Most of the work in being a writer does not come from the writing itself. It comes from actually getting started in the first place. The act of writing itself is usually pretty painless once you get going. Sure, there are days when it feels like writing is the hardest thing in the world and … Read more
To grow as a writer you have to take risks. Calculated risks preferably, but risks none the less. And to take those risks, you can’t fear failure. Arguably, one of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the years is that failure is not something to be feared, but to be embraced. Fear of … Read more
I am delighted today to have Shane Stadler on the blog for an interview. Shane is the author of the awesome and twisted Exoskeleton and and its sequel, Tympanum, both of which I have praised (and rightly so) in my reviews of the respective books. In this interview, I got the chance to ask Shane … Read more
It occurred to me that I might just be addicted to writing, and probably have been since my early teens. Writing has always been something that I feel like I have to do, however bad I was at for years. Like most writers, I sucked when I started. If I re-read now some of the … Read more
The last time I read anything by nihilistic horror writer, Thomas Ligotti was over twenty years ago when I came across his first book, Noctuary, in my local library. I was a young teenager, more into “shock horror” writers like Shaun Hutson and the new wave of American horror writers coming through at the time, … Read more
If you have been self publishing for any length of time, or you know anything about online marketing, then you will no doubt have heard the oft worn phrase, “The money is in the list.” The list being referred to is, of course, an email list, and in marketing terms it is one of the … Read more
I am really glad I didn’t have to wait almost four years for this story the way a lot of people did. I only got to reading Exoskeleton, the previous novel from Shane Stadler, a couple of months ago (read my review here), so thankfully I didn’t have long to wait on the follow-up … Read more
We all need a little inspiration from time to time (in between working our asses off, of course). Inspiration is like the protein that feeds the muscles of creativity and our continued dedication to the craft of writing. One of the best ways I know to get inspired is to read the books of other … Read more
Chuck Wendig has a way with words. He is one of the most talented writers I have come across in a while. Actually, let me correct that. Chuck Wendig is one of the most practiced writers I have come across in a while, because as we all know (or should know anyway) talent is overrated … Read more
Chuck Wendig wrote a truly inspirational piece on his blog recently, in which he said that all writers should write the book that they want to write, as opposed to the book they think they should write in order to appease a certain market. According to Chuck, a writer “should fuck fear in the … Read more