Search results

Given everything that's happening (:cry::cry::cry:), if anyone is interested in learning more about the Israel/Palestine history, I recommend MAROR by Lavie Tidhar. With only a fairly minimal fictional narrative running through it, it's very much a detailed, painful, insightful chronicle of the...

This is interesting, but I don't see how the Amazon rules will have any teeth. Surely authors or indeed publishers can just … fib if they don't want to declare that content is "AI-generated"? And do we really want to embrace "AI-assisted" content? Meanwhile, this is alarming: “The past year...

Thanks for all the fascinating responses. I think all this just underlines the point: we all enjoy some aspects of writing (or the having written) more than others, and as such we adopt a different approach and pace accordingly. And that's great. The one rule is that the novel (or story) gets...

Today's random thought. Do we write fast first drafts then rewrite a lot? Do we perhaps outline more, and write slower drafts, rewrite less? I think a lot of this, perhaps more than we realise, comes back to what we enjoy. Obviously, we'd probably all say we're into plot AND character AND...

As long as it IS worth doing, I'm good.:)

Well that's the thing. We can define "success", but some of us may have to settle for whatever "success" happens to be available, or the success that luck and fate permit. Honestly, I just love to write, and that's success. Beyond that, it would be pleasant to have few readers who really...

Thanks, Brian. That's helpful. I'll look into Draft2Digital.

One self-pub author I know is always talking about Smashswords. He tells me they check the book quality and then supply the books to Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Overdrive. He says he also converts to ePub and uploads his books direct to Google, saying he actually gets most of his sales...

Since I've been posting about self-pub lately, he's one example. A self-pub author I follow, and have chatted with a bit over DMs. He certainly gives the impression of having aced the process. Lots of reviews (including Kirkus) and online buzz. Basically, he put in the initial investment. Or...

I very much agree with your last point. In terms of ISBN, I've been told (rightly or wrongly) that for authors who are serious about self-pub as a business, it's better to set up our own ISBNs and publishing imprints. Adds kudos, they say, and perhaps it helps with selling beyond Amazon? I'm...

Happy to get a collection in due course. For now it would be nice to have some recommendations. One, two or three good places to start. I'll do a more intense study of everything self-pub if/when I take that route. For now I want a solid grounding, and too many book options are...

Thanks, Montero, that's really useful. And thanks for the comments above, @Teresa Edgerton. Ought to be common sense, but it bears repeating!

Just wondering if anyone could recommend one really, really good book that covers all things self-publishing. The whole process. Editor, cover, print on demand, typesetting, ISBNs, creating a publishing imprint, then paid ads, social media, newsletters, collecting data in order to adapt...

Yes, I feel you. I am very confident that I can produce a highly professional product. After writing almost 15 years, I truly believe I can write good novels. Then I believe I can absolutely find people to help me with editing, cover, etc. THE PROBLEM is getting the novel(s) in front of the...

Re. the Not From This Planet Podcast, I certainly listened with interest. Clearly, not the best impression of trad publishing. Rather a preference or a bias towards self-publishing. Should be noted that the podcasters have an agenda: to a greater or lesser extent, they're promoting their...

I would never advise anyone to take any particular publishing route. BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL A LOTTERY. They all involves possible pitfalls. Swings and roundabouts and roulette wheels. However, this might be of interest to, well, me most of all, but perhaps some of you. Basically, having listened...

Has anyone read PLACES IN THE DARKNESS by Chris Brookmyre? I was given a paperback a few years ago. Started it but didn't carry on for some reason. I think I gave the paperback away, annoyingly, but I'm thinking of trying the novel again. Thoughts? Marks out of 5? Thanks!

Gateway is a superb novel.

Personal taste, but I really enjoyed HOUSE OF SUNS. The strongest non-RS novel IMO. For me CENTURY RAIN started very well, but lost it's way, became, well, silly. Again, for a long time Reynolds didn't outline his novels (I believe he's begun doing so in recent years) and sometimes it seemed to...

Thanks for the replies. I read your thoughts in the other threat, Rodders. So double thanks. I'll definitely give it a go. Generally speaking, I prefer Reynolds when he's darker, or more noir in tone. My favourite always used to be CHASM CITY, although it's twenty years since I read it. Not sure...