If a particular author inspires you, it's well worth tracking down what they've said about their craft. One of the best places to start looking is The Paris Review, which has been publishing interviews with major literary figures since the 1950s. A full listing of all their interviews (arranged by decade) is here.
For more than twenty years, Don Swaim has been interviewing writers for a radio station in New York City. Mr. Swaim, it seems, has talked to almost everyone: Douglas Adams and William S. Burroughs; Toni Morrison and Alec Guinness. The wonderful Wired For Books has made many of these interviews available as sound files, and a full listing is available here.
A book town is the ideal place for a book lover's holiday. These towns all have a large number of new and secondhand bookshops, and a community that welcomes bibliophiles. The first book town was established at Hay-on-Wye in England. In Australia, the book town is actually a 'trail' through several small towns in the southern highlands of NSW. Another lovely bookshop region is the book town Sidney, and the nearby city of Victoria, on Vancouver island in Canada. There are several other book towns in Europe and North America, and one in Asia. A list of particpating towns can be found at the website of the International Book Towns Movement.
We hear from lots of authors who want to self-publish, whether it is because they want to keep creative control over their work, or because they are writing for a community of family and friends, or because they see potential for their work that profit-driven publishers do not.
The following are respectable, small businesses that have been operating in Australia for some time. They offer services to self-publishers such as layout, design and printing, and procuring isbns, cataloguing-in-publication data and barcodes.
In Melbourne is Penfolk Publishing
In Adelaide is Seaview Press
"Sometimes we forget that we have this talent. It sits bottle-necked while we run to the store, wash clothes, and hit a few balls at the golf course. But to experience those AHA! moments where the work surprises even you, you have to write thousands of words regularly, daily, frequently. When your subconscious cranks out words better than your conscious mind can imagine, magic happens. And that only occurs with a habit and an addiction to putting the words on the paper."
William Faulkner
"First say to yourself what you would be, and then do what you have to do."
Epictetus
"Have patience. In time, even an egg will walk."
African saying, source unknown
"Coming up with ideas is not writing. Writing is the sweat that turns those ideas into exciting, fascinating, potentially profit-making books"
Nicholas Brasch
"Words fascinate me. They always have. For me, browsing in a dictionary is
like being turned loose in a bank."
Eddie Cantor
"Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men's souls, and a beautiful image it is."
Blaise Pascal
"Inspiration usually comes during work, not before it."
Madeleine L’Engle
Staying motivated when you're a writer can be difficult. Firstly there's the endless rejections (yes, we all get them), the isloation, and the uncomfortable sensation that what you've written may be absolute rubbish. This is where Writing 4 Success comes in. Writing 4 Success is a support service for writers that, for a modest fee, delivers regular articles to your inbox on all aspects of writing. There is also a website with a members only area that includes information on computer tips, characterization, maintaining motivation over a large project and many others. Modestly priced e-books and e-workshops on specific topics are offered periodically and are very good value. Highly recommended for new to moderately experienced writers.
This is the website of the award-winning Australian fantasy writer Ian Irvine. In this humourous article, Irvine talks about how to make it in the writing world. The rest of his website is also worth browsing, and contains many useful links to other writing sites.
Many self-published authors use this website to promote and sell their works. It's free to list items, and their charges (which are based on selling price) only commence when the article or service is sold. They take care of all the merchant details, such as money transfers, and leave you to get on with writing the next book! Click here if you want to see what they offer.
This delightful little inspirational book by Susan Shaughnessy is full of quotes, discussions and affirmations. Its value comes from its uncanny ability to connect with what writers need to do. No matter what page you open it on, you will find gentle discourse and uplifting meditations. From Aquarian/Thorson – an imprint of HarperCollins. Expensive for such a small book, but worth it.
Writers' Bookcase is an Australian online bookshop dedicated exclusively to books about writing and editing.