All those writer courses - shop wisely

Now up front I want to say I’m not against paid on-line writer courses.  I can only comment on the ones I have looked at and in a couple of cases paid out good money for.  They are full of useful content that, if you are in the right place with your writing and prepared to put in the time and effort I’m sure they can have a major impact.  However, what they are not (in my opinion) is a magic bullet.  For the vast majority of Indie-authors success will not be instant and when it comes will probably be modest.  But hey, modest is good and I’ll be happy with modest when I get there.  And yes any better than modest, I admit, would be great.

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Writers beware - sod's law exists

Part of my first job on leaving Uni was in the quality assurance section of a scientific organisation.  Believe it or not, before the late 1970s little of it existed.  After all everyone was doing their best so the data and reports would be fine wouldn’t they?  Answer, no.  Because if nothing else Sod’s Law operates. i.e. whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.  And one of the problems back then was that nobody understood what could go wrong – it was of course, anything and everything.  So after a few well published cases, which I won’t go into, the need for a formal system of quality assurance was established.

For me this involved, amongst other things the checking of scientific reports, both for internal consistency and against the “raw data”.  At first my involvement, essentially pointing out where people had made errors was resented.  I mean, who was I to tell a senior scientist they had made mistakes.  And this wasn’t just the odd typo, whole lines of data were transposed, decimal points were in the wrong place, thing disappeared from the records only to appear elsewhere.  I could go on.  These didn’t always affect the scientific outcomes, but occasionally they could and this was important work.  What’s more it’s not as if you could predict when or where a major error might occur.

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Indie authors - relish cross genre fiction

I enjoy my science fiction and my fantasy.  When I pick up a book (or these days download) in one of these genres I guess I know what I’m getting, I’m on safe ground.  Also, as a writer if I stick to a genre I know where I’m going with my books.  I know where they will “fit”.  This is very much the case with the Bleak books and Project Noah.  They are very firmly in the science fiction camp.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  I enjoyed writing them and from the feedback I’ve had people enjoy reading them.

The first book I published and whose sequels are written and waiting to be finalised (they occasionally nag at me to be published) is a little different.  While still very much science fiction it has an element of fantasy in that I give a “scientific” reason for the existence of Fairies (you’ll understand if you read it).

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The publishing dilemma of the indie author

I recently went on holiday for a week (yes, again for any regular readers of my blog).  It was a very chilled trip to the Greek island of Cephalonia, I recommend it.  So I had plenty of time to think amongst reading, eating, boat trips, watching the world go by and the odd cocktail or two.  And for me that means about my writing and inevitably publishing because:

Here I am again.  I have a book almost ready to launch and I know I’m prevaricating.  I have sent it to eight or nine agents back in February and so far I have had a "thanks but no thanks" from two of them (and I’m not holding my breath for the rest).  I guess like most self-published authors the lure of a publishing deal is still the dream no matter how much I tell myself that I am good enough to make it as an indie author.  And I know that agents receive hundreds of manuscripts a year and at best they take on one or two new authors.  So my chances are slim. 

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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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Pluck up courage - it's time for a relaunch

In some ways I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to make the decision to invest in a book relaunch.  I launched Bleak last November and lots of people (and not just friends) have told me they really enjoyed the book.  And yet, I admit sales have been disappointing, to the point where they have dwindled to almost nothing.  I know basically that could be due to three things: a) the book simply doesn’t appeal. b) the cover, blurb etc. are putting people off. c) marketing.

Now given what I said in the beginning I believe the book is good enough and although science fiction is not everyone’s favourite genre, there is an audience for my book, if I can just get them to take a look at it.

So that means I need to work on b) and c).

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My writing - back to basics 5)

I’m nearing the end of the James Patterson Master class set of videos.  I have a routine for them now, I watch them in two’s.  I watch the second one I watched the previous time and a new one.  The first time I watch one of them I take notes, yes to refer to, but for me it also helps plant what I consider those important nuggets in my head.  The second time through I try to just listen and it’s amazing how you then latch onto new words of wisdom.  I’m now onto his thoughts on the thing that we writers must consider besides the actual mechanics of writing (some are perhaps more relevant than others – you’ll understand).  I’ll skip over working with a co-author, only because at the moment I’m not even remotely considering it.

The next three are all things that are perhaps the most difficult for the new/self-publishing author: Getting Published, Book titles and Covers, Marketing i.e. marketing yourself and your treasured work.   

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My writing - going back to basics 4)

For those that have been following my blog recently you’ll know that I have signed up for the on-line master class series by the best-selling thriller writer James Patterson.  Now, thrillers are not my thing but the guy has sold millions of books world-wide so knows a thing or two about writing successful commercial fiction.  I’m nearing the end now so what’s changing.

Well I never was a great planner, I tended to write and then see where it took me, which I know works for some people.  However, I think especially for the self-publisher that planning of every scene can add real value.  We perhaps can’t afford the luxury of in-depth and repeated editing.  So working on those scenes, the order, the twists and the impact, in detail before you start the writing I think is a winner.

For more follow the link to my blog: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1mC

A challenge to celebrity and well-known authors

It is getting harder to find an agent or publisher unless you are a celebrity or already a well known author. I know these are busy people, but I wonder if the next time they are looking for something to read they might try a self-published author?  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1kg 

Writers - read more and wider

Go on! be a devil and try something different.  When it comes to choosing that next book it is easy to stick to what you know. However, as writers there are great rewards in looking a little wider.  My latest blog: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1iN

Blogging 'how to' part 3 - being patient!

My third and final 'how to' on blogging. This time concentrating on blogging rather than the blog, oh, and being patient:  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1gp

An author blog - what it can and can't do for you, part 1)

I've had an author blog for nearly two years. Is it worth it? Yes, but not in ways I perhaps thought when I started. http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1cP 

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 

A new writer – Planning (not) for a book launch

In many ways writing the book is the easy bit, at least you have an idea how to do that and where the story is taking you. But with book marketing....My latest blog:

 http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1bN

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 and all that advice - part 1)

Last week I wrote about 'writers why do we do it' because while I was pushing the lawn mower and that's where my mind wandered.  Well it also wandered over all the advice I've been given or found, pondering on what was good and what needed to be treated with caution  http://wp.me/p3ycbY-18d 

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

Blogs for Bloggers and Writers - part 1)

As a writer and blogger it has come to my notice that recently I have been ignoring other people's blogs.  In the next few weeks I aim to put that right and to share the results with you.  

http://wp.me/p3ycbY-17T

'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

8 Writers 'Resolutions'

Not so much resolutions, more 8 things that I know I need to work on in 2014.  I'm sure others out there will sympathise / empathise.  Perhaps you have key areas you want to improve on - let me know.   http://wp.me/p3ycbY-11x

All the best for the coming year

Ian Martyn