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My guest today is urban fantasy superstar Sherrilyn Kenyon. Sherrilyn is a number 1 New York Times and Internationally bestselling author. Her first novel came out in 1993, she has over 70 million books in print worldwide and she writes in several successful series such as the Dark Hunters and Black Hat Society. Her latest Dark Hunter book (number 28) is Stygian.
I spoke to Sherrilyn in the summer while she was busy packing for DragonCon and she was incredibly nice and upbeat, despite having just come back from a visit to the dentist. A real professional!
Sherrilyn shares the worst rejection of her career, secrets of longevity in publishing, and her writing process.
Find out more about Sherrilyn at www.sherrilynkenyon.com
Visit her on FaceBook or Instagram
IN THE INTRODUCTION
I go through my goals for 2018 and talk about how I’ve done, and some lessons learned.
I mention my on-going attempts to improve my concentration and focus after reading Cal Newport’s Deep Work.
Here is the link to my 2018 goals (set in January).
I give a shout-out to new patrons supporting me via Patreon. Thank you so much!
You can support the show for as little as $1 per month and, for supporters at the $2 and above level, there is an exclusive mini-episode released in the middle of every month.
There are nine ‘extras’ already available and another one will go up mid-December. So far, I’ve answered patron-questions and given writing craft tips, but I’m also open to suggestions…
To become a Worried Writer insider and to support the podcast head to The Worried Writer on Patreon.
THANK YOU!
LISTENER QUESTION
If you have a question you would like answered on the show
contact me via email or Twitter or leave a comment on this post.
IN THE INTERVIEW
On writing a long series:
‘I’ve been writing Dark Hunter since I was eighteen… I love the characters, I love the world.’
‘Don’t write anything you don’t love… Go into it thinking that these are lifelong friends… Don’t chase a trend, don’t write just to get published, write what is in your heart, what is in your soul, because you may have to live with these characters for the rest of your life.’
On the pressure of success:
‘You never want to disappoint a fan, you do have that pressure… And nothing hurts worse than hearing that a fan didn’t like a book, that’s a stab to my throat and my heart.’
‘I put my heart and soul and every ounce of time, I don’t rush a book, I respect my fans too much for that.’
Sherrilyn’s writing process:
‘I know when I’m really in the zone when it’s just me and the characters and I don’t hear anything else.. I used to keep my babies literally strapped to my chest because I was worried they would need something and I wouldn’t hear them.’
‘All I’ve ever really done is write.’
‘Writing advice is like a buffet, take what you like… Leave everything else behind.’
‘I attempt to do 25 to 30 pages a day, but I don’t always.’
‘To me writing is like channeling spirits, its almost like being a medium.’
On self-doubt:
‘I hate it when writers beat themselves up… Writers – don’t be cruel to yourselves! Respect your muse, because that’s a quick way to kill her.’
‘No, we all think we suck. The suck song goes on every time I write.’
‘All I ever wanted was to be a writer and I pursued it wholeheartedly.’
‘Be fearless when you write. Just turn those chickens loose in the yard and let them take you on a journey.’
On not giving up:
‘Let those characters fly… We’re all writers but those characters chose you. They live in you. They could have picked another writer but they picked you, don’t let them not have their story told.’
‘I’ve seen so many writers give up over the years and that really breaks my heart because I think of all the stories they had in them… And I hate that… Please don’t give up, get that story out there.’
Thanks for listening!
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