About Tyler Rebik:
I started writing when I was eight years old. I first self-published when I was fifteen and haven’t stopped since. I was born in Texarkana, TX; graduated from Haworth High School in Haworth, OK; and graduated from Great Commission Bible College with a Bachelor of Theology. I have published 12 short novels, 5 poetry collections, a collection of short stories and I wrote the introduction to a compilation of prayers by Rabbi Rocky Grossman.
What inspires you to write?
Anything really inspires me. I think if I had to really name anything, it would be my imagination or ideas that just fly in from nowhere. I also take a bit of interest from other authors, I enjoy Stephen King and the Beat Generation authors/poets as well. I’d have to say that my hometown, Haworth, Oklahoma, is a big inspiration. You can find literally everyone there! I recommend any writer to take a look at their hometown because it’s been one of my biggest inspirations.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is kind of a spur of the moment adventure. I get an idea and I free-write it until either my hand cramps, I can’t ignore the pressing bladder or I get stuck. Usually the biggest thing that I get stuck on is either someone’s name or an urge to do something different. I use Open Office to write or I use Wordpad. I prefer them over Microsoft Office or Notepad respectively. I try to flesh out the story in my mind, read the characters, sometimes act out the parts in my room alone.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
When I’m alone, on occasion, I take on the role of my characters, turning my face to how their face would read, saying their lines as they flow from my fingertips to the computer, nonstop humoring myself at what I can picture in my mind and see before my eyes besides writing on the computer. I really like it, it’s a good way to stave off boredom.
It makes me feel like I’m going insane when I become the characters I write, but someone once said, “All writers are a tad insane,” so I don’t feel like I’m alone in the world. Haha.
What advice would you give other writers?
My biggest advice, however cliché it may be, is to follow your dreams. People won’t always support you on your journey into writing, others will suggest you only do it as a hobby, but if you know it’s what you want to do…then do it. Anything can happen in the world if you try your hardest and put your heart into it. Readers, writers, poets and playwrights…you’re all an inspiration to me. You’re all an influence to me. I do what I do for you, for everyone, and for myself. I had a dream and I followed through.
You can too!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Well I had finished a novel that took me 3 nights to write and clocked in at a beautiful 26,000 words. I tried to market it, but nobody would pick it up, not even small publishing presses. I didn’t have a thousand or so bucks to spend on a heavy publishing package from one of the vanity presses, I was prepared to just wait and start over, but that was when I found lulu.com and discovered that they did publishing for free. And I went that route. Later on, I discovered Amazon had a bigger market and I switched to Createspace and Kindle Direct. I have since published several times, but never traditionally, I prefer rebellion. It’s part of being a writer, nonconformity and revolutionary thinking.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think the future is in self-publishing. Traditional presses were popular for years, but now they’re falling behind and more people are using the Kindle and Createspace. After all, polishing your book to your best standards and paying a few bucks for a cover and a friend or two who knows about marketing, bang! You’re a published author and you have a chance at making cash and fame, if that’s what your into. I’ve always been into you, the audience, since I shared my stories.
If I could make any good suggestions for the future of Kindle, I would suggest they drop the Kindle Unlimited thing…really, getting half a penny per page read is hindering more than enough people and many have already dropped it from their lives. Other than that, keep on keeping on.
What genres do you write?: Horror, Drama, Romance, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Thriller, Pulp, Crime Fiction, LGBT, Children’s Lit, Jewish
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Link To Tyler Rebik Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Facebook
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.
