Anne M. Kennedy's Blog

I bought Stephen King's memoir 'On Writing' 25 years ago. It's in 2 parts – his life story and then advice on how to write.
And do you know – it’s still the best advice for writers all these years later and seeing as Stephen King earns $17 million a year – he must know something!

His best advice is:

1) Write 1000 words a day, 6 days a week.
2) Write in one set place. Close the door. Draw the curtains.
3) No distractions – No TV, Games. Internet Social Media today. Nothing.
4) No long paragraphs and ditch the adverbs – he says ‘the road to hell is paved with adverbs’.

I read in the news that bookshops are bringing out a 25th anniversary edition. It’s definitely worth a read even if you are not a writer.

At last people are starting to recognise the word BAKU as being a city on the edge of the Caspian Sea and the capital of Azerbaijan. And it's all because of COP29 - the climate change conference. Being an ex Soviet petrostate is a very controversial choice and there have been many complaints but I believe it's best to keep all sides on board if there is going to be any progress. Various newspapers have been disparaging about Baku but that's because they have no idea what a fascinating history and culture the city has. Baku is one of those hidden gems of a place, all mystery and surprise when you find out about it!

The book has been out for 4 weeks now and the reviews are coming in. Scary waiting for them but so far so good. That's the risk you take when you put yourself out there - you have to take whatever is thrown at you! Once a novel is published the author loses control over its interpretation. Readers take control of how they see characters, and what meaning they attribute to plot, themes and setting.

At last THE BAKU INHERITANCE has been launched and what a journey it has been. I never realised, when I first set out, what a mammoth task it is to bring a novel from draft stage to publication. So many steps on the way, and it was very much two steps forward and one step back. The main thing I have learned from all of this: make a timeline of everything you have to do with the days and weeks and months allocated, and then double it.