We were lucky enough to interview RJ Parker who has kindly shared his tips and advice for aspiring writers and speaks to us about his first introduction to story writing.
Q - How old were you when you first wrote something substantial?
A - When I was in the sixth grade, a teacher encouraged me to write a story for a school contest. I was one of the top finalists and the following year I won in my grade’s writing contest. Ever since that time I have loved writing and what comes with it.
Q - Did you ever have aspirations to become a writer?
A - Never. I didn’t think that the world deserved that kind of punishment. I still can’t believe it. If anyone told me that I would be a published author I would call them a son of a Trump. I would have thought I’d have better luck swimming off Amity Island during the summer season with a roast hanging around my neck and a nonstop bloody nose.
You could say I always wrote but with my handwriting being so bad the only ones who could interpret what I was trying to communicate were people in black suits from area 51!
Q - What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
A - Keep going, and never get discouraged. When I kept thinking it, the whispers of encouragement overcame the rejection letters.
Q - What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
A - Find your core and see what works for you. For some it is to plan, study and know everything about their story before they start. While others, they do a great job just winging it and discover their story as they write it.
Q - What did you find easiest and hardest about writing?
A - I find it easy to write. The characters speak for themselves and the story comes out easily. It is difficult to make the time to write. Nothing is more important than family and making the time to get into a groove and write, to keep writing is difficult.
Q - Was it faster to write your book or to have it published?
A - It didn’t take me that long to write my first book. I would leave it for a while and return and rewrite. I would change it again and again until I finally got it right. I believe that writing and getting published, took the same amount of work. Publishing and writing took the same amount of perseverance and determination.
Q - What was your favorite part of your book to write?
A - It was when both worlds collided. When magic met reality. When a fifteen-foot tree was discovered growing in a house, an orc smashing through downtown shopping centers, or a dwarf sang a modern song at a school dance. I had the best times when the story would create itself and I couldn’t write fast enough. The characters seemed to tell me the story.
Q - Do you have any plans to publish more work?
A - I already have another book being published next year and am almost done with the second novel in the Requiem series. There are more stories to tell that I hope are good enough to share.
Q - If you could review Olympia Publishers in just a few words, what would they be?
A - Olympia Publishers have been perfect for me. They are hard-working and have been true to their word. Their employees are professional and very helpful. Publishing is a completely different world and Olympia is fantastic.
Order your copy of RJ’s Book "Requiem, Changing Times" here!
