About J. Edwards Holt:
Born in North Carolina, United States, J. Edwards Holt always knew that he wanted to be a writer. After graduating high school, he attended college and pursued a degree in education, but later decided to change course and follow his dream to become a novelist and children's author.
Now a full-time writer, illustrator, and blogger, Holt spends his free time dreaming up stories and reading. He is passionate about spreading Christian messages through his writing, watching science fiction and super hero movies, and collecting comic books.
What inspires you to write?
There are a few different things that inspire my writing. If I read a good book, or watch a good movie, it ignites my passion and inspires me to write.
My main goal as a writer is to spread Christian messages through stories that people enjoy. I really hope that people learn from my books, and that they find as much pleasure I’m reading them as I did in writing them.
Tell us about your writing process.
There’s nothing extremely fancy about my writing process. Usually it consists of taking notes in my phone, maybe writing a few chapters in my notes, eventually transferring it over to my laptop where I structure and edit it.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to write if I just sit in front of the computer, so I do my planning throughout the day and then send it to my laptop. I always have a game plan before writing, because if I just sit in front of the computer waiting for inspiration to strike, I may get writer’s block.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I wouldn’t say that I talk to my characters, but I will say that I sometimes act out scenes from my stories. For me, this is a way of sort of putting myself in a character’s position, which enables to to capture what they’re feeling at a certain moment. Knowing what a character is feeling helps me to write them better and with more emotion.
I do, however, only act out these scenes when I am alone, as not to frighten others.
What advice would you give other writers?
The most important thing is to write what’s true to you. Don’t write anything just because someone tells you to—write what’s closest to your heart. When you follow your heart, your writing will be so much better.
Also, watch out for publishing companies that ask for a huge amount of money up front. When dealing with any agent/publisher, always make sure you read the entire contract.
Lastly, always carry a pen and notebook around, as inspiration can strike at any minute moment. For me, the pen and paper is my phone, so anyone can use that as well.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I originally signed a contract with a publishing company. But, after taking my money, the company went out of business. Thankfully, I still had my full manuscript and the rights to my book, so I decided to self-publish. I self-published through Amazon’s CreateSpace, before later moving over to Kindle Direct Publishing.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think there’s going to be a lot more self-publishing in the years to come. The most important thing is getting your book published and getting it out there for others to see. It’s important to remember when self-publishing—take your time, and make sure you hire a professional editor, as well as a professional cover designer, before publishing.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?: Fantasy, Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
J. Edwards Holt Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
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LinkedIn
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
