Last week, I spent a few days at a writing retreat. I came back with lots of information, new friends, more connections, and a new collaboration for a novella collection. But I also received inspiration. Writing retreats or conferences are perfect for boosting your motivation, but what happens when that runs out? Do you have the discipline to sit down and write anyway?
Today, we have author Daniel J. Peyton with us for Wisdom Wednesday. Thanks for joining us, Daniel!
Name: Daniel J. Peyton
Genre: Sci-Fi
Latest Novel: Remnant
Writing Tip:
Write everyday. This has pushed me through some rough times in writing. People often tell me that they’ve been working on a book for years, but still haven’t finished it yet. That means they have let themselves fall in the trap of needing “inspiration” to write the next paragraph. The reality is that inspiration plays only a minor role in producing a good book. You need dedication, perseverance, focus, and butt-in-seat.
Very true! I think this is something that every writer must face before they start to get serious about writing. Inspiration is wonderful, but you can’t count on it to always be there.
Favorite Writing Tip for New Writers:
Learn the valuable art of patience. Don’t rush through any of the parts of producing a good book. Don’t rush the writing, forcing yourself to go too hard. Write every day, but know when you have written enough for that day. Don’t forget to edit it yourself. Don’t let your personal edit be the only one, let others help. Don’t query the book to agents/publishers until you have cleaned it up so that it looks like a book and not a mess. If you are self-publishing, don’t let the cover be an after-thought. Formatting is critical for a self-published book. All these parts of this are cogs in the machine. Each depend on the other for a good final product.
Patience isn’t always easy, but it’s required to be a writer! Don’t rush the process and don’t overlook all the steps. This is so important.
The year is 2522. Anna is a Remnant—a secret Christian in a world that has banned any form of religion.
She is also an astro-geologist working with her Robot, named Z, for the Planetary Science Commission.
The PSC has worked for 200 years to find alien life on another planet, and finally, after two centuries, a primitive lifeform has been discovered. Faced with the reality of evolved primitives on a forested moon, Anna begins to question all she has ever believed.
Anna and Z travel to the newly-discovered moon in search of answers, but a terrible accident leaves them stranded. Faced with dangerous natives and unfamiliar surroundings, Anna and Z stumble upon a conspiracy that has universal implications.
Will Anna discover the truth about the moon and its inhabitants?
Can God still move within a culture that has abandoned Him?
Daniel enjoys writers’ conventions as well as genre conventions. Connecting with avid readers is a joy that he never passes up. He has been invited multiple times to speak at local schools about writing and his work. He has been a featured author for several radio and blogtalk programs, and is a returning guest and sometime substitute co-host for the Brian and Sherri radio program, where he helps interview other authors. Outside of writing and promoting his work, Daniel enjoys reading, dancing, music, drawing, cooking, and embroidery. He is a long time member of the Embroiderers Guild of America where he has taught classes in stitching. He plays four different instruments and has sung with the Oklahoma State Universities Presidents Masterworks. He has years of stage work behind him in tap, jazz, and ballet as well as Okinawan traditional and modern dance and music. Each week you can find him teaching classes at his church in Sunday school as well as the Life Development Institute of First Baptist Church of Morristown, Tennessee.
What about you? Do you lean on inspiration or do you sit down and write anyway? Give us your tip for having the motivation to write even if you don’t feel like it.
Before you go, take a moment to connect with Daniel on social media, and check out his latest release, Remnant.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanielPeytonAuthor/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daniel-Peyton/e/B006C986D6
Twitter: @DanPeytonAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danpeyton_author/?hl=en
Link to newest book: https://www.amazon.com/Remnant-Daniel-Peyton/dp/1620209845
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