This week’s guest poster is author of the non-fiction book Above Average Stories, Nate Johnson. Check out the interview below. Enjoy!

Q01 Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yeah. When I was five years old, I first saw Star Wars Episode One. I was captivated on the edge of my seat. I knew I wanted to write and create.

I began filling composition notebooks with stories and ideas and storyboards.

When I went to college, that writer in me came back out. It started with a blog and has turned into three books and counting.

Q02 – What inspires your writing? 

My life.

I draw a lot of writing based on my life experiences and the content I consume.

Q03 How long does it take you to write a book?

Six to twelve months. Usually, I will see a trend in my daily blog.

I’ll take what I’ve written on that topic, revise it, and add more to make it a complete book.

Q04 What is the toughest criticism you’ve received as a writer?

That I should give up and get an insurance job. I got that from one of my professors.

I was a business major in college, so I can understand why the professor would say that.

Q05 What is the title (or working title) of your current manuscript and can you tell us a little bit about it? 

The working title for my next read is The Adventures of Nate and Jake Penguin.

It’s based on the stories I wrote as a child in those composition notebooks. I’ve lost those notebooks, but I want to bring that original idea to life.

Q06 What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Editing and revising. I’ve bought software to help me improve my writing structure and make the necessary changes.

Q07 What is your process for writing? (eg linear, by scenes, by random chapters, do you plan, etc)

I free write. After I feel I have enough, I’ll go back and make the changes and structure the book into proper sections and help the flow for readers.

Q08 How do you make time to write?

I’ll write during breaks at work. I’ll write when my roommates go out for the night. I’ll write on the bus on the way home.

When I have something worth writing about, the words will force their way out in whatever amount of time I have.

Q09 Would you ever want to see your book as a movie?

I’ve mostly written non-fiction so far.

Maybe when Nate and Jake Penguin comes out.

Q10 How do you market yourself and your brand?

I write daily on my blog. I am active on social media. The books I have published are self-published.

Right now, I’m still young into my writing career and am improving daily. I’ve focused on creating a body of work for publishers to look at in the future.

Q11 Tell us something you do to get the creativity flowing

Yoga and meditation. Those times I have away from my cell phone definitely gives my mind the space to wrestle with ideas and bring in new insights.

Q12 What advice would you give to new writers?

Start. You can start  writing on your phone or laptop. On Facebook, Medium, or Instagram. There are so many ways to reach any audience. It would reach anyone if you don’t write it down.

Be patient and put in the work. Don’t expect anything to be given overnight. I’m finally making a little progress after 500 blog posts and 3 books.

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Above Nate

Nate Johnson of Above Average Nate. He’s no stranger to traveling. Nate’s love for travel started at a young age when he traveled around the United States with his family.

Before Nate reached high school, he had already been to all fifty states! In college, Nate’s travel bug led him to do his first solo backpacking trip in England for one month.

On his blog, Above Average Nate, you can read posts that show how he is inspired to live an above average life and travel is an important part of that. Nate has traveled to fourteen countries and is planning to travel around the world even more to experience other rich cultures.

Nate Johnson has the aspirations to be a world-renowned writer. Nate continues to challenge and improve himself. Nate enjoys to read, run, and ramble. Nate is somewhere in the world living the dream.

Youtube

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Above Average Stories

If I could sum up my first twenty-two years of living, there would be three words: Camping, Running, and Rambling.

Through these three lenses, I am striving to live an Above Average Life.

Join me on my journey and I hope this inspires you on your own adventures.

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Thanks to Nate for being this week’s guest poster. I hope you enjoyed his interview. Check out his Youtube channel and if you have any questions or comments, leave them below.

Happy reading

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Source: Images from Canva. Author photo and book cover belong to Nate.

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