Super excited for today’s 3Q’s!

I first connected with R.E. Sargent a number of years back. R.E. is one of the driving forces behind Sinister Smile Press, which has been releasing some truly fantastic anthologies, as well as R.E.’s solo work too!

I’m super happy that he was able to stop by today!

Welcome, R.E.!

Steve: What does your process look like once you finish your first draft? Do you immediately dive back into it, or do you take some time away?

R.E.: It really depends on how close I am to deadline. If I don’t have much time, I will jump right back into the edits while everything is fresh. My preference though is to step away from the manuscript for a week and approach it with fresh eyes. I go back through every line and make edits and create notes of issues that need to be researched or resolved. Once I have fixed everything, I like to have Microsoft Word read the manuscript to me out loud—it’s amazing how many little errors your ears can catch that your eyes were not able to.

Steve: What’s the one thing you’d change now if you’d have known it when you started writing?

R.E.: The only thing I would ever change is taking back all the years I took off from writing, because I let the publishing process discourage me. Essentially, I gave up, until the fire eventually rekindled. My advice to anyone that is struggling is never give up. Keep writing. Hone your craft. And one day, you will get to where you want to be, and you will have an amazing stack of manuscripts you created in the process.

Steve: Of the books or stories you’ve released, which is your personal favorite and why?

R.E.: That’s a hard one, because as an author, and also a publisher, I have many I am fond of…however, I just released my first short story horror collection the other day titled Everything Went to Shit, and I am so proud of this collection and every aspect of it, including the title, the cover, the stories, and the endorsements from other authors.

Steve: Bonus Fun Question – Would you rather be lost at sea or in the mountains?

R.E.: I’ll take the mountains any day. You have enough resources in the mountains to build shelter and live off the land. The sea has so many dangers below its serene surface that, if they don’t come up for you, you might eventually end up heading down where they are. Either way, it’s only a matter of time before you are fish food.

Steve: Ha! Excellent choice!

Thanks so much for doing this! To find more of R.E.’s work – check the links!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/R.E.-Sargent/author/B072N46VW8

Twitter: https://twitter.com/resargent22

Website: https://www.resargent.com/