Brexit and the writer - reality is stranger than fiction

I guess even if you don’t live in the UK you’ll be aware we’re going through something of an upheaval called Brexit.  Now, before I go any further I emphasise in this post I am not taking sides, or expressing a political bias.  These are my feelings, on those elected to represent us in this matter and how that relates to my own work.  I am intrigued as to how these political characters and the stories they are telling compare to any of my fictional characters and my stories in general. 

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Meet Inspector Kirby

Inspector Kirby, Jonah to his friends and 'old school' to his junior colleagues, wandered out of the cottage.  He crossed the road and headed down the lane, with thorny hedge rows either side, that led to the sea.  He’d put this off for days, wondering how it would make him feel.  Still there was nothing quite like a walk along the coast with its prevailing North East breeze and the smell of salt and rotting seaweed in the air to clear the mind.  And let’s face it there was a lot to clear.

To meet Inspector Kirby follow this link

What I've learnt from 4 years of blogging

Recently a site, The Digital Reader (morning coffee – 1 September 2017) picked up on a blog I wrote in 2014, 7 key things I’ve learnt from a year  of blogging.  To my pleasant surprise this has created a lot of traffic, so I assume people are interested which is great.  That got me thinking, three years on do I come to the same conclusions, what else have I learnt:

1) The first thing listed was:  Blogging does not sell books

I still hold with that, mostly.  I think this to be the case with most blogs.  However, it is possible to tailor at least some of your blogs to help promote your work.  You can discuss the subject of your work, the locations, what makes your characters interesting etc.  At least then the reader will get to know a little more about what makes you and your writing tick.  Make it interesting and If they like what you’re saying they may then take the time to look at your books.  I don’t do it all the time, I think this would get boring and there are other things I want to discuss.

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My writing - I'm going back to basics

I admit it, my books are not selling. 

Well not many anyway.  On my latest novel ‘Bleak – The story of a shape shifter’ I’ve spent some money on promotion but it is not even coming close to paying for itself.  I know this is common for self-published authors and I’ve ready many times that it can take five, seven or ten books before you finally start to see a return.

Am I disheartened?

Yes, well a little anyway.  I’m not expecting to have that best seller, but it would be nice to sell a few more to cover those costs and maybe show some profit. And it’s not all about the money.  I enjoy my writing and as an author I want people to read and appreciate my work.  Those that have read my books tell me they have enjoyed them, even that they couldn’t put them down.  I have had some positive reviews.  All that’s great and tells me that I have something even if I’m not the finished article (If you ever are?).

So why back to basics?   Follow the link to my blog: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1lW

New book launch - learning from past mistakes

Last week I wrote of the rather haphazard book launch for my first two novels. For my next soon-to-be book launch I have more activities planned.  However, knowing that I need to vastly improve on my launch activities for my new book and putting together a coherent program are two different things.  My blog: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1bV 

Free Download - 'A Companion to the Future'

This week's blog is about the launch of my free download, 'A Companion to the Future'.  It covers topics such as: Technologies of the future, our relationships with them and the impact they will have on our lives; What our future societies might look like; The role and impact of science fiction.  There are also a few articles that I hope will make you smile. This is aimed at any one with an interest in our future, as well as anyone who writes or reads science fiction.

http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1bh

Writers and all that advice - part 2)

This is my second blog looking at all the advice writers are given.  This  time I'm looking at those things I believe should be viewed with caution.http://wp.me/p3ycbY-18k

Writers - why do we do it?

Mowing the grass always gets me thinking. This time it got me asking the question of 'why do I write'. Perhaps, a bit of a crisis of belief? http://wp.me/s3ycbY-writers

Science fiction - 25 things it has taught me.

This week's blog:  A light hearted look at what science fiction has taught me.

 http://wp.me/p3ycbY-17D

Things I think should be invented in the future

The second holiday blog. A few little things that would make life a little easier  http://t.co/m0nYFCjdwR

Why you should join a writing group

As a would be writer one early bit of advice I was given was, join a writing group. I did eventually, I should of done it sooner.  Here's why:   http://wp.me/p3ycbY-15e

Eating, drinking and bars in science fiction

This weeks blog returns to 'life in the future' and this time the far distant future.  Surely we'll take our our delight for gathering in restaurants and bars with us? http://wp.me/p3ycbY-13X
  

The power of the short story - 5 reasons we should write them (and read them)

This week I return to a writing theme.  Too often I think we dismiss short stories as being somehow inferior.  I want to extole the virtues of writing and reading short stories.  As an author I believe they are a great way to improve our story telling.  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-13S

How far can we go in ‘greening’ our cities of the future?

In my last blog I started to speculate on what our future cities might look like.  In this blog I wonder how far we can go in greening those cities.  Perhaps that's a more palatable picture than the soulless concrete affairs often portrayed by science fiction.  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-13H

Do you want to live in the high rise cities of the future?

In my last blog I opened the topic of future cities for discussion.  I have read that by the middle of this century 75% of us will be living in those cities.  As a writer of science fiction I find this fascinating.  But, how will they and us cope?

'If it doesn't move the story along, take it out,' - good advice or not?

This week I take a look at a piece of advice that's often given out to writers, especially new writers: 'If it doesn't move the story along, take it out.'

I say don't ignore it, but do treat it with caution.

http://wp.me/p3ycbY-12n

5 reasons a writer should blog

As a new writer soon to indie publish (very soon, hopefully) I started blogging as a way of getting my name out there.  However, blogging has proved much more valuable than just that.  I would advise any new writer to start blogging - 5 good reasons:  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-df