Ask the Author: Kellen Cutsforth
Answered Questions (7)
Kellen Cutsforth
Hi Sharon,
Great to hear from you! I would love to speak for your group in Conifer. The presentation I give requires a screen that I can project my PowerPoint presentation on. A projector if you have one. Otherwise, I'll see about wrangling one. I will need to be close to power outlets as well so I can plug in my laptop. I also have an honorarium fee. I normally ask for a space to sell books as well. Let me know if this sounds alright and we can set up a presentation time.
Best,
Kellen
Great to hear from you! I would love to speak for your group in Conifer. The presentation I give requires a screen that I can project my PowerPoint presentation on. A projector if you have one. Otherwise, I'll see about wrangling one. I will need to be close to power outlets as well so I can plug in my laptop. I also have an honorarium fee. I normally ask for a space to sell books as well. Let me know if this sounds alright and we can set up a presentation time.
Best,
Kellen
Kellen Cutsforth
I deal with writer's block by reading. I read what other people have done that is successful and then I ask myself, "Do I have something to add to that topic?" "Do I have something that can expand on this idea or theme?" I always try to emulate good writers and I find reading helps to get you brain and ideas working.
Kellen Cutsforth
I think one of the best things about being a writer is actually getting paid for the work that you create. People you know can tell you your stories are great but when a total stranger hands you a check, no matter the amount - which is often times not very much, it feels good to know that someone other than a friend or relative believes in your work.
I think the freedom to create stories that mean something to you and sharing them while getting a good reaction from the reading public is quite rewarding as well.
I think the freedom to create stories that mean something to you and sharing them while getting a good reaction from the reading public is quite rewarding as well.
Kellen Cutsforth
My advice would be to join author's groups as soon as you can. It doesn't matter what genre you like there are tons of groups out there from Romance to Horror or places for nonfiction writers such as myself. Networking is the best possible way to get your stories in front of someone who has some pull in the publishing world.
I think another piece of advice that is quite helpful is some words of wisdom I received from an agent several years ago. He told me "You need to get published before you can be published." What he meant was, before you submit your manuscript for your epic book to an agent or publisher try and get something smaller published like an article or a short story for a magazine. That way people in the business will see that you have some real experience and someone was willing to pay you for your work.
I think another piece of advice that is quite helpful is some words of wisdom I received from an agent several years ago. He told me "You need to get published before you can be published." What he meant was, before you submit your manuscript for your epic book to an agent or publisher try and get something smaller published like an article or a short story for a magazine. That way people in the business will see that you have some real experience and someone was willing to pay you for your work.
Kellen Cutsforth
I have been hired to "ghost write" a biography for a well known person in the West.
Kellen Cutsforth
I have always had a passion for the history of the American West. It is where I grew up and it is where I remain today. Who I am is tied to the history of this land, the people, and their stories. I also love the hero's of the Old West and revel in stories about the old timers and the old time ways. I started my career writing articles for Western History magazines and I have spring-boarded from there into authoring books.
Kellen Cutsforth
This idea came to me while digging through the Western History archives held at the Denver Public Library. I knew I wanted to develop a book that brought something new and exciting to the history of the Old West and America's Gilded Age.
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