To Be Read
I want to know how people do it. No seriously, I want the secret. There must be a supernatural way that people balance being a creative while working a full entire ass nine-to-five. Because let me tell you, I’m exhausted. Just pretty damn tired overall and feeling like I’m never quite on top of things.… Continue reading Ready for my debut!
The book is done. Next step is to get a proofreader and/or editor right? Nope! Not for Athena! Almost as soon as I get an idea for a story the image for the cover start to pop in my head. Although writing is black and white the stories are deeply visual. It's impossible for me… Continue reading Cover Me, I’m Going In
I've been closing in on the final chapters of my novel. Sticking to a rigorous writing and editing schedule. My kids have gotten used to seeing my face illuminated by the glow of my laptop screen. Behind the writing though, there's been a constant agonizing over the story and if people will enjoy it--connect with… Continue reading Word Count Joy
John Green. Suzanne Collins. J.K.Rowling. Judy Blume. Athena Hernandez. What do all of us authors have in common? We’re all White, wealthy, and have NY Times Bestsellers. Haha. Just kidding. I’m Black. No, what we, and most Young Adult authors, really have in common is that we’re creepily old (I own a wrist guard so… Continue reading Writing Young Adult Fiction at Thirty-F**king-Two
Last week, after I finished up one of the final chapters for my book, I decided to dive back into some research on the topic of whether to pursue independent or traditional publishing. For a half hour I sifted through article after article that seemed determined to convince aspiring authors that success, income, and a… Continue reading Indie Authoring in A Big Pub World
So, boom. I was sitting there writing, making progress with my book. I have my novel open in one tab, next to my thesaurus.com tab, next to my plot outline tab, next to my target shopping cart full of things I'll never buy. Long story short-- it's flowing. Natural habitat and such. My characters are… Continue reading If You Write It, Will They Come?: Sex Scenes
I have a job. A full time one. An in-a-seat-by-9AM one. But, I also have this nagging passion for writing fiction. Sometimes, I develop storylines and characters that I become so attached to that I have a hard time letting them go for an eight hour work day (ten, including commuting). Because of this, I… Continue reading How to Write Your Book at Work
Athena Hernandez 