We recently connected with R Weir and have shared our conversation below.
Hi R, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew I wanted to be a book author in my early twenties, which was back in the eighties. I wrote a short story and three novels in a series, typing them out on an old manual typewriter. Hard work compared to the technology of today. The idea’s flowing through me, needing to get the words out of my head and onto paper. Mad hopes of getting published. Little did I know at the time how difficult it was for this to happen. Trying to submit manuscripts with no interest being shown in my work. A bit soul-crushing at the time.
Shortly after I got married and had a child, putting all those dreams to rest until 2013 when I decided to dust off my old pages. Updating one of my short stories, which soon turned into an 8 book private eye series, all released independently. Experiencing the imaginative passion again in my fifties. A great feeling when someone reads your book and tells you they loved and enjoyed the story. Now in the process of writing my 12th book, thrilled the creative bug still flows through my veins in the later years of my life.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m an indie author who lives in Colorado with my wife, daughter, and dog, enjoying life wherever it takes us. I’ve published 10 books, numbers 11 & 12 in the works. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager, though nothing was published until 2014. Ideas invading my brain until I get them written down. Writing therapy which allows me to cope with whatever challenges present themselves to me.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
There are two items for artists which are most helpful.
1. If you enjoy their work, buy it!! Especially for authors and musicians, don’t steal their work. There is a lot of pirated material out there you can download where the author or artist gets nothing in return for their hours of work. Those few dollars they make when their work is purchased legally can be the biggest factor in them continuing to create. Without those sales, the creation of future work will likely cease.
2. Leave reviews. A very small percentage of people who buy the work, leave a review. It doesn’t have to be much, a simple “I loved the book!” is all that is needed. Potential buyers read through reviews that help them decide to purchase, especially when they are sitting on the fence. I know as an author I read every single review that is posted, which fuels me to continue to create.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding is hearing from someone who enjoyed and loved my work. This over and above is the biggest boost to motivate me to continue to write my stories. Making all the endless hours worth the effort.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rweir.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rweir720/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randy.weir.524
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/r-weir-327360a2/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWeir720
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/JarvisMannPI