Ben Westerham non-fiction related blog posts.
I am about two-thirds of the way through writing a new book in an existing series and I know already this will be the last book I write in that series. I’ve loved writing these particular stories, but I feel I’ve now done all I want to do with these. Of course, that means there will be space for something new, but what is that to be?
I am writing the third book in my Alexander Templeman series of old fashioned espionage thrillers and something happened this week which, when it occurs, always leaves me with a bit of a conundrum. You see, I’ve created a supporting character who I like so much I don’t want to let him go. What am I to do?
Continue reading “The Lure of an Irresistible New Character”
Seeing how we are fast approaching the festive period I thought I’d do some digging to see how many crime and mystery novels I could find that are set during the Christmas period. Turns out there are quite a few. In fact, there are loads.
When you first set out to write your own stories all the focus is on doing precisely that, writing, and quite frankly that’s what I am sure all us authors would like to be spending all our time doing. However, there comes a point, usually when you have something finished and want to find readers for it, when you realise there’s something else you are required to do. That something is marketing and I have been forced recently to accept that my efforts in this department have been woefully inadequate.
Re-writes and edits are an essential part of putting together a new story, but we authors don’t all do things the same when it comes to this part of the process. In fact, compared to some, I might seem a little slip-shod in my approach. But I do things the way I do because that’s what works best for me.
When I’m not writing, I spend a fair amount of my time reading, both fiction and non-fiction. In fact, I’d like to spend more time reading, but, you know, day-to-day life keeps getting in the way. Reading can be informative, challenging, surprising, relaxing and many other things besides, but most of all it’s a pleasure. So, the idea that people will actually pay you to read seems a little bizarre. Do they really? Well, it turns out they do.
I have, for some time now, had a well established writing routine, which sees me show up at the same place and time each day. But I recently shifted some furniture around in our living room and soon realised I had disturbed my reading habits by moving an armchair that I usually read in at lunchtime, which had me wondering, do we all have our favourite places to read?
From time to time I like to take one of those personality type tests. It can be amusing as well as informative to see the results. I did one of these a while back and had forgotten about it until I stumbled upon the results recently, part of which concerned the creator in me.
Us creative types, especially those of us who spend most of our time working alone, can become a bit self-obsessed at times. Or maybe I should have said, completely self-obsessed. When this happens I have to remind myself that no, I am not alone and that I couldn’t do what I do without the help and support of others.
When I first started writing stories it seemed all there was to do was, well, to write stories. But time and experience has shown that is not quite true and that I do, in fact, have to be a man who wears many hats. Let me explain why.