Southern Writers Magazine Southern Writers_September-October 2018 (2) | Page 3

L ETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to Fall! We are excited about the weather turning cooler, the changing of the leaves and the upcoming holidays. Kids are returning to school and we writers can settle down and spend more time writing our stories. It will not be long until the holidays begin. Kicking off our September/October issue, we are taking you on an amazing journey with these authors. They are going to pull back the layers and share their adventures with us. We will learn through their experience what works best in different genres. They will describe the techniques they use which will help us on our writer’s path. We will learn what has helped them sell their books, market and promote, and led them to the arena of “Successful Authors.” You will find many of your questions answered on dialogue, plotting, writing scenes and character development. These authors have many things in common but one is paramount, commitment. You will find successful authors focused and motivated. To be a good writer it is necessary to spend time honing our craft, which means education, training and practice. Writing is an art that we must develop. It is imperative that writers read. Stephen King said, “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Reading other author’s works is a great learning tool. It is also a great way to relax after working on our own writing. William Faulkner said, “Read, read, read. Read everything … and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You will absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” When we develop our schedule for the day, it might behoove us to work a reading time in the day. Happy Writing! Susan Reichert Editor-in-Chief 03_Letter from the Editor.indd 3 17/08/18 2:13 PM