We were lucky to catch up with Steven J. Morris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Steven J. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love asking folks what they would do differently if they were starting today – how they would speed up the process, etc. We’d love to hear how you would set everything up if you were to start from step 1 today.

Here is what I would tell myself.

First, understand why you want to do this thing you want to do. Really examen your motivations. Because you’re going to be pushed and shoved, distracted and derailed. If you don’t get to the heart of why you want to do it, you’ll follow the wrong advice or lure.

Get it out of your head that, “if you build it, they will come.” You’re not Kevin Costner. You need a marketing plan to build an audience.

Where possible, spend money to learn to do something rather than paying someone to do it. Even if you later decide it is worth paying someone else to do, you will understand it better, and you’ll think about it in more productive ways.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I write fantasy. Like many late-blooming writers, I read prolifically as a child, started working in a field that had nothing to do with writing, and then had an event ignite that interest in stories from my youth. With snarky humor, original magic, and a combination of traditional and creative creatures, I create stories that transport readers to worlds they’ve never seen, sometimes in their own backyards.

I have a first series that I consider urban fantasy. It takes place in the modern world, starting in New York City. It involves elves and trolls and other magical creatures, so doesn’t fit in the category cleanly, where vampires and werewolves are the norm. That story had been brewing in me for thirty years, and I almost wish I could start it over with everything I’ve learned about writing.

I’m writing an Epic Fantasy series now, with no connection to Earth (mostly). It’s the story of magic, and defines the magic system of the first series. It follows an elf who is born without magic—Bereft, her people call her, as they hunt her down for a crime she was born into.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I find that question particularly interesting because it needs to be revisited every so often. At least for me. Sometimes you have to remind yourself of your why. And sometimes you realize you need to update your why.

For example, I had a realization at some point that I didn’t just want to write fantasy, I wanted folks to read what I wrote. That changed things. I know that sounds silly, but anyone here recognizes that there’s a thrill in simply creating. I thought that would be enough. But creating without an audience is hollow at best.

But finding readers meant marketing, understanding audience, growing a following. Lots of different skills. It also meant thinking through the money aspects—if you’re not in it for the money, what does that change?

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There’s tons of resources I wish I’d known about earlier.

Primarily the Ad School from Bryan Cohen. That would have been a great starting resource (though I probably would not have stayed in continuously).

I wish I’d encountered ProWriting Aid earlier.

Any more than that probably would have overwhelmed me and stopped me from making progress, so I’ll stop with those.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sjmorriswrites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steven.j.morris.writer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steven.j.morris.writer
• Twitter: @sjmorris_writer