Ask the Author: Rachel Favilla
Answered Questions (7)
Rachel Favilla
We are living at the mercy of a digital cloud. The end.
Rachel Favilla
I usually go for a walk and listen to music.
Or I'll stand in front of the mirror and tell my imaginary audience a story. How can I get the my message across to them? What jokes or analogies would be helpful to explain a concept? Are there pop-culture references that would totally slap in this situation. Then I imagine them (again, my imaginary audience) laughing (so hard that they are crying) as the analogies get more and more out of hand.
Making others laugh (but also teaching them something important at the same time) is what lights me up like a Christmas tree ... and when I am lit up like Christmas tree I don't have writers block.
Or I'll stand in front of the mirror and tell my imaginary audience a story. How can I get the my message across to them? What jokes or analogies would be helpful to explain a concept? Are there pop-culture references that would totally slap in this situation. Then I imagine them (again, my imaginary audience) laughing (so hard that they are crying) as the analogies get more and more out of hand.
Making others laugh (but also teaching them something important at the same time) is what lights me up like a Christmas tree ... and when I am lit up like Christmas tree I don't have writers block.
Rachel Favilla
When someone says 'I just love your books', it never gets old. Knowing that you created something that brought someone else joy (in the way that your favourite authors bring YOU joy) is priceless. Also, when meeting new people, saying 'I've published a book' is a fun little flex to drop in there.
Rachel Favilla
If you have a book in you, don't let anyone tell you that you don't. And write. Write and write and write. Write until you're sick of your keyboard and need a break. Then return to work the next day. You'll probably cringe at your earlier work as you become more experienced (I can't read the stuff I wrote in high school without throwing up in my mouth a little bit), but the longer you write, the more time you have to develop and get to know your unique literary style - and it's THIS uniqueness that sells.
Remember that George Clooney didn't make it until he was in his 40s (yes, really), Blade Runner did terribly in the Box Office when it was first released (and now it's a cult classic) and Vincent Van Gough didn't sell any paintings while he was alive (!!!). Just because you aren't a best seller today, doesn't mean you won't be in the future. Or maybe you're destined to be niche and that's cool as well. Regardless, if YOU love your work, I promise that there are other people out there who will love it too. But YOU have to love your work first. YOU have to be your first fan. That part is ESSENTIAL.
And appreciate your audience, no matter how small. Enjoy every positive review (screen shot it and read it often), yet don't expect EVERYONE to adore your work. You aren't writing for everyone. You are writing for YOUR audience. Figure out who THEY are and aim to serve THEM.
Remember that George Clooney didn't make it until he was in his 40s (yes, really), Blade Runner did terribly in the Box Office when it was first released (and now it's a cult classic) and Vincent Van Gough didn't sell any paintings while he was alive (!!!). Just because you aren't a best seller today, doesn't mean you won't be in the future. Or maybe you're destined to be niche and that's cool as well. Regardless, if YOU love your work, I promise that there are other people out there who will love it too. But YOU have to love your work first. YOU have to be your first fan. That part is ESSENTIAL.
And appreciate your audience, no matter how small. Enjoy every positive review (screen shot it and read it often), yet don't expect EVERYONE to adore your work. You aren't writing for everyone. You are writing for YOUR audience. Figure out who THEY are and aim to serve THEM.
Rachel Favilla
I may be planning a fifth book (in my head ONLY at this stage).
Honestly, my focus at the moment is finishing my masters degree and becoming a high school teacher, as well as teaching lots of yoga, selling my current books, looking after my nutrition and astrology clients, and making (in my incredibly bias opinion) wildly entertaining Instagram reels
Honestly, my focus at the moment is finishing my masters degree and becoming a high school teacher, as well as teaching lots of yoga, selling my current books, looking after my nutrition and astrology clients, and making (in my incredibly bias opinion) wildly entertaining Instagram reels
Rachel Favilla
Well, for my first book (Periods, Poo & A Glorious You) my best friend at the time nagged me to write a book. So I did, but it took me months to decide on a format and the overall energy of the book.
I really enjoy taking complex ideas and infusing them with humour and sass, so, I started writing really cheeky anecdotes about my own health history, and making up character sketches about different body parts and my best friend (at the time) and I both found them to be wildly HILARIOUS, and it was this enjoyment that gave me the energy and inspiration to keep going.
I write books that I myself like to read, so I write as though I am the audience and ask myself 'am I laughing at this?' and if the answer is 'yes', it stays, if it's 'no', then I need to try again. My readers and I have the same sense of humour, so in a way, THEIR enjoyment is MY inspiration. I know them and I know what they (and I) want to read.
I really enjoy taking complex ideas and infusing them with humour and sass, so, I started writing really cheeky anecdotes about my own health history, and making up character sketches about different body parts and my best friend (at the time) and I both found them to be wildly HILARIOUS, and it was this enjoyment that gave me the energy and inspiration to keep going.
I write books that I myself like to read, so I write as though I am the audience and ask myself 'am I laughing at this?' and if the answer is 'yes', it stays, if it's 'no', then I need to try again. My readers and I have the same sense of humour, so in a way, THEIR enjoyment is MY inspiration. I know them and I know what they (and I) want to read.
Rachel Favilla
My most recent book, 'Fake Meat Isn't Food (and other things nutritionists tell about)', is an ebook (available exclusively from my website) was inspired by conversations that I have with my nutritionist besties about the health and nutrition myths that make us MAD. It began as a tongue-in-cheek Christmas present for one of my best friends (yes, I write books as presents, I'm THAT author), but as I began writing I thought, 'no, this is too good to keep between just us'. So, I turned it into a proper book.
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