Ask the Author: Henry Melton
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Henry Melton
I've been writing for decades. My advice is probably not helpful for people just starting to write, but for me, putting words on the screen comes naturally now that it's a habit. My problem is that I will often go on a side trip. Instead of writing the book that's next on the roadmap, I'll get distracted and write a short story or a novella that no one will ever read. I have hundreds of those. It's a useful exercise to exercise my craft, but hardly useful for the readers. My best remedy for staying on track to write the books that people will actually get to read is when I get a reminder that people are waiting for it. A fan letter helps, but I can't wait for that every day. So what I've done is put up visible reminders. When I win a book award, for example, I put the placard on the mantle with the others. I have large covers of the most favored books on the wall in my office. Going to conventions or bookstore signings help as well, since it puts me face to face with readers. If you're a reader, remember that the author is just another person with real life distractions and hardly any of us are getting rich off this. I'll put in the extra effort when people ask.
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