Comments (8)

By Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, July 19, 2009 9:25 am

This website – The Adventurous Writer – isn’t just about my successes and failures as a freelance writer and book author. That’s secondary, because I dislike writing about myself. Rather, this site is about how to succeed as a novelist and nonfiction writer!

How writers succeed is as easy (and as complicated) as one thing: commitment. And maybe self-discipline, too.

“Few novelists play golf, go bowling, or watch much television,” writes James N. Frey in How to Write a Damn Good Novel. “The writing of a novel takes a great deal of time and emotional and mental energy. Time normally spent with friends and loved ones will have to be sacrificed.” Continue reading 'How Freelancers, Nonfiction Writers, and Novelists Succeed'»

Comments (1)

By Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, June 13, 2009 9:27 am

An important part of any successful writer’s life is her past book ideas – whether or not they were published (or even written!). I’ve decided to share my book ideas, query letters and progress here, on The Adventurous Writer. Lotsa failures, my friends! And lotsa learning about writing and publishing.

I created Unveiling Vancouver while living in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1997. This book was supposed to help newcomers adjust to living in the Lower Mainland, and included everything from doggie daycares (which were new back then) to where to reclaim your car after it’s been towed. 

A BC-based publisher offered me a contract (yay!); I instructed him to send it to Edmonton – I was moving there to go back to the University of Alberta, to get my Education degree. The publisher hesitated…but agreed.

Six weeks later, I received The Letter. “We regret to inform you that the nature of this book requires the writer to live in Vancouver for research and marketing purposes blah blah blah blah blah BLAH.”

How I burned the bridge to that publisher: Instead of being a wise young writer, I  Continue reading 'My First Book Idea – Unveiling Vancouver'»