Just recently I had reason to re-visit a question that has bumped around in my head on previous occasions, namely is it a good or bad thing to make use of local dialects in my writing.
Continue reading “Is Using Dialects in my Writing a Bad Thing?”
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There are so many things involved in being an indie author that, at times, it can feel close to overwhelming. So, how do I go about avoiding overload and burn out?
I like cold pizza. I know people, strange, weird people who may have come here from outer space, who don’t like cold pizza. On the other hand, I don’t like cold Chinese food, but I know people who do and they really must be from planet Zoiks! because that’s just too much. Way too much.
Many months ago now I realised I needed to get out and about more. Sitting at my desk all day, every day wasn’t really good for me. It’s turned out to have been a good move but it seems the pool of things to do is actually wider and deeper than I realised. So, if you happen to feel you might need a pick me up, then read on.
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.