Haven't posted in a while, been pretty busy with commitments and writing the sequel to The Shadowed Paths while proofing my next novel and planning the rest of my writing for next year.
But I had to post some more snippets of the reviews I've been getting, they're coming thick and fast now and I have to say they're spurring me on.
For the full reviews please visit either Amazon or Goodreads (where most of them are).
5.0 out of 5 stars Complex characters...fascinating worlds, 27 Nov 2011
By Z.Gorman
"The Shadowed Path" - the first volume of "The Archwood Chronicles" - is an ambitious tale of epic-scale conflicts ... the opening of the story is a gladiator scene, which is the whole reason why I picked up the book: It is so vividly and powerfully presented.
After a heart-pounding prologue the story turns personal. We are introduced to Marcus, a young man of wealthy descent who is "banished" to a journey to the death, all because of his father's most recent mistress. Having just left a life of comfort and safety behind, he finds himself in the midst of the notoriously dangerous "Xore's Garden" where fierce Shadowed creatures roam.
I find "The Shadowed Path" an enchanting read. Its characters are complex and real; the world is fascinating; the politics is intriguing. I enjoy the language and the writing style as well. In many scenes, I felt I was right there.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, 13 Dec 2011
By R.Lolley
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I got it one day when I was halfway through another fantasy novel (won't mention which one, but it's a series I'm hooked on) and started reading it idly on the way home. I was drawn in so instantly that I put the other novel aside to finish this one, which took me just five days!
What I like about it so much is that there are so many concepts and plot ideas which I haven’t come across before in my extensive reading of the well-used fantasy genre. The Shadowland is an instantly compelling, haunting concept. I love the way we only see parts of what is one of the main elements of the book, keeping us waiting to be drip fed just a little bit more of Marcus' experiences. The Waystalkers are also a truly intriguing race, almost elf like and yet still completely different from anything else I have read.
The further you progress in the book, the more you get drawn into the world of Prast and the characters, who I have to say are well developed, psychologically interesting individuals. I can't wait to see where Marcus goes next, and how Sheena/Jinx is developed as a character.
I love the vaguely familiar Roman/Aztec type settings of Prast and the Sul empire giving us a point of reference against a very fantasy inspired back-drop. The writing style is direct and easy to follow, not overly elaborate, but practical and yet very descriptive. It is easy to picture what is being presented to you. The action sequences are not heroic, unrealistic swash-buckling fights, but swift, brutal, real action, which passes by fast enough that they don't detract from the story but still add that conflict needed to drive a good fantasy story forward.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds, hopefully see more of the Shadowland, and I will definitely be keeping tabs for the next book and grabbing it as soon as it comes out.
I genuinely think this is as professional a book as I've seen on mainstream publishing shelves. In fact, it's a lot better than some I've read!
5.0 out of 5 stars Fab debut !, 10 Dec 2011
By Lorraine Arndell
Wow. This first part certainly has the feel of an epic story. A whole new world, strongly influenced by the empires of the past.
The novel certainly has its fair share of characters and places ... the lavish descriptions and the specific vocabulary will really draw you into the story ... Once I really got into it, the story literally flowed. The book deserved all my attention. And I did feel rewarded for it.
I'm really looking forward to part 2 now. There are so many questions left unanswered, it's going to feel like a long wait !
And "Xore's Arse" has so been added to my list of rude expressions. Don't know if I'll ever get to use it without people thinking I'm a weirdo, but I love it nevertheless!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Rules of Writing Part 2: How to Plan a Novel
Having got over the introduction phase of my new Rules of Writing I thought I could just get right into part 2 without any preamble on my part. I was wrong. Something was brought to my attention while reading an article online and it would be remiss of me not to mention this up front. So here it is:
Don’t arbitrarily agree and apply everything I say, or imagine that my own Rules of Writing are THE rules of writing. Of course they’re not, and perhaps it was pretentious of me to even label these posts in such a definitive way. They’re not rules on how to write –adverbs, sentence structure, comma use, pronouns, paragraphs, capitalisation... – there are plenty of places to go to for that and I’m not officially qualified enough to teach it. These posts are about things that I’ve learnt (or learned if you’re that way inclined) about methods that work for me when it comes to the actual crafting of stories, the little idiosyncrasies I’ve developed over the years to hone this strange business of writing fiction. I hope some of this resounds with someone, maybe one or two things will help you and when you read them you’ll think, “Oh hey, yeah, that’s quite a good idea, I’m going to try that.” Please don’t think for a moment you have to utilize all of these points and that if you do you’ll be successful. You won’t be. It’ll take a lot more than knowing how to write and knowing a few tricks. In many ways what works for me might not work for you.
With that said, I’m not going to change the title. These are my rules for writing the fiction I write to help me to finish what I start and make each project as good as I can make it. So, that said, let’s get onto part 2!
Rules of Writing Part 2: How to Plan a Novel
Like George Lucas, I’m going to do a prequel here. (I hope this turns out better than his did!) Last time I talked about how to get on with writing, but now I want to backtrack to how I, personally, plan and work on a novel before I begin writing the first draft.
The Idea:
I’m not sure what there is to say about this. Other than having the desire, the time and the ability to write, this one’s the most important. At least for most types of novel. It’s never been something I’ve struggled with myself, I quite literally have hundreds of rough ideas for stories both large and small tucked away in notepads and on my laptop. Most will probably never see the light of day or at best will be incorporated into another story. I have far too many ideas and nowhere near enough time to form them all into stories. Perhaps the ease with which someone can come up with an idea is dependent on the type of stories they enjoy writing, but I also think there’s not much I can tell you for tips on how to get story ideas, it’s a very personal, esoteric thing. All I can say is keep your eyes and ears open; plenty of my ideas are gleaned from everyday events, news items or simply letting my mind wonder.
Refining the basic premise:
Now comes some real work. You’ve got the basic idea, how do you form it into something you can develop into a structured, coherent, logically developed story? It’s true some extremely lucky or extremely talented writers just run with a basic idea and begin writing with barely any framework at all, hoping that their subconscious fills in the gaps and subplots and leaves the story fairly free of holes in the first draft. It might even be true that in some genres (literary novels and romance especially I presume) which focus more on the prose and simple character interactions this is a fine way to start. But for me personally, a writer who values plot as highly as any other aspect of my novels, I need to plan, to outline where I am heading in a story and all the main plot-points and even some minor ones. This isn’t to say I stuck methodically to this structure, it unfailingly changes as the story progresses, but I couldn’t imagine writing a complex full length novel without this initial structure.
So how do I go about creating the framework from the basic idea? Essentially in three ways.
Short Synopsis:
Firstly, I write a short synopsis, outlining the major themes of the novel (this also becomes handy when writing the final synopsis once the book is done.) This initial synopsis is for my eyes only and just helps me flesh out the idea and get the old grey matter working, get me firmly rooted in the novel’s setting. It needn’t be too long, for a pre-novel synopsis mine are usually somewhere between one paragraph and half a page at most. When writing this, just stick to the absolute main plot and overall theme. Quite often while doing this I begin to come up with all sorts of smaller points I’d like to incorporate into the novel and I’ll note these down in my Notes page...
Notes:
For every novel I write I have a Notes page for it. Just a simple word document within which I throw all manner of ideas in no real order. The notes page always becomes a mess, a hodgepodge of random ideas and points and even sometimes historical or factual references if needed. I could organise it, I could alphabetise it, I could somehow make it easier to navigate, but I never do. By the end of the novel it takes a good while to search my notes page for a specific point I wanted, but I’ve never bothered about turning it into something more organised. The most organised thing I do with it is cut/paste points I’m going to incorporate from the notes page into the Scene By Scene document (coming next), just to keep it from getting too cluttered. Think of the Notes page as a bits box you might use if you’re into some sort of hobby (electronics, Lego, plastic models...), it’s somewhere you put stuff that might come in handy later. For novels with a great deal of research (historical/scientific in particular) I sometimes have more than one notes page for different topics, but that’s as far as I get in organisation.
Scene by Scene document:
For me, this part is both the most time consuming of the preparatory stage and the most useful. I also seem to do it a slightly different way each time I write a novel. What this is not is a chapter by chapter breakdown. I’ve only ever done one of those once for a specific submission and I hated it. If you’ve ever written a full length novel you’ll know full well just how much it changes, evolves and grows in the writing, so having something as rigid as a chapter by chapter outline doesn’t make sense to me at all; but scene by scene is great, it allows for development, it’s slightly more dynamic.
Each scene doesn’t have to be too long, but doing this will help immensely in seeing the big picture of the plot. Here’s a brief run-down of the types of scene outlines I’ve done for my novels (sometimes combining them!)
- Simple single paragraph per scene – This is a great way of visualising the entire main plot, but doesn’t leave room for any details, so if I use this method I’ll usually use it alongside a more in-depth one. The key here is to keep things crisp and to the point, just the facts, it’s like a longer version of the Short Synopsis.
- Detailed scene by scene outline – This is the best way of insuring you incorporate everything you want to in a particular section of your novel. Each scene will incorporate subplots and little details. For these I usually scour my Notes for all the points I want to include for a specific section and cut/paste into the relevant scene. This is the most comprehensive, but also not so great at getting a feel for the overall picture. Fantastic when it comes to writing your chapters though.
- scene map/plot arc – This is the best idea I’ve come up with for being able to scope out and connect all the plots of my novel. I’ve never used a plot arc on its own, but I consider it a great tool. Basically I have a collection of text boxes running from the top of a page downwards. In the centre and in bold is my main plot, to either side are subplots and important notes. Again just the basic facts. They all interconnect and do get quite complex towards the latter parts of the novel, but for myself it’s just such a great way to get a good overview. You can do this on paper, in word, in a drawing program or, for best results, use an excel sheet. Check out the picture below for an idea of what I’m talking about. I may even decide to show one of my real ones one day if I get enough requests.
- flash cards – some people love using these, writing a chapter/scene on each card and keeping them in a box. I understand why they’re a good idea; it’s easy to add or takeaway or edit a scene while still keeping them in good order and having something physical to refer to. You can also number them and lay them out like my plot arc (see above). Personally I found doing it this way quite time consuming and not for me, but give it a go.
And that’s pretty much it. With all of the above done at this point I’m usually more than ready to get into the actual writing of my novel. Having done this level of preparation really starts you off on the right foot though, so keep these thoughts in mind. And if you have any tips that I haven’t covered in here by all means leave a comment or get in touch and I’ll add them.
Final thought on ideas and notes.
When you’re truly in the zone ideas can come to you at any time, so be ready to write them down or I guarantee you’ll forget them when you get back to your computer. A great many writers swear by those little notepads. I’ve tried to use them, but I find they’re just one more thing to carry around with me and I’ve never been able to stick to them. These days mobile phones are practically handheld computers anyway so I have a notepad program on mine for those flashes of inspiration while I’m out. I’ve even used a Dictaphone (voice recorder) app on occasion. Whatever way you decide to go, make sure you have something with you to record your ideas wherever you happen to be.
That’ll do for episode two, next time we’ll get into the nuts and bolts of actual story writing.
Don’t arbitrarily agree and apply everything I say, or imagine that my own Rules of Writing are THE rules of writing. Of course they’re not, and perhaps it was pretentious of me to even label these posts in such a definitive way. They’re not rules on how to write –adverbs, sentence structure, comma use, pronouns, paragraphs, capitalisation... – there are plenty of places to go to for that and I’m not officially qualified enough to teach it. These posts are about things that I’ve learnt (or learned if you’re that way inclined) about methods that work for me when it comes to the actual crafting of stories, the little idiosyncrasies I’ve developed over the years to hone this strange business of writing fiction. I hope some of this resounds with someone, maybe one or two things will help you and when you read them you’ll think, “Oh hey, yeah, that’s quite a good idea, I’m going to try that.” Please don’t think for a moment you have to utilize all of these points and that if you do you’ll be successful. You won’t be. It’ll take a lot more than knowing how to write and knowing a few tricks. In many ways what works for me might not work for you.
With that said, I’m not going to change the title. These are my rules for writing the fiction I write to help me to finish what I start and make each project as good as I can make it. So, that said, let’s get onto part 2!
Rules of Writing Part 2: How to Plan a Novel
Like George Lucas, I’m going to do a prequel here. (I hope this turns out better than his did!) Last time I talked about how to get on with writing, but now I want to backtrack to how I, personally, plan and work on a novel before I begin writing the first draft.
The Idea:
I’m not sure what there is to say about this. Other than having the desire, the time and the ability to write, this one’s the most important. At least for most types of novel. It’s never been something I’ve struggled with myself, I quite literally have hundreds of rough ideas for stories both large and small tucked away in notepads and on my laptop. Most will probably never see the light of day or at best will be incorporated into another story. I have far too many ideas and nowhere near enough time to form them all into stories. Perhaps the ease with which someone can come up with an idea is dependent on the type of stories they enjoy writing, but I also think there’s not much I can tell you for tips on how to get story ideas, it’s a very personal, esoteric thing. All I can say is keep your eyes and ears open; plenty of my ideas are gleaned from everyday events, news items or simply letting my mind wonder.
Refining the basic premise:
Now comes some real work. You’ve got the basic idea, how do you form it into something you can develop into a structured, coherent, logically developed story? It’s true some extremely lucky or extremely talented writers just run with a basic idea and begin writing with barely any framework at all, hoping that their subconscious fills in the gaps and subplots and leaves the story fairly free of holes in the first draft. It might even be true that in some genres (literary novels and romance especially I presume) which focus more on the prose and simple character interactions this is a fine way to start. But for me personally, a writer who values plot as highly as any other aspect of my novels, I need to plan, to outline where I am heading in a story and all the main plot-points and even some minor ones. This isn’t to say I stuck methodically to this structure, it unfailingly changes as the story progresses, but I couldn’t imagine writing a complex full length novel without this initial structure.
So how do I go about creating the framework from the basic idea? Essentially in three ways.
Short Synopsis:
Firstly, I write a short synopsis, outlining the major themes of the novel (this also becomes handy when writing the final synopsis once the book is done.) This initial synopsis is for my eyes only and just helps me flesh out the idea and get the old grey matter working, get me firmly rooted in the novel’s setting. It needn’t be too long, for a pre-novel synopsis mine are usually somewhere between one paragraph and half a page at most. When writing this, just stick to the absolute main plot and overall theme. Quite often while doing this I begin to come up with all sorts of smaller points I’d like to incorporate into the novel and I’ll note these down in my Notes page...
Notes:
For every novel I write I have a Notes page for it. Just a simple word document within which I throw all manner of ideas in no real order. The notes page always becomes a mess, a hodgepodge of random ideas and points and even sometimes historical or factual references if needed. I could organise it, I could alphabetise it, I could somehow make it easier to navigate, but I never do. By the end of the novel it takes a good while to search my notes page for a specific point I wanted, but I’ve never bothered about turning it into something more organised. The most organised thing I do with it is cut/paste points I’m going to incorporate from the notes page into the Scene By Scene document (coming next), just to keep it from getting too cluttered. Think of the Notes page as a bits box you might use if you’re into some sort of hobby (electronics, Lego, plastic models...), it’s somewhere you put stuff that might come in handy later. For novels with a great deal of research (historical/scientific in particular) I sometimes have more than one notes page for different topics, but that’s as far as I get in organisation.
Scene by Scene document:
For me, this part is both the most time consuming of the preparatory stage and the most useful. I also seem to do it a slightly different way each time I write a novel. What this is not is a chapter by chapter breakdown. I’ve only ever done one of those once for a specific submission and I hated it. If you’ve ever written a full length novel you’ll know full well just how much it changes, evolves and grows in the writing, so having something as rigid as a chapter by chapter outline doesn’t make sense to me at all; but scene by scene is great, it allows for development, it’s slightly more dynamic.
Each scene doesn’t have to be too long, but doing this will help immensely in seeing the big picture of the plot. Here’s a brief run-down of the types of scene outlines I’ve done for my novels (sometimes combining them!)
- Simple single paragraph per scene – This is a great way of visualising the entire main plot, but doesn’t leave room for any details, so if I use this method I’ll usually use it alongside a more in-depth one. The key here is to keep things crisp and to the point, just the facts, it’s like a longer version of the Short Synopsis.
- Detailed scene by scene outline – This is the best way of insuring you incorporate everything you want to in a particular section of your novel. Each scene will incorporate subplots and little details. For these I usually scour my Notes for all the points I want to include for a specific section and cut/paste into the relevant scene. This is the most comprehensive, but also not so great at getting a feel for the overall picture. Fantastic when it comes to writing your chapters though.
- scene map/plot arc – This is the best idea I’ve come up with for being able to scope out and connect all the plots of my novel. I’ve never used a plot arc on its own, but I consider it a great tool. Basically I have a collection of text boxes running from the top of a page downwards. In the centre and in bold is my main plot, to either side are subplots and important notes. Again just the basic facts. They all interconnect and do get quite complex towards the latter parts of the novel, but for myself it’s just such a great way to get a good overview. You can do this on paper, in word, in a drawing program or, for best results, use an excel sheet. Check out the picture below for an idea of what I’m talking about. I may even decide to show one of my real ones one day if I get enough requests.
- flash cards – some people love using these, writing a chapter/scene on each card and keeping them in a box. I understand why they’re a good idea; it’s easy to add or takeaway or edit a scene while still keeping them in good order and having something physical to refer to. You can also number them and lay them out like my plot arc (see above). Personally I found doing it this way quite time consuming and not for me, but give it a go.
And that’s pretty much it. With all of the above done at this point I’m usually more than ready to get into the actual writing of my novel. Having done this level of preparation really starts you off on the right foot though, so keep these thoughts in mind. And if you have any tips that I haven’t covered in here by all means leave a comment or get in touch and I’ll add them.
Final thought on ideas and notes.
When you’re truly in the zone ideas can come to you at any time, so be ready to write them down or I guarantee you’ll forget them when you get back to your computer. A great many writers swear by those little notepads. I’ve tried to use them, but I find they’re just one more thing to carry around with me and I’ve never been able to stick to them. These days mobile phones are practically handheld computers anyway so I have a notepad program on mine for those flashes of inspiration while I’m out. I’ve even used a Dictaphone (voice recorder) app on occasion. Whatever way you decide to go, make sure you have something with you to record your ideas wherever you happen to be.
That’ll do for episode two, next time we’ll get into the nuts and bolts of actual story writing.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
From the Write Angle: Writing Lessons from a Mannequin: Building Charact...
From the Write Angle: Writing Lessons from a Mannequin: Building Charact...: by Cat Woods While in Chicago last fall, Dear Hubby and I awoke one night to a very loud and still-unidentified vibration. It was 4:30 in...
Monday, October 24, 2011
Reviews of The Shadowed Path
Thought I'd just post a few reviews I've had so far:
"This is an amazing book so far (I'm halfway through). Complex and intriguing characters, a masterfully-written plot and a world much like Gladiator (movie) mixed with dark fantasy and all the awesome monsters and peoples related to it--and intense action! (I wrote this in quick layman terms which won't be in its final review). I'm bracing myself for what will happen when Marcus and Sheena meet, as I foresee sparks flying one way or the other--or both!" - http://infinitydreamt.blogspot.com/
"The characters are likeable and come across as well-defined individuals...
...The world-building, despite borrowing terminology from the Romans is good, blending the familiar with the unfamiliar. The descriptions and conception of the Shadowland creatures are vivid and worthy of a Simon R Green story. The waystalkers have a unique culture and way of life. The fight scenes are what makes this book stand out and I would describe as Gemmellian in their awesomeness. Fans of heroic fantasy would certainly be pleased with them." - Amazon reviewer, Noor A Jahangir
"5/5 Review:
The Shadowed Path is a book that quickly pulled me into a vivid Roman Empire-like world, immersed in dark fantasy elements. Two nations on the brink of war, and between them a place all its own; the Shadowland. Here it is the waystalkers, inhumanii connected to the earth, who are at one with its darkness. But on the outside of their world they are slaves to humans who they cannot kill. The rules change when the enemy bends some of these lethal waystalkers to their advantage, and Marcus and his companions barely escape alive.
Marcus didn't want to get sent away from his comfortable, rich life to join a merchant caravan on a such a treacherous journey. On getting out of the Shadowland four years later, he finds nothing remaining of the life he left. When things begin to escalate violently in his search for answers, his quick-wits, calm demeanor and fighting skills gained from the Shadowland make him an awesome character to follow.
When Sheena joins the story, she goes from a woman in despair to one bent on vengeance. Her shattered mind due to the traumatic loss of her family gives her character an even more suspenseful edge, particularly when she aims her vengeance at Marcus.
I'm curious to see what happens next with Marcus and Sheena and how the waystalkers will further play out. A great deal of the four years in the Shadowland has yet to be revealed as well, as the imprints it has left on Marcus and his friends are significant. Great characters, story, and action, makes this a series I will be following closely." - http://fantasycookie.blogspot.com/
"This is an amazing book so far (I'm halfway through). Complex and intriguing characters, a masterfully-written plot and a world much like Gladiator (movie) mixed with dark fantasy and all the awesome monsters and peoples related to it--and intense action! (I wrote this in quick layman terms which won't be in its final review). I'm bracing myself for what will happen when Marcus and Sheena meet, as I foresee sparks flying one way or the other--or both!" - http://infinitydreamt.blogspot.com/
"The characters are likeable and come across as well-defined individuals...
...The world-building, despite borrowing terminology from the Romans is good, blending the familiar with the unfamiliar. The descriptions and conception of the Shadowland creatures are vivid and worthy of a Simon R Green story. The waystalkers have a unique culture and way of life. The fight scenes are what makes this book stand out and I would describe as Gemmellian in their awesomeness. Fans of heroic fantasy would certainly be pleased with them." - Amazon reviewer, Noor A Jahangir
"5/5 Review:
The Shadowed Path is a book that quickly pulled me into a vivid Roman Empire-like world, immersed in dark fantasy elements. Two nations on the brink of war, and between them a place all its own; the Shadowland. Here it is the waystalkers, inhumanii connected to the earth, who are at one with its darkness. But on the outside of their world they are slaves to humans who they cannot kill. The rules change when the enemy bends some of these lethal waystalkers to their advantage, and Marcus and his companions barely escape alive.
Marcus didn't want to get sent away from his comfortable, rich life to join a merchant caravan on a such a treacherous journey. On getting out of the Shadowland four years later, he finds nothing remaining of the life he left. When things begin to escalate violently in his search for answers, his quick-wits, calm demeanor and fighting skills gained from the Shadowland make him an awesome character to follow.
When Sheena joins the story, she goes from a woman in despair to one bent on vengeance. Her shattered mind due to the traumatic loss of her family gives her character an even more suspenseful edge, particularly when she aims her vengeance at Marcus.
I'm curious to see what happens next with Marcus and Sheena and how the waystalkers will further play out. A great deal of the four years in the Shadowland has yet to be revealed as well, as the imprints it has left on Marcus and his friends are significant. Great characters, story, and action, makes this a series I will be following closely." - http://fantasycookie.blogspot.com/
Friday, October 21, 2011
First Edition Trade Paperback of The Shadowed Path now available!
Click the link below or to the right to view the print version of my debut novel.
This is a 6"x9" Trade Paperback First Edition
To celebrate the release of the First Edition Trade Paperback of my debut novel I'm giving copies away at Goodreads!
This will be the first of several promotions coming up within the next month, so take advantage of it, it's completely free to enter and.
If you win, all I ask is that you write a short review of the book and post it online.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Add Custom Screensavers / Lockscreens to your Kindle!
Okay so I got my new kindle a few days ago (see here: http://www.simonstoneauthor.com/archives/341) and right away I NEEDED to change the lockscreens. As much as I admire these long-dead writers and great minds I didn't really want portraits of them every time I saw my little hibernating ereader. So, I tried searching for a way to change the screensavers. Should be easy right? That's something people would want to change so I was sure Amazon would have some conspicuous folder somewhere where I could add/delete lockscreen images.
No. No such luck. That would be too simple.
On to plan B. Jailbreak it.
Now way back in about 2007/8 Amazon began releasing the source code, the GPL libraries used to power the Kindle software. Since then, not too long after each new firmware update, talented little hackers (I say little because most I'm aware of are under two decades old) make simple update .bin files available so you can unlock your kindle and easily modify things in it.
I thought doing this might void the warranty. It usually does. It turns out at the most it might void a warranty pertaining to any software/firmware issues. At best it seems Amazon don't mind you modifying your device in this way since it's so easy to uninstall any modifications. I will say you take your own risks in this and do your own research. I'm just posting a "how to".
So, how to do it? Read on:
1. Work out what kind of Kindle you have and what the firmware version is. You can find that by going menu/settings, and it shoudl be at the bottom of your screen. Mine currently says 3.2.1 then a bunch of numbers in brackets. And I have a UK Kindle Wi-fi without 3G.
2. Upload the zip file and unzip. If you have 3.2.1 the file can be found here: http://yifan.lu/p/kindle-jailbreak
If you have an earlier version and for some more really good clear instructions go here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/37424/jailbreak-your-kindle-for-dead-simple-screensaver-customization/
3. Next you want to connect your Kindle to your pc and keep it in USB mode. Open up the kindle's folder.
4. Now choose your file. Copy and paste the correct update for your device into your kindle's folder.
k2 = Kindle 2 US
k2i = Kindle 2 International
dx = Kindle DX US
dxi = Kindle DX International
dxg = Kindle DX Graphite
k3 = Kindle 3 Wifi + 3G (US & Canada)
k3g = Kindle 3 Wifi + 3G (Elsewhere)
k3w = Kindle 3 Wifi
Mine was called "update_jailbreak_0.5.1_k3w_install"
5. Eject your kindle and unplug. Go to menu/settings then click menu/update your kindle
click OK and the jailbreak begins. You've set your kindle free!
Now for part 2: setting up the folder to put screensavers in!
Bascially it's exactly the same steps as jailbreaking. Download the custom .zip file here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BLJV0WKE
or find the second part of the "how to" here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/37424/jailbreak-your-kindle-for-dead-simple-screensaver-customization/
Again, extract, plug in your kindle, open the folder and copy/paste the correct file (in my case "update_ss_0.20.N_k3w_install").
Then disconnect and again go to menu/setup, then in setup click menu/update your kindle
Once the update is done, plug your kindle back in and open the kindle folder. You should now see a new foldoer called "linkss". Open that and you should see a bunch of files and folders, one of which is "screensavers". That's where you put any new images you want for your lockscreen! Make sure they're the correct size and greyscale (no colour). Easiest thing is to do a google search and find already made ones online, but they're easy enough to make yourself with a simple photo editing program.
Once you've dropped some images (.jpg, .gif., .png) into the folder and you want to check them out, unplug the kindle and reboot it. (I just hold down the off button for 15 seconds.)
After it reboots you should now have some great new screensavers!!
If at any point Amazon releases new firmware and you want to update it, you can just go through this process again in reverse, putting the "uninstall" files on your device until it's back to how it was, then update and hunt around for the latest jailbreak to fit the new firmware version.
Any questions get in touch. Here' some pics of mine!
No. No such luck. That would be too simple.
On to plan B. Jailbreak it.
Now way back in about 2007/8 Amazon began releasing the source code, the GPL libraries used to power the Kindle software. Since then, not too long after each new firmware update, talented little hackers (I say little because most I'm aware of are under two decades old) make simple update .bin files available so you can unlock your kindle and easily modify things in it.
I thought doing this might void the warranty. It usually does. It turns out at the most it might void a warranty pertaining to any software/firmware issues. At best it seems Amazon don't mind you modifying your device in this way since it's so easy to uninstall any modifications. I will say you take your own risks in this and do your own research. I'm just posting a "how to".
So, how to do it? Read on:
1. Work out what kind of Kindle you have and what the firmware version is. You can find that by going menu/settings, and it shoudl be at the bottom of your screen. Mine currently says 3.2.1 then a bunch of numbers in brackets. And I have a UK Kindle Wi-fi without 3G.
2. Upload the zip file and unzip. If you have 3.2.1 the file can be found here: http://yifan.lu/p/kindle-jailbreak
If you have an earlier version and for some more really good clear instructions go here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/37424/jailbreak-your-kindle-for-dead-simple-screensaver-customization/
3. Next you want to connect your Kindle to your pc and keep it in USB mode. Open up the kindle's folder.
4. Now choose your file. Copy and paste the correct update for your device into your kindle's folder.
k2 = Kindle 2 US
k2i = Kindle 2 International
dx = Kindle DX US
dxi = Kindle DX International
dxg = Kindle DX Graphite
k3 = Kindle 3 Wifi + 3G (US & Canada)
k3g = Kindle 3 Wifi + 3G (Elsewhere)
k3w = Kindle 3 Wifi
Mine was called "update_jailbreak_0.5.1_k3w_install"
5. Eject your kindle and unplug. Go to menu/settings then click menu/update your kindle
click OK and the jailbreak begins. You've set your kindle free!
Now for part 2: setting up the folder to put screensavers in!
Bascially it's exactly the same steps as jailbreaking. Download the custom .zip file here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BLJV0WKE
or find the second part of the "how to" here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/37424/jailbreak-your-kindle-for-dead-simple-screensaver-customization/
Again, extract, plug in your kindle, open the folder and copy/paste the correct file (in my case "update_ss_0.20.N_k3w_install").
Then disconnect and again go to menu/setup, then in setup click menu/update your kindle
Once the update is done, plug your kindle back in and open the kindle folder. You should now see a new foldoer called "linkss". Open that and you should see a bunch of files and folders, one of which is "screensavers". That's where you put any new images you want for your lockscreen! Make sure they're the correct size and greyscale (no colour). Easiest thing is to do a google search and find already made ones online, but they're easy enough to make yourself with a simple photo editing program.
Once you've dropped some images (.jpg, .gif., .png) into the folder and you want to check them out, unplug the kindle and reboot it. (I just hold down the off button for 15 seconds.)
After it reboots you should now have some great new screensavers!!
If at any point Amazon releases new firmware and you want to update it, you can just go through this process again in reverse, putting the "uninstall" files on your device until it's back to how it was, then update and hunt around for the latest jailbreak to fit the new firmware version.
Any questions get in touch. Here' some pics of mine!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Kindle 3 vs Kindle 4 and the wonders of Amazon-not-com
For reasons to do with accidental coffee spillage I found myself suddenly and tragically e-readerless. Now as much as I will always love printed books and will always prefer reading from them, I do most of my reading nowadays on my e-reader, and I read a LOT, so this was a situation I couldn’t stay in for very long.
So, off I went to amazon.co.uk because I’d heard about these fantastic new kindles (specifically the Touch and Fire). On a side note I almost jumped up and down when I heard about the full colour Fire until I realised it wasn’t some new kind of colour e-ink but was just a generic tablet. Scratch that, I want e-ink for reading or nothing...
So, the Touch looked cool then; small, compact e-ink touchscreen. 7 kinds of Awesome.
Then I found out that along with the vast majority of the rest of the world, I don’t in fact live in the United States, and if you’re not in the US, you’ll have to wait. Gotta love international corporations with national nepotism issues...
So basically that meant I was stuck with ordering the basic new Kindle 4, 6”, 2011-whatever-you-want-to-call-it. Fair enough, no big deal. I order it online for next day delivery and it comes looking all sexy and aluminium fresh. Love the metal feel, love the size, love the screen... oh wait, there’s a big blank line running through the centre of it.
Great... Called tech support, and after speaking to a very helpful woman I was told my new Kindle was broken and I needed to return it. Meanwhile I’m doing some research that I should have done before ordering it...
Turns out the Kindle 4 has exactly the same screen as the Kindle 3 (now called Keyboard).
Turns out it can’t do audio at all. No speakers, no audio output.
Turns out it has half the memory. HALF.
Turns out unlike the Kindle 3 the mains charger comes seperate as a rather large extra cost.
Plus it has no touchscreen or keyboard and in my brief encounter with my broken one, trying to type anything with just a D-pad took forever.
Added to all that, the Kindle 3 (Keyboard), which in my opinion is better for the above reasons anyway, had been reduced in price in my local supermarket to less than the Kindle 4!
Naturally I posted back my busted Kindle 4 and bought a new Kindle 3 from my supermarket. Cheaper and better.
So, unless there’s more future coffee issues this will see me through the Kindle 4/Touch/Fire era entirely. Sorry Amazon, would have happily bought the Touch if you'd released it around the world at the same time.
In conclusion, unless you live in the US, or unless you’re bothered about a slightly smaller Kindle in shiny metal, I’d go with the Kindle 3 (Keyboard).
Friday, October 7, 2011
Why become an independent/self-published writer?
Firstly, this has been done to death in many a blog. I’m aware of that and I’m not going to cover the same ground. If you want details, how-to guides and pros and cons, do a search and you’ll find plenty of material. But at the same time this is my personal blog so I figure I should probably write about why I, personally, am going down that route.
What makes a writer? I’ve said this before. If you write, if you love it, if it’s your passion, you’re a writer. You might not be any good, you might struggle to find the time, you might only be able to manage one hundred words on a really productive day, you might have ten bestsellers under your belt and a learjet in your garage; whatever, you’re still a writer. Congratulations. (Especially if you’re the one with the learjet.)
But for the rest of us normal people having a contract and a fat advance from a big publishing house is great, of course it is, but that isn’t why we write. At least that’s not why I write and I suspect it’s true of many. I write because I love to craft stories, to create compelling narrative, dialogue, characters and, hopefully, to sculpt lush, eloquent and poetic prose that might be considered “literary” (that most arbitrary of labels). But most of all, I write to be read. I love the idea of creating something that someone else might enjoy. I do it with music, I do it with art, I even used to spend hours constructing elaborate scenarios for Role Playing Games (yes, I am a geek and proud of it).
Except, in the current environment it’s monumentally difficult to get published by a mainstream house. Except, each submission takes months before you get any reply at all. Except, years can go by without anyone ever getting to read what you’ve made.
So, why have I gone down the indie route? I haven’t. Nothing’s ever set in stone. I know I’ll keep writing, stuff will still get sent to publishers, I know I’ll get lots more “positive” rejections (there’s a dichotomy), and maybe at some point something more. But in the meantime I couldn’t justify sitting on manuscripts that have been lying in my harddrive collecting cyber-dust when they could be read and, I hope, enjoyed by people. They’ve been edited to death, read and re-read by people who aren’t friends or family but who still think they’re great. So why not?
I am also very aware that if you become a successful writer published by a mainstream house you get pigeon-holed. Well-known conspiracy writers write conspiracy thrillers, well-known historical fiction writers write historical fiction, well-known sci-fi writers write... yes, you guessed it. And that’s fine, maybe they do write other things and publish under other names, maybe all they want to write is what they’re known for. I couldn’t stick to one thing. I love to read and write romances, plays, screenplays, sci-fi, contemporary literature, historical thrillers... the list goes on. So why shouldn’t I? If I ever get a publishing contract I’d probably be contracted to write in a particular style and setting. That’s fine, but it won’t ever stop me from writing anything else I might want to write... and self-publishing will always be there for me to make sure at least some people read what I’ve written.
And having said all that, the publishing world is changing, and changing fast. Now that Amazon is effectively becoming a publisher, now that self-published authors have the ebook readers and access to large audiences, who knows what the future will bring.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
From the Write Angle: Self-publishing? Use the right tools!
Had to borrow this link to a fantastic article for all you indie-authors out there. Some first class advice here.
'via Blog this'
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Which Musical Instrument Should I learn?
If you’ve never tried learning a musical instrument, choosing which one you would like to learn isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Not only are there a huge variety of instruments to consider, but there are often many styles and methods of playing each one of them. Added to that, some instruments are relatively easy to grasp the basics of, while others require a little more dedication and time and have a steeper learning curve to them. To make your choice you’re going to need some help, so read on.
Perhaps the first question you should ask yourself is: what type of music do you enjoy most?
This is the starting point. Your answer is going to narrow the list down substantially. Do you like folk music? Then maybe think about the dulcimer, flute, acoustic or Spanish/classical guitar. Maybe jazz is your thing? Then perhaps something like the piano, the double bass or the saxophone would be ideal. Classical, orchestral music has the largest range to choose from but, with the exception of the piano, many classical pieces of music require you to play with others. Then again, playing with others once you’re capable is one of the most enjoyable aspects of learning an instrument. So, think about what you like and have that in mind throughout the rest of the article.
To guide you in the process here is a list of the most common musical instruments with their pros and cons and which music they are most often associated with. Obviously this list is not exhaustive, but it will help you towards an informed decision:
Piano
The piano is a wonderful starting point for any aspiring musician, and once learned to an intermediate degree, forms a solid foundation for many other instruments, including the human voice. It’s also very often the primary instrument in the composing process. Many classical composers would have used the piano to initially write their pieces for other instruments. On the piano musical notes are clearly visible, including sharps/flats, and chord structures follow patterns. In short, the piano is the quintessential instrument, and worth learning to some level even if it will not be your main instrument of choice as it forms a good basis for grasping general musical theory. Although a fine instrument when accompanying others, it is also great when played solo; and of course it still allows the player to sing while playing.
There are a few downsides. For one, decent pianos are expensive, though electric keyboards can be cheaper options. As with most instruments, you get what you pay for, but there are always bargains to be had if you’re willing to buy second-hand. They can also take up a large amount of space and non-electric pianos, whether upright or grand, aren’t very transportable.
Guitar
The guitar is probably the most wide-spread and popular of contemporary instruments. There are essentially three main types of modern guitar: the steel-string acoustic; the smaller, nylon-stringed classical – or Spanish – guitar; and the electric guitar. Each of those have sub-genres, most especially the electric guitar, which can come as a solid body of various types, a hollow-body, or a semi, each with its own characteristics. There are also less common types such as the diminutive ukulele, the banjo, and the lap-guitar that’s so popular in country music.
Grasping the basics of the guitar is relatively easy to accomplish. In a short time an individual can learn enough chords to play some simple songs – it’s amazing how much popular music uses just a few chords. Like most things however, to become an expert, even in one style, can take many years of work and dedication.
The guitar is light and easy to transport. Again and as always, you get what you pay for, but the sheer amount of guitars on the market ensures there are always bargains.
Flute
Now for a few of the most popular woodwind instruments. The flute is a reedless wind instrument and, when played well, is lovely to listen to either played solo or as part of an orchestra. It’s also a popular marching band and school orchestra choice. Though very different to stringed and brass instruments, it is not difficult to pick up the basics. They’re easy to carry around and can be purchased quite cheaply, especially those intended for beginners. Flutes are used in folk and orchestral music.
Clarinet
The clarinet is a single-reed instrument of the woodwind genre. In typical classical orchestras a Clarinettist usually has two at hand and ready to play; one in B♭ and one in A. They are quite complex instruments to learn, but once you are adapt, the jump to other woodwind instruments is much easier as most others tend to be more forgiving. Famous in big band jazz music, the clarinet has a very distinctive sound. Reed instruments do tend to be pricey however, so budget is a consideration. They are dissectible for ease of transportation.
Oboe
A quick look at an oboe can immediately tell you it’s a more complex cousin to the clarinet. A double-reed instrument, it has a clear sound and resonance; so much so that orchestras usually tune to the oboe’s concert A. The oboe has about 45 different keys on it, though some octave keys are semi-automatic or completely automatic, but this makes for a difficult time for beginners. It is considerably more expensive than the clarinet, though cheaper plastic resin models are available. Common in classical, jazz and folk music.
Saxophone
The sax is perhaps the most mainstream of the woodwind instruments, often played in pop, rock and blues as much as in classical and jazz and everything in between. It has similar keywork to other reed-based woodwind instruments but, with the exception of the soprano sax, a very distinctive shape all of its own. There are four main varieties, changing in size, pitch and tone. The largest can be cumbersome, especially if you have a small stature or are young. Again, these instruments are expensive. For example a low-end alto sax can cost as much as high-end guitar.
Violin/Viola/Cello
Now for the stringed instruments. The most famous and popular of which are the violin and its larger relatives, the viola and cello. The violin is famous as both a soloist and orchestral instrument and has been used in music as diverse as folk, rock, classical and even pop and dance. The violin is certainly one of the most beautiful sounding instruments when played well, but one of the worst when played by a beginner! This is because of its high pitch – at least for the violin; the viola is lower and the cello lower still – and fretless nature of the neck, meaning it is easy for a beginner to play notes too sharp (high) or flat (low). But if you put in the practice, learn the fingering and attune your ear, these instruments will sing like few others can. All three instruments can be played in different ways, most commonly with the aid of a bow.
While even a full size violin is small and easy to carry, the same cannot be said for the cello, which is played resting on the ground while the player sits. Cheap, beginner instruments are not overly expensive, but as you progress you will want to upgrade, and as with most musical instruments the price increases markedly as you move into professional grade quality. Hunt around for bargains.
Double Bass
This is essentially a larger version of the cello. It too can be played with a bow, though for non-classical styles is commonly plucked or “slapped” like a bass guitar. Famous in jazz music, it provides a rich, deep sound, complementing any percussion instruments.
A full size double bass is a huge instrument requiring a case large enough to fit a person in!
Trumpet//Horn/ Trombone/Tuba
Moving on to the brass instruments, we will look at the trumpet, one of the oldest instruments in the world. Used mainly in classical and jazz music and especially famous in the big band era, the trumpet has a distinctive sound and a high register – it’s the highest of the brass instruments. It can be muted to give a softer tone with less volume. Easy to carry around and with initial learner or second-hand models at reasonable prices, it’s a good instrument to start with, though be careful at what time of day you practice!
The horn (French horn) is the second highest of the brass instruments and is characterised by its distinctive circular silhouette and complex inner tubing. Mainly used in orchestral music, it is mid-size and not overly cumbersome to transport, and is known for its mellow tones.
The trombone is larger, often without buttons (or valves) for changing pitch. Instead it uses a telescopic motion, making for a very distinctive appearance and playing style. Although generally larger than a trumpet, it’s still easy enough to transport.
The tuba is the largest and lowest sounding brass instrument. Never mistake a lower register for lower volume however; it can penetrate the walls of a house just as easily! Usually restricted to orchestral roles, of which there are commonly just one and at most two per orchestra.
All brass instruments are difficult to play softly, so bear that in mind! They can all be muted somewhat with a cone cap, but this does change the sound and feeling significantly.
Conclusion
Obviously this article has just scratched the surface. There are plenty of other common instruments out there, and many more unusual and exotic ones specific to a particular region, country or culture. Percussion instruments like drum-sets, steel drums, bongos, maracas and so forth, are worthy of their own space and are beyond the scope of this article, but certainly are not to be forgotten. In fact, many musicians have said that learning to play some kind of percussion instrument as well is a good way of developing better timing when you play your musical instrument of choice, so bear that in mind.
Hopefully this has given you something to think about. Perhaps the best advice is to go down to your local music shop and have a look around, try some instruments out and see what catches your interest. To get a chance to check out all of the instruments discussed above you might need to visit more than one type of shop. Learning an instrument is as much about the journey as the end result, and you have to be interested enough to want to learn, and enjoy the process of learning, without worrying about how long it might take you. But put in enough dedication and effort and you’ll be making beautiful melodies in no time.
Finally, a brief note on lessons and their importance. Although music lessons are beneficial and should certainly be considered, do not overestimate them. There is a fine balance. Sometimes too much or too rigorous adherence to technical ability can stifle creative ability. If all of your time is spent learning the “correct” way to play an instrument and how to play other peoples’ music perfectly, you might lose the ability to “think outside the box”. Have lesions by all means, learn the techniques, but remember to be creative, break the rules, and learn to make and write your own unique music as much as play everyone else’s!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Rules of Writing Part 1: How to Write Prolifically
So far in my brand spanking new blog I’ve made several posts about my new novel and one observation. None of that is too constructive so I figure it’s about time for something useful.
So to start is my new series on the Rules of Writing. Over the years I’ve built up some ideas and tips and experience which I want to add to what’s already out there. I know there are plenty of guides on becoming a better writer, but each guide has something different to offer or a different slant on a concept, so hopefully you’ll find a few useful things in my series you can implement in your own writing.
So, without further preamble, onto Simon Stone’s Rules of Writing: How to Write Prolifically.
All writers want to be able to finish what they start. No one wants to read a story without an ending, or a book about 20th century aviation that only goes as far as the 1950s, or a biography about Elvis that doesn’t even get to That’s All Right Mama. As a reader, if you pick up a book, you expect to be able to finish it... at least, if you want to.
So why do so many writers (myself included) have a dozen or more (sometimes a LOT more) unfinished bits of manuscript tucked away in their drawers and harddrives that have never been completed?
There’s the obvious reason: They’re unfinished because they’re not all that good, because halfway through you realised the story was just a part of the huge learning curve a writer starts but never actually finishes.
But the other reason could be (and is in my case), that a work remains unfinished because you took so long writing each page, each chapter, each section. You constantly went back to sections to edit them, then read them again and edited them again, then left the whole thing for a few months after you lost steam, came back and, reading it though to catch up, began editing and changing again along the way... and on and on and on until finally one of the times you ran out of steam you never actually re-visited it again. Sound familiar?
What I’ve just described is, in itself, part of the learning process for a writer too. In my own case it took me a good fifteen years of trying to write about six different novels before I finally worked it out. Admittedly I had long breaks and juggled several careers and university in it all too, but it took a long time for me to understand how to start - and then FINISH a novel.
Once I realised what I needed to change I managed to write, edit, polish and have ready for publication three separate novels (each over 130,000 words in length) in the space of three years. And those three years also included full-time work, studying for a degree in physics, family commitments and some pretty time-demanding hobbies of their own. I consider that quite prolific.
So how did I manage it? I’ll explain by telling you what I don’t do when I set time aside to write:
I don’t pace the room with a pen in my mouth, thinking up the most profound, eloquent and jaw-dropping opening line in history. Maybe I should, but there are too many distractions and I’d probably end up playing my piano or watching TV before I realised it.
I don’t spend ten minutes beforehand in a yoga pose meditating to clear my mind. (Having said that I’ve never tried, so maybe that one works...)
I don’t drink and write. A drunk writer behind a fast keyboard has killed many a muse.
I don’t write a paragraph or two and re-read it to death until it’s lost all meaning and I’ve lost all objectivity and sanity – some would say I never had any. Sanity, that is.
I don’t (read try not to) get distracted by surfing the internet or checking emails or making a coffee after just five minutes of work. That’s sometimes a tough one.
I’ll leave the rest of the don’ts there but you get the general idea. So, here’s my first rule.
Important Rules of Writing Number One:
Get Writing.
That’s it. Succinct, simple, to the point. Bleeding obvious probably. Except it took me years to work that out.
Don’t mess around wondering what to write and worrying that it should be something spectacular. Just get stuck in. And that’s the best advice I could give to any aspiring writer. Get on with writing. If you’re staring at a blank page and don’t know how to start, just start writing random thoughts to get the head and fingers going; more often than not it will trigger something off. If you’ve been working on your master novel and hit a brick wall, take some time to think, sure, but not too long. No story is perfect on the first draft, that’s where edits and re-writes come in. Try and get every sentence and every paragraph and every plot-point exactly right first time around and that first draft will never get finished.
Now I’m not saying don’t plan ahead, because you need to. Having a good idea where you’re going in your story is REALLY important, but that’s different, that’s a separate post all on its own. When it comes to writing your actual novel, just get on with it. As an additional rule, think about this:
Don’t look back at what you’ve written unless you need to check something plot-wise.
This is a life-saver for me, so it's worth at least considering. I don’t look back when I write until the first draft is done. If I need to check something (the spelling of a character’s name or location or sub-plot) that’s fine, but I ignore the actual prose. If I see a typo I ignore it. If I see some really badly written dialogue I ignore it. The editing comes later. I force myself to leave it alone. It's hard, but it helps me finish the first draft.
Okay, so there you go, that's got me started. Hope that helps someone. Feel free to leave comments and tell me what I’ve missed.
The Shadowed Path now available on Amazon
Just a quick post today as an update. My first novel, The Shadowed Path, is now available to buy on Amazon (.com, .co.uk and .de) for anyone interested in the kindle version.
Here are the links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OZIHJW
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005OZIHJW
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B005OZIHJW
Next post:
Rules of Writing Part 1: How to Write Prolifically
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
When is my novel ready?
This post actually started as a reply to another post here: http://darkewhispers.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-good-review-of-bad-book-can-hurt.html but became so long I figured it’s better off in its own little corner of the cybersphere.
What makes someone a writer? In my opinion not all that much. Cobble a few words together, have the desire, do it because you love it, and hey presto, a writer is born.
But does that mean you should then give your story a quick once-over, checking for any obvious issues, give it a rudimentary cover, and send it out into the world? From what I’ve seen so far (to my dismay but not surprise), there’s a lot... no wait... a LOT of junk out there saturating the ebook online shops (some shops are worse than others). When I say junk, I don’t mean to be rude or sound superior, I just mean that sometimes great ideas have been sent out way too quickly, haven’t been given the necessary time and vast attention to detail that a novel needs to make it really great. I’m talking about the re-writes (plural), the editing (plural), the sending out to third-party test-readers (not friends or family), the money or time or both spent on designing a really good, professional looking cover, the surprisingly complex task of setting the layout in print and ebooks, all of that. It seems crazy that someone would put the effort into writing an entire novel, even if many of them are short, and then throw it out there in its unfinished form.
It's a shame Smashwords, KDP, Createspace and the rest seem keen to make sure a book looks "good" without bothering about the written quality of the product within. (I use the term "good" lightly because there are still just so many obviously self-published badly cobbled together covers with poor layouts anyway). I know they can’t read every book for quality, but there should be some form of audit, because currently there’s nothing to separate the chaff. Sure, eventually a great book will do well on its own merit if it’s been marketed well and has good reviews, it’s just sad that so many readers might never read it because they’re too busy drowning in the morass of bad novels to ever find your gem.
It’s tragic because It essentially means anyone with enough time to put enough words together (whether they make sense or not) and fashion some sort of cover, can publish. Which means they flood the market with rubbish and continue to give indie authors a bad name.
What’s sad is that as long as people churn out poor quality books and the ebook shops accept them, that reputation isn’t going to go anywhere.
So if you’ve written a novel, fantastic. That in itself is a great achievement. Just make sure it’s the best you can manage... and then leave it somewhere for a while and return to it with some objectivity and edit it... repeat... repeat if needed... make sure people with no connection to you love it... then make sure it looks professional...
Monday, September 26, 2011
My first novel is available to buy!!
And you can read a sample for free to see whether you'd enjoy the rest of it or not. I plan on putting a sample up on my website soon too, but for now you can just get it from Smashwords.
And, if you want to buy it DONT!!! At least not until you've used this coupon number to get 20% off the list price!!
WJ63P
The coupon will be valid until 26th October so make the most of it!
Friday, September 23, 2011
In the works...
That said, having jumped through the kindle, smashwords hoops, if anyone needs any help or advice on the subject do get in touch, especially if you're a UK/Eurozone writer and have questions about getting an ITIN for tax.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Cartographical evisceration
So, a day later, about four hours worth of learning curve, and a paper cut (second only to hard plastic wrapping in deadliness) and my map is finally done! Well, I say done... what I mean is it's good enough until (read if ever) I have the wherewithal, time and money to invest in a professional artist to make one up. But I gotta say I'm happy with the result. I've done two versions, one with a plain background that will go in the print edition of the novel and the other on parchment that will go on the website here. I'm just a bit worried the dimensions might not be right for the print edition and some of the fonts too small... we'll see.
Following the web-guide I linked to in the last post (very helpful), and using the wonders that are photoshop and free licence clip art, I managed to turn this:
And this (and others like them)
Into this!!!:
Not too shabby eh? Click on the images to see them better, right click and open in a new tab to see the full detailed version.
This will now be going up in the "The Shadowed Path" page and the html link will be on the ebook versions.
Oh, and for all you RPG lovers, feel free to use this map for any games you want to play!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
To map, or not to map...
So... while I'm putting the finishing touches on my plan for global domination I' wondering whether I should make a map for my fantasy book or not. The pros: Firstly, it'll be fun to do, I love anything artistic. Secondly, I already have a rough draft in the back page of the proof copy of my novel just to make sure cities and points of interest don't decide to emigrate to more scenic locations half way through the story. Thirdly, I always like it when a fantasy novel has a map included, and some (Martin, Tolkien, Jordan etc etc) really need them. So yes, I think I'm going to give it a try. It won't be included in the Kindle, iBook et al editions, and the print edition is still just far enough away that I could add a map into it should it turn out well enough.
But here are the cons: I would like to add the completed map to my website somewhere so I could add a link into the ebook editions, but I'm very much aware of not wanting to make my website and readers think I'm all about fantasy, because I'm not. My next novel (the cover of which you can see on the site) will be out at the start of next year and is a historical/contemporary thriller with a touch of romance. I do not want to be pigeon-holed into a genre. I appreciate that it's very early days but "start as you mean to go on" and all that.
First things first. Make the map, then decide. For anyone interested I'm basically using this technique: http://www.giveupalready.com/content.php?50-Fantasy-Map-Photoshop-Tutorial
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Start small... think big
So this is it, my very first blog post. Quick bit about me: I'm a writer... for me that's first and foremost and anyone who has the bug will understand. I also dabble as a musician, computer nerd (who doesn't these days?) and general creative type. I live in London, UK, and I'm about to publish my first novel... okay, indie-publish. So I thought I would chronicle my journey and garner support while spreading the word and maybe helping other aspiring writers out there in the process and making new friends. Oh yes, and I will be blogging about books, reviewing them and anything else that takes my fancy in the process! And in the meantime feel free to check out my website by clicking HERE! and drop by and say hi.
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