My novel, ‘In A Right State‘, was launched in June 2014, about 18 months ago. The sales stats are pretty shocking. Sold about 30. So, what now? I could keep the status quo and also hold fast to the principle that art costs money but, in reality, where is that going to get me? A
AuthorBen
2016 Writing Goals & 2015 Goals Reviewed
Here’s a double post rolled into one. About this time last year I wrote about – My Writing Goals for 2015 – so here they are along with a quick review on each one; Finish 2nd and 3rd draft of Novel 3, ‘Blindsided’ by Easter. – Done. Give copies to beta readers for feedback. – Done. Write
Starting all over again, a new ‘Project’
Three novels written and now I’m at that beautifully naive stage; the very beginning. Anything is possible. I was last here about 3 years ago – Novel 3 is Go, Go Go! – so it’s been a while but the feeling overwhelming me the most is not the dread of the blank page but not having
Blindsided Submitted to Agents
A couple of weeks ago I submitted my novel, ‘Blindsided‘, to 5 agents. I upped my game this time and hired the services of an editor BEFOREHAND for a critique of the whole novel, to copy-edit the first 3 chapters and help with the synopsis and cover letter. Overall I’m well happy this submission package
How To Get Your Book Into The British Library
I recently got this handsome letter from ‘The British Library‘ informing me the paperback version of ‘In A Right State‘ is now taking up valuable space on their hallowed shelves. Well, it’s deposited, not yet indexed, so it’s probably propping a door open or straightening a wonky table leg. So how can a self-published slice
Interview in The Worthing Herald
I was featured in last Thursday’s ‘Worthing Herald‘ on the ‘World of Words’ page which features local writers, poets, groups, events, etc. 10 questions to delve deeper into my writing life…leaving a few questions left over. btw, my girlfriend’s son is not called ‘Hannibal’. The comma and apostrophe’s make it look like her son’s nickname
Shortlisted for the ‘Lord of the Book Covers’!
Completely Novel, print-on-demand publishers of ‘In A Right State‘, have short-listed the book for their first ‘Lord of the Book Covers’ competition. The winner is the cover with the most votes, so go here – http://completelynovel.com/articles/vote-for-your-favourite-book-cover – and vote by clicking the tick box next to your favourite cover and then adding your email address. Vote
Self-Publishing: Is it worth publishing a ‘failed’ novel?
I’m classing a ‘failed novel’ as one that has been submitted to agents and publishers over a year or two without having achieved a sale or any/much interest. This is what happened with ‘In A Right State‘. ‘In A Right State’ is my first novel and I sent it out to about 40 agents and
Self-Publishing: Promoting, 5 Things I Won’t Do
This is more of an anti-blog post to counter all those how to market your book type blog posts which contain a lot of crap, a lot of obvious common sense and a lot of ‘what planet are you on?‘, eg. Spend £20,000 on targeted Facebook ads! Here’s a few things I see other authors
Self-Publishing: Do I need an ISBN Number?
ISBN numbers are a big worry for a first time self-publisher, at least it was for me. They smell of officialdom and when you start looking into it, the smell intensifies with cost – Nielsen UK ISBN Agency – £144 for 10 ISBN numbers! What is an ISBN? Here’s the official answer from ISBN International;