Today I’m sharing an author interview with Jill Kemerer and my recommendation for her new writing resource book – Creating a Writing Life: Encouragement and Advice for Authors.
What inspired you to write this book?
My journey to publication was long and filled with potholes. I felt like I learned everything the hard way. I couldn’t find information about how to set up a small business as a self-employed writer, what income I could expect to make from my novels, the realities of slow times, and envying other writers. Many aspects of the writing life aren’t covered in books on the writing craft, so I decided to share what I’d learned in Creating a Writing Life.
What can readers expect from Creating a Writing Life?
I encourage writers to evaluate all aspects of their writing life–where and when they write best, existing equipment and what’s needed, if they’re a panster or plotter. I share about the emotional ups and downs–envy, discouragement, celebrating wins, and how to manage expectations. There’s an entire chapter devoted to financial matters, including author income, tracking expenses, and business options like sole proprietorships, LLCs and S corps. Since most writers struggle with time management (don’t we all?), I devoted several chapters on this subject. There’s also tips on creative habits, basic story elements, and the agent-author relationship.
How are you qualified to write this book?
As a multi-published, best-selling, award-winning author who has been published for over ten years, I’ve gained insights, mostly from talking to other authors, my own research, and hard-won experience. Additionally, nearly a million copies of my novels have been sold worldwide. I’m not a household name, but I’m a lifelong learner. A former electrical engineer, I was trained to think logically, ask a lot of questions, and find the optimal method for every process. I’m sure in ten years, I will have more insight, but I don’t believe in waiting to help people. Writers need this information now.
What do you hope readers take away from this book?
I hope anyone who reads this book ends up encouraged and excited about their writing life. There are so many subjects writers and authors just don’t talk about, and this book does. I go there. Ideally, you’ll feel like you’re sitting across from me at a coffee shop, having a conversation about the writing life.
Where can your book be purchased?
Creating a Writing Life is available in paperback and e-book through Amazon.
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/099781795X
E-book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHJ18RL6
Book Description:
Encouragement and advice for authors and writers
Bestseller lists, fame, and financial rewards don’t comprise your writing life—they’re products of it. This book will help you figure out the day-to-day decisions to make to achieve your writing dreams. Where and when do you write best? What equipment do you need? How will you handle envy? Rejection? Long droughts between contracts?
Creating a Writing Life gives you the tools to manage every aspect of your career, including income expectations and how to handle success. Author Jill Kemerer has experienced all this and more in her writing career, and this book will launch you into yours. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started creating your writing life!
Publishers Weekly bestselling author of nearly one million books worldwide, Jill Kemerer shares writing tips, business advice, and encouragement for authors in this inspirational book for writers.
Author Bio:
Jill Kemerer is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of heartwarming, emotional, small-town romance novels often featuring cowboys. Nearly a million of her books have sold worldwide. Jill’s essentials include coffee, caramels, a stack of books and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband. They have two adult children. For more information, visit her website, jillkemerer.com.
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Narelle’s Book Recommendation:
I enjoyed reading Jill Kemerer’s Creating a Writing Life and read it quickly, within an afternoon and evening, while on vacation in Cairns, Australia. I’d planned to read it while I was away from home, relaxing in a hotel resort, and appreciating the opportunity to stop, think, and pray about the next season in my writing life.
I was amused by Jill’s remarks in the opening chapters where she mentioned how, when she first started writing, she’d daydream about being on vacation and writing on her laptop by the pool. I wholeheartedly agree with Jill on not doing this, lol. I didn’t haul my laptop to a tropical resort. I read her ebook on my phone while enjoying the aircon indoors.
I love Jill’s honesty and authenticity in how she shares her writing journey while comprehensively exploring important topics and aspects of the writing life. I highlighted many sections in my Kindle App in Part 1 that included a review of my current writing life. I’m coming out of a season where I’d taken a long break from writing and publishing because I can’t write when I’m grieving. I’m now in a place where I’m ready to dive back into writing an unfinished story. Part 1 has helped me to formulate a realistic plan for creating a flexible writing schedule that will work for me.
In Part 2, Jill explores the writing process and why it’s important to discover our unique process for creating stories. I appreciated Jill’s advice on not fixing what isn’t broken. We can feel bombarded with information on new tips, tricks and methods for writing that may not suit us.
Part 3 is full of encouragement and wisdom on how to survive and thrive during difficult seasons in our writing life. I loved how Jill emphasised the importance of persistence and what that can look like in our writing and publishing journey.
In Part 4, Jill covers important financial topics including writing expenses, taxes (for USA writers), and author earnings. She discusses the process for traditional publishing in detail and explains how authors get paid in the traditional publishing model. She shares insights on how to manage publishing expectations and the practicalities of working with an agent.
In Part 5, Jill explores the benefits that writers can receive from participating in writing communities. She shares her experiences with various groups and how writers can help each other. She discusses the envy factor in the writing journey and how to manage disappointment when other writers are getting opportunities that aren’t available to you.
In Part 6, Jill unpacks how the joy of writing can be lost and what writers can do to reclaim their joy in writing. She discusses common problems writers can encounter and how to overcome them.
Part 7 explores the important topic of finding readers. Jill shares her experiences and considers how published and pre-published authors can work on marketing and book promotion in a sustainable way that doesn’t lead to burnout.
In Part 8, Jill provides a vision for how writers can create their own unique and successful writing life. She challenges writers to define their definition of success and put in place strategies to achieve realistic goals that are within their control.
I recommend Creating a Writing Life to writers who are looking for a comprehensive writing resource on the writing life, and especially writers who are looking to explore traditional publishing opportunities. Published authors can benefit from Jill’s encouragement and wisdom on how to manage and overcome a range of challenges that traditionally published and independently published authors can encounter during their writing life.
Many thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy.