I’m so happy that Nicole Murphy has joined us for this week’s Tuesday Therapy session. Not only is she the author of the Dream of Asarlai trilogy (Secret Ones, Power Unbound and Rogue Gadda) and over two dozen short stories, but I think it’s also fair to dub her the Queen of Useful Writing Tips. She has facilitated an extensive series of writing habits and processes on her website, and is endlessly supportive of her fellow writers. Recently, this support is most clearly seen in her new publishing venture, In fabula-divinos, aimed at mentoring and supporting up-and-coming writers. There will be one new story per month, all of which will be gathered together in an anthology with established writers at the end of the year. Such a great project! (You can find out more, and see if you are eligible to submit, at In fabula-divinos.)
Thanks, Nicole!
The very best thing I did for myself was set up a business plan.
Yeah, I know. Writers are supposed to be all artsy, at the whim of the muse, starving in garrets, not worried about the paltry realities of the world.
Except things like bills have a nasty way of sneaking up on you and, you know, I like to eat. Besides, the one cliché of being a writer I will embrace is drinking, and that costs money…
So make yourself a business plan. Work out where you want to be in five years and how to get there. Be honest but be ambitious. I just found one online and downloaded it. Then regularly (I do it every two months) look at it; work out how you’re going, work out what your next steps should be and act.
This industry is changing rapidly, and it’s the folks who are thinking seriously about what’s going on, have a plan and are flexible in the implementation of it who are going to make the most out of it.
Nicole Murphy has been a primary school teacher, bookstore owner, journalist and checkout chick. She grew up reading Tolkien, Lewis and Le Guin; spent her twenties discovering Quick, Lindsey and Deveraux and lives her love of science fiction and fantasy through her involvement with the Conflux science fiction conventions. Her urban fantasy trilogy Dream of Asarlai is published in Australia/NZ by HarperVoyager. She’s just commenced a new venture, In fabula-divinos (http://thetaletellers.wordpress.com) which is aimed at mentoring up-and-coming writers. She lives with her husband in Queanbeyan, NSW. Visit her website http://nicolermurphy.com
Lisa L. Hannett 