Wednesday 29 March 2017

Why as an author I love to blog

I don’t deny that I started blogging as a way to build a profile as a writer and thereby promote my work, although not in a “buy my book, buy my book” sense.  I also hope that for those that read my blog it helps you as authors, or that you at least find it interesting and hopefully at times thought provoking.  Then yes, maybe you'll buy my books.
However, blogging has delivered a personal bonus I didn't anticipate in the beginning.  Why as an author I now love to blog is how it makes me think about issues that relate to my writing.  Also, not just think but about them but write them down in a hopefully coherent and succinct way.   It’s this that then often finds its way into my fiction.

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Science fiction and the human tribe

As a science fiction writer I’m always imagining what the future might hold for us human beings. I imagine us travelling to the stars and new worlds.  It represents an almost unlimited opportunity for a species that has always had a thirst for the new, exploration, pushing the boundaries.  In scifi land we think of global societies or even multi-global societies.  However, what history tells us, along with what is happening in the world today, is that that may be incredibly simplistic or just plain wrong.  That human beings will never feel comfortable living in some form of global society.

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Wednesday 1 March 2017

It's tough being an indie author?

The question mark in the title is deliberate.  That’s because although it may be tough to become a successful indie author, it’s not tough to be an indie author.  There are pros and cons and perhaps what are overlooked are the consequences.  Let me explain:

The Cons

You are on your own.  Yes, you can pay for services (and I would advise you do, at least for some of what you need).  However, all the drive and motivation has to come from you, from the desire to first put finger to keyboard to going out there, running a marketing campaign and finding your audience.  You, unless you are very lucky, are the only one investing time energy and money in making your book a success.
When it comes to those services you may wish to use, editorial, proof reading, book covers, marketing etc. all those have to come out of your own pocket up front on (at least for most indie authors) the hope that you will have pay-back in time.  Oh, and that time may well be several/many books down the road, if you’re lucky and you keep at it.
Like it or not a lot of the reading public will view your books as an inferior product.  It is a view that I believe is changing, albeit slowly.  However, I feel it is a view still promoted by many in the traditional publishing industry, which is natural I guess as it can been seen as a threat to their livelihoods.   There are authors who have overcome that perception and are successful.  However, it is a battle I believe indie authors face and we do not always help ourselves (see consequences).
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