Ask the Author: Greg R. Taylor
Answered Questions (4)
Greg R. Taylor
Write anything you can and for anyone you can and don't be choosy at first. Take the opportunities you can to write for a community newsletter you are part of, a newspaper as a volunteer or for little pay. Rub shoulders with writers and editors and be willing to go the extra mile. Editors *love* writers who keep deadlines and "can deliver" what is asked of them. Remember this: follow directions. Never, never submit something to a magazine or book publisher without thoroughly reading the writer's guidelines and following them to the letter. The best way to get a rejection is to give the editor an excuse to reject it because you didn't follow the straightforward instructions.
Greg R. Taylor
Since 2000 I've had a project in the works at all times. The big difference between "a project in the works" and "a project on deadline" is the deadline is because a publisher wants it, there's a contract signed, and there's money being exchanged. So that deadline, contract, money (however small or large) is a big motivation to move forward on a project. I recommend you sign on to projects for whatever amount, so you keep writing and have exterior (money, deadlines, for others voluntary, etc.) as well as interior (artistic, humanitarian, religious etc.) motivations for writing.
Greg R. Taylor
I'm better when I write, so that inspires me to write so I can be the better person I want to be. And when I'm better as a person, I have more writing ideas and the cycle continues. Practically, I take a little Moleskine notebook in my back pocket and pen everywhere I go and write ideas down when I have them, because in spite of how good or bad the idea is, it still may escape me. Maybe those bad ideas should escape me!
Greg R. Taylor
My publisher asked me if I'd like to write a book about a doctor in Honduras who had faced down drug cartel mercenaries in order to protect the clinics she and her organization had developed. What a great experience it was to go to Honduras with my daughter to check it out and research!
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