For the past couple of months, I’ve felt stress as I’ve never felt before. This is largely due to troubles within my company. I feel overwhelmed by what’s happening, by new opportunities, by possible financial insecurity and by the general uncertainty of it all.

Luckily, there is one thing I enjoy so much, it makes my days brighter. Something I am pursuing every moment I get off and something that I had always dreamed about. Writing.

To write is to escape in worlds of my own imagination. Worlds I can adjust to my own liking. To be someone else through my characters. To find answers to life’s questions in their journey. For me it is one of the best ways to calm myself down.

There is one book that has provided me with the most insight when it comes to both creating stories as well as finding an audience for them: Perennial Seller by Ryan Holiday.

I will share the lessons I’ve learned, tested and applied along the structure of the book. Which, hopefully, you can apply to your writing as well (assuming you are a writer). Naturally, I recommend to read the book, it’s gold. Whether you are a writer, entrepreneur, musician, painter, anything.

Spoiler alert: the tactics described in the book really work! I’ve used them to approach Ryan Holiday himself – and I got a reply with some valuable advice. I’ve applied this, and it is already starting to bear its fruit. But more on that later.

In this blogpost I want to share some tips and resources for starting your stories, especially when you don’t have a degree in English or Literature (like me). I view it as the best advice I have ever encountered for when it comes to writing fiction - study the greats, but with a twist.

In addition, I want to share some resources about self-publishing and example authors. Also, what are – in my opinion – the pros and cons of self publishing vs. traditional publishing?