Better Know An Author – Daniel Paice
Our weekly spotlight series on authors from around the world. This week we sat down with Daniel Paice!
Please give a brief introduction, including your name and where you are based
My name is Daniel Paice, I am 19 years old and live in the Cambridgeshire area of the UK. It’s great to get opportunities, such as taking part in this Better Know an Author series.
It would be awesome if you could spare a few minutes to read about myself and all that I’ve been up to! You might find your new favourite read…you never know…
What book or books have you published or are working on at the moment?
Ooooh, so, at the moment, I have quite a few Works in Progress (WIPs) on the go. But in October of 2021, I published my first book, Prevailed Hope – which is a poetry anthology on mental health, based on my experiences. It takes the reader through three parts: Midnight, Dawn, Midday. These parts are used to create an arc of the darkest times, things starting to change and potentially get better, and then finally hope coming from the darkness.
It might seem a bit ‘flowery’, but it is intended to inspire hope in a reader – and encourage them to apply these thoughts and philosophies to their own circumstances.
I’ve been told that my honesty is refreshing, especially when talking about mental health.
My next book, 101 Sentiments of a Chronically Ill Writer, is essentially – you guessed it – 101 Sentiments on being a young adult, disabled, a writer, and struggling with mental health. Another quick, but powerful, read; it is due to be released on the 21st of April.
What drives you to write?
I find a real catharsis in writing; it’s how I find I communicate best. My true insight and perspective comes across. My purpose, I feel, is to help people, and writing is one way that I can do that. I have a voice. I have things to say, so I will say them. I would like to think that, one day, I will become well known for my writing (As, I guess, every writer does).
My experiences of mental health has really led me to focus on my strengths, and follow my passion as much as possible. We never know where things will take us. There’s an element of sending yourself in a particular direction, as well as going with the flow.
Where can folks find you online and on social media?
You can find me online with the username ‘@DanJWrites’ – Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Medium.
I would love to connect with you there!
What is one piece of advice you would give to another author out there who might be struggling?
I would say just keep writing, but everyone says that. And to ‘just keep writing’ carries a lot of weight. It can mean so many different things to so many different people. So, what does it mean for you?
Try as many forms and types of writing as you can – some you may pick up some better than others. Do you like writing articles? Do you have something to say about your experiences? Do you like writing fantasy novels, for example?
That will help you find yourself in the world of writing.
Sometimes you might just need a break. If you don’t like something you have previously written, it is likely a sign you’ve developed as a writer.
What are some of your five-year goals with writing?
I would like to publish at least two books a year, but that’s easier said than done. Life might get in the way. But that’s all part of the process of writing.
As I said above, I have quite a few WIPs on the go, so I would like to get to the end of that list. Knowing me, though, it’ll be a matter of keeping up with the ever-growing pile of WIPs. Nothing like keeping busy
Final Thoughts?
Well, thank you for reading! I hope that we can connect online, and we can keep an eye on each other’s writing.
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