the chance, but it helped to keep my head in whatever story I was writing. I also found that all writing was worthwhile, and I spent years working as a freelance writer, writing magazine articles and creative advertising copy. It wasn’t fiction, but it did help me to hone my writing skills all the same, and it also helped me learn how to write to tight deadlines, and to be disciplined with my writing time. 

If you’re reading this and thinking that you don’t have the time to write every day, let me ask you something: do you have time to watch Netflix for an hour? To read for 30 mins? To scroll Facebook a few of times a day? Because if your answer is yes to any of those questions, then you do have time to write! Try scheduling 30 minutes each day to work on your novel, or whatever piece of writing you’re excited about. I like to work in sprints of 15 minutes, and it’s incredible how much you can get done when you start to work to a timer. I end up re-setting that timer over and over again, and before I know it, I’ve hit my word count target for the day. 

And that’s another tip – set a daily target. Make it achievable, something you can do every day. For me, that’s 2,000 words minimum each day, but I’m working full time on my writing. For you, it might be 500 words? And just think, if you write 500 words each and every day, you could write an 80,000 word novel in just 160 days! Breaking it down like that can really help overcome the mental block of starting a novel – 80,000 words can seem almost impossible, but 500 words in a day? Now that’s not so daunting. It’s just about starting, and then coming back to your computer each day. 

So, what’s holding you back? If you want to be a writer, it’s as simple as making yourself sit in front of your keyboard and starting the novel. Many years ago, my boyfriend (now husband!) and I were walking along a beach, and he asked me what I’d do if I could do anything in the world. I answered without hesitation – all I’d ever wanted to be was an author. He gave me the strangest look and said “well why aren’t you writing a book?” The very next day I started writing, and I haven’t stopped since. 

And now I ask you the same question: what are you writing? 

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Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind.

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Find out more about Soraya on her website http://www.sorayalane.com/

THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER

“Estee, I bought this ring the day after I saw you on stage at La Scala, all those years ago. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.” Estee wanted to see it so badly, but instead she reached for Felix’s hand and gently closed it over the box. “No,” she whispered. “I want you to propose only when you’re truly free.”

When Lily is called to a lawyer’s office in London, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. There, she is told that her grandmother was born at Hope House, a home for unmarried mothers, and is given a box containing the only clues to her true heritage. Peeling back the delicate layers of paper she finds an Italian recipe and a theatre programme.

Travelling to Italy and taking a job on a vineyard, Lily is determined to unravel the mystery of her past. The vineyard owners, in particular their charming son Antonio, offer to help. They tell Lily that the recipe belongs to the wealthy Rossi family, known for their bakeries which opened after the Second World War. Antonio offers to drive Lily to the Rossi’s village and deep down, Lily is delighted to have him as her guide.

When Lily arrives and shows the recipe to the surviving members of the family, it is clear that she has unearthed a tragic love story: of a young girl named Estee and a boy named Felix. Of a childhood friendship which developed into a passionate love affair. Of a family torn apart by wealth and of two young people who were prepared to sacrifice everything for love.

But when Lily finds out the truth about her family and who she really is, will she too follow her heart?

An utterly enchanting and heartbreaking novel about lost loves, family secrets and following your heart. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Victoria Hislop.

BUY HERE

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Category: How To and Tips