March 28, 2015
The clocks go forward tonight in the Northern Hemisphere
which means very little to retirees like me who probably only get about five or
six hours a night. I often find myself lying awake during the night thinking up
plot lines or trying to figure out where I went wrong with planning my last
promotion. Questions like: how do I get more readers and where are they? Seem
to filter through my mind until I realise I don’t know why I’m asking myself
that question because if I had the answer…… Well, you get my drift. I often
tell myself that I mustn’t forget so and so, and in the morning have completely
forgotten what it was I had to remember. So where do authors get their ideas
and when? I have been giving some thought lately to the prospect of writing a
series with one character permanently in each book. Something like Jack
Reacher, the creation of Lee Child. I don’t mean to recreate him: nothing could
be further from the truth, but to have a series which readers will follow. And
there’s the rub: authors are generally instinctive. They hit upon an idea and
build a story around it. That’s the way I write. I can’t sit down and chew the
end of my pencil trying to think of a new idea. It has to drop into my mental
lap like a seedling where it can germinate. A year later and the seedling has
blossomed into a mature plant: another book. So why am I thinking of writing
(trying to) a self-imposed style of authorship that is alien to me? Probably
because I can see how successful those types of books are; whether they are
historical, romance, crime or dystopian: readers seem to be waiting, and
positively encouraging the author, until the next book in the series is published.
I recently described myself as a “dinosaur” in the book world. I’m gradually
becoming extinct. I’m from the old school of traditionally published writers
who are finding themselves left behind in the new world of Amazon et al.
which means very little to retirees like me who probably only get about five or
six hours a night. I often find myself lying awake during the night thinking up
plot lines or trying to figure out where I went wrong with planning my last
promotion. Questions like: how do I get more readers and where are they? Seem
to filter through my mind until I realise I don’t know why I’m asking myself
that question because if I had the answer…… Well, you get my drift. I often
tell myself that I mustn’t forget so and so, and in the morning have completely
forgotten what it was I had to remember. So where do authors get their ideas
and when? I have been giving some thought lately to the prospect of writing a
series with one character permanently in each book. Something like Jack
Reacher, the creation of Lee Child. I don’t mean to recreate him: nothing could
be further from the truth, but to have a series which readers will follow. And
there’s the rub: authors are generally instinctive. They hit upon an idea and
build a story around it. That’s the way I write. I can’t sit down and chew the
end of my pencil trying to think of a new idea. It has to drop into my mental
lap like a seedling where it can germinate. A year later and the seedling has
blossomed into a mature plant: another book. So why am I thinking of writing
(trying to) a self-imposed style of authorship that is alien to me? Probably
because I can see how successful those types of books are; whether they are
historical, romance, crime or dystopian: readers seem to be waiting, and
positively encouraging the author, until the next book in the series is published.
I recently described myself as a “dinosaur” in the book world. I’m gradually
becoming extinct. I’m from the old school of traditionally published writers
who are finding themselves left behind in the new world of Amazon et al.
During the last week I managed to complete the uploading
of two of my titles to Amazon and one title to Kobo. I also have a paperback in
review with Ingram Spark, having successfully purchased ten ISBN numbers to
cover my titles as they become available in paperback and registered with
Nielsen Book Scan. This is something I have never had to do before, but it’s
fun and I’m looking forward to seeing all my titles — those of which I have the
rights to — being published with my name as publisher.
of two of my titles to Amazon and one title to Kobo. I also have a paperback in
review with Ingram Spark, having successfully purchased ten ISBN numbers to
cover my titles as they become available in paperback and registered with
Nielsen Book Scan. This is something I have never had to do before, but it’s
fun and I’m looking forward to seeing all my titles — those of which I have the
rights to — being published with my name as publisher.
Part of my success during the week was to start my
e-mailing list. It has grown to 20, and it is up to me to keep those subscribers
on board and interested in what I’m up to. Hopefully the list will grow to much
higher numbers, but the object will be the same: to encourage them to stick
with me and buy my books. None of my subscribers will be pestered or plagued
with e-mails from me, and from time to time I hope I can offer them something
free, and also an opportunity to become part of a launch team which will have
an opportunity to read any new books I complete before they are published.
Sounds good? Then why not add your name to my list? Just click the link (http://eepurl.com/bgYKMj) and you will receive a free copy of The Devil’s Trinity.
e-mailing list. It has grown to 20, and it is up to me to keep those subscribers
on board and interested in what I’m up to. Hopefully the list will grow to much
higher numbers, but the object will be the same: to encourage them to stick
with me and buy my books. None of my subscribers will be pestered or plagued
with e-mails from me, and from time to time I hope I can offer them something
free, and also an opportunity to become part of a launch team which will have
an opportunity to read any new books I complete before they are published.
Sounds good? Then why not add your name to my list? Just click the link (http://eepurl.com/bgYKMj) and you will receive a free copy of The Devil’s Trinity.
Next week I hope to see a growth in my subscribers list
and some progress with my next book. Wish me luck!
and some progress with my next book. Wish me luck!
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