It’s Monday, what are you writing?

Good morning all !

First, let me slide this in here swiftly; new anthology, Tick Tock, is out now on Amazon. This is an eclectic mix of poetry and prose, sci-fi, fantasy, fiction and more, from Wirral Writers. I have three pieces included – The Scream of the Butterfly, Blackbird and Farewell. I hope you will enjoy it.

Now, it’s Monday, for some reason it is looked on with misery or a feeling of bleurgh! I fell into this trap during my mid to late twenties – but why?

It’s only another day to write something amazing!!!

 

What are you working on at the moment?

Are you struggling to get that character with the rather bland personality to be a hero?

Is there a flaw in your timeline?

How many fluffy aliens does it really take to run a spaceship?

All relevant questions; to someone! And you know what? You’re the ones who have the answers – it’s your world, your people, grab them both by the short and curlies and shake the living daylights out of them until they comply. Bend them to your will. Be the boss, go on!

Now go write!

 

 

*Postscript – I am letting you know, so I don’t deceive my readers, some of my links  now connect to Amazon. If someone buys something via my link, I get some coin, not a lot, I’m not going to be able to buy a new washing machine, but I want you to be aware.

 

 

Merry Booking Christmas…

So, this will be the final post for 2016. I am going to take a break from ‘social media’ during the Christmas period, starting after this post.

It has been an up and down year as regards my writing. I had three short stories accepted for publication; e-magazines and actual paperbacks, I completed a novel (100,740 words) that I had begun in 2014, and submitted it for consideration (awaiting response!) And also completed a story for Wirral Writers anthology (5,000 words) plus two poems – that we will be publishing early 2017. I had six rejections and am still awaiting to see if four other submissions have made the grade. I joined National Novel Writing Month, reaching the 50,000 word target, thus securing myself a certificate (that I couldn’t print my name on as it’s a PDF) and the knowledge that I can work without distraction; sort of!

It isn’t complete yet, that NaNoWriMo story; 50,000 words does not a novel make.  Chuck Wendig – terribleminds blog – has some great stuff to say about NaNo and writing in general; http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2015/10/27/why-you-should-do-nanowrimo-and-why-you-shouldnt/

I’ve lost count of how many word counts I have done ,and  worrying that I haven’t written enough words, or too many; how on earth am I going to cut that 13,000 down to the requisite 7,000? I am beginning to realise – I am a writer, this is what I do. Oh sure, I have a day job (a real job some might say). I used to be a painter – no not houses, a real painter! Did I sell stuff? Yes I did. Did I make a living from it? No I bloody well didn’t. And it looks like writing will be the same. I know quite a lot of writers now, in fact, I know more writers than I ever did visual artists, and none of them is wealthy. NONE. The world is not really geared towards creative types; unless you create a sit-com (preferably American!), an advert for silky legs or yoghurt that’s great for your gut bacteria.

But it’s the continuous trying that makes us what we are, not the fails, in the words of Michael Jordan, Sportsman:- “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

 

Oh, so it’s all about money?! I hear you say. No, it isn’t. I would be delighted to have a book published by an actual publishing house. I’d wet my pants if it got turned into a movie! The acceptance of my creativity is far more exciting and important than mere pounds, shillings and pence – but it would be lovely to have some! I look forward to writing something that I myself knew was as good as J.G Ballard or Tim Powers or Angela Carter, that would be this writers dream. Most of all though, creative types have heart, and that’s worth more than any cheque.
So, next year, keep writing, keep submitting and hoping and praying…

Maybe Father Christmas will bring me ‘genius’ for Christmas, or ‘excellence’. I never got ‘excellent’ at school – for anything. Maybe some publisher will take pity on me and give a  generous contract! (And if it doesn’t happen, I might go all Hellblazer on them)  Next year, maybe next year….

So in the words of a fictional character, “God Bless us, everyone!” (I just threw up a little)

And in the words of Bob Hope, “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.”

Success is marked by your inner self, not stuff. In that respect, I have had a remarkably successful year. (By the way, you can feel all fuzzy and warm if you buy books, that way, you keep authors alive!)

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful New Year,

A x

 

*set image: John Constantine from Hellblazer.

 

 

Making Money (or not!)

Just one in ten authors can earn full-time living from writing, report finds.

When I began writing, about two years ago, I spoke to someone who is already working and selling books – R.B Harkess – http://rbharkess.blogspot.co.uk/      who told an audience of wannabe writers not to expect to become rich from writing. Not only that, he was totally honest about the chances of getting published – slim, the chances of making a decent living – slimmer, and of becoming the next J.K Rowling – practically zero.

He painted a clear picture about the pitfalls, the hard graft, the potential battles with editors, selecting book covers, editing your own work, proof-reading, promotion, etc.

And I still decided to go ahead and do it!

So I just found this article in The Telegraph; (not a paper I usually read) giving us the bad news. Less people are making a living these days from writing, 30% less!  It seems (1) less publishing houses are willing to take on new authors, (2) that wages are below the minimum and (3) women earn less than men! So, breaking this down into parts:

1. Not surprising considering the current economic climate. E-books seem to have swallowed up a lot of the paperback buying market. However, there are many, many small online publishers who regularly have open submissions. It has never been easier to self publish. I know this is frowned on by some, but think about all those great names who did just that: Benjamin Franklin, William Blake, Jane Austin (initially) and Marcel Proust amongst many others.
2. Wages, ah, the bugbear of many. But do you know what? If I could make the £11,000 a year that the Telegraph article cites, then I would be a very happy bunny. I currently work for less than £7,000 a year; (yes it’s a real job and in the education sector). I would be living a better quality of life on £11,000 and doing what I wanted, in my own time, in my home!
3. Women have always earned less than men (generally speaking), now I know that is not an excuse, and I will continue to complain about it to anyone who will listen, but it at least shows parity with all other walks of life for us females! I’m trying to look on the bright side.

But every now and again, someone will break away from their ‘real’ life jobs and become professional authors. One such is a chap called Craig Hallam – https://craighallam.wordpress.com/                                                                                                                                I met Mr Hallam a couple of years ago at a The Asylum, Lincoln; the largest Steampunk convention in Europe. We chatted, I bought his book ‘Greaveburn’, read it and knew he was the real deal. He has just announced that he has given up the day job (nursing) to become a full time author. Congratulations! If he was anything as good a nurse as he is a writer, then it is a sad loss for the NHS.

I had an e-mail recently from Emma Barnes at Snowbooks. There were royalties from the anthology, Game Over! There were 12 authors, an editor, Jonathan Green, and the publishing company involved, it was enough to by a coffee, but hey! that’s MY coffee, that I earned, with MY writing! I’m happy I made something. It means someone out there likes my writing –

– doesn’t it?!

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11550871/Just-one-in-ten-authors-can-earn-full-time-living-from-writing-report-finds.html