|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Jul 8, 2021 11:37:13 GMT
Ladies, I'm sorry I don't have any comp copies, or I would pop a copy in the post, but the book is POD, so you don't get the usual author copies and I am currently buying ones to send out to reviewers. It's fine. I have lots of admirers. |
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Jul 8, 2021 12:47:41 GMT
Ladies, I'm sorry I don't have any comp copies, or I would pop a copy in the post, but the book is POD, so you don't get the usual author copies and I am currently buying ones to send out to reviewers. Do you think your writing style has changed a lot over the years? How do you view your older stories when you reread them? |
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Jul 8, 2021 16:49:00 GMT
Do you think your writing style has changed a lot over the years? How do you view your older stories when you reread them? I think you're confusing me with a real writer, of whom I believe there are a number on this board who could better answer questions like that. That said, I'll give it a go. Yes, there are some changes, not least that I rabbit on more. My very first stories contained what is probably a classic journalists' mistake, of trying to convey news in as short a space as possible. I would cut them mercilessly to quite arbitrary word limits, say of 1,000 or 2,000w. If offered a collection of reprints now I would ditch the first few stories I wrote because I don't now feel they're well written enough - practice does pay off, I suspect. One exception is the first story, which seemed to have some merit (a decent ending according to one reviewer), so I recently rewrote it. Even after removing an anecdote it had grown by about 500w, which I think reflected the realisation that it needed more sense of pace (and the confidence to allow that). |
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Jul 8, 2021 17:14:16 GMT
Do you think your writing style has changed a lot over the years? How do you view your older stories when you reread them? I think you're confusing me with a real writer, of whom I believe there are a number on this board who could better answer questions like that. No. Anyone who writes and believes in themselves is a real writer. It doesn't matter if you are published or not. Thomas Traherne was forgotten in his lifetime but his book Centuries of Meditations is one of the great works of English Literature, and was only discovered after 200 years. |
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Jul 8, 2021 17:26:14 GMT
I think you're confusing me with a real writer, of whom I believe there are a number on this board who could better answer questions like that. No. Anyone who writes and believes in themselves is a real writer. It doesn't matter if you are published or not. Thomas Traherne was forgotten in his lifetime but his book Centuries of Meditations is one of the great works of English Literature, and was only discovered after 200 years. I was thinking more of someone who lives (even if not perhaps well) by their writing, or for whom it forms a substantial part of their income, rather than people like me who are tapping away in our spare time |
|
|
|
Post by šrincess šµuvstarr on Jul 8, 2021 17:42:21 GMT
samdawson I'm putting this on my wishlist for one of my admirers to buy me. My Wishlist: 1. Admirers to buy me things (when I give them time off from admiring me)
2. Pariah and Other Stories
I'm sure you have at least one admirer on here. I know I do. |
|
|
|
Post by Shrink Proof on Jul 8, 2021 18:11:47 GMT
I was thinking more of someone who lives (even if not perhaps well) by their writing, or for whom it forms a substantial part of their income, rather than people like me who are tapping away in our spare time. Having to rely on writing (or indeed, any other creative endeavour) to keep a roof overhead and food on the plate strikes me as terrifying. I have huge respect for those that can hack it. I'm well aware that some folk reckon that the pressure of keeping the wolf from the door drives them on, but not having that pressure is one of the main things that frees me up enough to write anything at all. Even this. |
|
|
|
Post by dem on Jul 8, 2021 18:12:29 GMT
No. Anyone who writes and believes in themselves is a real writer. It doesn't matter if you are published or not. I was thinking more of someone who lives (even if not perhaps well) by their writing, or for whom it forms a substantial part of their income, rather than people like me who are tapping away in our spare time In that case, long may you keep on tapping. Hope a reprint collection sees the light of day so I get to read the stories from Supernatural Tales. The Horror, the Haunted: Baz Lovebound, the supremely unpleasant host of a popular TV 'True Ghost' show, films a new episode at Marchant Halt, a long derelict railway station near a former RAF base. The area is infamous for two tragedies - a Victorian train crash and an inferno - neither of which have any basis in reality. Nevertheless, Julie, the rookie researcher, is a little spooked by an overpowering reek of aviation fuel. A Face in Wax: Three skeletons - those of a Warrior Magus, his wife and child - are shattered during the crude excavation of a Bronze Age barrow in the grounds of Hythehope Hall, Suffolk. Squire Robert Prentice attempts to put right the desecration by donating the bones to the local museum. Tree-Borne: A photo-shoot up a churchyard yew mid-lightening storm provides a short-cut to Goth Heaven. Damn, just the one to go .... |
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Jul 8, 2021 19:13:35 GMT
In that case, long may you keep on tapping. Hope a reprint collection sees the light of day so I get to read the stories from Supernatural Tales. Thanks DB. Me too. Damn, just the one to go ....Well, I've just had a look at my bookshelf and I have one spare copy of a slim chapbook of mine from 2009. I can put it in the post if that helps |
|
|
|
Post by cauldronbrewer on Jul 8, 2021 19:46:28 GMT
I'm well aware that some folk reckon that the pressure of keeping the wolf from the door drives them on, but not having that pressure is one of the main things that frees me up enough to write anything at all. Speaking of which (if you don't mind me bringing it up): I enjoyed your new story. |
|
|
|
Post by Shrink Proof on Jul 8, 2021 19:56:07 GMT
I'm well aware that some folk reckon that the pressure of keeping the wolf from the door drives them on, but not having that pressure is one of the main things that frees me up enough to write anything at all. Speaking of which (if you don't mind me bringing it up): I enjoyed your new story. Don't mind at all. Glad you liked it. |
|
|
|
Post by Swampirella on Jul 8, 2021 22:18:49 GMT
Ladies, I'm sorry I don't have any comp copies, or I would pop a copy in the post, but the book is POD, so you don't get the usual author copies and I am currently buying ones to send out to reviewers. I'm frankly shocked that an author has to buy copies of their own book! What's the world coming to, etc.... |
|
|
|
Post by dem on Jul 9, 2021 9:26:24 GMT
An impressive, entertaining, and occasionally harrowing collection ends on a note of optimism.
Black Shadow: 1965. At last Alex has saved almost enough to buy his dream motorbike, a '49 Vincent Black Shadow. Almost inevitably, the young man is killed in a road accident before he can ride it. His rocker mates bury bike and proud owner together. In later years, a legend arises of a very jolly phantom biker tearing across the North Downs. This story and Tree-borne have a certain cult 1973 Brit horror movie in common.
Well played, Sam!
|
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Jul 9, 2021 11:04:48 GMT
Thank you DB. I've posted your reviews on my FB page (https://www.facebook.com/sam.dawson.31924). I trust that is OK?
|
|
|
|
Post by samdawson on Jul 9, 2021 11:06:55 GMT
I'm frankly shocked that an author has to buy copies of their own book! What's the world coming to, etc.... I don't mind. It's part and parcel of publication being POD, which has its downsides but also removes the financial risk from the publisher, who might otherwise decide a book by someone largely unknown is too perilous |
|
