How To Be A Writer

December 7, 2020 | By Olivia Blacke | Reply More

I realized recently that I’m not a writer. I’m actually a bunch of nervous squirrels in a trench coat. But that’s okay, because honestly, aren’t we all?

I’m not ashamed to admit I don’t know what I’m doing most of the time, but I’m learning. I have a cozy mystery—KILLER CONTENT—due out from Berkley on February 2, 2021. My road to publication so far has felt like playing a video game on the difficult setting. Blindfolded. Without instructions or cheat codes. I didn’t get here on my own, not by a long shot. No one ever does. If you try to forge ahead on single-player mode you’re not going to get very far.

To be a writer, you have to write. Sounds obvious, but you have to write *a lot*. I’ve written, re-written, and re-re-written more books than I care to admit. While many of them will never see the light of day, each got me closer to seeing my stories in print. Writing is the fun part—letting anyone read my stories was the real hurdle. I had to learn to accept criticism and feedback. Until you can hand your mother-in-law an early draft of your manuscript, you are *NOT* ready for Goodreads reviews.

I chose traditional publishing, so once I’d written a book, edited it nearly into oblivion, and grown a thick hide, it was time to find an agent. This is hard to believe when you’re in the querying trenches, but you’re not just looking for any agent. You need to find an agent that believes in you and your book even more than you believe in it, and continues believing long after you’re tempted to lose the faith! Finding that perfect agent wasn’t easy, or quick. There were rejections and offers that weren’t quite right, but when I found the right agent, we clicked.

The book that landed me my dream agent didn’t sell. Neither did the book after that, although it came much closer. The problem was that my cozies weren’t always cozy enough. I was too quirky. Too unconventional. But my agent didn’t give up on me. They found a fantastic editor that was looking for something new. Something quirky. A cozy that didn’t necessarily color within the lines—in other words, something right up my alley.

Once the book was accepted, we went through endless rounds of edits–development, copy edits, typeset pass pages, and proofreading. We changed the title half a dozen times. Then I changed my pen name and went back to correct it everywhere, which resulted in developing a brand new website and newsletter.

In the meantime, we worked on the cover design and copy. KILLER CONTENT went up for preorders. I wrote a bio, acknowledgements, and a dedication. We selected an audiobook narrator. When it was time for marketing, my book was sent out for blurbs, advertised on social media, posted on NetGalley for reviews, and added to sweepstakes. You notice I use “we” a lot, because there were a dozen lovely, talented people working with me throughout this process—an agent, editor, designer, marketer, publicist, copy editor, proof reader, audiobook producer, and narrator just to name a few.

To stick with the video game analogy, each level was a new challenge. I was filled with questions. Luckily, I got introduced to an eclectic group of debut women writers with varying levels of experience and a wide range of zany personalities.

As a group, we’re as diverse as our books—spread out across countries and genres and time zones and ages, but we’re always there to offer encouragement, answer the questions we’re too scared to ask anyone else, talk each other off ledges, trade pet pictures, pull each other out of quicksand, and toss around emojis when someone needs a good laugh. It would be so easy for me to be jealous of the sheer talent of these ladies but instead, we celebrate when someone gets a movie deal or a shiny new animation graphic or a starred review.

I’m still a newbie. I haven’t even been able to hold my debut book baby yet, and I’m already focused on what comes next as the process repeats itself with Book #2 in the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries (cover, title, and copy coming soon!) Then I can start writing the next book(s) in the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries series. Book #2 is scheduled for release October of 2021. Hopefully, the pandemic will be under control by then so I can have an in-person book launch this time!

People think of the road to publication as a straight line, but it’s more of an uphill climb with lots of forks. The hike is challenging, but the vistas are worth it. You never know when you’re going to get ambushed by pirates or bad reviews—or a pandemic. The path seems dark and scary and insurmountable, but you’re not alone.

There are lots of other squirrels in trench coats facing the same joys and obstacles as you are. Find your tribe. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And remember, there is always someone who has been where you are now and can help when you get stuck—and just as important, there is someone a few steps behind you that can use a hand.

Good luck and stay safe.

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Brooklyn Murder Mysteries author Olivia Blacke writes quirky, unconventional, character-driven cozy mysteries. After shuffling around the U.S.A. from Hawaii to Maine, she currently resides with her husband and their roly-poly rescue puggle, but is forever homesick for NYC. In addition to writing, disappearing into a good book, and spending way too much time on social media, she enjoys SCUBA diving, crocheting, collecting tattoos, and baking dog cookies.

KILLER CONTENT

It’s Murder Most Viral in this Brooklyn Mystery! In KILLER CONTENT – a cozy mystery – Louisiana native Odessa Dean has three months in the trendy Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg to make new friends, explore all that NYC has to offer, and solve a murder. While Odessa is waiting tables and serving craft beer at Untapped Books & Café, her co-worker plunges to her death in a video gone viral. Determined to prove that her fellow waitress’s death is no accident, Odessa embarks on an investigation that meanders through Brooklyn, getting to know its quirky residents as she searches for the killer.