Go on, try it - read some science fiction

I write science fiction, I read science fiction and I watch science fiction.  That’s not all I do I hasten to add.  If you’ve been reading my blog recently you’ll know I’ve been reading a number of detective stories / thrillers and that I’m writing a sort of detective story (OK with a supernatural element to it).  I also enjoy good historical fiction.  In my mind the divide between this and scifi/fantasy is not so great i.e these are about worlds that can seem totally alien to us.  I’ve also watched some great non-scifi movies recently such as:  The Eye in the Sky, Bridge of Spies and the Water Diviner.  Yes, at the same time I’ve seen the new Star Wars and The Martian and I’ve Childhood’s End recorded (the book being the one that got me hooked on science fiction in the first place).  However, in no way do I see myself as a science fiction ‘geek’.

But then you try and talk to most people about science fiction and you get that sympathetic/superior look/reply as if you’ve just admitted you’ve got all the Spice Girl records (I haven’t, not one, honest). 

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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

My monthly science highlights - 9)

How time flies when you are enjoying yourself, or at least blogging and before you know it it’s the end of the month and time for my personal round up of nuggets of interest from the world of science.  Again these are not in any order of importance, they are simply what has piqued my interest as numerous headlines flit across social media.  As always I hope you at least find them intriguing, in some cases thought provoking and if you're a writer a little inspiring.

This month the search for ET, Steam powered spacecraft, drones helping to fight disease and more. http://wp.me/s3ycbY-science9 

My writing - going back to basics 3)

At the risk of repeating myself I decided that a little help from an author than has sold millions of books world-wide couldn’t do any harm.  So I signed up for his masterclass and committed in my first blog on this subject to keep you posted as to how it goes and what I think of it.  So is it inspiring - yes it is.  Is it helping – yes.  Or at least I think it is.  It is certainly making me think about every aspect of my story telling.  Not so much perhaps the writing, but the story telling.

My writing - back to basics 2)

In last week’s blog I admitted that my books aren’t selling.  So I'm going to go back to basics with my writing, to see how I could improve that before looking more closely at marketing etc.  The idea being that if I know I have a good product I can then go ahead and sell with confidence.  Also, you never know if I make some changes, improve, get it right, I might just attract the attention of an agent and publisher.  Anyway, I decided that I’d give a masterclass by a best-selling thriller writer a go.  What had I got to lose?  I also said I’d let you know how it goes.  So read more in my latest blog: http://wp.me/p3ycbY-1m6

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