Advice for writing your first novel...

Friday, August 14, 2015

Advice for writing your first novel...

I am pleased to let anyone interested know that I have two new books coming out in early 2016.
YOU are THIS - Awakening to the Living presence of your Soul is being published by Mantra.
And my first novel, THE SOUL WHISPERER is to be published by Roundfire Books.
Check out the YouTube book trailer by clicking on the bar above if you haven't already.

I'd like to pass on the following helpful hints to anyone trying to write a fictional novel;

1. Never give up - there are times when you want to give up or stop, but keep going.
2. Be yourself - tell the story in your own words. It's the story and characters (not your IQ) that readers are interested in.
3. Imagine and create with freedom - boundaries are often other people's concepts of what should be.
4. Don't copy another author's style - be true to who you are.
5. Keep it simple - over complicated plots and texts only disconnect the reader.
6. Read it aloud to yourself once finished, and re-write as necessary - recognize the rhythm of your prose.
7. Edit, edit and edit. When you've done that... edit. Most people tend to do the opposite.
8. Less is better, and more interesting - and keeps the reader engaged in your story.
9. Safeguard your manuscript on a stick and / or send by email - just sensible advice.
10. If you LOVE what you do, others will too.

Now get writing and good luck to you.

About Jonathan ...

Born in southern England in the mid 60's, by the early 1980's Jonathan's deep love of music was expressed through singing and songwriting. After the usual band circuits and gigs, he came into contact with London based Hard Times Productions, forming a positive rewarding relationship which resulted in the release of several records, publishing deals, session work, funded projects, jingles, TV advertising, media interviews and an interesting short stint as the lead singer of Frankie Goes To Hollywood (following the departure of lead singer Holly Johnson). At the close of his music career in 1990 he was awarded a double gold disc for his contribution to the Telstar compilation album "Get on This 2", which went to number 2 in the UK album charts.

From 1997 onwards he underwent a series of prolonged transformational experiences which radically altered his consciousness, causing him to look closely at human identity while becoming directly aware of what he calls the “Divine I-less nature of reality”.

In the early millennium years he spent extended periods of time dissolved in “Oneness” which yielded a profound holistic awareness.

In 2005, he made what he describes as an “illogical yet choiceless” decision to give up all commercial interests. Jonathan, together with his wife Wendy, and friend Sharon Jeffries subsequently found and restored an old Armagnac farm in Gascony, South West France from where they hosted workshops and retreats - a place called “The Dubon Centre of Healing and Awareness”.

Never having 'written' before, and following a mystical near death experience in early 2007, he penned his first book "We Are All One: A call to spiritual uprising". Written in just six days, the critically acclaimed book was awarded the Allbooks International Editors Choice Award (USA) in the Spirituality & Inspiration category.

Over the last few years Jonathan has appeared on numerous radio shows across North America including: ‘Sound Authors’ – World Talk Radio with Kent Gustavson, The Nancy Wallace Show, ‘Authors Audio’ with Jake D. Steele, 'Create Abundance Now' with Roxanne Brown, ‘Infinite Love Radio’ with Michelle Morovaty, Web Talk Radio, ‘Body Wonders Radio’ with Donna Vernon, ‘Intimate conversations with Masters and Mystics’ with ‘Toward the Light’ with Rev.Juliet Nightingale, ‘Connecting the Light’ with Mike Quinsey, ‘The Universal Spirit Connection’ (Leilani Schmidt), ‘Call of the Soul Connection’ (Xandra Graviet) ‘Tell me your story’ with Richard Dugan, ‘Contact Talk Radio’ with Dawn Stansfield. Many of his articles, poems and quotes appearing in consciousness / spirituality magazines and associated websites worldwide.

In January 2009 he was invited to teach alongside Barbara Marx Hubbard, Esther Hicks (Abraham, Law of Attraction, The Secret) Steve and Barbara Rother (lightworker.com) and others on http://www.worldchangingwisdom.com/pastpresenters.html/ - subsequently he was offered his own seminar series with leading edge US company Conscious Alliances.

During the winter of 2009 Jonathan was invited to take on the challenging role of Managing Director of Gaunts House in Dorset, England – a role he undertook until leaving in the spring of 2014.

Jonathan 's second book ‘NAKED BEING: Undressing Your Mind, Transforming Your Life’ – was published by O books on the 28th May 2010. It was honoured as an award winning finalist in the Best Books 2010 Awards (USA Book News) in the Spirituality genre.

He was interviewed by Conscious TV founder Iain McNay in 2011, during which they talked about illness, healing and the evolution of human consciousness. It has been repeated on the Sky freeview channels. To see that interview, just click on this link: Conscious.tv interview

Conscious.tv are a UK based TV channel broadcasting company on the internet - they also have programmes on satelite and cable channels in different countries. In the UK you can watch their programmes at 8.30pm every day on Information TV's 'Showcase 2' channel which is no 192 on the Sky Satellite system. Their aim is to stimulate, debate, question, enquire, infrom, enlighten, encourage and inspire people in the areas of Consciousness, Science, Non-Duality and Spirituality.