#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Robert Herold!

Good Morning!

Well, the weather has gone crazy as usual...from 80's to 40's this week, but it doesn't surprise me. I've always said we have a cold snap around Easter. Speaking of, I pray your Easter weekend was blessed despite the current affairs.

This week we welcome a brand new-to-me author to our blog....

The supernatural always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since Robert Herold’s mother refused to allow him, as a boy, to watch creature features on late night TV. She caved in. (Well, not literally.)

As a child, fresh snow provided him the opportunity to walk out onto neighbors’ lawns halfway and then make paw prints with his fingers as far as he could stretch. He would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn. (They were skeptical.)

He has pursued many interests over the years (among them being a history teacher and a musician), but the supernatural always called to him. You could say he was haunted. Finally, following the siren’s call, he wrote The Eidola Project, based on a germ of an idea he had as a teenager.

Ultimately, he hopes the book gives you the creeps, and he means that in the best way possible. Connect with Robert on Twitter @RobertHerold666, Facebook, Instagram or through his website.

Now let's see what Robert has to share with us today.....

Tips for Aspiring Writers

By Robert Herold

Author of The Eidola Project

As a newly published author, I am close to the circumstance in which you find yourself and have a good idea of what you may be going through. A short while ago, I was you. Here are some thoughts that may help you on your journey.

• Most significant: KEEP WRITING!  Writing is a learning process and it will probably take years before you are published &/or gain notoriety. Prepare the psyche for the long haul.

• Put the inner critic into a strong box and lock it tight until you’re done. (Let it out only when you’re in the editing process and only if it’s on good behavior!)

• Come up with an ending first.  (If you are in the middle of something and don’t know where you’re going, stop and come up with an ending.) This gives your writing a direction and a purpose and you will avoid dead ends.

• Don’t stop to do major revisions/edits until you’ve completed your first draft.

• Once your first draft is completed, let the critic out, but keep it on a tight chain. Do not let it drive you to despair and cause you to delete your work. In fact, save each draft.  You may later find you want to use something from an earlier draft. Also, don’t let your inner critic cause you to get caught up in endless revisions.

• Join a writers’ group!  Try to find one with published writers &/or members who are better writers than you. You’ll learn from them and their praises and encouragement will carry weight.

• Develop a thick skin. Handle criticism wisely. Do not engage in defensive remarks or in explaining what you meant. Note what they had to say, and after a day or two decide if you will give it credence.

• Take note if you hear the same criticism from more than one source.

• Traditional AND self-published writers will need to engage in marketing. Cultivate those skills.  (A great resource is Your Book, Your Brand by Dana Kaye)

• Read as well as write! Read broadly, as it will enrich your writing and help you learn by example.

• Start your next book, story, or article.

• Apply the lessons you’ve learned along the way. We learn by doing.

• BEST WISHES!

THANKS Robert! We certainly appreciate you sharing your writing tips with us and wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your career.

Robert's book, The Eidola Project can be found at Amazon and GoodReads. Watch the trailer HERE.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll drop by weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight! 

Be sure to leave a comment to enter into my monthly gift card giveaway.

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT