I’ve been doing a lot of revision recently. On top of finalising the second and third books for Inspector Kirby I am also revisiting my first book, for which I’ve had books two and three sitting on my hard drive for a few years now. I’m not saying I’m an expert, however, I have got into a sort of rhythm with it. I write the story quickly. I rarely go back and tinker until the whole thing is finished (unless I have a eureka moment). The first few revisions are easy and I find it fun. I’m assessing the plot, adding interest, finding better way to describe, correcting clunky prose etc. At some (undefined) point I draw the line on this and go into to polishing mode. I’ve done that for Kirby and that’s what I’m doing now to that other series, including the one I’ve published (after all it was my first book). I don’t know if doing so much revision has sensitised me however I find myself, in that last run through, obsessively looking for certain things.
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I write this now because I’m struggling. I’ve finished revising books two and three of my Inspector Kirby series and I’m searching for ideas for book four. I’ve got two other books to revise, however, I feel I need the inspiration of attacking something new.
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Like most indie-authors I’m looking for the “secret of sales". How do I get the word out, how do I attract those followers I need. And yes I know it’s not all about selling, at least not for me. I enjoy the writing and I get a real kick out of people who tell me they’ve read my books and enjoyed them. In many ways I just want more people to enjoy them and if I can make a little on the positive side of expenses:sales balance sheet that would be great.
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I was asked what influenced me as writer recently. At first I thought it was an easy thing to answer. I’ve said before that Arthur C Clarke’s Childhood’s End is what got me hooked on science fiction, the ending blew my teenage mind. That lead me to reading more Clarke and Asimov then authors such as Greg Bear and Ben Bova. Also, I grew up at the time of the Apollo missions and the moon landings. As a young lad, how could that not captivate my imagination? Then later films such as 2001, Close Encounters and Star Wars were taking science fiction on the screen from clunky B Movie status to the mainstream.
However, having given my standard answer it occurred to me that these were things that had sparked my interest as a consumer of science fiction, and later fantasy through authors such as Raymond Feist and David Eddings. However, had they influenced my writing? In terms of the subject matter, yes. I have adapted themes that those writers have explored before me (and I presume they adapted from earlier writers). As for my actual writing, perhaps much less than Imagined. They may have placed that spark, the desire to write. However, as to influencing my writing that comes later, from the authors I’ve read just before and while I’ve been writing.
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The prompt for this post was a film I watched recently, Salmon fishing is the Yemen. I knew it had good crits and it’d been on my “to see” list for a long time. From the first few minutes to the end I enjoyed it. It was a gentle tale, with an element of humour and even a bit of romance. There was some violence, however basically it was a “nice” (and I know as authors the word “nice” is something to be avoided) story well told.
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Hi,
This is the first time I've run a guest post. What prompted me to run this one was the combination of the written word and sound. If you follow the The Timelost link below you'll see what I mean. I haven't come across this before and found it fascinating. Anyway, I'll let Chris tell you about it:
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There’s a lot in the media at the moment concerning Artificial Intelligence, some hailing it as the next industrial revolution, others as Armageddon waiting to happen. I know science fiction over the years has been full of the latter. However, as any writer will tell you a good story needs conflict and in sci-fi what’s better than man vs. machine?. I also know that Stephen Hawking is suggesting we, or at least some of us, need to get of this planet before the end of the century and find a new home before AI becomes too powerful. I just don’t see why it has to be that way. Why does it have to be the alarmist view? Although, I admit neither I nor the professor will be around at that time, mores the pity.
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I’ve been doing a lot of revision recently. On top of finalising the second and third books for Inspector Kirby I am also revisiting my first book, for which I’ve had books two and three sitting on my hard drive for a few years now. I’m not saying I’m an expert, however, I have got into a sort of rhythm with it. I write the story quickly. I rarely go back and tinker until the whole thing is finished (unless I have a eureka moment). The first few revisions are easy and I find it fun. I’m assessing the plot, adding interest, finding better way to describe, correcting clunky prose etc. At some (undefined) point I draw the line on this and go into to polishing mode. I’ve done that for Kirby and that’s what I’m doing now to that other series, including the one I’ve published (after all it was my first book). I don’t know if doing so much revision has sensitised me however I find myself, in that last run through, obsessively looking for certain things.
