Meet Jeff Strand

 

We recently connected with Jeff Strand and have shared our conversation below.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’ve been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Though I do have a non-fiction book available (THE WRITING LIFE: REFLECTIONS, RECOLLECTIONS, AND A LOT OF CURSING) the rest of my 60+ books are fiction. My work covers a lot of territory, but I’m primarily known as a horror/comedy writer. Sometimes the scale tips more toward horror (MY PRETTIES, DEATHLESS) and sometimes it tips more toward comedy (KUMQUAT, ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES: THE OFFICIAL NOVELIZATION) but most of my work is a mix of the two genres.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Perseverance. The rise of self-publishing has changed this, but when I started building my career you had to get through the gatekeepers. And this meant rejection. A lot of rejection. A LOT of rejection. Getting a rejection from a market you desperately wanted to sell to can be a soul-crushing experience, but you’ve got to keep trying.

2. Work Ethic. For writers, this is best known as “butt in chair.” I’m sure some writers can get away with waiting for the muse, writing only when inspiration strikes, but for somebody seeking a full-time career as an author, it’s important to be able to simply sit down and get some work done. Nothing about the writing business is universal, but most independently published authors need to be prolific. So get to work!

3. Don’t Be A Jerk. “It’s who you know!” is usually said in a bitter tone, but it’s true. Get out there. Go to conventions. And don’t be a jerk.

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