The Quest Continues

So, after gross amounts of overtime and intense writing sessions, I've finally pushed myself into the final third of 'Lay Me Restless'. It's an exciting prospect, but I'm reticent to put an end date on the draft. In my first and second books, this was the fastest part to write, yet, at the same time, I have a busy few weeks ahead of me so it's a little difficult to guess. Still, I feel very enthused.

My promotion has stepped up yet again also. I've managed to make a little noise on a few new book recommendation sites and I'm just being a little more organised about everything, which gives me more time to do everything and, more importantly, do it right. This has led to me, while not selling an awful number of copies on Amazon, sell my entire stockpile of copies locally. This is no small amount, adding up to thirty or so in the last two months. If all of those readers leave a review somewhere, that's a fairly significant amount of noise. I've also landed a book signing in an independent bookshop a few towns away which could prove lucrative. The exact details haven't been ironed out just yet, but they look to be next week! Updates to follow soon.

So, everything is going as well as expected. All that's left to do is to push ahead.

Sam

Progress

So, what's new? Well, I'm making constant progress with book three of the Nameless Planet series. I'm really pleased with how all of the characters have come together and dynamic of the group is really interesting. These relationships are what really enthuse me about fiction and to be able to do them in a way that is nuanced as I'd planned is highly gratifying. What's more is that the end is in sight. It's still in the distance, maybe two months away from a complete draft and another few for the final draft, but I'm making very steady progress and I'm excited.

I'm in  talks with a few local bookshops about the possibility of some book signings. There's nothing concrete just yet, but I have a good feeling about it. Independent bookshops are so much easier to work with and are a lot more reasonable than the big names (who shall remain nameless, if only at the request of my lawyer, Jameson). But my point is that when you're dealing with people as opposed to faceless corporations, then it's a lot easier to achieve something.

I'm re-reading Cormac McCarthy's entire bibliography at the moment. It's really great for me because he's one of the reasons that I wanted to get into writing. His stark, yet vivid, descriptions and his work with language I find really interesting. I love any author with a really distinct style and this is something that McCarthy definitely has. Although he's inspired me, it's strange to think that my prose style is quite different to him. Every so often I like to use his bluntness as an effect, almost poetically, but when writing I'm always more drawn to the gossamer yet in depth prose of authors like Mervyn Peake. I suppose, without really trying to do so, my prose has kind of merged these two schools of thought with something completely of its own too, which is the whole reason I got into writing really. I have stories that I want to tell, but I want to tell them my way in my style.

I play video games too, which I'm not sure if I've mentioned on here before. In terms of storytelling and character I've always felt like these can be every bit as intense and gripping as a book and have definitely shaped my writing. Unfortunately, some public opinion seems to have a lot of backlash against video games and I'm hoping to be able to write a few articles soon to be able to confront this. Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, but it seems wrong, to me, to dismiss a entire medium of which there are millions of worlds to explore. Anyway, I'll save the entire thing for another day and when / if the articles appear I'll post links to them. There's a lot to be said.

So, as usual, I'm quite busy, but to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way. Now I must away to update my author biographies before writing 9000 words this week!

Remember kids, being an author is glamorous...

Sam

I'm Back!

So, after a couple of weeks off from writing (my pen had some time off, my mind kept creating) this week I got back into it.It's fair to say this wasn't quite as productive a week as I had hoped for; between sorting out a few errands and coming back into the book with some quite difficult chapters to write, I only got about 4000 words done. This isn't the worst week ever, but I've done that in a day before, so I have mixed feelings. The good news, however, is that next week I have nothing to distract me and have chapters that are easier to write.

I've had this issue a couple of times with my previous books. Some chapters are just difficult to write. I do make a small mistake when I'm writing. My first draft is more like most author's second or third, in the sense that I add in a lot of detail in the first draft and edit as I go. A lot of writers say this is a bad habit to get into, but I disagree. Although every so often I hit a stumbling block with it, I'd argue it makes me more productive. Before starting writing for the day I like to read what I wrote the day before; if that's good quality (which it usually is) it really enthuses me to write that day and I end up getting a lot more done, brimming with inspiration. A lot of authors would say I'm wasting time, but I'm going to edit it all anyway, so I don't really see it as a huge problem if I change the time at which I edit it. If I do it earlier on, I could well save time down the line.

In other news, I was supposed to be giving a creative writing workshop at my old college this week. I had my lesson plan all sorted out (we were going to have a discussion about the creation of character) and I was really looking forward to it, but they had to pull out at the last minute. Most of the class had a History revision session that they couldn't miss. Apparently they have these things called 'exams' coming up? Who knew? Anyway, they said they'd like me to come in sometime after their exams are over, so I should be able to give the same talk in June or July. They a great, enthusiastic group and it's always really inspiring to talk to them.

So, I think that's all the news I have. I'll probably be posting some character biographies in the next few days, so keep checking back.

Sam

O Snail, Climb Mount Fuji

So, in terms of writing this has not been my most productive week. I've had an onslaught of migraines and other related things which has made writing practically impossible. On the upside, I've got a lot of admin done, so, when next week rolls around, there should be nothing in my way.

My writing space is now completely free from clutter which should make writing a lot less full of distractions and I won't have other things like housework over my head. Also, I've been running a few plot points over in my head over the past week and they're starting to form. This includes a new character who's going to be introduced a lot later on and has, so far, only been hinted at. But, I think everyone's going to like Duke Blood Knightsea a lot.

In other news, I played a gig last Sunday that was very well received and I've managed to get a slot at a local music festival in the summer, so that promises to be very exciting.

So, while this hasn't been the most writing-full week (ah, to be eloquent...) it has been a fairly productive one, just not necessarily where I'd like it to be.

A Stunning Return!

So, after a less-than-productive week last week, I seem to have come back shining this week. My energy's renewed, my enthusiasm's returned and I'm throwing out words like something that throws out lots of words (similes are not my forte).

I'm averaging about 3000 words a day so far, which is fantastic. I'm hoping to do 9200 words this week and it's very likely I'll hit my target. It's an ambitious one, no doubt, but I'm quietly confident this week. It's just a matter of getting on with it.

Other than that, there's not really very much to report.

I would just like to add a side-note. The immensely talented Jeff Jones has had some short stories accepted into a new anthology which has been released. It's worth buying just for his stories, I assure you, and you can find it here:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/thirteen-press/alien/paperback/product-21491658.html

A Slight Stumble

Okay, so this has not been my most productive writing week in my life as an author. By virtue of my feeling pretty awful this week, I've written about one thousand words, which, in all honesty, is pretty terrible by all accounts. Still, every writer has the odd stumbling block.

Still, I'm an optimist, so, what this has given me the time to do is recharge a little. It hasn't been a complete waste of time because I've formed ideas in my head, thought about where the story for Lay Me Restless is going, and it's given me a chance to inspire myself; to take a look at books, films and video games I might not have without this little set back. So, in all, it hasn't been the fatal stumble I first thought.

Hopefully I'll be back to full productivity next week!

The Man of Many Projects!

So, book three 'Lay Me Restless' is progressing steadily. I'd argue that you can never write a book quite as quickly as you would like to, but every time I sit down to write at the moment I make progress and it's always between 2000 and 3000 words, so I have nothing to complain about in that respect.

What is very exciting for me though, as a side project I suppose, is that I've finally managed to edit the musical a friend put in my hands a few months ago. I added a few bits of dialogue, pitched a few jokes (which, if he has even a modicum of a sense of humour will dismiss immediately) and rounded off the characters, just gave them a little more life and added a dimension or two to them. Anyway, they were absolutely thrilled with the result. Apparently, and this is the most exciting part of all, they have a producer who's interested in reading the script. Any author will tell you that it's not the easiest thing in the world to get an agent / publisher etc to read your manuscript, so being able to get a theatre and film producer to read the script immediately is pretty good going on the part of my friend. It's an exciting prospect and it'll be interesting to see what happens.

But, enough from me. It's pancake day and batter doesn't make itself!